2012 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 919 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 77 involved a fire. 34 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, roof and pillarsAug 1, 2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.
A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC245.
Campaign 22V560000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 1, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Campaign 18V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
919 reports, newest first.
Steering, Apr 18, 2016
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND AND STICKS EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO STEER WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AS IT WILL GRAB AND MAKE THAT CLICKING NOISE AND YOU HAVE TO USE SOME FORCE TO STEER.
Steering, Engine, Apr 13, 2016
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
Steering, Apr 8, 2016
AS REPORTED IN MANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, WHEN I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" AND STIFFENS AND JERKS, REQUIRING ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER SO THAT I CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY TIRING. THE KIA SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS IS THE WAY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AND I HAVE TO "LIVE WITH IT". I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS, HAVE 33,000 MILES, AND THIS PROBLEM ONLY JUST STARTED. THE KIA USA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AGENT SAID THERE'S NOTHING KIA CAN DO, IT OPERATES AS DESIGNED. HE SAID MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS LOVE THE WAY THE ELECTRONIC STEERING HANDLES. REALLY? WHAT'S TO LOVE ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING OF YOUR CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65-75 MPH??? THIS IS A TRAVESTY ON KIA'S PART. I NOTICE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND ZERO INVESTIGATIONS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TO INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION? DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A MAJOR AUTO ACCIDENT TO GET ANYONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A DESIGN PROBLEM?
Steering, Apr 6, 2016
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT STICKS AND IT TAKES A BIT OF FORCE TO BREAK IT FREE. IT IS ALSO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. YOU MUST CONTINUOUSLY KEEP ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. I DID SOME SEARCHING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T INK THIS IS SAFE AND SHOULD BE FIXED. I TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT IT, BUT THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES AND MAYBE IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT. I HAD ALREADY HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED, WHICH WAS OK. THEY SAID MAYBE IT WAS THE TIRES. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES WHICH DIDN'T HELP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 1.5 YEARS, BUT DIDN'T REALLY DRIVE IT A LOT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS ISN'T NEARLY AS NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT IN TOWN SPEEDS, JUST AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Visibility, Apr 6, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD AREA NEAR THE VEHICLES ANTENNA WAS FRACTURED AND DETERIORATING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE FIRST LAYER ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED AS LARGE THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Power train, Wheels, Apr 5, 2016
I HAVE A KNOCKING SOUND IN MY STEERING WHEEL. THE NOISE HAPPENS WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, I HAVE NOTICED AN ODD GRINDING/SLIPPING SENSATION IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN I ACCELERATE ON A RIGHT TURN FROM DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS. PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ON A "DECLINE" WHILE ACCELERATING TO THE RIGHT TO ENTER TRAFFIC IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. 73,000 MILES CURRENTLY BUT I'VE NOTICED THE GRIND/SLIP A LOWER MILEAGE.
Other or unspecified, Mar 24, 2016
ON MARCH 23, 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:50 PM I WAS TRAVELING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY IN MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX WHEN THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF SHATTERED, IN A TRAJECTORY RESULTING THE THE GLASS POINTING UPWARDS CONSISTENT WITH AN EXPLOSION OUTWARDS. THE SUNROOF WAS NOT IN USE (AS IT AND THE ACCOMPANYING SUNSHADE WERE COMPLETELY CLOSED). I BECAME AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS IT OCCURRED VERY SUDDENLY, SOUNDING ALMOST AS IF A GUNSHOT HAD OCCURRED BEFORE THENTERING GLASS SHARDS LANDING ON THE SUNSHADE BECAME APPARENT BY RATTLING WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING AT NO MORE THAN 50 MPH AS TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND WE WERE TRAVELING THROUGH A ROAD CONSTRUCTION ZONE CHARACTERIZED BY REDUCED SPEED. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND APPROXIMATELY 75 DEGREES. NO OTHER WINDOWS WERE OPEN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE INCLUDED MYSELF (DRIVER) AND MY TODDLER DAUGHTER WHO WAS SECURED IN HER REAR-FACING CARSEAT. THERE WERE NO OVERPASSES OR LARGE IMPROPERLY SECURED VEHICLES NEARBY (SUCH AS A DUMP TRUCK) FROM WHICH A PROJECTILE COULD HAVE ORIGINATED TO SHATTER THE WINDOW. AS STATED ABOVE, THE SHATTER PATTERN OF THE GLASS IS CONSISTENT WITH A TRAJECTORY OF THE BREAK FROM OUTWARDS FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES ATTACHED DOCUMENTING THE DAMAGE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS BREAK OCCURRED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR OR DEFECT IN THE GLASS OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF FREE FROM ANY PENETRATING OR PROJECTILE OBJECTS OR VARIABLES. I WAS NOT INFORMED BY KIA NOR MY SERVICING KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF ANY DEFECT OR RECALL AND THAT ALL REPAIRS WOULD NEED TO BE MADE OUT OF POCKET BY MYSELF.
Other or unspecified, Mar 16, 2016
BACK UP CAMERA NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF $350 WITH A $99 DEALER LOOK AT FEE. AT LESS THAN 90,000 MILES THERE IS NO REASON THAT A CAMERA NEEDS REPLACED AT THIS POINT. RECALL NEEDS THROWN AS ITS APPARENT MANY 2012 KIA OPTIMAS ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 13, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A RATHER NEW KIA OPTIMA. AT 70,000 MILES MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP COMPLETELY WENT OUT. THIS AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO START THE CAR AND ACCELERATE AS IT WS VERY HESITANT AND SHAKY. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN I REALIZED THE PROBLEM. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR AND REALIZED THAT IT TOOK A VERY LONG TIME TO START. AFTER REALIZING THIS, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND TOLD THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I ASKED HOW IT HAPPENED AND HE INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY DRIVING AND THAT IT IS VERY LIKELY THE PRODUCT OF A FAULTY FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THAT USUALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH A CAR WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT.
