2010 Kia Optima

The engine on my 2010 Kia Optima suddenly seized without warning around 150,000 miles. The vehicle had no knocking sounds or warning signs prior to failure. A mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a seized engine. This created a sudden loss of vehicle operation. I am concerned this may be related to the known engine failure issues reported in Kia vehicles.

Reported

Mar 2026

Incident date

Sep 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

1.We were driving and the car just cut off. Not from the lack of fuel but cut off in the middle of traffic. (Available for inspection) 2.The car stopping in traffic running about 65 mph causes the safety of all on the highway. A very dangerous situation. 3. The problem has showed itself numerous times. 4. The car had been inspected/checked after the incident. There was no errors on the computer after diagnosis. 5. No errors nor warning lights prior the incident. After the incident, the car cranks right back up without error.

Reported

Mar 2025

Incident date

Feb 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise it’s been parked

Reported

Feb 2025

Incident date

Jan 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Car would not engage into “Park” while attempting to park car in driveway. Shifter would not engage in any gear. Tried to reset button in center console. Contacted mechanic, he towed to garage. Plastic clip connected to cable broke. Earlier Kia’s had a recall due to this issue, why not all Kias due to it is still happening. I was very fortunate that this happened to me in my driveway and not on the highway. I understand there is the same part at the other end of the cable, connects to transmission and shifter, if it also breaks it is going to be very expensive to repair due to placement of the part. I had to rent a vehicle for work while part had to be ordered and replaced.

Reported

Jul 2023

Incident date

May 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Rod bearing knocking noise. Vehicle stopped running when slowing down. Car is available for inspection. No warning lights come on. The rod bearing can pierce the engine and cause oil to leak and then a fire. Problem first identified by Monroe and then another independent when the car died in front of his shop- both confirmed this is a known issue with kias- but since ours is a 2010 it is not covered under the current recall for the same issue in years 2011 to 2013. I spoke with cooper Kia in Utica as I was looking for support with this issue and was told by Mike Digiovanni to call a lawyer. On a later call to Pat Stacey he said they don’t work for Kia and he stated that the salesman said I came in threatening to call a lawyer- not true- I was advised to call one. I had gone in explaining that I was upset as I thought this was a safe car for my 17 year old to travel in between college and work and it’s the same issue as the 2011-2013 recall

Reported

Sep 2022

Incident date

Sep 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

At 134000 miles car got a knock on interstate. 5 miles to next exit a loud bang. Then the knock went to a loud loud bang. Pulled over to find rod thru block. It is a 2010 kia optima with 2.4l 1 year before the recalls with exact probelm. Full of oil and coolant. Just out of the blue.

Reported

May 2022

Incident date

May 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The car lurches or jerks when slowing down or stopping at about 20 mph . Lurch or jerking is enough to jerk to the driver . Has anyone got answer to why the Kia Optima 2010 does this.

Reported

Feb 2022

Incident date

Jan 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Car has very hard downshift at low speed going from 2nd gear to 1st. Seems to be alot of these complaints and would be nice to know of a fix for this problem!

Reported

May 2021

Incident date

May 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 1 mph, the vehicle started overheating then there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. Upon investigation, it was found that the radiator had a hole on the right side. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer and was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

Reported

May 2021

Incident date

Feb 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Fire

ENGINE BLEW DOING 40-45 ON A COUNTY ROAD 1,000 RPM 5TH GEAR, IN AUTOMATIC. 2ND TO 1ST, SOFT TO HARD KICK. VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR MUST BE FAULTY I HAVE TO PUMP BRAKE MORE TO SLOW THE ENGINE SPEED IT LIKES TO BOG TRYING TO SPEED UP IN AUTOMATIC MODE

Reported

Mar 2021

Incident date

Mar 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. GERVAIS KIA (6 INDUSTRIAL AVE, LOWELL, MA 01851, (978)454-1202) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Reported

Jun 2020

Incident date

Jun 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

MY OPTIMA HAS 104,000 MILES. JUST LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS, I LOST CONTROL AS THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON DURING THIS PERIOD FOR BETWEEN 5-30 SECONDS AS YOU LOOSE ALMOST ALL CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE'S STEERING. JUST AS YOUR VEHICLE GAINS POWER STEERING AGAIN, A SCREECHING SOUNDS COMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (MAYBE BELTS RE-ENGAGING). IT HAS BEEN RAINING HER THE PAST WEEK AND THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES. SOMETIMES DIRECTLY AFTER DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, AND SOMETIMES JUST WHILE DRIVING. THE ISSUE ONLY OCCURS THOUGH WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

Reported

Feb 2020

Incident date

Feb 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

VEHICLE HAS A TERRIBLE RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR END WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. BOUGHT IN 2016

Reported

Sep 2019

Incident date

Nov 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. NOW AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISENGAGED.

