2012 KIA OPTIMA Service Brakes Problems

ABS system failing

While in park and driving the instrument panel will show, "Check Brake" and "Hybrid System Warning! Safely Stop and Do not Drive". This is accompanied by the engine not responding to the gas pedal. The brake pedal will also loose pressure and once pushed the brakes will lock up making a grinding noise. The problem has not been able to be duplicated by the dealer. However there are multiple forms and online communities dedicated to try to resolve this issue since it's so prevalent. This issue causes a major saftey hazard as the car comes to a grinding halt and does not respond to the driver. From online sources it seems the problem is prevalent across years and models and only tied to hybrid vehicles.

Car simply started for me after work this past Thursday @4 pm I dove down the street and for about 5 mins and had to turn around due to me leaving something at work. When I arrived back at work I parked and cut my car off as I normally do and when I returned to start it back up it never did. I have previously been having to add 5 quarts of oil frequently at least once or twice a month for the past 7 months since last year. Was told my car had an oil consumption problem by a previous mechanical shop last year. Noticed that these cars have recalls on them and that my car and year do fit the requirements. I do owned my car with the Title in hand. It’s NOT a salvaged title. I have a service appointment on the 24th of June next Tuesday at Kia of Gastonia located in Gastonia, NC. I have to get my car towed to this establishment on Monday or the morning of my appointment. I’m asking that this situation can be properly investigated and properly and honestly handled under KIA policy. My name is [XXX] my # is [XXX] thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The car instrument panel showed two messages "check brake " and also "hybrid system warning safely stop and do not drive" The brakes stopped working and the car will not accelerate. I stopped reset the battery and started the car as if nothing was wrong. this happens intermittently when i drive the car for over an hour. the brakes are brand new the brake cylinder is working fine. only when this warning come up the brakes feel like they are grinding. a lot of owners are complaining about this. I am wondering if there is a recall for this issue.

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke started to enter the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated a bystander yelled at her telling her that the vehicle was on fire, and the contact exited the vehicle. The vehicle then exploded. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report and a fire department report were filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, and then it was towed to a Kia dealer. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by Kia. The contact was relating the failure to an NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) letter she received. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

While driving will will get “hybrid system. Warning check brakes”. Car will loose acceleration. After turning car off for five minutes, error goes away and car drives. Happens for no reason and has occurred 4 times in the last week

While driving down the highway the cars Hybrid warning system came on causing the car to lose all breaks and lose power. The component of the vehicle that failed is the HECU. Kia already did a recall for this but did not include the hybrids for the recall. This is very unsafe losing all breaking power, driving 65 mph down the highway with my children in the car! There was absolutely no warning, no check engine lights nothing. I had it towed to the dealership and upon them driving it, it also cut completely out and did it to the person at the dealership. This is going to cause someone to lose their life and when you call Kia, it’s the same run around that your year wasn’t included in the recall yet there was a whole lawsuit about this.

Because the brake stopper or brake switch are messed up and my brake tail light stays on all night causing it to drain the battery If the car is braking while I’m driving it and the traction control light comes on and the speed is decreasing as I’m driving because the car is braking on it’s own it has nothing to do with the lights Nor the battery the root of the issue is the brake line because the tail light will not cut off because the brakes are still engaged even when the car is off causing the tail lights to stay on so the lights is what is draining the battery the lights stay on all night in a car the battery dies but the battery nor the lights is the issue it’s the brakes

I was driving ~40-45, mph and my car stopped on its own, a warning ⚠️ came up in the dash regarding ABS and to stop and not drive, luckily no one ran into me and I was able to pull over. I called a service center and they told me I could bring it in and they would do a diagnostic. I turned the car off and back on, the message was gone and my husband came and followed me to the shop. They ran the history and it was a code for ABS, they reset it and I was on my way. Not long after, I started hearing what sounded like a woodpecker under the hood and loud, while the car was on, in route and off. I took it in and service center was unable to diagnose/duplicate the noise and was told I would have to leave it, however, due to not having another means of transportation, I was unable to leave it. Twice more it gave me the ABS dash warning with stop and do not drive. I took it in and was told it Brake booster/ABS was making a noise, however, I need to take it to Kia for further assessment, which is not for 11 more days. According to accounts read online, this is a common issue and is dangerous for a car to stop you while driving.

