I just bought the this car a few months ago. The vehicle was in motion on a residential street. The car appeared as if it was trying to die the engine completely turned off without warning. I pulled over to a safe area turned the car off. I waited a few minutes before trying to restart. My car wouldn't start. After several mechanics looking at the car they believe it's the engine and told me the car had a recall. I called Kia dealership I was told that the recall has been addressed on top of that the turbo is leaking fluids. This car is a mess.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

I bought my car 3 months ago. Never had any issues, make sure I do my oil and all, no lights have come on on my dash board except the airbag light as of recently. I was driving it to pick up my son and my car started to slow down and I noticed my check engine light was on so I pulled over to the gas station and checked my oil. No issue I just got an oil change the week before. My engine is knocking now. With no warning or anything.

- Decatur, GA, USA

When accelerating, engine seems to have a power loss and then it continues to accelerate again after a few seconds. I am in motiong when this happens on the highway/street.

- Houston, TX, USA

Recall info shows it was repaired but Kia found metal shavings again in the engine and so either the recall was not repaired properly or the replacement engine has the same issue. I was going down the 59 freeway and all the sudden my engine light started blinking so I attempted to very off the freeway but my car would not accellerate. I have had this car only 8 months and Kia said the motor has to be replaced. My dad and my brother are both mechanics so I am familiar with what causes metal shavings to be found in the engine. I have not drove the car not neglected the maintenance that would cause this problem. There is a recall where they found metal shavings in the engine. I think it was not repaired properly. I am requesting for investigation to be done on the work performed for that recall. And I am requesting for Kia to pay for this 2nd repair due to metal shavings found again. I also need a rental car to be paid for during the time Kia still has my vehicle. At family parkway Kia in kingwood, Texas. Also I got a claim form mailed to be to be paid for any repairs I paid for out of my pocket. The Kia dealership has all the documentation.

- Porter, TX, USA

Engine puts off a burning oil smell and seems to need oil added in between it's 3,000 mile oil change. It happens at all times of car running, either stopped or moving. Have heard about engine failures and cars burning with this make, model, and year.

- Westbury, NY, USA

I was driving 75mph, I was coming up over a hill, and the vehicle cut out, there was a loud noise that came from the engine, and I was told to pull over, the light was flashing hybrid battery low, please check and advise. I tried to start the car but it wouldn't come on. Warning light on dash stated to not start the vehicle. The mileage on the vehicle is only around 110,000.

- Bemidji, MN, USA

My car slowed down in wouldn't reach over 2000 RPM and the engine light kept blinking and when I put it on a computer engine code P1326 popped on. It's called the ignition control module combustion quality input signal after Kia dealership of skibo road supposedly already fixed the problem back in June 2019 now it's September 30, 2020 N it came on again N yes last year had to replace my engine. I was driving on a street in the morning on September 30, 2020 when it happened and it was raining.

- Raeford, NC, USA

Kia Optima 2012 abruptly powered down in middle of the busy highway with no check engine light warning. The abrupt loss of power nearly caused a vehicle to hit me from behind. After engine shut down check engine light came on and read code P1326. Car will no longer start.

- Riverside, CA, USA

Engine seized in the middle of the highway. Absolutely not safe at all. My 2012 Optima hybrid is roughly at 115K miles. After seeing all the complaints how's Kia not issuing a recall on this safety issue! very disappointed and hoping to see a resolution from Kia.

- Orlando, FL, USA

But my mom was driving her car one day and all of a sudden the bearing or something came loose and oil squirted all over the ground and the car died and and we had the motor replaced at a cost of about 4500 bucks and now the hybrid light system keeps coming on the dealership they don't know what they're doing they had to take it to another Kia place and I didn't know what the heck was going onand now with the motor replace the hybrid light system keeps coming on they don't know why

- Houston, TX, USA

Car engine began making increasingly loud noises. Pulled on the side of the road to check it out. Turned off the car then turned it back on and car engine made even louder knocking sounds. Mechanic took a look and said it was a internal engine problem/failure

- Orlando, FL, USA

We were driving on a city street slowing down for a signal. The car stalled and a message came up saying to tow the vehicle to the dealer. We had the car towed 4 miles to the dealer. No other lights came on indicating any problems.the dealer told us while they were checking for the problem the engine ceased up. Then they said the belt had come off. I think the engine ceased causing the belt to come off.trying to figure out if this has anything to do with the engine problems Kia has been having.