Reported

Sep 2019

Incident date

Sep 2019

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

DRIVING CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON RD AVERAGE SPEED 40 NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON RESTARTED STALLED ALL THE WAY HOME AND HUGE KNOCKING SOUND

Reported

Apr 2019

Incident date

Mar 2019

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WHEN COMING TO A STOP MY CAR SHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND HER VERY ABRUPTLY. IT MAKES IT FEEL AS THOUGH I'VE SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES VERY SUDDENLY. IT ALSO DOES IT WHEN I SLOW MY CAR THEN PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE SOMETIMES. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 5 TIMES SINCE FIRST PURCHASED BY MY MOTHER IN 2010 AND THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS CLAIMED TO BE UNABLE TO NOTICE THE SUDDEN JERKING. THIS JERKING HAPPENS MOSTLY ON THE STREET DUE TO MY CONTINUAL STOP AND GO, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND DURING FREEWAY TRAFFIC.

Reported

Feb 2019

Incident date

Feb 2019

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MAY7 ON I64 ST.CHARLES CO,MO.SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AS I APPROACHED BRIDE OVER MISSOURI RIVER AND AS SOON AS I CROSSED BRIDGE IT WAS WORSE AND I CALLED HOME TO SAY MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND I WAS GETTING OUT OF IT ,THEN I CALLED 911 AND POLICE AND FIRE DEPT FROM FROM COTTLEVILLE ARRIVER. THE CAR COMPLETELY BURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE TRUNK. T HERE WAS NO APPARENT CONDITION TO HAVE CAUSED IT TO BURN AS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN GOOD CONDITION

Reported

Oct 2018

Incident date

Apr 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND LEFT LEG INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TT *TR

Reported

Jul 2018

Incident date

Dec 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash 1 injuries

THE PASSAGE SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON STEADY CODE STORED B1448 OCS MAT IS DEFECTIVE CAR WAS PARKED IN YARD

Reported

Mar 2018

Incident date

Mar 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TAKATA RECALL - HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST, USUALLY AROUND THE 20MPH MARK! IT'S A SUDDEN JERK AS IF IT HAS BEEN SLAMMED INTO A A LOWER GEAR

Reported

Feb 2018

Incident date

Feb 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

VEHICLE JERKS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AT ABOUT 20 MPH.

Reported

Feb 2018

Incident date

Feb 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION HAS A GRINDING AND WHINING NOISE!! BUT TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEAR SMOOTHLY. THESE NOISE WORSE AT COLD CONDITION AND TURN TO THE LEFT, AND PASSING OVER SPEEDBUMP. AS I HEARD IN THE SOUTH KOREA, THIS IS COMMON OFTEN REPORTED BY DRIVERS WHO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON BUT ALL CAR MECHANIC COULD NOT FOUND IT. I AM VERY SCARY WHEN I DRIVING. I THINK IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE FUTURE.

Reported

Nov 2017

Incident date

Sep 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE IGNITION WANT TURN ALL TO WAY OFF I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND ON 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WILL TURN COMPLETELY OFF SO I CAN REMOTELY LOCK THE DOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR ACTUATOR WORK WHEN IT GET READY I HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WITH KEY AND MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR.

Reported

Apr 2017

Incident date

Jun 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

AIR BAG LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF DEALER RESET BUT CAME BACK ON SOON AFTERWARDS. ANOTHER DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND PART WAS OVER $1000. MULTIPLE DEAD CAR BATTERIES DUE TO RUNNING LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF AFTER YOU PARK THE CAR. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING GOOD IN THIS WORLD JUST RECALL AND FIX ALREADY.

Reported

Dec 2016

Incident date

Jun 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WHEN ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN MY VEHICLE JERK EVEN WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SET IT WILL DO THE SAME THING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO OR IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE IT AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND WITH ALL OF THE REPORT I DON'T SEE HOW KIA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Reported

Dec 2016

Incident date

Dec 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME.I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE KEY SOMETIME.THE CAR IS STATIONARY. THIS START IN MAY 2016 AND CONTINUE.

Reported

Sep 2016

Incident date

May 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, THE PASSENGER NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE WARNING CHIME DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT LATCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,500.

Reported

Jun 2016

Incident date

Jun 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WHEN IT IS HOT AND THE SUN IS SHINING DOWN ON THE VEHICLE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THE DRIVERS DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE FROM THE KEY FOB? WHEN IT COOLS DOWN SUCH AS EVENING OR EARLY MORNING THE LOCKS WORK JUST FINE FROM THE KEY FOB? SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO HOT OR COOL WEATHER. NO CLUE AT THIS POINT WHY I HAVE TO WORK THE LOCKS MANUALLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE?