I was driving on the highway and all of sudden my car started decelerating. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed the brake lights were illuminated although I was NOT pressing the brake pedal.

My engine went out on my 2012 Kia optima hybrid in 2022. I was not aware of a recall on the engines. We paid for repair. Can we get reimbursed? Also we are now having issues with the braking system and the abs light is coming on. I see that there is a recall on this. Can this get repaired? I uploaded receipt well bank statement showing purchase from Martin imports in the amount of $1391. And we were charged $700 to put motor in.

My car keeps slowing down while driving. The breaks are squeaking and rubbing and making a loud sound. The lights keeping coming up on the dash board

The anti lick brake symbol is showing on my dash board this has happened for about 4 weeks

My engine failed. Dick Withams here in Waterloo, IA was paid by Kia to replace engine for free due to my warranty. Dick Withams rushed the process and allowed me back on the road with no coolant plug( which was detected immediately) I returned the car and Dick Withams attached a plug so my coolant wouldn't spill over on the ground. Every time I pressed my brakes THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SOUND LIKE MY DRIVE AXIAL WAS NOT PUT TOGETHER WHEN Putting the engine back. Kia is allowing Mechanics to fix these recalls of MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES FOR myself and my family. I then returned vehicle to Cedar Falls, IA Dick Withams to fix issue Friday morning. They have yet to communicate anything with me. Now I'm just without a vehicle even though it's covered under warranty. It should be against the law for the car dealership to return a recalled engine without driving the car to see if they rushed the service and failed to put vehicle back together CORRECTLY.

The brake light stays on.. causing the battery to drain. Even the vehicle is completely stopped / ignition off.

While in cruise control hitting the breaks resulted in the car not wanting to slow down or stop. Had to go off road inorder to not hit vehicles in front of me. I turned off ABS and this issue isn't there. I have no warnings for my ABS system and this doesn't happen often. However it's getting worse now this is the worse it has ever been.

BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY,CHANGED PADS BUT STILL SAME PROBLEM. A NOISE ON ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SPEED MORE THAN 65-70 MPH. DRIVERS SEAT DON'T WORK PROPERLY.

Mileage: 20

BRAKES SQUICK EVEN AFTER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT AND HAS A SLOWER RESPONSE TIME THEN USUAL AND CAUSED A REAR END ACCIDENT, COOLING AND HEATED SEATS STOPPED WORKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH I MET OWNERS OF MY EXACT CAR SAID THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM, AND THE PASSENGER SEAT CONTROLLERS DOESN'T WORK TO OPERATE ADJUSTABLE SEATS! THE SUSPENSIONS HAS BEEN BAD EVERY SINCE THE RECALL ON THE ENGINE; FOR SOME REASON IT WAS GIVING BACK TO ME WITH THAT PROBLEM FROM KIA DEALERSHIP. BACK-UP CAMERA IS MALFUNCTIONING FOR YEARS NOW AND CAR DOESN'T EVEN BEEP WHEN GETTING TOO CLOSE TO OBJECTS/OTHER VEHICLES ANYMORE EITHER FOR YEARS! I'M JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THE PROCESS, RECALL LAWS AND RIGHT TO AN INVESTIGATION.*DT*JB

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LAMPS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF HOWEVER, THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE BRAKE LAMPS OFF, WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKE ACTIVATE RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING THE ABS BRAKE SIGNAL ON DASHBOARD,WHILE IN MOTION AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE AND HAS MADE THE VEHICLE COME TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP. EVEN IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT INCREASE SPEED, ONLY DECREASE. THE ISSUE HAPPENS 8/10 TIMES WHILE MAKING TURNS AND APPROX 5/10 WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON FREEWAY . THIS HAPPENED ON 11/08/2019 IN THE EVENING, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO KIA AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR FOR 20 MILES AND DIDN'T SEE OR EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES. MY CAR IS A 2012 AND ONLY HAS 58, 388 MILES. I DEMANDED THEY KEEP LOOKING BUT THEY CAUGHT AN ATTITUDE LIKE I MADE THE SCENARIO UP AND ANY STATED THAT I SHOULD DRIVE THE CAR WITH THEIR MECHANIC AS THEY "CANNOT REPLICATE MY DRIVING", LIKE I'M DRIVING IN THE [XXX] INDY 500. SINCE IT IS NOW SUNDAY, AND THE DEALER IS CLOSED IT WILL BE SITTING IN THEIR SERVICE CENTER MONDAY MORNING! PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Mileage: 58,388

