RoadVitals

2006 Kia Optima Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Oct 11, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 155 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Kia Optima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 11, 2018

I HAVE AN 06 OPTIMA (06.5/ MS) 2.4 ENGINE BUT THE PROBLEM IM HAVING JUGING FROM KIA INTERNET FORUMS IS SPREAD ACROS MENEY YEARS AND MODELS IT IS AN INTERMITANT ENGINE STALL IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME IVE HAD IT HAPPEN AT 65MPH ON INTERSTATE THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF START STALL THEN IT WILL RUN FINE FOR A WHILE IVE HAD A COMPLETE WIRE HARNESS CHECK REACED SEVERAL SENSORS AND OTHER PARTS NOTHING HAS CURED THE PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY KIA BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT NOT AFTER.THIS IS A TOTALLY RANDOM HAPPENING

NHTSA ID
11139710
Incident
Oct 10, 2018
Mileage
240,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 2, 2018

2006 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CLUTCH AND ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AND OFF. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID
11056508
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 11, 2016

"FIRST" TIME PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS JULY 3, 2016 WITH MY 2006 KIA OPTIMA. I WAS SB ON HWY I25 IN CS, CO. SPEEDOMETER READ 25MPH AS I WAS COMING OFF THE ON-RAMP. I ACCELERATED TO 40MPH INTO FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I FELT A LURCH & THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. SPEED WENT FROM 40MPH TO ABOUT 60 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. BREAKING DID NOT SLOW IT DOWN. I FELT CAR WAS GOING OUT OF CONTROL. MY PASSENGER REACHED OVER & TURNED IGNITION SWITCH OFF & ON QUICKLY, TO DECELERATE & ACCELERATE. THIS HELPED CAR SLOW DOWN WHEN KEY WAS TURNED OFF TO THE FIRST CLICK & HELPED MAINTAIN AN ADJUSTED SPEED AS TRAFFIC WAS IN-FRONT & IN-BACK. WE KEPT DOING THIS UNTIL CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER. KEY WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF & CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANICS. DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED USING ENGINE ANALYZER. IT WAS ROAD TESTED MULTIPLE TIMES & DIDN'T IT DUPLICATE MY EXPERIENCE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN SEPT.10, 2016 AS I, AGAIN, ENTERED HWY I25 SO.I WAS DRIVING ALONE. MY SPEEDOMETER WAS 40 MPH, IN HEAVY HWY TRAFFIC. I ONCE AGAIN "FELT" LURCH OF CAR. THIS TIME IT "STUCK" AT 40 MPH. IT DIDN'T SLOW DOWN WHEN I BRAKED, IT CONTINUED AT 40 MPH. I CONTINUED TO BRAKE & SPEED DID SLOW A BIT. MY FOOT WAS TOTALLY DOWN ON BREAK WHEN IT WAS STILL AUTO ACCELERATING AT THE HWY EXIT RAMP; NOW SLOWED TO 26 MPH AS I CONTINUED HOLDING BRAKE DOWN. FINALLY SPEED WAS DOWN TO 23MPH AS I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT (NO CARS WERE MOVING IN & OUT AT THE TIME). I TURNED THE KEY OFF COMPLETELY; MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE & THE CAR CAME TO A LURCHING HAUL AT THAT TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT. I WAITED ABOUT A MINUTE & THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SLOT. I STARTED IT & VERY SLOWLY DROVE HOME, BUT NOT ON THE HWY. I MAINTAINED SPEED OF 25-30MPH. IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 1K BETWEEN THE 2 INCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID
10905623
Incident
Sep 10, 2016
Mileage
103,083 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 25, 2014

I WENT TO GO SHOPPING, AND AT THE SECOND STOP SIGN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I STOPPED. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE GAS PEDAL WHEN PUSHED WOULD NOT LET THE ENGINE GO FAST ENOUGH TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH, THEN I NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED MY ENGINE AND ITS FLUIDS, COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG. SO I STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN, AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK FINE. SO I DROVE OFF AND THE CAR WORKED LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE. I THEN WENT TO A AUTO PARTS STORE, AND THEY USED THEIR METER TO CHECK ENGINE CODES. THE CODE WAS P2135, CODE DEFINITION: THROTTLE PEDAL/POSITION SENSOR 'A/B' VOLTAGE CORRELATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10649926
Incident
Oct 25, 2014
Mileage
66,961 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 24, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10649826
Incident
Oct 7, 2014
Mileage
108,386 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10611003
Incident
May 1, 2014
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 5, 2012

2006 KIA OPTIMA NEEDED A NEW TIMING BELT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW THOUSAND + MILES (NEEDS TO BE CHANGED EVERY 60,000 MILES OR SOONER), BUT ONE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY JUST CAME OFF AND THEN THE BELT CAME OFF A COUPLE PULLEYS BECAUSE OF THIS. THE BELT ACTUALLY LOOKS FINE, BUT THE PULLEY FAILURE CAUSED THE BELT TO COME OFF. THIS BELT RUNS SEVERAL THINGS SO THE INITIAL LOOSE PULLEY CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING, BATTERY LIGHT TO TURN ON, THE A/C FAILED, ETC., AND THEN THE INNER PART OF THE PULLEY CAME OFF AND THE OUTER RING (MAGNETIZED) FELL AND STUCK TO PART OF THE CAR FRAME THAT IS ACTUALLY METAL. MY WIFE MADE IT TO WORK WHILE THE BELT HAD TO STILL BE ON BUT LOOSE, AND IT NOW SITS IN HER PARKING SPOT AT HER JOB (HOSPITAL PARKING RAMP). I WILL PROBABLY HAVE IT TOWED TOMORROW. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY LED TO AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. I FOUND THE OUTER PART OF THE LOWER PULLEY LAYING ABOVE THE CAR FRAME CLOSE TO THE ENGINE. IF THE CAR DROVE AFTER THIS, ENGINE DAMAGE WOULD BE MOST LIKELY. I WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP BY TOMORROW TO SEE IF I JUST NEED THE PULLEY AND BELT OR IF THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE, BECAUSE I FOUND MANY PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BREAKING OFF AND SOMETIMES CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD. AS A CONSUMER, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO UNDER THE VEHICLE AND TIGHTEN A FACTORY TIGHTENED BOLT EVERY NOW AND THEN. I HOPE THAT THE NEWER BOLTS ACTUALLY HOLD LIKE A GRADE 8 AMERICAN BOLT, BECAUSE THAT WOULDN'T FAIL. RUBBER CAN'T BREAK STEEL, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS OBVIOUS OVERSIGHT BY KIA HASN'T BEEN RECALLED OR IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10464270
Incident
Jul 3, 2012
Mileage
116,039 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10460873
Incident
May 12, 2012
Mileage
62,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 7, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10396149
Incident
Apr 5, 2011
Mileage
61,787 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2010

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.

NHTSA ID
10311204
Incident
Aug 10, 2006
Mileage
2,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 14, 2008

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

NHTSA ID
10218079
Incident
Nov 5, 2007
Mileage
5,033 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 19, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10212289
Incident
Dec 5, 2007
Mileage
5,033 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10210275
Incident
Nov 28, 2007
Mileage
15,948 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 6, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10208029
Incident
Nov 5, 2007
Mileage
15,263 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 18, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10179048
Incident
Nov 8, 2006
Mileage
10,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 2006

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

NHTSA ID
10170291
Incident
Sep 23, 2006
Mileage
6,119 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .