2011 Kia Optima Driver assistance Problems

About six months ago, I lost the heated steering wheel functionality in my steering wheel, then from there, I slowly lost functionality like cruise control, and the most recent now my airbag and horn do not work. If you press on the horn, it is silent, and the airbag light has been illuminated consistently for the last couple of months. I had this issue diagnosed and it came up with the codes of B1346. And B1481. After some research, these issues are the result of a bad clock, spring and cause the airbag and horn not to work. Additionally, this issue is known to this model the 2011 Kia Optima, and has been recalled in most production cases of this vehicle, but my vehicle is not included. I received a quote for $876 from a dealership to get this corrected, but it should be included in the recall.

NHTSA ID

11749934

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) experienced an electrical short circuit and engine hardly running.

NHTSA ID

11634424

Incident

Jan 3, 2025

After driving the car over 15 miles, the Check Brake Light comes on, activating my emergency brake, slowing the car down and preventing me to accelerate. This happens on the freeway, where traffic is fast and my decelerating car puts me and those around me at risk of collision. Once it occurs the first time, it happens again a few minutes later. I have to frequently veer off the side of the freeway, turn off the car, and then turn it on again for the Check brake light to go away and for me to travel once more. This has been a problem for a couple of years with me trying to get the issue repaired, and documented in my visits. Kia and other service operatives have repeatedly not been able to replicate the error in their care, however they never drive it long enough for it to occur. I’ve spent a lot of money now trying to fix this problem and have videos and photos of it occurring. The last time it was inspected they only drove it 6 miles and said there were a lot of little codes going off but weren’t again able to replicate the problem I had been describing. It first appeared 2 years ago and I can feel it start to come on when I’m not able to accelerate my car any further like there is an added resistance. This then amounts to the check brakes display to appear with the emergency brake icon always accompanying it. It makes a scraping, gargled sounds and slows down the car. Overall it has affected the overall drive of the car and braking system as it is growing harder to stop the car when driving. The brakes have been repeatedly checked as well as the fluid and it’s normal, so it should be braking normally. This car has had other issues in the past that have been fixed but this has continued and has been a growing issue that is not being resolved. I’ve googled this issue with others expressing the same issue without ANY viable solution from Kia so I know I’m not alone in this. It’s not safe to drive. Also I tried uploading the videos but it only allowed the pictures.

NHTSA ID

11500679

Incident

Jan 6, 2023

As I would drive the vehicle a rattling noise would occur when every time I accelerate from stopping at a traffic light. Then the engine light appeared on the dash board. When I went to have the engine light checked the results came back about an oil gasket. I then got an oil change soon after. The rattling noise and the same acceleration problem still occurred. Soon after it gotten worst to the point couldn’t go faster then 10 mph and then the car kept shutting off.

NHTSA ID

11497844

Incident

Dec 16, 2022

On NOV. 26TH 2021, I was driving my car and upon trying to accelorate, my car felt as if it was about to stall out. I pressed the gas and I barely moved. My engine light went on immediately and it's constantly flashing now. The cars RPM's do not go past 1-1/2 RPM's. I can not pick up speed like before, like I should. My car now hesitates and I'm scared to drive it. I feel that it's dangerous cause I can not keep up with traffic. I found a RECALL letter that I have from July 12, 2017 in which I took it to the dealer at that time I received it. I alo found 2 other recall letters ( see pics ataached). I guess at that time when they checked it nothing was wrong BUT now I am having an issue and I feel it could be related. The recall number is: 17V224 follow up letter of one of the recalls. The recalls prior to that does not have a # on it: it states: ENGINE CONNECTING ROD on of the recalls. I'm hearing some knocking but it just happened and I havent driven it since Nov. 26th. a.m.The code that comes up as P1362, knocking sensor and can be a number of other things. And everything I read says the KNOCK sensor detects vibrations indicating an onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. and can severly damage the engine. I'm very concerned and I feel that this recall back in 2017 is now happening to my car. I have uploaded the recall I have in my possession. According to William Garcia( Billy ) the service guy I always usually worked with at Gunther Kia, all of my recalls were checked and soem weere fixed. These particualr ones he said were done and or checked but nothing was repaired as you'll see in my history of service on recalls with them.

