2012 Kia Optima Other Problems

Your car experienced an unknown failure while parked after you returned from work, and you believe if you had remained in the vehicle longer, it could have been serious. A week before this incident, your check engine light came on with a message to check your brakes, but the next morning the light was gone and everything appeared to work normally. The exact cause of the failure hasn't been determined since the car hasn't been inspected yet.

Your car's doors are unlocking while you're driving, which is a safety concern since it could allow doors to open unexpectedly. This could be caused by a faulty door lock actuator, wiring issue, or central locking system malfunction. A mechanic will need to diagnose the locking system to identify which component is failing and replace or repair it.

My steering wheel coupler has obviously gone bad and needs to be replaced. This was an issue with this year Kia Optima and my car and Kia has extended the warranty to 10 years/unlimited milage. I need this fixed because it sounds like my steering wheel is going to completely fall apart. Please help!!!

Paint is coming off all over the car. You may look at it at any time. This is a safety concern for our environment and to the child in my home. She likes to attempt to eat or at least put everything in her mouth. It is very visable. No No, The first bit of paint started coming off around a year ago and has progressively gotten worse.

my snow white pearl paint is peeling on several sections of the car. I obtained quotes from 2 body shops and its recommended to repaint the entire car. peeling started in 2018 and has continued to become worse every day.

Kia sent out a safety recall notice (23V652). The letter clearly states the remedy is now available for my vehicle; that an engine compartment fire while parked or driving is the primary risk of the default; and that the recall service will take approximately 1-2 hours. I called two dealerships. Both said Kia won't send them the parts until an inspection has occurred - potentially resulting in requiring two different appointments prior to this safety recall being addressed - contrary to the verbatim language in the safety recall. I called Kia's customer service line and they confirmed that although the letter is written as described above, they won't provide parts to service centers until an inspection has been performed. I filed a complaint with them but know it won't matter unless someone with more authority gets involved. Considering this is a genuine life-safety issue - with the risk being a fire to the engine compartment - and the language in the recall notice - that the remedy is now available and the service will take 1-2 hours (no implication of multiple visits/appointments) - I think this is absolutely unacceptable. Someone needs to ensure Kia prioritizes human lives above cost when it comes to safety recalls.

UNKNOWN....I just know it has a fire risk.

AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY. I transport my child in that car and kia is not working fast enough to be fixing the problem or giving people rental cars till they get the part.

Paint is peeling off top of my car and also along windshield and hood of my car.

2012 Kia Optima snow white pearl paint. A few months ago the paint started bubbling and then flaking off. There are areas all over the car with bubbles and missing paint. This is a latent defect in the paint process, not a warranty issue. Every area of the car is affected. Kia needs to accept responsibility for their defect and fix this paint problem.

THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WILL NOT RESTART. IT JUST DIES IN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A WIRING ISSUE AND NOONE CAN SEEM TO FIND IT BECAUSE IT STARTS AND THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHY AND MOST OF THE TIME IT WONT START

The white Pearl paint on my 2012 Kia optima ex is peeling all over the car. There are 4 spots that are peeling and getting worse. I’ve read numerous online forums about this issue and there is a latent defect with the paint

.I recently have actually found out about the recall concerning my engine. Manufacture SC148. NHTSA recall 17V224m I called a dealership. When I asked them about the recalls this one was not mentioned. I wanted to ensure I was reading that properly. Can you explain what that means as far as the engine

MY 2012 PEARL WHITE KIA OPTIMAS PAINT IS PEELING IN VARIOUS AREAS. LARGE AREAS OF PAINT WAS JUST MISSING WITHOUT PREVIOUS CHIPS. MY VEHICLE LOOKS HORRIBLE AND IS STARTING TO RUST IN SOME PLACES. BELOW YOU WILL FIND AN UPLOAD OF THE LARGEST PEEL ON MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER THERE ARE MORE!!

available for inspection front door latches, Driver and passenger, stick in down position and prevent closing of doors to latch. Someone who does notice could have a collision, be ejected, suddenly suprised and crash, break latches permanently. I contacted kia dealer, they said on Soul was recalled for same problem. Inspected by my insurance broker. Passenger side was December 2021, and driver side latch gave out june 2022.