I WAS DRIVING 60-70 MPH WHEN MY HYBRID SYSTEM ALERTED ME THAT MY BREAKS WERE AN ISSUE. I THEN TRIED TO SLOW AND COULD NOT. THE CAR SLOWED ITSELF AS A SAFTY PROCAUTION BUT I WAS IN 70 MPH TRAFFIC. NOT SAFE. IT WOULD NOT COMPLETELY STOP SO I WAS FORCED WITH THE OPTION OF HITTING A TREE TO MAKE IT STOP. KIA SAYS THAT IT MY BREAKS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE SINCE. I HAVE MY CAR WORKED ON REPEATEDLY TO AVOID THIS AND NOW LOOK? SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE.

Mileage: 140

VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKE ACTIVATE RANDOMLY ILLUMINATING THE ABS BRAKE SIGNAL ON DASHBOARD,WHILE IN MOTION AND WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE AND HAS MADE THE VEHICLE COME TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP. EVEN IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT INCREASE SPEED, ONLY DECREASE. THE ISSUE HAPPENS 8/10 TIMES WHILE MAKING TURNS AND APPROX 5/10 WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON FREEWAY . THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS. FOR EXAMPLE ON FRIDAY 10/11/19 THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED, CAUSING THE CAR TO COME TO A SUDDEN DECELERATION 12 TIMES WITHIN A 30 MILE DISTANCE. THE LOCAL DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. VEHICLE JUST HIT 127,000 MILES. SECOND OWNER SINCE 32,000 MILES. REGULARLY SERVICED AND PROFESSIONAL MAINTENANCE.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES LOST POWER AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND REMAINED LIT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE BY AAA. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE CONTACT CALLED TEXAS MOTORCARS HOUSTON TEXAS AT 832-794-0499 (LOCATED AT 11031 BISSONNET ST, HOUSTON, TX 77099), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 65,000

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONING. BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME RENDERING CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INOPERABLE. LOSS OF POWER IN ENGINE AS IT THINKS BRAKES ARE APPLIED MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ROOT CAUSE IS BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER (KIA PART 32876-36000) DEVELOPING A PUNCTURE HOLE OVER TIME MAKING THE BRAKE SWITCH BELIEVE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. KNOWN ISSUE ON OTHER KIA MODELS. BELIEVE THE SORENTO ALREADY HAVE A RECALL FOR SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR.

Mileage: 77,770

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE (BRAKE) ON ITS OWN. WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE MY CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DECELERATE WHILE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. IT HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND WITHIN SECONDS DECELERATED TO ABOUT 40 MPH WITHOUT EVER PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. DUE TO THIS IT APPEARS MY "TRACTION CONTROL" WARNING INDICATOR BECOMES ILLUMINATED. I AM AWARE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT SAME THING BUT ONLY FOR THE 2012-2014 KIA FORTE (RECALL NUMBER 17V773000). THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE/HAZARD FOR WHICH THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA AS WELL.

Mileage: 120,000

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON 10/05/2018 FOR CHANGE OIL, FRONT BRAKES AND RECALL CAMPAIGN. BUT IT LOOKS IT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS PANEL LIGHT IS ON AND THE BRAKES NEVER FEEL THIGHS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB DONE. I LET THE DEALER KNOW ABOUT IT BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME JUST TO CHECK AND FIX. WHEN BEFORE IT WASN'T LIKE THAT

MY CAR HAS TWO RECALLS AND THE CAR STOP UNSTABLE.

BRAKELIGHTS COME ON, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. WHEN BRAKELIGHTS CAME ON DURING DRIVING, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE BRAKE. APPARENTLY THE KIA FORTE 2012-2014 HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT NONE HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE OPTIMA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY LOSES ACCELERATION POWER. VERY DANGEROUS, SPECIALLY WHEN MERGING OR PASSING ON AN EXPRESSWAY.

Mileage: 75,000

BRAKE SWITCH RECALLED ON 2011 MODELS, BUT MY 2012 WILL NOT START MOSTLY WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE, BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS AND WONT DECOMPRESS FOR ENGINE TO START, PUSH BUTTN WONT START CAR BRAKE LIGHTS DONT WORK. VEHICLE WILL LEAVE STRANDED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WILL WORK AND THEN NOT WORK, INTERMITTEN.

