I was driving straight on the interstate at 70 mph when the car lost the ability to accelerate and started making a knocking sound. I pulled the car over and shut it off. Tried to restart and it immediately shut off. The oil light flashed a few times and that was it. The car had 75,000 miles with 30,000 put on within the one year I have owned it.

- Stoughton, WI, USA

While driving 45 mph down the highway, car stalled, towed to dealership where they claimed there was sludge in engine and would not replace, called Kia who stated that we would have to get all service records from day 1 or they would not cover. I brought this car brand new and while I have most service records from 2013 on, I do not have any from before that because our house burnt down in April 2014, now its been 5 months since my car broke down and my 2 choices are, save up 5K while still paying for the car or pay for a very expensive paper weight that doesn't even fit in my house. Kia is going to kill someone if they don't take action!

- Wilmington, DE, USA

While driving on interstate at roughly 75 mph, car stalled. Would start up but heard loud knocking sound. Car was towed to nearest repair shop. After diagnostic, was told engine rod blew at 71,560 miles. Called Kia Corp office and was told that there was an engine recall, Kia picked up the car and towed it to the nearest dealership. Next day, we called to get a status and the Kia is unable to locate any record of the phone call and now saying that there is no recall for the engine. Not sure what to do at this time. Car was purchase less than 3 years ago. New engine is estimated at $6,000.

- Canton, GA, USA

Engine cut off passing someone traveling at 70 mph. Engine seized with 110,000 miles on it. Towed it to dealer. All maintenance was performed timely. Because the dealership had performed all maintenance Kia is replacing engine. Kia knows of the problem with this engine that is why warranty was extended for this issue. This is a huge safety problem. Hyundai recalled their cars with this engine. When I picked up my rental car there were three rentals out for the exact same reason. I am glad I was driving instead of one of my daughters or my wife. I am glad I wasn't passing another car on a two lane road when this happened. Kia needs to fix this before someone gets killed.

- Warner Robins, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled and the instrument panel failed. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,935. Updated 09/30/16

- Hudson, MA, USA

Driving approx. 45mph on a busy city street, vehicle suddenly began to decelerate and a rattling noise began getting louder and louder from under the hood and finally engine completely cut off and would not start again. While attempting to get over to a safe area which happened to be the turning lane, the car rolled to a complete stop. With my family in the car with me, I had to push the vehicle over to prevent from being hit due to the vehicle stalling and the back end of vehicle was still in way of on coming traffic. After being towed to a service center, I was notified that the rod bearings seized up and my only option was engine replacement. Vehicle with such low mileage should not need engine replacement.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

Driving the vehicle through an intersection at approximately 45 mph and engine just shut down/off. Thankfully, we were able to pull to the side of the road. Had the vehicle towed to a Kia dealership. Service dept had the vehicle for 2 days and weren't able to diagnose the cause or problem but notified me that I had metal shavings in the engine. They changed all fluids and reset the computer, so the vehicle would run, but when they test drove the vehicle, the tech said it still wasn't running smoothly. They said we needed a new engine for $7000, or else we could just drive the vehicle until it quit running. We drove the vehicle for about another 100 miles while trying to decide whether to repair or replace, and vehicle seemed to be running fine but then suddenly shut down again. We had purchased the 100,000 mile warranty, and vehicle was at 110,000 miles. We were able to show routine maintenance and oil changes. After researching, we realized that these are the same engines and same "metal shaving" problems that were found in the Hyundai sonatas, and Hyundai has issued a recall for vehicles under 10 yrs/120,000miles. Kia is having same problems from the online comments/reviews, but they haven't issued any recalls.

- Franklin, IN, USA

I was driving home on memorial day weekend from a nice visit with my family and when I was almost home I could hear clicking/tapping sound and the engine stalled on a major interstate. I was able to quickly restart and get to the shoulder. Started up again and took off but when I tried to accelerate to the flow of traffic, the car would not accelerate and was losing power. I was close to a Kia dealership and was able to milk it to the service garage. Upon inspection, they found metal shavings paired with a ton of copper on the valve timing solenoid. Crankshaft bearings are shot, causing low oil pressure, stalling and erratic behavior. Engine is toast! after doing some research I came across this: www.hyundaiproblems.com/trends/sonata-engine- failure. Same engine, same problems and Hyundai stands behind their product. I take great pride in my vehicle. I take it in for regular maintenance and oil changes. I am not at fault. I will be escalating this to the national team at Kia corporate office and Kia Consumer Affairs to get a case number as I feel they need to be held liable to pay for the engine.this is obviously a known issue and it's sad that Kia is putting the blame on the customers instead of taking responsibility for a factory defect. No car with 111K miles on it with proper maintenance should have the engine just blow! Kia not only put my life in danger but they also put my daughter's life in danger!! I'm lucky I was in the right place at the right time on a major interstate on memorial weekend or the results could have been much worse!! my daughter and I are ok, but I fear the next Kia Optima this happens to will not be a good outcome. Major safety issue and a recall should be instated.