Reported

Jun 2016

Incident date

Mar 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT WORK AT TIMES BOTH INSIDE AND WITH THE REMOTE PREVENTING ALL ABILITY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS AT A STOP BOTH WHILE RUNNING AND NOT RUNNING. I GENERALLY DO NOT TRY TO OPEN THE DOORS WHILE I'M DRIVING.

Reported

Apr 2016

Incident date

Mar 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY IN DECEMBER 2015, EACH TIME I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, YIELD SIGN OR SLOWED TO A LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 15 MPH), MY VEHICLE WOULD SHUT-OFF MULTIPLE TIMES. MY IN MOTION SPEED WAS APPROX 45 MPH WHEN NOT APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR YIELD SIGN. IT HAPPENED BOTH WHEN I WAS TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT ON MAIN ROADS WITH 2-4 LANES. THE DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER ASME CERTIFIED MECHANIC BOTH STATE ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY KIA AND HYUNDAI AROUND THIS YEAR UP TO 2015.

Reported

Apr 2016

Incident date

Dec 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TAKATA RECALL. LIGHT ON CLOCK AREA SHOWED AN OFF FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE SUDDENLY ON OR ABOUT 3/6/2016 AN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED AN AIR BAG WARNING. I TOOK IT INTO CHAMPION AUTOMOTIVE CARE PLUS. THEY INSPECTED THE INDICATOR LIGHT AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND STATED TO REPLACE THE PART IT WOULD COST OVER $1000.00. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE OFF. MY ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR THE OFF LIGHT WENT ON. DUE TO THE LOUSY LIGHTING THE ONLY THING YOU COULD SEE WAS THE OFF LIGHT. THE ONLY TIME I WAS MADE AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM IS WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON.

Reported

Mar 2016

Incident date

Mar 2016

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE CAR HAS A LURCHING ISSUE WHEN IT SLOWS DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN THE CAR LURCHES WITH A HARD DOWN SHIFT TO 1ST GEAR. THIS PHENOMENA IS ESPECIALLY ACUTE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING IT.

Reported

Dec 2015

Incident date

Nov 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE WEATHER STRIP ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE JUST STRARTED LIFTING UP AND COMING OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CHECKED THE DAMAGE AND SAW THE BLACK PIECE COMPLETELY OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT CONTINUED TO LIFT MORE AS I DROVE. WHEN IT RAINED I BELIEVE WATER IS NOW IN THE SENSORS BECAUSE MY ODOMETER ONLY READS "ECO" ABOVE THE ACTUAL ODOMETER READING. IT BECAME SUCH A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING I HAD TO TAPE DOWN THE WEATHER STRIP JUST TO KEEP IT FROM FULLY COMING OFF MY CAR AND CAUSING FURTHER PAINT DAMAGE TO THE SIDE IT SMACKS AGAINST. NO MECHANIC WILL FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO BEING A MAUFACTURE ERROR AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD IF I DID IT MYSELF. I HAVE CALLED KIA MANUFACTORS IN GA ONLY TO BE PLACED TO VOICEMAIL WITHOUT RESPONSE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY ALSO SAID TO CALL KIA.

Reported

Dec 2015

Incident date

Mar 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WENT TO GO OUT(6:30 AM) AND FOUND THAT MY TRUNK LID WAS UNLATCHED, NOT OPEN, JUST UNLATCHED. FOUND OUT BY IT SHOWING ON MY DASHBOARD. YESTERDAY, 9/3/15, NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR (2:45 PM) AND TOLD ME MY PARKING LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD COME HOME AT 7:30 AM. I HAD GONE OUT WITH A NEIGHBOR A COUPLE OF TIMES, LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. LAST TIME WAS AROUND NOON.

Reported

Sep 2015

Incident date

Sep 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR POWER DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ACCESSING WITH THE KEY FOB, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, OR MANUALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DRIVER HAD TO EXIT FROM ANOTHER DOOR DUE TO THE LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Reported

Aug 2015

Incident date

Feb 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

VARIOUS DOORS WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK/UNLOCK FROM THE ELECTRIC SWITCH AND THE KEY FOB. THIS IS AN INTERMENT FAILURE AFFECTING MULTIPLE DOORS IN THE VEHICLE. DIFFERENT DOORS LOCKS ARE FAILING AT DIFFERENT TIMES, BOTH LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. BASED ON MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THIS AFFECTS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 2005 TO 2010 OPTIMAS. THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE OCCUPANTS TO BE TRAPPED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY.

