2012 Kia Optima Interior & seats Problems

2012 Kia Optima EX with 67000 miles driver-side seatbelt dash warning goes off even it is buckled securely while driving.

NHTSA ID

11522265

Incident

May 14, 2023

The front driver's seat bolts loosened and came completely off the track. This could have caused me to crash as the seat was no longer stable and shifted about the car until I could get to a safe location. If I had gotten into a crash I would most likely not survived as there was nothing that held me in the car despite having my seat belt on. The vehicle is at the dealership now. There were no warnings that this seat was malfunctioning and the bolts were loosening.

NHTSA ID

11495136

Incident

Oct 21, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the passenger’s side door opened inadvertently. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the latches needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 102,301.

NHTSA ID

11435585

Incident

Sep 5, 2021

Mileage

102,301 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING OFF AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. DUE THE FAILURE, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REQUIRING A JUMP START TO BE ABLE TO START-UP AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO VISION KIA OF EAST ROCHESTER (201 E LINDEN AVE, EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE EXTERIOR WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11400300

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE SEAT HAS COMPLETELY RIPPED OPEN JUST FROM GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. NOW I HAVE DUCT TAPE THE SEAT SO IT LOOKS VERY TRASHY.

NHTSA ID

11306629

Incident

Apr 4, 2018

Mileage

123,000 mi

THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT A SAFE TIME FRAME. FOR EXAMPLE IF I NEED TO CROSS A BUSY STREET. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO CARS COMING BECAUSE WHEN I ACCELERATE MY ENGINE REVS BUT DOESN'T MOVE. I'VE BEEN ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE WILL HIT 8 OR 9 THOUSAND RPM THEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDES TO CATCH AND THROW MY HEAD INTO THE SEAT. WHICH IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO REAR END THEM BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID

11306628

Incident

Nov 2, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

THIS STARTED IN JUNE 2014 DURING THE MID SUMMER. THE TRUNK WOULD COME OPEN WHILE JUST SITTING THERE OR COME OPEN WHILE DRIVING. SO FAR NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT BY IT OPENING UP WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING BUT IT COULD COME OPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING AND IF I WAS TO TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND IT WAS TO OPEN IT COULD CAUSE MY BACK WINDOW TO BREAK OR FLY OFF AND HIT ANOTHER CAR CAUSING INJURIES. LAST YEAR DURING THE NIGHT WE HAD HEAVY RAIN THE WHOLE NIGHT AND WHEN I GOT UP IT WAS STILL RAINING HARD AND I NOTICED AFTER GOING OUT THE TRUNK WAS OPEN WIDE. THE MAT IN THE TRUNK WAS SOAKING WET, BACK AND FRONT MATS AND INSIDE WHERE THE TIRE GOES HAD A LITTLE ONE 2 FEET OF WATER. I CANNOT GIVE THE DATES FOR ALL OF THE TIME EXCEPT 4 WHICH WAS ON 10-14-14 WHERE FORD KIA HAD TO REMOVE THE WATER AND DRY OUT PARTS. I WAS STUCK WITH THE BILL IN WHICH I HAVE THE BILL AND IN OCTOBER 8, 17, 24 NOVEMBER 4,12,19,27. DECEMBER 10,15.18 22, 24.31. JANUARY 2015 2, 8,15,17,18. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP HERE ABOUT IT AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AND I TOLD THEM THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED NEXT DOOR HAD A WIRELESS KEY THAT THEY COULD OPEN, TURN ON MY LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT AND A COUPLE THAT LIVED TWO DOORS DOWN HAD A CAR AND WHEN THEY MOVED IN THAT HE COULD OPEN HIS DOORS AND SUCH WHICH WOULD UNLOCK MY DOORS AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS AND OPEN THE TRUNK AND THEY SAID AT THE SHOP THAT THE FREQ ON MY CAR CANNOT BE CHANGED. IT SEEMS THAT I GOT A CAR THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE CAN COME AND TRY THEIR KEY AND GET INSIDE AND JUST PUSH THE BUTTON AND TAKE OFF. IT HAPPENS DURING SETTING AND DRIVING SO THE SPEED I CANNOT STATE RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10681253

Incident

Jun 18, 2014

Mileage

9,987 mi

THE DRIVE AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE TO LOW IN THIS CAR. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY WIFE WHO IS 5' TALL CANT SIT HIGHER THAN THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS, AND THEY BLOCK HER VIEW. I TEST DROVE THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, SO DIDN'T SIT TO LOW FOR ME BEING 6' TALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490840

Incident

Dec 14, 2012

Mileage

3,000 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS AS LOW AS IT CAN GO AND THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT TO HEIGHTEN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CHEAP AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE PASSENGER WOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF THE SEAT. PASSENGERS CAN SLIDE DOWN EASILY WITH THIS FEATURE/OPTION GONE. NOT ALL PASSENGERS ARE UNDER 5'10 AND THIS IS NOT GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10460080

Incident

May 28, 2012

Mileage

1 mi

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS MOUNTED FAR TOO LOW IN ALL 2011 AND 2012 KIA OPTIMA CARS. A PASSENGER WILL EASILY SLIP UNDER THE SEAT BELT AND COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. KIA USA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DESIGN DEFECT, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN NOTED REPEATEDLY BY OWNERS OF THESE CARS WHEN POSTING ON KIA OPTIMA FORUMS ONLINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447018

Incident

Dec 26, 2011

Mileage

120 mi