2012 Kia Optima Hybrid: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 11, 2019 · Engine · 87,200 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia optima hybrid. While driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and there was a knocking noise coming from the engine. In addition, the oil level warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle started to lose power. The contact was able to safely move the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was towed to southwest kia austin (13175 us-183 n, austin, tx 78750, (512) 583-1900) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,200.

Filed May 14, 2019 · Engine · 128,000 miles · TX

For the past year my car has had a problem losing power in the middle of the freeway, very dangerous, dropping from 70 MPH to 40 with no acceleration forcing me to put on my hazards and pull over. Ive taken it to dealerships and payed over $700 for them to tell me they couldnt find anything wrong.the engine oil light comes on thousands of miles before its time to be changed. Today on the street after exiting the freeway, the car started shaking profusely while at a stop sign and the enigine light came on with a warning that stated 'hybrid emergency do not drive' I turned my car off at the stop sign, again, dangerous as it was middle of traffic, to stop the shaking. Turned ot back on and proceeded home which was about 800 ft away, the entire time the engine light was on. The car began making a chirping noise as I drove home. This is ridiculous and dangerous and even though online it states there was an engine recall for 2012 kia optima, my VIN # states no recall. What should I do?

Filed Sep 24, 2018 · Engine · 80,000 miles · FL

I was on the florida turnpike at about 11pm with my girlfriend 6mo old son my 6year old daughter and niece I was driving at about 70mph when the whole car shook and we heard a loud noise my girlfriend said what did you hit I was not sure then within about a mile the car started to lose power and was smoking really bad I pulled the car off to the side of the road I have geico insurance so I called them for a tow truck after being on the phone with them for about 45 min I was them connected to the police who said they were not open at this timei after hanging up the phone I called geico back who told me they were having trouble finding a tow truck that would come get us from where we were after about 2 hrs they told us that a truck was coming but the baby can't ride in the truck so I had to call a friend to come from port saint lucie florida pick up my girlfriend and the kids we finally made it home at around 4:30 am thank god everybody is okay but this situation could've been a lot worse I was sure that I hit something and I have full coverage so nothing to worry about after sending my car to bev smith kia in ft pierce florida they told the insurance company that it was nothing that I may have hit but a bearing had prematurely failed and threw a rod through the bottom of the motor there is about a 3 in hole in the bottom of the engine so my insurance company will not cover the car they had not even looked at the car and knew what was going on kia has a recall on a number of vehicles with the same problem but my car is a hybrid and it has not been recalled at this time I have been on the phone with kia for over a month they are not wanting to help me a I have found a lot of complaints on the web with the same issues. Kia needs to recall before someone is hurt or even killed! This is unsafe for people to be driving note my car only has 80,000 thousand miles

Filed Aug 21, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · MN

Vehicle has 130,000 miles. While driving on a highway vehicle started to lose power when in cruise and motion is lost. Stepping on the gas does not get any acceleration. This occurred again on a highway and display gives me the hybrid error do not drive warning. This occurs when cruise is set and also not in cruise. I step on the gas and there is no acceleration. After shutting the vehicle off for a few seconds the car functions normally. I am also having back up camera issues which leads me to believe this may be an electrical issue. My display gives me the warning message about objects behind me but the image sometimes does not show. The image sometimes is there when I put the vehicle in reverse and sometimes not. These problems all started at the same time. Kia was contacted as we thought it may just be a computer upgrade. They told the dealer there are no upgrades. We also had a non dealer check the vehicle for error codes but there weren't any. The vehicle checked out fine.

Filed Jul 31, 2018 · Body, Engine · 60,000 miles · CA · fire

While driving the vehicle on the highway upon acceleration the rpms spiked and there was a clicking noise. After releasing the accelerator there was a loud noise like a broken muffler then the car lost power. Pulling to the shoulder the car began to smoke and shortly after stopping the vehicle caught fire from somewhere under the hood which spread to the entire front of the vehicle which then became engulfed in flames before a fire crew could extinguish.