NHTSA ID

11441793

Incident

Nov 26, 2021

MY CAR LOSES POWER WHEN I USE THE HORN. IT HAPPENS WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON AND IN TRAFFIC. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS FAULTY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WERE 3 ACTIVE RECALLS NEEDING TO BE FIXED. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED KIA SERVICE CENTER TO GET THE RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF AND ADDITONALLY, HAD THE A/C COMPRESSOR, STRUTS, AND A BELT REPLACED. I ALSO DESCRIBED THE ISSUE OF ENGINE POWER LOSS WHEN I USE THE HORN WITH SERVICE TECH AND ATTEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE. HOWEVER, MY CAR DIDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE IF THE TECHS TESTED IT THOROUGHLY DURING THE DAYS IT WAS BEING SERVICED. THE FINAL DETAILED BILL STATES THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I'M CURRENTLY SATISFIED WITH THE FIXED RECALLS, A/C, BELT, AND OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. I'M HIGHLY CONCERNED AND FRUSTRATED THAT I'M STILL EXPERIENCING ENGINE, ACCELERATION, RPM, AND A/C FAILURE WHENEVER I NEED TO USE MY HORN. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WHILE IN TRAFFIC, I HAD TO BLOW THE HORN BECAUSE A DISTRACTED DRIVER NEARLY SIDE SWIPED ME. AS A RESULT, MY CAR LOSS POWER. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT. I ENDED UP DOING AROUND 30MPH UNTIL I MADE IT TO A SAFE DESTINATION. I CALLED FOR HELP, BUT AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT WAS AS IF IT NEVER HAPPENED. I'M FURIOUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE DISTRACTED DRIVER PROCEEDED TO TAILGATE AND INTIMIDATE ME OUT OF ANGER. LASTLY, IT WAS NOT PROFESSIONAL OR CARING TO BE LAUGHED AT WHEN I VOICED THIS PROBLEM AT THE SERVICE CENTER. I NEED HELP AND ANSWERS BEFORE SOMETHING MORE TERRIBLE HAPPENS. THE NUMBER OF ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL COMPLAINTS ARE STARTLING. I'M HOPING THAT MY ISSUE WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND LOOKED INTO. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11360016

Incident

Sep 16, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE KIA OPTIMA 2011 MOTOR NO LONGER WORKS AND SMOKE KEEPS COMING OUT WHEN IT'S ON AND TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING FROM THE EXHAUST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK AND DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO MAKE THE CHANGE IN TRANSMISSION. I TOOK THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND BOTH OF THEM COME OUT WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSE. WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS A RECALLED CAR BECAUSE IT IS TO SOON FOR THE MOTOR TO BE SHUTTING DOWN SINCE IT ONLY HAS 81,000 MILES AND IT'S NOT AN OLD CAR. THE SUSPENSION IS ALSO NOT IN PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11337397

Incident

Jun 29, 2020

Mileage

81,000 mi

KIA OPTIMA 2011 TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST ON JULY 2 2018, MY KIA OPTIMA CAUSED ME TO PLUMMET INTO TRAFFIC AFTER MY BRAKE DIDN'T PERFORM L. THAT'S CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO KIA FOR ALL SERVICE NEED AND CAR STILL PERFORM POORLY. HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR MULTIPLE TIME JUST FOR IT TO ACT RIGHT. CAR STOPS ONE ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ONE DAY. I HAVE A 3 OLD AND THAT DAY SHE COULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME. I LOST MY LICENSE AND MY MONEY I INVESTED FOR A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY CHILD. *TR

NHTSA ID

11326474

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

130,600 mi

MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE ON A WET STREET WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO GET A OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES. MY TAIL LIGHTS WORK BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT. I CHANGED THE BULBS AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. I ALSO CHANGED THE BRAKE LIGHT PEDAL SWITCH BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAIL TO WORK ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

