2012 Kia Optima Hybrid: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed May 12, 2019 · Engine · 145,000 miles · VA

While driving on a highway around 45mph, the engine suddenly made a rattling noise, then shortly after, made a loud squealing noise and then a sudden jolt. The car shut down and showed an error about the hybrid system malfunction and I experienced a quick drop in speed and was unable to accelerate. After pulling over, the car would not start. Car was towed to dealer and they were able to start vehicle, but it makes a loud 'clanking' noise and car vibrates. Dealer informed that appears a part inside engine had failed and will need complete engine replacement.

Filed Nov 16, 2017 · Engine · 98,214 miles · CA

I started my car and started driving back home and as I got onto the freeway and the engine turned, I could hear a rattling noise that would match the RPM of the engine. By the time I got home the engine was loud and squealing. I towed it to the dealership the next day, where they said that I needed a new engine due to a"bearing/ connecting rod issue". Which is a reason there is a recall on select optima models. But the hybrid models are not included for some reason. I suspect the failure rate on the hybrids to be abnormally high as well.

Filed Sep 19, 2017 · Brakes · 80,000 miles · CA

On two separate occasions, I was driving with my children in the car and have lost brake functions to my car. The first time, I was on the freeway. In the morning with alot of traffic. I had to swerve into the emergency lane and grind the brakes trying to stop the car. There was a loud grinding and scrapping sound but car did not stop. I had to use emergency brake to stop the car. I turned off the car and restarted it and the brakes worked again. I was able to exit the freeway and slowly made it to my home. I then had the car towed to an auto shop near by. They ran a diagnostic and found code error 1237 in the active hydraulic boost system and was told that the car has an internal pressure leak in the ABS system. The mechanic was not able to fix the issue due to not having the equipment to do so and I was sent to kia dealer. I towed the car to kia. I told them what the mechanic had said and I was told that kia needed to run its own diagnostic. After they did that they said it was the battery. I replaced the battery. 3 months later, the same thing happened. I was just about to enter the freeway when I lost the brakes and heard the grinding and scrapping sound. I pulled into a gas station right before the freeway and was able to stop the car using my emergency brake. I again turned off the car and turned it back on. I tried to drive it but it continued to happen. I could not drive it safely so I had it towed to kia. They did another diagnostic and told me that they had found a pressure sensor error and a leak in the ABS system and now its going to cost 2600. They could not guarantee me that this would not happen again. I do not feel safe driving me and my family in the car.

Filed Aug 18, 2015 · Brakes · 35,000 miles · TX

I was approaching a stop sign traveling 30 MPH. When applying the brakes to slow down they were initially working and I was reducing speed, however suddenly I heard a very loud crunching/grinding noise and I lost all brake functionality. To stop the vehicle I had to place the vehicle in park. If a car was in front of me I would have crashed into it. Additionally, because I lost brake functionality I went into the intersection. If cars were crossing the intersection or if a person was crossing the street I would have crashed into them. I turned off the car and got out and checked the vehicle and was unable to find anything wrong. Since I was in the intersection I turned the vehicle back on and the brakes seemd to be working again. The vehicle was towed to the kia dealer. The kia dealer had the car for three days. Per the kia technician they inspected the brakes and the hybrid regenerative braking system and were unable to find any problems or recreate the issue. Per the kia technician they exhausted all of their options and were unable to find any issues and returned the car to me. Additionally, I contacted kia customer service and they stated that if they were unable to recreate the problem there is nothing they could do. While researching this issue I found that two other people have reported the same problem to the federal safety agency (the federal safety agency id 10638311, 10650553). One person crashed because of the issue and they reported that the issues have sporadically happened multiple times. I believe that there is a defect in the hybrid braking system that causes the driver to sporadically lose all brake functionality. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle and fear that at any point in time I can lose all brake functionality and crash, causing an injury or death to myself or another person.

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Brakes · 33,000 miles · HI

Kia optima hybrid system warning no brakes! Unsafe car! We have the same problem as someone else on this site. Oct 16th 2014 we were pulling out of our driveway and received a warning on the display saying "hybrid system warning slow down and come to a stop. Check brakes. Also the brake pedal had depressed all the way to the floor and there was a grinding sound. Unlike a low pad sound but the sound of gears not engaging. Also there were no brakes at all, the car wouldn't stop. We turned the car off and then on again and it was the same error message and same pedal situation. So we left the car where it was. After a few hours we tried to start the car again, but this time it was fine, no error message, brakes worked again. So we took it to our kia dealer ship here in honolulu. After a diagnostic we received a report a few hours later. The report said that the car checked out fine and there were no error codes stored. The service advisor said this is an intermittent problem that they could not duplicate. We took the car home and did nt feel safe driving it as we thought what if this happens again. We then brought the car back to kia and told them how we felt. They said they did multiple test and after one week of testing could not duplicate the problem. The service manager was very angry with us saying we need to pick up our car and return the loaner. After I hung up I did my own research on the internet and found this identical symptoms on another complaint here but this person had got into an accident. I forwarded this link to kia, now they are so nice to us because I think they now see the danger. But they still have our car and can't figure out what is wrong. We are very fearful that this car is dangerous and will not put our kids at risk in this kia with no brakes! Be warned this car has brake problems and one person has already crashed!