- New Richmond, WI, USA

While driving home the car suddenly lost all power for no reason. Got the car jumped and it started but was sluggish. No indicating lights ever came on. Drove the car to work for the next 2 days (approx 450 miles) with no issues so I though it weird but a fluke. Two days later approximately 2 blocks from my house the car suddenly locked up for a split second (heard the tires chirp) but kept rolling. The car had no power, all lights, radio, etc stayed on but the engine was not running. I let the car coast into my driveway to park it. The car starts fine but the engine is definitely shot. Sounds like the connector rods are bent. Loud knocking and sometimes a squeal that sounds like metal on metal. Checked the oil and there was minimal oil but again no indicating lights ever came on. The car is only 4 years old with 127,000 mile but has always been maintained to Kia specs. Upside down on the loan already which I wouldn't have a problem with if the car ran. Now I owe on a loan for a car I can't drive.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving, the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where an unknown part needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000.

- Howell, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of power without warning. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that two cylinders had no compression and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Prior to the failure, the engine was previously replaced due to the same failure. The contact observed steam coming from the engine during the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 15V568000 (engine); however, the VIN, year, make, and model were not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

- Kyle, TX, USA

Trying to state a short version of this brutal situation!! purchased the car with 60,000 miles my car is now out of warranty has not reached 100,000 miles and the engine is gone. Of course Kia will not fix my car I woe $24,000 on.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

At 60,100 miles the engine failed. No check engine light no oil light ever came on. I have an extended warranty that denied it along with Kia corporate. Premature engine failure. Maintained to Kia standards as well with oil changes. With every oil change I was told the oil was fine and nothing seemed wrong or amiss with the oil in the car. I took my car to have an oil change the day before my engine blew. I was driving to work when it made a very loud knocking noise and I was unable to make it to work. I had the car towed immediately to the nearest dealership. I have owned the car for 18 months as the second owner. I am still making payments.

- West Chester, PA, USA

While driving down the highway at appx 60mph the car suddenly stopped on us, and all of the indicator lights on the dashboard came on-for the first time ever. There was no knocking sound prior to this happening (we found out there should have been after taking the car to the dealership) after having the car towed to our Kia dealership, we were informed that the engine had seized, but there was oil in the car. I am now having to replace the entire engine. After reading multiple stories of this happening to other people as well, it sounds like Kia needs to issue a recall.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

The first thing would have to be the steering wheel like it has been noted before when you sit still it has a clicking sound. And all driving the highway at 75 miles an hour it sticks and you have to jerk it back witch is no safe I have had it aligned many times but does not fix the problem. My car has 112,113 miles on I take care of replace thing that need to done and oil changes every 3,000 well after I hit the 100,000 mark my car sounds like it has no oil.. are I have seen on the internet that it sounds like your rpms are really high but there not... it starts when I'm going 20 mph another thing that is weird when I'm turning left the noise goes away

- Harper, TX, USA

As I was driving on the overpass and merging onto another highway my car would not accelerate, I put the car in neutral and was able to veer off the freeway to a side street when I stopped the vehicle and a lot of smoke started coming from the engine and the car would not restart. Before this I had no indication that anything was wrong with the vehicle. I had it towed to Kia where I was told this was due to lack of maintenance as there is metal debris in the oil filter and oil pan. The vehicle only has 71000 miles on it and I have oil change records to prove maintenance every 5000 miles or sooner on the car. It has now been almost 2 weeks and I am still waiting for Kia to respond if they are going to fix my vehicle. Since I am considered the 2nd owner (even though the first owner was the dealership I bought the car from) I only have a 60K mile warranty. I have read multiple stories on 2012 Kia Optima's doing the same thing to other people and Kia needs to step up and fix this problem!

- Queen Creek, AZ, USA

Last week, during an oil change, I was told that my transmission cooler hose was leaking and needed two new ones. In addition to that I would have to pay for the cooling service which would be a total of about $200. No telling how long the car was without coolant, but my car has never over heated. Coincidentally, I received an email that there is a recall on the Kia/2011 for the same issue! I was told that there was nothing Kia would over if it was not included in the recall which it most likely should be by looking at online reviews. Please investigate.

- Nashville, TN, USA

Driving North bound on major highway. Car starts losing speed, I pull over into a gas station and my car dies, it restarts instantly with no service lights I continue down the road on the service road, the car dies at a red light. Starts up once more. I hear a knocking noise coming from my engine. I was able to make it home but now the noise is much louder, its coming from the rear of the engine on the right side. I take it into the dealership. The connector rod to a piston is destroyed. The car has plenty of oil. I've read on forums many people have had this same problem.

- Deer Park, TX, USA

Driving at approximately 50 mph on the parkway, engine stalled without warning and would not re-start. I had the car towed to a shop where they informed me the engine had seized. There was definitely oil in there as I had an oil change within the last couple of weeks, . the car has 72K miles on it and I am the second owner so not covered by Kia's non-transferable 10yr/100K mi warranty. Working with Kia customer service, waiting to hear back from a supervisor.

- Forked River, NJ, USA

Sudden engine failure without warning lights. Knocking sound. Parked car and had towed to dealer. Car has 63,000 miles on it. Dry of oil, and oil was changed within past six weeks. Same engine (theta II) from same plant (ala) as the Hyundai sonatas covered by recent recall. Symptoms are also the same. Kia refusing coverage under warranty because not original owner. Working through their Consumer Affairs to escalate. So far, no results. I believe we are seeing an identical problem in my car with identical engine to sonata and Kia should fix

- Perkiomenville, PA, USA