Reported

Aug 2015

Incident date

Aug 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

LOUD GRINDING NOISE DEVELOPED IN RIGHT REAR BRAKE. UPON HIS EXAMINATION, MECHANIC FOUND RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZEN IN THE ENGAGED OR CLOSED POSITION. ALSO, LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FOUND TO BE FROZEN IN THE DISENGAGED OR OPEN POSITION. IN ESSENCE, BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE! WE WERE DRIVING A CAR THAT ONLY HAD FRONT BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. OUR MECHANIC COULDN'T REMEMBER A CASE WHERE BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE ON A CAR. WE BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM TO BE UNACCEPTABLE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 74,314 MILES AND ONLY 5 YEARS OLD.

Reported

Aug 2015

Incident date

Aug 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

NOTICED AN AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON ON THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAD FAILED AND THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1800. REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED.

Reported

Jul 2015

Incident date

Jun 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, ABS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,400.

Reported

May 2015

Incident date

May 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Reported

Mar 2015

Incident date

Dec 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I LIVE IN IOWA AND WE GOT 6 INCHES OF SNOW.... WENT TO CLEAN THE SNOW OFF MY CAR WITH THE BRUSH PART OF SNOW BRUSH AND WHILE DOING THAT WAS ALSO WARMING UP MY CAR AND AS I WAS CLEANING OFF THE BACK WINDSHIELD I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE WINDOW..... MY BACK WINDOW NOT ONLY HAD A HOLE IN IT BUT SHATTERED!! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!?! I DID NOTHING WRONG!!! NOTHING I HAVEN'T DONE A MILLION TIMES BEFORE AND WHY AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS?!?!? *TR

Reported

Feb 2015

Incident date

Feb 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WHILE DECELERATING, EITHER BRAKING OR COASTING, THE CAR WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY WHEN REACHING APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH. THE SEVERITY OF THE LURCH VARIES BUT IN MOST INSTANCES IT IS HARD ENOUGH TO SNAP MY NECK FORWARD. *JS

Reported

Dec 2014

Incident date

Nov 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

OUR VEHICLE STARTED ONLY UNLOCKING THE 3 PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, WHEN USING THE KEYFOB TO UNLOCK. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL STAY LOCKED AND YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH KEY. NOW 2 OF OUR OTHER DOORS(BOTH REAR) DONT UNLOCK. ALL THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYFOB AND WHEN WE PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS, WHICH IS A PAIN IN THE BUTT WHEN YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN! *TR

Reported

Sep 2014

Incident date

Mar 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

DRIVER DOOR FAILS TO UNLOCK WHEN REMOTE IS PRESSED TO UNLOCK BUT WILL UNLOCK ALL OTHER DOORS. THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ALL OTHER DOORS WILL LOCK WITH REMOTE BUT ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. *TR

Reported

May 2014

Incident date

May 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,100.

Reported

Feb 2014

Incident date

Jan 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A VEHICLE REAR-ENDED MY 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE DRIVER HIT MY KIA SO HARD, I HIT THE MUSTANG IN FRONT OF ME. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON EITHER IMPACT. KIA WAS DRIVABLE, BUT THERE WERE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY THE CAR DROVE (I.E. STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT, WHEEL SHAKING, ETC). THIS WAS THE EVENING OF 01/23/2014. ON 01/29/2014, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED VEHICLE (TOTALING THE KIA) @ 28-30 MPH. AGAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE IMPACT LIFTED ME UP AND MY HEAD SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE TOP. SEAT BELT WAS IN USE, BUT DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT, FAILING TO SECURE MY BODY. MAJOR CONCUSSION RECEIVED ALONG WITH MULTIPLE BRUISES, CUTS, AND SCRAPES. INVESTIGATION UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING MALFUNCTION DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. *TR

Reported

Jan 2014

Incident date

Jan 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash 1 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED DUE TO THE A FAILED WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Reported

Jan 2014

Incident date

Mar 2011

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

HARD JERK WHEN DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AT 20-22 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON WET, ICY OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HE SAID HE HAD NOT HEARD OF IT. *TR

Reported

Dec 2013

Incident date

Nov 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH OUR 2010 KIA OPTIMA, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. THE TPMS, (!) AND THE AIRBAG "OFF/ON" LIGHTS ALL GO OFF AND ON CONTINUALLY. THEY WILL BE ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN GO OFF AND STAY OFF FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE BRAKES ALSO JERK OUR CAR VERY ROUGHLY FORWARD WHEN WE ARE BRAKING. EVEN IF WE ARE GOING 5 MPH, WE PRESS ON THE BRAKES, THEN THE CAR GIVES A BIG JERK BEFORE IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

Reported

Dec 2013

Incident date

Sep 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME ON, BUT YOU CANNOT "SET" THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER KIA MAKES AND MODELS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. AS FAR AS I CAN RESEARCH, THERE IS NOT A FUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

Reported

Nov 2013

Incident date

Jul 2013

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.