11267314

Incident

Oct 4, 2019

Mileage

164,000 mi

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, OUT OF NOWHERE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND ENGINE SEIZED, CAR LOST ALL MOMENTUM, HAD NO "GET UP AND GO" PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING, GOING UP HILL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL AUTO SHOP, THEY COULD HEAR SOME NOISE BUT WEREN'T SURE WHAT. PER INVOICE 7/26/19: CHECKED CODES: P0011 A CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ADVANCED, P00114 B CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ADVANCED; P1326 ENGINE DAMAGE ALERT FOR DRIVER. ENGINE WAS NOISEY AND RAN VERY ROUGH, OIL LEVEL WAS LOW AND BLACK (WE SAW NOWHERE THAT IT WAS LEAKING OIL, NO SPOTS ANYWHERE). CHANGED OIL AND ADD LUCAS ENGINE STABILIZER, ENGINE QUIETED AND RUNS MUCH SMOOTHER. CLEAR CODES, TEST DRIVE, WATCH SCAN DATA. NO CODES, POSSIBLE EARLY STAGES OF ENGINE DAMAGE IF CODES RETURN INSPECT TIMING CHAIN AND CONTROL DEVICES. TOOK CAR HOME OVER THE WEEKEND DROVE LESS THAN 50 MILES, SUNDAY 7/28/19 AGAIN, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR HAD NO "GET UP AND GO" AND A VERY LOUD CLANKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. TOOK CAR TO SHOP ASAP. PER INVOICE 7/31/19: CHECK CEL LIGHT AND LOSS OF POWER, CHECK FLUIDS, ENGINE HAS INTERNAL NOISE/DAMAGE; COMPUTER DATASCAN, CHECK CODES, DIAG, P1326; ENGINE DAMAGE ALERT FOR DRIVER, RECOMMEND FURTHER DIAG EVAL, INSPECT LOWER END AND TIMING CHAIN. AUTO SHOP CONTACTED LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THEY WARRANT ENGINES WITH THESE CONDITIONS. THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WAITING TO BE REPAIRED ALREADY, SUGGESTED CALLING A DEALER OUT OF TOWN FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

11241077

Incident

Jul 25, 2019

Mileage

93,477 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR JANUARY OF 2018.28 DAYS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE AND I GOT A FLAT TIRE AND COME TO FIND OUT MY STRUT WAS NEVER PROPERLY INSTALLED AND THATS WHAT POPPED MY TIRE.DAN OBRIEN TRIED TO DENY HAVING A WARRANTY TO FIX THE CAR SAYING IT WAS MY FAULT.IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO BUY THE NEW TIRE. WHEN THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINE CAME OUT,I TOOK MY CAR RIGHT IN. THEY PASSED IT. IN SEPTEMBER WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MY DAUGHTERS 2 MONTH APPOINTMENT THE CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER AND MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & CAR WOULD NOT START DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT.ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP THEY REPLACED THE LONG BLOCK UNDER THE SC147 RECALL 11/30/18 RECALL SC165, ECU UPGRADE. ON 2/11/19 I HAD THE INSPECTION FOR RECALL SC172 CAR PASSED.3/21/19 NO WARNING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED.P1326 ENGINE CODE CAR WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE,DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT. ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED,GOT TOWED.3/26/19 KIA TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL,IT WAS MY KNOCK SENSOR. THEY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.5/22/19 FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD,KIA WOULDNT COVER,SAME SIDE STRUT ISSUE OCCURED ON.6/6/19 I WENT TO ACCELERATE ON BYPASS AND LOST ALL ENGINE CONTROL,I WAS ABLE TO COAST. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.PUT IN PARK, OIL LIGHT,BATTERY & EPS CAME ON & OFF. TURNED CAR OFF & ON.CAR WOULD DRIVE BUT WITH HESITATION AND LITTLE POWER.6/8/19 I WENT TO ACCELERATE ON BYPASS AND CAR LOST POWER. 6+ CARS BEHIND ME ,MY CAR BLOCKED THE ROAD.RESTARTED CAR,WENT TO TAKE OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE JOLT AND I COULDNT GET OUT OF THE WAY,I HAD TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE I WAS BLOCKED.STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, BRAKES LOST POWER & I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD RAIL.DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT. 6/10/19 KIA TOLD ME IT WAS MY THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NOT COVERED. BOUGHT CAR WITH OVER 79K,NOW AROUND 101K.IM SCARED FOR MY DAUGHTERS LIFE & MINE IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE AT ANYTIME WITH ALL THE SYMPTOMS.

NHTSA ID

11219262

Incident

Jun 8, 2019

Mileage

101,700 mi

VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ENGINE AND IGNITION REPLACED DUE TO BEARING WEAR RECALL. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 WEEKS AGO FOR REBUILT ONE, AND NOW CAR WON'T START. IT'S BEEN 2 DAYS AND KIA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE REASON I WANTED TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES. KIA WANTED ME TO WAIT FROM 10 SEP TO MID DEC BECAUSE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE ON BACK ORDER. WHICH MEANS THERE'S SO MUCH DEMAND THAT DEC IS THE EARLIEST THEY COULD RECEIVE IT. THEIR SHOP IS FULL, MOSTLY OF THESE CARS (OPTIMA). THEY EXPECTED ME TO WAIT 3 MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM TIME. IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND THAT THEY COULD DO THIS. THE CRAZIEST THING IS THAT EXPECT EVERYONE TO WAIT THIS LONG. I TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT COSTUMERS WHO ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CARS, AND THEY WERE TOLD THE SAME THING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2014 USED, ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS, NOW HAS 111,000+ MILES. ALWAYS DID ALL MAINTENANCE CHECKS, OIL & FILTER CHANGES, TUNE UPS, FLUIDS CHANGE AND YEARLY INSPECTIONS. ONLY USED FOR GOING TO WORK AND COMING HOME 5 DAYS A WEEK (APPROX. 54 MILES PER DAY). I DECIDED TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT OTHER PLACE & ENDED UP SAVING $1100. KIA WANTED TO CHARGE $2,700 FOR REBUILD TRANSMISSION & FOUND A GUY THAT CHARGED ME $1,600 FOR REBUILD ONE. KIA NEVER GAVE ME QUOTE COPY. JUST TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE. HOW CONVENIENT! GUY TOLD ME THE WAY THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BUILT IT'S SIMPLY BAD ENGINEERING. AND SHOWED ME THE PART OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT BROKE. WOULD UPLOAD THE DOCUMENTS , BUT I LEFT IN MY CAR! CAN STILL PROVIDE THEM THOUGH! THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN HOUSTON! THE CAR SIMPLY DIED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE!

NHTSA ID

11141365

Incident

Sep 10, 2018

Mileage

111,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON A SLIGHTLY CURVY AND HILLY ROAD WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS AROUND 45 AND THE CAR LOST ALL RPM AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING, THERE WAS A NOTABLE ENGINE KNOCKING HEARD DURING THIS TIME. WE PULLED OVER AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA ID

11001242

Incident

Jun 19, 2017

Mileage

93,300 mi

THE ENGINE KNOCKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND STABILITY LIGHT FOR SPEED CONTROL. TOOK CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER AND THEY FINALLY TOLD ME ABOUT THE ENGINE NEED WORK DONE TO IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I PAID FOR THEM TO REPLACE OIL CONTROL SELENOID AND THE CODE POO11 STILL COMES UP. THE CAR CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10971223

Incident

Mar 2, 2017

Mileage

140,300 mi

VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, NO POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO DRIFT ACROSS THE SLOW LANE TO THE SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART. A CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY THEY WERE NOT REAR-ENDED. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME WHILE ACCELERATING AND PROMPTED WITH CLICKING NOISES UNDER THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE AT 120,400 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10916616

Incident

Oct 12, 2016

Mileage

120,350 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10875726

Incident

Jun 21, 2016

TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH (HAD JUST TURNED ONTO ROAD)WHEN ENGINE SEEMED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL (HARD) AND DID NOT SLOW CAR AT ALL. CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKE AND ALSO PUMPED BUT NOTHING SLOWED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH SAW TRUCK WELL AHEAD OF ME STOPPED, I COULD DO NOTHING TO STOP OR EVEN SLOW DOWN. I WRECKED INTO BACK OF TRUCK STOPPED AHEAD OF ME WAITING TO TURN. APPROX 8000.00 DAMAGE TO MY CAR MOSTLY DUE TO TRUCK HAVING A SIZABLE TRAILER HITCH ON BACK THAT BUSTED THROUGH A LOT OF FRONT END PLASTIC, COOLING SYSTEM, ETC AND BUCKLED HOOD. NO INJURIES BUT IF WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. OFFICER UPON ARRIVAL ALSO NOTICED THATBRAKES SEEMED TO FAIL AND NOTED IT ON HIS POLICE REPORT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND INTERNET SOURCES INDICATING THAT SOME 2011 KIAS HAD IN FACT HAS A TSNB ISSUED FOR UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A BULLETIN AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SERVICES PERFORMED AT KIA DEALERSHIP. ALSO, HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES AT DEALER AND DELAER INSPECTION NEVER INDICATED ANY PROBLEMS. I HAV EALSO FOUND DOCUMENTATION ONLINE THAT SAYS IF YOU HAVE AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELLERATION, PRESSING THE BRAKE HARD IS THE FIRST STEP TO DO, BUT ONCE YOU LET OFF THE BRAKE, YOU TOTALLY LOSE BRAKE PRESSURE. WHO POSSIBLE WOULD KNOW THAT ? THIS ACCIDENT IS TOTALLY THE RESULT OF A SYSTEM FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE AND I AM ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN PERSUING MY DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10823248

Incident

Jan 24, 2016

Mileage

38,000 mi

IF THERE IS LIGHT WHEEL SPIN UPON TAKEOFF (ESPECIALLY TURNING AND ACCELERATING, SUCH AS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A ROAD) IT CAUSES CAR TO LOSE POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ACCELERATOR CAN BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE POWER AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CAR ALSO ACTIVATES ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WHEN LIGHTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING OVER A SMALL BUMP AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 25 MPH. THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR WITH STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGED (DEFAULT SETTING WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON) STABILITY CONTROL / TRACTION CONTROL IS OVERLY SENSITIVE, AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10822457

Incident

Nov 26, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES WHERE SUSTAINED, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THREE OTHER TIMES AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ID

10808749

Incident

Dec 7, 2015

Mileage

25,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I REPORT THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, LAST MONTH HAPPENED ON MAY 4 , I DOCUMENTED IN MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, THEY RETURNED THE CAR 5-21-14 THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, ON JUNE 6 AGAIN THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND READY TO PUT IT IN PARK, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER UNTIL NOW DON'T HEAR FROM THEM, CALLED KIA IN CALIFORNIA LEFT MESSAGES NO CALL BACK, TODAY A GOT A HOLD WITH ANOTHER PERSON JENNY, AND SHE REPEAT LIKE A BROKEN RECORD WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY STILL KEEP THE CAR FOR A LONG TIME, I HAVE A CASE # [XXX] THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS, LIKE I EXPLAINED TO THIS LADY ENGINEERS SHOULD LOOK AT THIS SITUATION NOT THE MECHANIC, IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER, THEY JUST FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND THEIR MACHINE TELL THEM NOTHING IS WRONG, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE IN MY OTHER COMPLAINT THIS ONE IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT HAPPENED, WHAT ARE WE WAITING THAT SOME PEOPLE GOT KILL TO INVESTIGATE, LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA AND GENERAL MOTOR HAD, THEY WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIED THEN START DOING SOMETHING, THANK YOU TO THIS SITE THAT WE COULD VOICE OUR CONCERNS. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) UPDATED 1/6/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10598095

Incident

Jun 6, 2014

Mileage

29,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED SIX FEET. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,100.

NHTSA ID

10562236

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

ON APRIL 25TH, 2013, I DROVE FROM THE ATLANTA AREA TO SHANNON, GA. NEAR ADAIRSVILLE, GA. I STOPPED A THE GATE PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE. BEFORE I COULD GET OUT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD SMASHING THE GATE. I HIT THE BRAKE, BACKED IT UP, PUT IT IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE AND AGAIN BEFORE I COULD GET OUT IT SURGED FORWARD. THIS TIME WHEN I BACKED UP PUT IT IN PARK I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. JUMPING FORWARD IN MY STORY, I CALLED KIA AND FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS ON RECALL. I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO SEE THE NOTICES WOULD NOT BE SENT OUT UNTIL MAY 2013. KIA. IS REPLACING THE PART BUT WILL NOT FIX THE FRONT END DAMAGE. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY. KIA RAN SOME TEST AND SAID IT SHOWED NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN DOWN AND KILLED OR IN THE HOSPITAL. ALL I ASK IS FOR THEM TO FIX THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND REPLACE THE GATE. THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR SO THE MILEAGE IS AND ESTIMATE. I DID USE CRUSE CONTROL. CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10510837

Incident

Apr 25, 2013

Mileage

28,500 mi

WE BOUGHT OUR CAR LAST YEAR , 5 MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR , WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) LIGHT TURN ON AND THE CAR SHAKING VERY BAD AND WE CAN NOT HANDLE THE CAR RIGHT AND THE BRAKE ITS NOT WORKING WELL, ITS VERY VERY SCARY. THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO WE TURN THE VDC LIGHT OFF, ITS GONNA BE OK FOR COUPLE DAYS , AND AGAIN IT HAPPENS. AFTER THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO FAIRFAX KIA IN VIRGINIA THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME AND THEY SAID WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR IT DIDN'T HAPPENED TO THEM, SO IT HAPPENS FOR ME ALMOST 7 TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHOULD I DO, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME WHAT SHOULD I DO? KIA MOTOR IN RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494746

Incident

Jun 15, 2012

Mileage

9,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ABNORMALLY. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. BLACK SMOKE THEN BEGAN TO RISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,000.

NHTSA ID

10441602

Incident

Dec 24, 2011

Mileage

7,000 mi

KIA OPTIMA LX 2011 WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT 4 MILES IN ODOMETER. PROBLEM 1 LESS THAN A MONTH: STEERING VEERING TO THE LEFT AN RIGHT. HAD TO STEER THIS CAR TO TRACK STRAIGHT. THE DEALER PERFORMED MINOR ALIGNMENT IN OCTOBER. CAR CONTINUES TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT. TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECH STATED THE FRONT END OFF BY 2 DEGREES AND STATED HE PERFORMED THE ADJUSTMENT. THE STEERING PROBLEM NOT FIXED. PROBLEM #2: CAR WAS PARKED WITH FUEL READING 42 MILES TO EMPTY. RETURNED TO START CAR. WILL NOT CRANK AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER. CAR CRANKED UPON DE-TOW AT THE LOCATION. BUT STILL LEFT THE CAR FOR WHY IT WILL NOT CRANK IN THE FIRST PLACE. RETURNED 4 DAYS LATER. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAR WAS EMPTY OF GASOLINE, EVEN WHEN FUEL READER CLEARLY INDICATED 42 MILES TO EMPTY. KIA PAID FOR RENTAL FOR 4 DAYS ($100). I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AND ON BACK ORDER. THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND THE STALLING ISSUES ARE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE THE LANES, ARTERIAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE DAILY ARE CONGESTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10437363

Incident

Nov 17, 2011

Mileage

5,400 mi