Paint keeps chipping and the car bounces I have got it fixed twice and it’s still doing the same thing

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, the steering wheel seized in either direction with the electric power steering warning light illuminated. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. After multiple repeated failures, the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and the mechanic duplicated the failure. The vehicle was diagnosed with a defective steering column. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but there were no recalls on his vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle produced a grinding noise then lurched a few times every couple of minutes and then the engine shut down. Luckily I was able to safely coast to a stop while going downhill and stop the vehicle at the side of the road. Turned the engine off, waited one minute, then pushed ignition button. Hybrid system started but engine did not. Shifted to Drive, pressed accelerator, but vehicle would not proceed. Turned everything off and waited five minutes. Pushed ignition button and hybrid system and engine started and shifted to drive. Vehicle would drive at underpowered speed and was able to drive 2 miles home at 35 mph. As I drove into driveway, the engine shutdown again. This occurred just a few hours ago, so it has not been serviced by anyone.

I was coming home from work doing around 75 mph on cruise control when all of the sudden the car jerked violently and lost all power, the car behind me would’ve rear ended me if they weren’t paying attention. I just hold the throttle down to get home, misfiring terribly, and the best way I can describe, it smelled hot if that makes sense. I had it looked at and was told it doesn’t have compression in one of the cylinders and that it wasn’t covered under warranty or recall. So now I’m paying for a car that I can’t drive.

My pulley and belt went bad but still my engine making noises and my mechanic said it sounds like bearings are loose in my engine.

I was at a stop sign when my car shut off. Now it won't start. Took it in to check it out and found out that the motor seized up. I know that there is a recall on the engine for the same problem on other models. Not safe to be driving the cars. Could cause a major accident resulting in possible loss of lives. This model needs to be recalled before this happens to anyone else.

I was driving normal and started to hear a hissing noise in the front of vehicle. A vehicle cut in front of me I hit the brakes and another vehicle didn't slow fast enough and I went to hit the accelerator and had no power as usual and swerved to avoid the collision. I called dealership they said possibly my wastegate is out of normal voltage or need new turbo. I had a second opinion and they noticed the bolts and nut to service wastegate are rounded showing an attempt to maybe service or repair but unsuccessful. The turbo shows full function just inadequate boost.. The manufacturer has a bulletin and testing procedure Released on WASTEGATE test and adjusting procedure if needed as possible remedy. But I saw no recalls for my vehicle so reporting what I almost experienced and glad I have good driving experience to avoid an accident or life threatening situation behind the wheel of this vehicle now I don't feel safe until its proven resolved not just temporary fix.

When getting on oil change at myCarDoc they wrote the wrong mileage on my car so the CARFAX is off. My engine broke down randomly the other day on the highway and now I need a whole new engine..and to find out the mileage was off when getting maintenance done.

I'D HAD NO MECHANICAL ISSUES W/ MY VEHICLE, WHATSOEVER & ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS DONE ON TIME. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY & SUDDENLY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON & LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FEW DAYS, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, BY THE SERVICE TEAM THAT MY ENGINE WAS SHOT, BUT I WASN'T GIVEN AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AT THAT TIME ON THE HYBRID VEHICLES; HOWEVER, I JUST GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR MY OPTIMA HYBRID, DATED 1/27/2021 THAT DESCRIBED THE VERY THING THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH MY CAR. THIS PROMPTED ME TO VISIT THIS WEBSITE TO EXPLAIN MY ISSUE.

THE KIA GAVE NO WARNING ABOUT THE CAR HAVING ISSUES ABOUT THE ENGINE WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IT GAVE ME THE ERROR HYBRID BATTERY NOT CHARGING TO PULL OVER AND STOP DRIVING WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THE HYBRID THAT IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE THE CAR TURNS ON PUT WONT MOVE EVEN IF I PUT IT IN DRIVE OR IN REVERSE IT WON'T MOVE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT THE HYBRID BATTER NOT CHARGING AND THE SPECIALIST I HAD COME CHECK THE CAR TOLD ME ITS NOT THE HYBRID BATTERY HE CHANGED THE BATTERY TO SEE IT WOULD WORK BUT THE CAR STILL WON'T MOVE.

MY 2012 KIA IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. I LIVE IN A BUSY AREA AND THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I JUST GOT THE CAR FROM A USED DEALERSHIP AND MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR IT HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES AND NOW IT WILL NOT START.

DRIVING CAR FOR NO LONGER THAN 45 MINUTES. WHEN APPROACHING A GREEN LIGHT MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE LIGHT TURNED RED SO I HAD TO COME TO A STOP. AS I DID, ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY CAR SPUTTERED. THE CAR THEN TURNED OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART, BUT NOTHING. IT BEGAN TO SMOKE BADLY AND I RUSHED OUT OF MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS A COP, CONVENIENTLY CLOSE, WHO STOPPED AND POURED WATER WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. IT CONTINUED TO SMOKE BUT NOT AS BAD AS BEFORE. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER STILL AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER SITTING, WITH ENGINE OFF, THERE IS STILL A STING BURNT SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INSIDE MY CAR.

WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR ON A HIGHWAY MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I PULLED OVER AND IT WON'T START CUZ IT IS SEIZED UP. LUCKY FOR ME I COULD MAKE IT TO A OFF RAMP. TOWED IT AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS THE BEARINGS THAT ARE BAD AND I NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE AND I HAVE LESS THAN 50000 MILES ON THE CAR😤

CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL

MOST RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WITH VEHICLE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET (A STRAIGHT ROAD) IT ALL OF A SUDDEN DROPS POWER AND I AM UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT PUSH DOWN VERY HARD ON THE PEDAL UNTIL IT FINALLY DECIDES TO SPEED UP, ONCE THIS OCCURS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH AND DOES NOT DISAPPEAR AND WILL NOT DISAPPEAR UNTIL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE LOSS OF POWER CONTINUES TO HAPPEN UNTIL THE CAR IS POWERED OFF. AFTER REALIZING THIS ISSUE I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LET IT SIT A FEW MINUTES AND WHEN I POWERED BACK ON AND DROVE AGAIN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND THE TRACTION LIGHT REAPPEARED ON MY DASH. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A FAULTY PROGRAMMING ISSUE THAT IS TELLING THE CAR THE TRACTION IS NEEDED WHEN IT IS IN FACT NOT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THIS POWER LOSS WILL HAPPEN AND DOES SO IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WHICH SLOWS THE CAR WAY DOWN AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND ALSO HAVING TO CONTINUOUSLY KEEP THE ACCELERATOR DOWN UNTIL IT DECIDES TO REGAIN POWER IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WILL SUDDENLY RAMP UP THE RPM AND TAKE OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND COULD BE HAPPENING TO OTHER CONSUMERS.

BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FOR SOME TIME. WHEN PUSHING THE WINDOW UP, IT KEEPS GOING BACK DOWN. AFTER MENTIONING IT TO THE KIA DEALER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WELL, JUST YESTERDAY THE ENTIRE WINDOW MADE A CRACKING SOUND WHILE TRYING TO ROLL IT UP WHILE DRIVING. THEN THE ENTIRE WINDOW JUST FELL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND NOW IT WON'T GO UP AT ALL WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. NOT SURE IF IT CAME OFF THE TRACKS OR IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MOTOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF KIA OWNERS HAVE OR HAD THAT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS DEFINITELY SOME KIND OF DEFECT/PROBLEM IF SO MANY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

CAR BEING DRIVEN BY MY DAUGHTER SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH A PULL OVER AND SAFELY SHUT OFF VEHICLE WARNING. SHE HOWEVER COULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHOWED AN ERROR TO THE VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM. WE TOWED THE IMMOBILE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THEY REQUESTED THAT I ALLOW THEM TO REMOVE THE VALVE COVER TO CHECK ON BELTS. I APPROVED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY TO CHECK IN BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD. I WAS TOLD THE HYBRID PARTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP. NO REASON OR EXPLANATION, NO WARNING. MY CHILD COULD HAVE DIED DUE TO HER VEHICLE STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.

AC AIR CONDITIONING UNIT: WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE DAY 1. WHEN UTILIZING AC AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DURING HOT TEMPERATURES, FAN BEGINS TO BLOW HOT AND HUMID AIR EVEN AT THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE SETTING. THIS HAS OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ALWAYS STATE THAT THE UNIT IS WORKING AS IT IS DESIGNED. THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS TO BRING IT IN EACH TIME IT HAPPENS, WHICH IS ABSURD SINCE IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS AFTER THEY ARE CLOSED. WHEN I ASKED TO DIAGNOSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CORRELATES WITH THE AC UNIT, THEY STATE THAT I WOULD NEED TO AUTHORIZE THE WORK AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE. IT COULD TAKE 2 OR 4 HOURS. AT MECHANICAL RATE, THAT WOULD BE AROUND $500. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS ON AUGUST 28, 2019 WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 88000 MILES. I WILL TAKING IT BACK FOR WARRANTY ISSUE ON THE CLICKING OF THE STEERING AND WILL HAVE THEM DO THEIR BASIC DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE A TEAR OWN WOULD BE AT MY COST. BECAUSE I MAINTAIN MY CARS TO KEEP THEM BEYOND 100K MILES, I AM CONCERNED AT THE COST OF AN AC UNIT THAT HAS SHOWN TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WAS WILLING TO LIVE WITH LOOSE STEERING ISSUE, BUT THIS IS MORE PROBLEMATIC SINCE MY WIFE IS IN MENOPAUSE.

