2006 Kia Optima Engine Problems

MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING THEN ALL SUDDEN IT STALLED, I STARTED AGAIN THEN STALLED AGAIN. I CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR, MY CAR HAS A VEHICLE RECALLS. THE DEALERSHIPS REFUSED TO FIXED IT THE RECALLS, THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY FULL COSTS ABOUT $5,000 FOR NEW ENGINE. THEY WON'T FIXED THE RECALLS. I FOUND OUT THERE WAS HUGE COMPLAINTS AGAINST DEALERSHIPS OF KIA . I FILED A LAWSUITS AGAINST THE DEALERSHIPS FOR REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR. 2 RECALLS AIR BAGS/ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIPS DON'T WANT TO FIX THE RECALLS , THEY FORCE ME TO PAY FOR HUGE REPAIRS. I HAD TO PAY RENTAL CAR AND TOWING SERVICES. *TR

YOU CAN START IT UP. DRIVE IT FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT AS SOON AS YOU MAKE A STOP OR SLOW DOWN, IT WILL STALL. CHANGED THE OIL, ALL FLUIDS. IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR

AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE, THE CAR WAS RUNNING HORRIBLY, MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. HAD AN EPISODE WHERE THE OIL LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF AND THE ENGINE ABOUT DIED, SO I HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO GET CHECKED FOR MONDAY MORNING. THE SATURDAY BEFORE, WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS, HAD THE EPISODE OCCUR AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND IT HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP EVERY SINCE BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I HAVE A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, KIA WON'T HONOR IT WITH ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. I AM FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE I KNOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE AND HAVEN'T COMPLAINED LOUD ENOUGH OR WHATEVER, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE, NOT ME. NO CAR SHOULD BLOW AN ENGINE AT 62K. IT'S RIDICULOUS. *JS

MY 2006 KIA OPTIMA JUST STOPPED RUNNING YESTERDAY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET. IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT ON, NO STUTTERING, ETC.), I WASN'T ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO NOT HIT ME. I'M A 67 YEAR OLD, DISABLED WOMAN WHO WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THAT BUSY STREET FOR A HALF AN HOUR UNTIL MY CAR COULD BE TOWED. UPON DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, A MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A CRANK SENSOR (AS WELL AS AN OXYGEN SENSOR). AS HE SAID, "WE REPLACE A LOT OF THESE ON THIS MODEL CAR". AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, ONLINE, READING BLOGS FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS, I'VE FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I'VE HAD. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS WAY BACK FROM A TRIP. THE SENSOR JUST GOES OUT AND THE CAR DIES RIGHT WHERE IT IS, AND EVEN IF IT CAN BE STARTED AGAIN, IT WILL ONLY RUN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND DIES AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SCARY PROBLEM. AND VERY EXPENSIVE ALSO. IF KIA KNOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT IT COULD BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WOULD REPLACED PARTS ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO SHUT OFF. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE KIA MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY DO NOT COVER ANY PARTS THAT ARE NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

CAR PURCHASED NEW 3/1/2006. AT MILEAGE 5,033 AND TO CURRENT 16,675 BELTS AND PULLEYS PROBLEM EXISTS.. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY A TECH EXPERT THAT THE MFR AND CUSTOMER AGREED TO ALLOW INSPECT THE CAR. A RECURRING DRIVE BELT TENSIONER AND DRIVE BELT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AFTER SEVERAL BELTS AND TENSIONER HAVE BEEN REPLACED.....5 CONFIRMED REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED TO THE MANUFACTURER THAT WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR. WE ARE AFRAID THE TENSIONER OR BELT MAY FAIL DURING OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE MOTOR CAN BE SEVERELY DAMAGED. POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP AND ALL ELECTRICAL CEASE TO FUNCTION. THIS IS THE EXPLANATION I HAVE FROM A KIA REP ON AUDIO. THE MANUFACTURE CLAIMS THERE ARE NO VERIFIABLE WARRANTY CONCERNS AND THE LOUD NOISE AT START UP AND CONSTANT SQUEALING AND CHIRPING WHILE DRIVING ARE NORMAL. THE KIA REP ALSO CLAIMS ON THE AUDIO THAT THESE PARTS HAVE NEVER FAILED ON THERE CARS. THE TECHNICAL EXPERT ALSO CONFIRMED A SURGING PROBLEM STILL EXISTS EVEN THOUGH THE MFR STATES THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE IT. THE FIRST TIME THE SURGE & STALL PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED (9/23/2006) IT WAS ALREADY A TSB ISSUED BY MFR TO NHSTA IN DEC 2004 FOR MODEL 2006 WITH REGARDS TO A CANISTER VAC. *TR