Mileage: 3,000

TRAVELING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, APPROACHED SLOWING/STOPPED TRAFFIC. ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BUT ROADWAY WAS SLIPPERY, ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE HAD TO RESORT TO PUMPING BRAKES AND STEERING TO AVOID ACCIDENT. WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. NON OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COMPARTMENT INTRUSION INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED.

Mileage: 134,000

2 DAY AGO I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR START ACTING WEIRD LIKE IT WANTED TO STOP, I PAID NO MIND. SO THEN THAT NIGHT COMING HOME FROM WORK IT START ACTING UP AGAIN, THIS TIME I SAW MY BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON AND MY CAR STARTED SLOWING FIWN. I HAD LOST ACCELERATION I HAD NO RESPONSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I WOULD STEP ON MY BRAKES THEN RELEASE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED THE WHOLE 45 MINS BACK HOME. SO THE NEXT MORNING I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR STOPPER WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE KIA FORTE. BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAPPEN TO THE KIA AS WELL. IT IS VERY DENGEROUS TRYING TO DRIVE LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY.

Mileage: 110,000

BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON WHEN CAR WAS OFF CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID IT NEEDED NEW BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR $160 TO REPLACE

Mileage: 58,000

BREAK LIGHTS STAY ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN PARKED AND EVEN WHEN IN MONTION EVERY TIME.

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD RANDOMLY DISENGAGE WHILE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET. WHEN I FIRST PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR STARTED TO GO AND THEN SUDDENLY I LOST ALL ACCELERATION. I LET MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PUSHED BACK DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO GO. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC FOR SEVERAL EXTRA SECONDS LONGER THAN NECESSARY. A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIME AND WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME I NOTICED THAT BRAKE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE SENSOR WHICH FIXED ALL OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO NOT THAT HYUNDAI ISSUED A RECALL ON THE NEARLY IDENTICAL SONATA FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND DID SO YEARS AGO AND YET NOTHING FOR THE OPTIMA.

Mileage: 74,000

BRAKE PEDAL RELEASING AS I AM PUSHING DOWN ON IT COMING TO A STOP. HARD TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP AT TIMES. CAR IS MISSING ON ACCELERATION. CAMERA DOES NOT WORK 80-90% OF THE TIME. A/C STOPS WORKING WHEN SITTING STILL OR PARKED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,538. UPDATED 10/25/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED: WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL, WITH BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, GETTING READY TO STOP AT STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY TO A SPEED OF 30 TO 35 MPH. I DID NOT ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I DID SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE UNCONTROLLABLY. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH MY FOOT AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAD OCCURED. I DID TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON AUG.11,2017. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. UPDATED 10/3/18*JB

Mileage: 23,538

MY KIA OPTIMA ABS SYSTEM WILL RANDOMLY MAKE A CRUNCH SOUND WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, AND I LOSE SOME ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAYS WHERE I HAVE TO FEAR CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. KIA DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE, THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A DAY AND REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN AND SENT ME HOME, ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR AGAIN THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

Mileage: 77,000

ON APRIL 5TH 2017, MY KIA OPTIMA STARTED TO MAKE A HORRIBLE SOUND. I WAS ON HWY 26 HEADED INTO PORTLAND OR. GOING THROUGH THE TUNNEL, AS I WAS GOING INTO THE TUNNEL THE HORRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE STARTED. THERE WAS CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND CARS BEHIND ME. THIS WAS AT 4:30 AM.. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON, I HAD NO BRAKES, NO STEERING AND NO WAY TO ACCELERATE. DRIFTED TO THE SIDE AND HAD IT TOWED.