I HAVE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTING. I HAVE READ THROUGH SOME OF THE FORUMS AND SEE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF I HAVE THE POWER "ON" AND PUT IT IN DRIVE THEM BACK IN PARK IT STARTS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. I HAVE HAD THE STARTED AND BATTERY TESTED AND THEY ARE NOT MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE STATE OF UTAH. I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED SHAKING, FOLLOWED BY A STALL ON THE ENGINE THAT FORCED ME TO SLOW DOWN AND PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED BUT I HEARD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. NOW THE CAR WON'T TURN ON.

THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX CONTINUOUSLY SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE DONE BASIC MAINTANCE AND NON HAVE SOLVED THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AMONGS OTHER INVOLVING ME AND MY CAR.

I'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX SINCE I PURCHASED IN 2014 LIKE CLOCKWORK. LAST MONTH, I EXPERIENCED ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY ROADS AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE GAS PEDAL. I FRANTICALLY PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN TRIED TO START IT, ONLY TO BE MET WITH A WEIRD SOUND AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. MY STARTER WAS FRIED, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND WHEN HE CHANGED THE STARTER, THE NEW STARTER BURNED AGAIN AS WELL AS THE ENGINE LOCKED UP/SEIZED. AFTER FINDING OUT A RECALL (SC147) WAS ACTIVE AT THE TIME, I CALLED KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE ISSUES AFTER CONFIRMING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ONCE I PICKED MY CAR UP, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS STARTING UP IN AN ODD MANNER BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ABOUT 3-4 DAYS LATER, MY CAR DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE FIRST TIME (SAME SMELL, SOUND, AND SMOKE CLOUD BUT LUCKILY I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME). I ASSUMED THE STARTER WOULD BE A PART OF THE RECALL SINCE IT BROKE DOWN THE EXACT SAME TIME AS THE RECALLED ENGINE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO KIA, WHO TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR A NEW STARTER EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE RECALL CAUSED IT TO BURN UP IN THE FIRST PLACE AND IS CONSIDERED A COMPONENT OF THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AGAIN AND THE CASE WAS GIVEN TO AN ESCALATION MANAGER. I HAD TO SPEAK TO ABOUT 8 DIFFERENT AGENTS AND PUT AN EMAIL IN ACTION TO HER SUPERVISOR TO GET HER TO EVEN CONTACT ME ON THIS ISSUE. IT TOOK HER ALMOST A FULL MONTH TO CONTACT AND TELL ME KIA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STARTER. I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY STARTER UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILED. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET KIA TO SEE WHO IS REALLY AT FAULT. MY MECHANIC ALSO STATED THIS IS THE 1ST TIME HE'S EVER SEEN THOSE 2 PARTS BREAK SIMULTANEOUSLY.

LOCKED OUT OF CAR AUTOMATICALLY WHILE KEY IS IN THE CAR ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (JULY 2018), I WAS EN ROUTE AND STOPPED BRIEFLY, GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH IT RUNNING WHILE THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE CAR. AS SOON AS I CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR DOORS LOCKED ME OUT AUTOMATICALLY. THIS WAS INCONVENIENT AND CAUSED MUCH DISTRESS BECAUSE I WAS AWAY FROM HOME PICKING UP MY INFANT CHILD FROM PRESCHOOL, AND DID NOT HAVE THE SECOND KEY AVAILABLE. THIS WAS ALSO EMBARRASSING AS MY PHONE ALSO WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE (DECEMBER 2018), I USED THE REMOTE START TO START THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER I PUT MY INFANT CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT AND CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF AND ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. MY KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR WITH MY CHILD. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS COLDER THAN 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAD TO WAIT OVER 30 MINUTES TO GET MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. THIS IS NOT JUST CONCERNING, IT IS NEGLIGENT FOR THE MANUFACTURERS OF THIS CAR TO PUT UNSUSPECTING CAR OWNERS IN THIS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE POSITION. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I THOUGHT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND MANY ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS SIMILAR TO MINE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME OWNER AWARENESS ISSUED ON HOW TO RECTIFY THIS AND RESOLVING THIS ALL TOGETHER.