- Austin, TX, USA

Transmission issues: Between 2nd and 3rd gear. Would lag then jerk the car with some torque once it caught 3rd gear. Had to get 2 replacement transmissions because of this issue. Also engine seizer issue, my engine started to seize when I was going 45 miles an hour with alot of traffic behind me. Then all of a sudden it started making loud thunking noices then a very loud grinding noise and then I was stuck on a road not being able to get above 22 miles and hour, there was no shoulder to pull over. And I was stuck trying to go uphill and all these cars behind me. I ended up having to stop the car and leave it in the middle of a 2 lane road on a hill with the emergancy break on. Kia knew it was another seized engine which I thought it was my transmission again which I had brought in because this 3rd transmission was having the skilling issues around 20-25miles and hour, but after they knew I wasnt going to buy another Kia again they wouldnt fix my trans that should probably be recalled anyways. But they thought it was another Optima seized engine, and even though all Optimas are recalled for this exact same issue, they say that mine isnt covered becasue its a hybrid and has a motor in the car also so its different set up. But theres are others online with this Kia Optima 2011-2013 hybrid engine seizer just like all the other Optimas. And I think the hybrids should be included in the recall. As we are having the same issues. This was a very dangerous issue

- Lake Forest Park, WA, USA

I bought a 2012 Kia Optima from autonation in amarillo, tx and I have multiple safety recalls on my vehicle which autonation didn't tell me about at the time of purchase. The recalls can cause a fire and a fatal accident. I've taken it to two Kia dealerships and nothing has been done to the recalls. Kia hasn't fixed or replace the safety recalls. I will not have me or a family member die cause the neglect that Kia has been doing on my 2012 Kia Optima" VIN# [xxx]". I have filed a settlement claim with Kia settlement claim's department "claim #[xxx]". I have taken it to 2 Kia dealership's. I've done all of the steps Kia dealership has asked me to do and nothing has been done to fix or replace the recalls. I use my 2012 Kia for my doctors appointments cause I'm disabled. I lost faith and can't trust this 2012 Kia Optima that im still making car payments. I need this car fixed before me or one of my family members dies in a car accident from the neglected recalls from Kia. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Evans, CO, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, he heard an abnormal noise and parked on the side of the road. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed his residence. The contact called local dealer southwest Kia of rockwall located at 1790 I-30 frontage rd, rockwall, tx 75087, (469) 402-2900 and the dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.

- Farmersville, TX, USA

Driver side door doesn't close all the way head light bulbs melting to headlight harness smoking

- Covington, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle started to make an unknown noise coming from the engine. The engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence and later towed to jim ellis Kia of kennesaw, 1221 auto park dr nw, kennesaw, ga 30144, and was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle jerked and felt as though something had blown out and was making a rattling sound coming from the engine. The contact coasted to the side of the roadway. The contact became aware of an oil leak. The vehicle was towed to Kia of cerritos (18201 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703), and was diagnosed that the engine belt was melted and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that she would receive a callback. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving and making a left turn the vehicle seized. The contact stated multiple warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to cruise the vehicle on the side of the road. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and when lifting the hood saw fire. The contact stated the driver ran to his employer and was able to extinguish the fire with 5 fire extinguishers. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact stated no fire or police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to her residence. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact stated that she found several unknown recalls on line that was related to the vehicle failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

- Hanford, CA, USA

Driving down interstate at about 60mph. Suddenly engine light flashes. Car immediately makes awful sound and looses power as I'm pulling over to get off road. Had towed in to home. Our neighbor mechanic thinks threw a rod. No warning lights before this happened! loud knocking spud under hood.

- Richwoods, MO, USA