Electrical system, Mar 8, 2016
ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX. I STARTED MY CAR TWO WEEKS AGO FINE AND DROVE TO THE STORE 3.1 MILES AWAY. AFTER GETTING BACK TO MY CAR I CLICK PUSH BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOOR ON THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPEN. I HAD TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE KEY SWITCH I CARRY TO GET IN. I PUSHED THE BREAK TO START IT BUT NO START. WORDS CAME UP ABOVE THE MILEAGE TELLING ME TO INSERT KEY. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT IN THE GLOVE BOX WAS A KEY CHARGER AND THAT WAS IT. I GOT A PERSON FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO COME OUT TO CHECK IT AND HE SAID IT COULD BE THE BATTERY IN THE KEY THAT MIGHT BE DEAD. HE REPLACED THE BATTERY IN WHICH THEY HAD ONE AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. HE THEN SAID PUT THE KEY IN THE CHARGER, I DID SO AND IT STARTED. THIS MAKES THE SECOND PROBLEM AT THIS TIME THAT SEEMS TO BE A ELECTRIC PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. ANY HELP OR HAS ANYONE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON A KEYLESS SWITCH?
Engine, Mar 1, 2016, fire
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!
Engine, Feb 24, 2016
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT HAD A HARD START. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE ACCELERATION AND THE PEDAL STIFFENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Steering, Feb 21, 2016
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND APPEARS VERY LOOSE WHERE I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL ALMOST AN EXTRA 1/8-1/4 TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AND THEN SEEMS TO LOCK UP AT SPEEDS OF 55-60. I FIRST NOTICED THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO BUT AFTER TODAY THE KNOCKING NOISE BECAME WORSE.
Steering, Feb 21, 2016
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH STEERING WHEEL AT 12 O'CLOCK POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK OR LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS. I HAVE TO SOMEWHAT JERK THE WHEEL AT WHICH TIME THE STEERING APPEARS TO WAKE UP AND RESPOND. IT FEELS AS IF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE SHUTS DOWN GIVING THE FEELING OF A LOCKED/STUCK STEERING WHEEL. BY JERKING THE WHEEL TO "WAKE UP" THE STEERING IT CREATES AN OVER COMPENSATED STEERING CORRECTION ISSUE AND A CONCERN FOR SAFETY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Steering, Feb 20, 2016
THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS!!! HARD TO STAY IN YOUR LANE AND OVER CORRECTING HAPPENS EVERY DAY. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSES. WHERES THE RECALL???? I'VE GOT BIDS FROM $450-$650 TO FIX THIS CRAP. KIA WILL COST PEOPLE THEIR LIVES.
Steering, Feb 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Suspension, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 5, 2016
IM HAVING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS ALONG WITH SUDDEN INCREASES OF POWER INCREASE AND DECREASES. I WAS DRIVING TO MY LOCAL MALL BEFORE MY EVENING CLASS AND NOTICED MY CAR RADIO AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHERE NOT OPERATING NO LIGHTS BUT CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. I HIT THE BRAKES WHILE COMING TO A STOP LIGHT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION HIT A SMALL BUMP THE CAR DECIDED TO ACCELERATE AND IT FELT AS IF THE SUSPENSION WAS LOOSE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE I HEARD IT RATTLE NOW THIS BUMP WASN'T BIG BY ANY MEANS AS I HIT THE BREAK I COULD FEEL THE BRAKES FIGHT WITH THE ENGINE THE BRAKE PEDAL ALSO SHOOK AT MY FEET. I QUICKLY PUT THE KIA IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE CAR OFF STILL AT THE LIGHT. PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED MY CAR ALL LIGHT AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON ALONG WITH RADIO.MY OPTIMA FELT OK . BUT LATER I WENT TO CLASS GOT INTO MY CAR AND SHE WOULDN'T TURN OVER I HAD TO PRESS ON THE GAS TO GET IT TO START. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING BESIDES MY HIGH TEMP FUEL PUMP WAS GIVING LOW PRESSURE CODES. I ONLY HAVE 80K ON THIS VEHICLE BUT KIA SAID THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHY IF MY KIDS WHERE IN THE CAR AND I DID GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THEM . THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH NO AFTER THE FACT.
Steering, Feb 5, 2016
THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE WHEN I HIT A BUMP FEELS LIKE THE CAR JUST WANTS TO TURN. SEEMS LIKE IF THE WHEEL COULD JUST LOCK UP OR WILL JUST COMPLETELY NOT TURN AT SOME POINT
Engine, Feb 3, 2016
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.
Other or unspecified, Feb 2, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON I10 DRIVING 70 MPH TODAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH. NOTHING SEEMED TO HIT ME, IT JUST EXPLODED, LIKE A LOUD GUNSHOT ABOVE MY HEAD.
Steering, Jan 21, 2016
MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING COUPLER REPLACEMENT NEEDED
Engine, Jan 21, 2016
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.
Steering, Jan 19, 2016
TAKATA RECALL
Engine, Jan 15, 2016
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