THE MORNING OF JULY 19TH, 2018, I WAS DRIVING MY KIA OPTIMA TO WORK. I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON INTERSTATE 20 AND WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT MOST LANE DURING RUSH HOUR. MY SUNROOF SHADE WAS OPEN BUT MY ACTUAL SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. SUDDENLY I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN GOING OFF IN MY CAR WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED AND SOMEHOW, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FAIRLY STRAIGHT WITHOUT JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSING A MULTI CAR PILEUP. GLASS WAS FLYING AROUND INSIDE MY CAR, ALL OVER ME, THE SEATS, FLOORBOARDS, AND CONSOLE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE SO THAT I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER I EXITED THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD A HOLE THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL PROTRUDING OUTWARD. I LOOKED AROUND INSIDE THE CAR AND NOTHING BUT SHARDS OF GLASS COVERED MOST OF THE INTERIOR. I THEN GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND SHUT THE SUNROOF SHADE SO NO MORE GLASS WOULD FALL INSIDE THE CAR AND PULLED OFF THE NEAREST EXIT, WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE TO MY OFFICE LOCATION. ONCE AT WORK I SEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OTHER KIA OPTIMA OWNERS AND AS IT TURNS OUT IT APPEARED TO BE A WELL-KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SAFETY RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPLODING SUNROOFS AND WAS TOLD 'NO'. HE SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT THEY SOMETIMES OCCUR BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT INCURRED INJURY'S OR EXPENSES (JUST AGGRAVATION AND INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE I HAD A SECOND VEHICLE TO DRIVE) I FEEL THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO REPORT THIS OCCURRING DUE TO IT BEING VERY UNSAFE. THE AVERAGE DRIVER PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PULLED THE WHEEL AND POSSIBLY BEEN KILLED OR INJURED THEMSELVES OR AND OTHERS. APPARENTLY, KIA DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS, THEREFORE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FORCE THEM TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.

I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK (12 MILES), PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (VEHICLE TURNED OFF, NOT RUNNING) AND WALKED INSIDE. I SAT DOWN AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES I HEARD A LOUD POP, I LOOKED OUTSIDE TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE CAR HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND AND HAD MELTED ALL OF THE SIDING OFF OF THE FRONT OF MY GARAGE.

MOTOR IS LOCKED UP,SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED

WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AT A SPEED OF 45MPH WE LOST ENGINE POWER AND BRAKES. UPON THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPING, BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES BEGIN TO SPREAD FROM THE ENGINE. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY AN OFF DUTY DEPUTY THAT HE WAS GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN HE SAW US WITH A FIRE UNDERNEATH OUR VEHICLE WHILE STILL MOVING. THE VEHICLE ULTIMATELY WENT UP IN FLAMES ALONG WITH EVERYTHING WE HAD INSIDE.

THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR IS FLOODED DUE TO A CLOGGED PIPE OR DISCONNECTED PIPE. WATER IS POURING OUT INTO MY CAR AND NOT SMALL AMOUNTS BUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ON THE BASE OF MY FLOOR.

THIS STARTED A WEEK AGO THAT WHEN I WOULD TURN RIGHT, BY DOOR OPEN INDICATOR WOULD COME ON FOR MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON AND OFF, MORE ON THAN OFF. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS INTERSTATE DRIVING OR IN TOWN. AND IF I AM STOPPED IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME ON, THEN UNLOCK MY DOORS BECAUSE OF THEKEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO HERB CHAMBERS KIA SERVICE CENTER (BURLINGTON, MA) ON 6/22 FOR OIL CHANGE AND REPAIR OF 2 RECALL ITEMS. ON THE SUMMARY THEY GAVE ME AFTERWARDS IT SAID, "PART IS BEING ORDERED WILL CONTACT CUSTOMER WHEN PART ARRIVES" SO IT IS NOW ALMOST 7WKS LATER AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM RE MY PART COMING IN TO FIX THE RECALL ..SO I JUST CALLED THEM. THEY SAID IF THERE'S A BACK ORDER THEY SOMETIMES "CANCEL" THE ORDER AND WILL REORDER THE PART TOMORROW. WELL I AM MOVING ON AUG 31 (TO NEAR NH LINE) AND STILL DON'T KNOW IF MY PART IS ON BACK ORDER OR THEY CANCELED AND NEED TO ORDER THE PART AGAIN. WHEN I ASKED, THE LADY SAID THEY WON'T KNOW "UNTIL TOMORROW OR THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW" I ASKED IF THEY WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW FOR AN UPDATE. I THINK IT IS A CANISTER I NEED (NOT SURE - SEE PHOTO OF SERVICE SUMMARY). ANYWAY STILL WAITING (MEANWHILE GETTING LOTS OF LETTERS RE IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL SAYING MY CAR NEEDS SERVICE TO BE SAFE!)

