Kia Optima Hybrid loss of power problems

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · AL

I took my car to riverchase Kia to get a battery and to get the battery installed I have the invoice I was charged $762 and he also told me that he was doing some recalls on wiring and he told me he completed it well recently I was driving and the brakes gave out on me he was supposed to do a recall job on the he cu but he only put a fuse in and press complete on your system to let you all know that he completed the job but he did not complete the job he patched it up and I almost lost my life the Brits gave out on me I pressed the brakes down to the floor I pressed the the parking brake and I put the car in park while driving because it lost power of breaking and a warning came up popped up and it said it's a safety race warning do not drive do not drive no brakes do not drive and I almost ran into a building finally the car out down and I was able to stop but I can't drive the car because it's a safety risk the the brake fluid keeps coming out and the car keeps telling me warning do not drive and the brake warning light is on and when I check the brake fluid reservoir is no brake fluid in it it keeps running out and I feel like I'm at a dead end I don't have any transportation I can't drive my kids to school I can't do the things that I need to do in my normal life because I don't have any breaks and this dealership did not perform the job that they were supposed to perform he did not repair the he cu he just passed it up and I almost died

Filed Sep 8, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA

This car is registered under my sons name, [XXX]. I helped him buy the car as we paid cash for it ( Money was provided by my ex-wife). We bought it on XXX and was sold as-is but then the seller said theres no problem with it. A week after we bought it as my son was driving it on [XXX] it drove it suddenly loss power then it stop. He was in the middle lane in a 45 mph road. He said it started to run again after a few minutes after a several minutes of turning it off. After that the car randomly kept giving error messages regarding the Hybrid system, losing power and telling driver to stop car and turning it off while driving on the freeway. We called the seller (Jalal) about the issue and he recommended for us to take it to his mechanic nearby. We took it to his mechanic and he did some test on it. We dont really know everything he did but a day or two later it started giving the same error message and a few days after it give another warning to stop and turn off the engine as it lost power again. After that we got in touch with the seller (Jalal) again to let him know that we were still having the same problem. In XXX we agreed again to his recommendation to take the car to his mechanic ( who knows about Hybrid issues) in Mt. View to have it repaired. We agreed to pay $750 and seller agreed to pay the balance of $500. The mechanic had it for about a week before we picked up the car. Mechanic did not speak english. We drove it home with no problem but after a few days the problem came back again. It didnt happened everyday but randomly. It losses power all of a sudden and gives warning to turn off car immediately while driving. We did a little bit of research on the car and found out that it had a recall in 2018 about the Hybrid Propulsion System. This recall causes the car to loose power and warns you to stop. Also it was noted by our car insurance agency that it still has the recall open. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 2, 2026 · OH

I believe the Hybrid Propulsion System in my kia optima hybrid should have been part of the recall. The vehicle is currently showing signs of the vehicle's Voltage Protection Device activating inadvertently, causing a sudden loss of power. Vehicle is currently with an authorized dealership being tested.

Filed Nov 21, 2024 · Brakes · 177,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the brake pedal was pumped to slow the vehicle as needed. Additionally, the "Hybrid System Warning! Safely Stop and Do Not Drive" and "Check Brake" messages were displayed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS system had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact linked the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) after the recall repair was performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

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 Apr 24, 2019 · Transmission · 32,000 miles · WA

When driving through a neighborhood between 20 - 25mph the hybrid warning light illuminated with overhead voice stating to pull over and not drive the vehicle any further. In the process of pulling over the car proceeded to lose all power. Electrical within car (lights, radio, etc.) remained on but car was unable to accelerate and engine was completely off. The cause of the power loss is still unknown, however, we were running on hybrid power at the time. This, with the hybrid malfunction indicator light lead me to believe this is a problem with the hybrid system.

Filed Apr 11, 2019 · 50,000 miles · CA

While I was driver on the street. A warning check hev system light came on. Then the car electrical system just shutdown and I lost all power. The car went from working perfect to completely out of power in 30 second.

Filed Jan 16, 2019 · Electrical, Transmission · 152,238 miles · IA

Driving normally, hcu error popped up on nav display as well as drivers display. Told to pull over immediately and turn off engine. I was traveling on once he interstate, by the time I got into the emergency lane the car completely lost all power. Turned on emergency hazard lights and after 5 minutes the car was completely dead. Called a tow truck and brought it to rock river kia in rockdoed, il. Later was told that the engine had seized and the hybrid battery was no longer holding a charge. Estimated 14,000 repair cost.

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