Mileage: 110,000

2012 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH & WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE/BRAKE. RECENTLY WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE WITH NO ITEMS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE ISSUE...UPDATED 10/04/16 *BF *TR

Mileage: 75,000

JUST BOUGHT MY CAR THIS YEAR WITH 26350 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT GOT TO 30000 NEEDED NEW TIRES. THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY TURN IT OFF. THEN WHEN I DRIVE IT AND IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. IT HAS BROKE DOWN ON THE ROAD FOUR TIMES. TWICE I CALLED ROAD SIDE HELP THE OTHER TWO TIMES SOMEONE HAS HELPED ME. IT RUNS HOT BECAUSE IT IS BUBBLING IF I DRIVE FOR MORE THEN A HOUR. BOUGHT THE CAR FROM POWER OF BOWSER

Mileage: 31,000

I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID OF WHICH I PURCHASED AT THE LOCAL KIA DEALER (ONTARIO, CA) AND EVEN PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL "PLATINUM 100K MILE PROTECTION." ON DECEMBER 31ST MY CAR STARTED TO MOVE WHILE IN PARK AND THE IGNITION ON. I HIT THE BREAKS AND THERE WAS NO BREAK PRESSURE AT ALL. THE CAR STARTED TO FLASH CODES REGARDING THE BRAKES AND I HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE AND RETURNED THE CAR. ANOTHER MONTH LATER THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AND I VIDEO TAPED IT. THE GAUGES STARTED ILLUMINATING AND DELLUMINATING REPEATEDLY AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH STARTED TO FLASH. THE "CHECK BRAKE" CODE CAME UP AGAIN! I NOW HAVE PROOF OF THE VEHICLE DOING THIS AND BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER NOW THEY HAVE ADMITTED SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT THEY'RE STILL UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ERROR. THEY ARE KEEPING THE CAR FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS BUT HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING BUT TELL ME THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT YET AND THAT MY WARRANTY "MAY NOT" COVER IT. THEY HAVE TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT OR DO ANYTHING FOR ME UNTIL THEY KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, NOR HAVE THEY OFFERED ME A RENTAL CAR. I WANT MY CAR BACK BUT IT IS UNSAFE! WHAT IF THE BRAKES GO OUT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED?! PLEASE HELP ME NHTSA SO WE CAN SAVE LIVES OF OTHERS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 77,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR, ABS, AND THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH AND DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

Mileage: 18,000

WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 5MPH, BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO STOP VEHICLE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOST PUMP- 3 TIMES, THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP- 1 TIME, AND THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH- 1 TIME. NONE OF THESE FIXES HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 4,550

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM TRAFFIC SIGNAL, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED BRAKE BOOST PUMP BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, NO OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. VEHICLE BEING REPORTED TO THE STATE UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

Mileage: 2,490

WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AT 40MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED AND NO OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. LIGHT RESET WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. NO STORED CODES FOR THE FAULT. STILL WAITING FOR KIA MOTOR COMPANY TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND KIA CONTACT ON WEBSITE IS INOPERABLE, SO UNABLE TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *TR

Mileage: 2,226

WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM STOP LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NO OTHER INDICATORS, NO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY, BUT HAD NO SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS TRIED SEVERAL THINGS TO FIX PROBLEM WITH NO RESULTS: 1ST TIME- CHECKED FOR STORED CODE. NO CODES STORED. RESET LIGHT BY RESTARTING CAR 2ND TIME- DISCONNECTED/RECONNECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT BRAKE BOOST PUMP. RESET LIGHT 3RD TIME- REPLACED BRAKE BOOST PUMP 4TH TIME- REPLACED PARKING BRAKE SWITCH AT THE CURRENT TIME, DEALERSHIP HAS NO SOLUTIONS, OR POSSIBLE FIXES FOR THE ILLUMINATING BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT. AWAITING CONTACT FROM DEALERSHIP WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTION. *TR

Mileage: 1,908

WHILE ACCELERATING TO 45 MPH, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON. NO OTHER INDICATIONS NOTED. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT NEW BRAKE BOOST PUMP MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND WANTS TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. PART IS ON ORDER. *TR

Mileage: 2,103

WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ON. DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOST PUMP LESS THAN 300 MILES EARLIER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH. *TR

Mileage: 1,707

06/18/12- WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND VEHICLE RESTARTED. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER WHO HAD NO SOLUTIONS. *JS 06/27/12- WHILE ACCELERATING UP A HILL, 30MPH, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL VEHICLE RESTARTED. TOOK TO DEALER WITH LIGHT ILLUMINATED, NO STORED CODES, AND NO SOLUTIONS. 07/02/12- WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DURING SUDDEN STOP, DUE TO TRAFFIC, ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE, VEHICLE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL LEFT. CALL MADE TO DEALER. WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD RESPOND. NO RESPONSE. *JS

Mileage: 518