AIR CONDITIONING QUITS WORKING WHILE SITTING STILL. DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN AND OTHERS. QUITS IMMEDIATELY AT RED LIGHT OR IN PARK.

CLOCKSPRING MALFUNCTIONING IN STEERING WHEEL WHICH IS IMPACTING THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY.

LEATHER ON DOOR HANDLES ARE PEELING.

PURCHASED A USED 2012 KIA OPTIMA ON 5/18/15 WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT FROM A KIA DEALERSHIP WHICH CERTIFIED THAT THE ENGINE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR WAS SERVICED FOR OIL CHANGES AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS. THE LAST OIL CHANGE OCCURRED ON 5/24/2016 FOR WHICH I PROVIDED A JIFFY LUBE RECEIPT. THE ENGINE FAILED ON 7/4/2016 AT WHICH TIME THE CAR HAD 39,520 MILES. PRIOR TO THE OIL CHANGE ON 5/24/2016 I HAD THE OIL CHANGED ON 2/26/2016 FOR WHICH I PROVIDED A HAND WRITTEN RECEIPT AS THE GARAGE IS NOT A NATIONAL CHAIN AND DOESN'T HAVE COMPUTERIZED RECEIPTS. KIA MOTORS IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SAID I DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT PROOF OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I PROVIDED THEM WITH THE PROOF I HAD REGULARLY MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE BUT THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT IT. THIS CAR SHUT OFF AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION. A NOTICE FLASHED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE WHICH I DID. THE CAR RESTARTED AND I DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES AND IT CUT OFF AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT RESTART . I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A WARRANTY BULLETIN 2016-09 ON THIS ENGINE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO TEN YEARS 120,000 MILES . THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND ARE DENYING CUSTOMER'S WARRANTIES BY REJECTING PROOF OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE THUS NOT FULFILLING THEIR WARRANTY . THEY POSITION IS THE OIL WAS DARK BUT I LOOKED AT THE OIL AND ENGINE AND IT LOOKS FINE TO ME... IT'S DARK BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN NOT BECAUSE OF NEGLECT.

I OWN A 2012 KIA OPTIMA ON APRIL 5, 2016 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. AT THE TIME I WAS DRIVING ON CLINE AVENUE (912). I WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORMAL. THERE WERE NO CAR AROUND ME TO HIT ME THERE WAS NO FALLING DEBRIS FROM ANYWHERE. I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND AND WHEN I LOOKED UP I SAW MY SUNROOF WITH A HUGE HOLE AND TWO MORE LOUD POPS CAME AFTER THAT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE CONTACTED KIA USA THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH THEM. THEY HAVE NOT OWNED UP TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN THEIR VEHICLES (2011 -2015). I DISCOVERED THIS WHILE RESEARCHING ON LINE. ONCE THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND WHERE I HAVE IT SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY HELD MY CAR FROM MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016 UNTIL FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016. NOTHING WAS DONE TO IT. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY WERE INSTRUCTED TO HOLD IT SO THEY COULD AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CAR. I HAVE GIVEN 3 DEPOSITIONS OVER THE PHONE TO KIA WITH A PROMISE THAT SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK TO ME SOON. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET. IN THE MEAN TIME I HAD TO GIVE THE DEALER SHIP A DEPOSIT SO THEY COULD ORDER THE GLASS TO FIX THE SUNROOF. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT WILL COST $440.00 FOR THE CLASS AND $80.00 DOLLARS LABOR. THIS MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH, BUT TO ME IT IS AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN I WAS DOING MY RESEARCH ON-LINE I FOUND ARTICLE OF OTHERS CAR MAKERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER GLASS AND SINCE THE TOTAL COST IS $520 AND MY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE IS $500. SO THIS IS MONEY I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET AND PRESENTLY I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A PIECE OF PLASTIC FOR A ROOF.

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.

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.

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.

I WAS HIT IN THE BACK WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA AND TURNED A CORNER AND MY KNEE PRESSED ON DRIVERS DOOR AND THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN EVER SINCE. IT IS AN ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID DOOR WAS NOT ADEQUATELY INSTALLED. IT WAS FIXED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED A FEW MONTHS AGO BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK THE DOOR.