REF THE TWO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS FIRST. #10170291 & 10208029. THIS IS THE 3RD COMPLAINT ON OUR 2006 KIA OPTIMA LX. ON 11/5/07 A NEW TENSIONER AND DRIVE BELT WERE REPLACED. THIS MADE THE 4TH ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE SAME PULLEYS & BELTS SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM BEGAN @ MILEAGE 5033 IN SEPT 2006. APROX 16,500 MILEAGE AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE. ON 12/5/2007 I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP #113211 WITH SAME PROBLEM. LOUD BELT SQUEAL AT START UP AND CONSTANT CHIRP WHILE DRIVING. I WAS GIVEN A WRITTEN RECEIPT THAT STATED THE DEALERSHIP DROVE THE CAR 5 MILES AND HEARD A "SLIGHT CHIRP" COMING FROM THE BELT AREA. TECH ASST WAS CALLED AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS ADVISED NOT TO ATTEMPT REPAIRS UNTIL A "PLATFORM MANAGER" WAS CONTACTED AND SPOKE TO SERVICE MANAGER. IT WAS PUT IN WRITING THAT THE CAR HAD NO DRIVABLE ISSUES OR SAFETY CONCERNS AND RELEASED TO THE OWNER. I EXPRESSED STRONG CONCERN TO THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT OUR RESERVATIONS DRIVING A CAR WITH THE PULLEYS & BELTS SYSTEM MAKING SUCH NOISES. I ALSO EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE GOING OUT OF STATE ON 12/7/07 AND WOULD BE TRAVELING I-65 SOUTH FROM INDIANAPOLIS, LATE AT NIGHT AND WITHOUT A CELL PHONE. WE TRAVELED WITH THE CAR IN THE CURRENT STATE OF DISREPAIR. THE PROBLEM HAS INCREASED. I HAVE EXPRESSED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 12/12/07. SINCE THE CAR WAS RELEASED TO ME ON 12/5/2007, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER REQUESTING THE CAR BE REPAIRED. THE PARTS PUT IN THE CAR ON11/5/2007 ARE UNDER WARRANTY. TODAY IS 12/19/2007 AND I HAVE STILL NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP. IF THE PULLEYS & BELTS SYSTEM FAILS WE I WILL BE LEFT ON THE ROAD & I DO NOT CARRY A CELL PHONE. IF THE CAR IS REPAIRED AGAIN THIS WILL MAKE THE 5TH ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE CAR QUALIFIES FOR THE IN LEMON LAW. I HAVE CONSULTED THE CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK WHICH IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND HAS RESOURCES FOR CONSUMERS TO INVOLVE AGENCIES WHO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS FOR US. *TR