Filed May 18, 2018 · Engine · 92,000 miles · FL

While driving, at night with my two year old son, on a two lane road my car starting making a loud knocking noise, I began to lose power quickly. Thank god I was able to get the car to the edge of the road. I called family, who said to stay put, they brought a trailer to load my car on. I wasn't sure what to do next, I was being told the motor had thrown a rod. Sadly they were all correct. I called kia headquarters, they gave me a case number and the name of a dealership near me, which is still 60 miles away, west palm beach kia. I towed the car over on april 3, 2018, after their diagnoses I was told I needed a motor. I too questioned the kia optima recall, I was told the hybrids are not included in that recall, neither was my VIN. Today is may 18, 2018, my car is still at west palm beach kia awaiting a motor. Since being at west palm beach kia, who I remind you was suggested by kia headquarters I have been through three service managers. I have been informed that I will have to pay $3500 of the $8000 bill, due to kia goodwill." tentative date of may 29, 2018", which is the third change of date also. My car is still there with a my car has 92,000 miles on it. With kia offering to pay at all, it seems they know they have a problem motor, with a safety issue so why is there not a recall?? My two year old son and I could have been hurt seriously if a semi tractor trailer or pick up truck had been behind me. Please issue a recall before people get killed!!!

Filed May 15, 2018 · Engine · 83,324 miles · AZ

The car will stall/lose power, blow white smoke out the exhaust. This happens on acceleration or driving at normal highway speeds this has occurred on the highway and on city streets. Yesterday on the interstate I was almost rear-ended because the vehicle stalled. It is believed the connecting rod bearings in certain engines fail as metal debris circulate throughout the engine via the engine oil. Over time, the contaminants in the oiling system cause the connecting rod bearings to fracture and spew large amounts of metal debris into the engine oil, which it cannot filter out to maintain necessary oil pressure. There are numerous complaints regarding the issue and this safety concern needs to be addressed.

Filed Mar 19, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 72,000 miles · CA

Bought a used 2012 kia optima from a kia dealership on 1/12/18. I did not drive this vehicle from 1/13/2018 - 1/19/18. Started driving this vehicle and 5 (five) days later, on 1/23/18 the vehicle blew a rod in the engine. After several unsuccessful attempts at having the dealership fix the issue at their expense, I was getting nowhere. I contacted kia headquarters and they assisted me with communication with the dealership and getting the engine rebuilt (as a goodwill by the dealership). Had the car towed to the dealership on 1/25/18; they had my vehicle for exactly 1 (one) month while the dealership rebuilt the engine. I received the car back from dealership on 2/23/18. On 3/6/18 as I was driving on freeway, the car started to lose power while driving. I was driving at approximately 70 MPH on freeway, and car just started losing power. The car slowed down to approximately 40 MPH and engine oil light turned on & off sporadically. No matter how much I tried to accelerate, the car would not go over 40 MPH. This was very dangerous as I was scared that I would get rear-ended on the freeway. I slowly moved over the shoulder and turned off the car; I waited approximately 30 minutes before turning the car back on and proceeding to my personal mechanic (not kia dealership). My mechanic said not to turn car off; he inspected car & scanned it. No error codes were detected. He said maybe it was a fluke and to just continue to drive it. On 3/12/18 the same thing happened again. This time I took it to my local kia dealership and left it. After a scan & test drive, the mechanic could not find anything wrong with the car. Mechanic drove it the next day over 80 miles and this time he did experience the same reduction of power. He scanned vehicle again but no error codes show. It's still at dealership 3/19/18.

Filed Mar 14, 2018 · Engine · 105,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia optima hybrid. While driving highway speeds, the "hybrid system failure, please pull over and turn off vehicle" message illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle would not restart and was towed to jt's kia of columbia (230 killian commons pkwy, columbia, sc 29203) where it was diagnosed that the engine failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling), but the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not under a recall. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 105,000.

Filed Jan 15, 2018 · Engine · 55,550 miles · PA · fire

Engine lost power stated smoking all over trunk engine going 60 MPH on rt15 thurmont maryland outside of camp david, oil was everywhere loud boom, my grandson was in the back seat at this time as well, dealership telling me they are not at falt or replacing enging,as I see a federal investigation on this issue as well, I need my car repaired or replaced asap,.

Filed Jun 14, 2017 · Engine · 108,189 miles · GA

While driving on a 4 lane highway, my car jerked and loss power, going from 60 MPH to 20 MPH. I had the car towed to the dealership and they said a threw an engine rod! The car had 108,189 miles on it. There is a nationwide recall on the kia optima already, but mine is not. It should! The bearing rods go out prematurely and that is exactly what mine did.

Filed Oct 7, 2016 · Engine · 87,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2012 kia optima hybrid. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal banging noise under the hood. The vehicle momentarily lost power and the contact noticed black smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was deemed destroyed. The technician stated that the fire was due to a connecting rod malfunction. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.