ON 11/05/07 OUR 2006 KIA OPTIMA LX WAS TAKEN IS THE SHOP FOR A FIFTH TIME SINCE A SQUEALING NOISE HAD APPEARED AGAIN. THE CAR HAS NOW HAD 2 TENSIONERS AND THREE DRIVE BELTS REPLACED AS OF 11/5/2007. I STRONGLY EXPRESSED TO DEALER # 113211 THAT I WISHED TO HAVE THE IN STATE LEMON LAW APPLIED DUE TO THE FACT A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF ATTEMPTS HAD BEEN MADE TO REPAIR A NONCONFORMITY PER IC 24-5-13-10. I WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP MANAGER AT DEALER 113211, THAT THE CAR IS IN WORKING CONDITION AFTER THE REAPER AND THE LEMON LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO A CAR THAT IS GOOD WORKING ORDER. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO LET THE DEALER KNOW IF THE PROBLEM RETURNED. ON 11/26/07 THE SQUEALING RETURNED. I SPOKE WITH KIA, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I REQUESTED A KIA REP BE PRESENT. I WAS TOLD A REP WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JAN.08. I REQUESTED THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR AND STOP AT THAT POINT SO A DECISION COULD BE MADE REGARDING THE IN LEMON LAW. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT UNLESS I SIGN A REPAIR ORDER TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED, IT CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED PER KIA POLICY. I WAS TOLD I HAD TWO OPTIONS. SIGN AND ALLOW THE SQUEAL TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIR IF UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT LEAVE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR OUT OF SERVICE AS ON 11/28/07 WITH 15,974 MILES. IT IS IN MY GARAGE. I HAVE SENT THIS MATTER TO THE IN ATTY GEN OFFICE FOR REVIEW.THIS IS THE 3RD COMPLAINT FILED ON THIS CAR, PLEASE REF #10170291 & #10208029 ALSO. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF A TENSIONER OR DRIVE BELT FAIL DURING OPERATION, I WILL BE LEFT STRANDED. I DO NOT OWN OR CARRY A CELL PHONE. I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 CAR FOR DEPENDABILITY. *TR

BEGINNING 9/9/2006 OUR 2006 KIA OPTIMA LX HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.....EXCESSIVE NOISE AT START UP. .9/9/06,2/22/07,3/8/07,4/10/07,11/5/07. 3 DRIVE BELTS AND 2 DRIVE BELT TENSIONERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT KIA WAS CONTACTED AND "SHOULD "BE ISSUING A TSB. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT KIA IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO LET THE DEALERSHIP KNOW IF THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE AT START UP AND TO GIVE IT 3-4 MONTHS FOR A TSB TO GET ISSUED, THEN BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN. I CAN ONLY ASSUME WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE DRIVE BELT OR TENSIONER FAIL DURING OPERATION OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THIS MATTER. THIS IS THE SECOND ODI COMPLAINT FILED ON THIS CAR. PLEASE REF # 10170291 FOR THE DETAILS OF THE FIRST COMPLAINT. *TR

TL* - ON 11/8/06, THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE OIL PUMP EXPLODED AND CRACKED THE ENGINE BLOCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS 10,123 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK ON 12/11/06 AND ON 12/14/06 THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARS A TAPPING NOISE, THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. *JB

AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 200 MILES I STOPPED FOR A MEAL. APPROX. 30 MINUTES LATER I STARTED MY KIA OPTIMA (2006). IT RAN VERY ROUGH THEN STALLED & DIED. I HAD PLANNED TO STOP AT WINERY APPROX. 3-4 MILES FROM CAFE I ATE AT. I STARTED CAR AGAIN. DROVE TO WINERY AND AS I PULLED INTO PARKING SLOT, CAR RAN ROUGH & DIED AGAIN. I WENT BACK TO SHELL STATION ACROSS FROM CAFE I ATE AT. CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASST. CAR WAS TAKEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN PEORIA,IL. SERVICE DEPT FOUND MISFIRE AND CHANGED CRANK SENSOR. ALSO PERFORMED OTHER TESTS WITH REGARDS TO FUEL PRESSURE, ETC. RETRIEVED CAR THE FOLLOWING SAT 9/30/06. APPROX. 100 MILES LATER THAT DAY ON WAY TO INDIANAPOLIS, WE STOPPED AT MUSEUM. STARTED CAR APPROX. 2 HOURS LATER, CAR RAN EXCESSIVELY ROUGH AT START UP , BUT DID NOT DIE THIS TIME. DROVE BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS. INFORMED KIA AND TOOK CAR TO LOCAL KIA DEALER ON 10/3/06. CAR DID NOT DISPLAY SYMPTOMS UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY APPROX. 2-3 P.M. WHEN I DROVE BACK IN AFTER START UP WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS. SERVICE DEPT DID NOTICE MISFIRE AT THAT TIME. I AM NOW WAITING ON A LOANER CAR FROM KIA, SO MY CAR CAN GO IN FOR TESTING TO FIND PROBLEM. KIA AUTHORIZED WAITING REF#K1230868 ON 10/4/06. *NM