Kia Optima Hybrid won't start problems

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NE

hybrid battery low won't crank but turns on and says park do not drive check charging system

Filed Feb 21, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · CO

While driving down the road the car said it had a major voltage failure and was shutting down. I was in the middle of the street and thankfully was able to coast to the turn lane before the car came to a total stop. since the gas pedal didn't do anything. the car then said there was multiple failures and the hybrid system needed to be immediately shut down. The car then wouldn't start or move after that. about 20 mins later the car like dashboard and screen would turn on but the engine would not. when it turned back on there were even more warnings along with other failures like emergency braking and transmission and the hybrid communication. when the tow truck came and took it it would go into neutral to get on the truck but wouldn't even do that when we got it to the dealership it had to be manually taken out of park to get it off the truck. there were lots of warning lights but the oil, engine, and another light I not sure what it meant were always on even when the others would go away after a while.

Filed Nov 22, 2020 · Engine · 117 miles · MS

While driving my vehicle car suddenly shuts off in the highway. Big tryck was behind me. Gladly the truck wasnt going fast. Tried to push the button car turned over but didnt crank just made a sound and tge lights in dash board jumped. What is going on with my car. Driving on highway

Filed May 27, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 76,000 miles · NJ

Without warning the engine overheated while driving in the highway. The engine made a loud noise and began smoking ... The vehicle became immobilized I pulled off to the side of the road and opened the hood. There was so much smoke. The car turned on afterwards but the engine did not start. Within seconds the battery shutdown.

Filed May 26, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 67,000 miles · CA

Hybrid warning light suddenly came on indicating that I should pull over while I was driving on the freeway. I immediately veered to my left to get to the shoulder, as the car had already died, and I was moving only on momentum. I was almost hit by a car behind me. I waited a while, and the car restarted. The engine light came on and went away later that day. This was a saturday, and I took the car to the dealership on monday. This was not the first occurrence. The first time I experienced the same scenario and also almost got hit by a car as I was trying to get to the right shoulder. My car did not start in that incident, and I had to get it towed. The second time was again the same scenario, and it did restart. Each time I took it to the dealership. Each time they said they couldn't replicate the problem, and they made ancillary updates, which didn't help. The third time it happened, I was adamant that they fix it because they were at risk of serious liability because I was being placed in extreme danger. Further, it brought about much anxiety knowing that this could happen without warning at any time while driving. My car is still within the 100k warranty. The first time, they refused to address it under warranty, and they argued with me about it only to concede later that, in fact, it was covered under warranty.

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 Apr 18, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 62,000 miles · CA

* october 2017 while driving in the freeway car slowed down. Got off freeway and turned off car. Car would not start anymore. Kia replaced high voltage fuse, hybrid battery, power relay. * march 2018 car was taken in due to hev and engine light on while driving. Car did not accelerate. Kia replaced the transmission. * march 2018 car was returned after transmission change and 2 days later while driving car gave hev and engine light on. Kia said it was a "loose wire" from transmission. * march 2018 car gave hev and check engine light on while driving and kia replaced the transmission again (2nd time in 1 month). * april 2018 check engine and hev code came out while driving and kia replaced the computer from engine. *march 2019 hev and check engine light while driving on kia replaced the main harness.

Filed Mar 4, 2019 · Engine · 38,000 miles · CA

For the 2nd year, my kia would not start in 32 degree weather in big bear, ca. This is an annual trip & took my kia.the lights, radio all turn on but the engine will not start. I have to wait until noon for the sun to warm up the car & then it's back to normal. I have taken the car back to the dealership & have been told they cannot find any malfunction & never heard of anyone experience what I have. There are many forums with kia owners complaining of the same, but cannot get a fix or acknowledgement that the problem exists. It's beyond frustrating when the car has less than 40k miles.

Filed Feb 26, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 99,500 miles · NJ · fire

Engine misfire in cylinder # 1. The engine began to smoke, check engine (p0301) illuminated. Ignition coil was melted now car does not start. Engine failure. This happened on a short trip to the store limped the car back home. Kia refuses to recall this optima engine because its a hybrid although it has failed and has been recalled on multiple same year kia optimas due to metal deposits in the engine from factory.

Filed Dec 24, 2018 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · KY

On december 5, 2018 my car suddenly stalled while driving in an intersection. I immediately tried to restart it but was unsuccessful I had battery power, all of the ga restart it but was unsuccessful I had battery power, all of the gauges would a cycle back-and-forth whenever pushing the start button,however it was just like the gas motor would not fire. It is still under warranty, so I had it towed to a dealership. The next morning I was called and told that it showed a lot of codes, and they would need some time to decipher them and would notify me with results later. After about five hours I was called back and told her that the battery on the car was dead and it would not take a charge. Play then informed me that the battery on the car was the only thing not under warranty and the new replacement was $400. Unable to pay that much for a 12 v battery I tried unsuccessfully for a week to argue the fact that the battery was not dead when it went out and getting nowhere I finally bought a $200 battery, and installed it myself. I am mediately tried to start the car.... It did the same thing it did after it died a week prior. I am form them after giving them the key to the car back and I need new battery and it still would not start. A nother week went by and finally I was told that they was taking the battery I purchased out to put a kia battery in the car to see if it will start (which they said that allowed the car to start). Then stated to me that after it started they were able to pull codes on it and it had a bed safety fuse. I was five minutes from the dealership whenever I was notified of this so I'll stop by nearly as I hung up the phone. When I walked in I walked straight to the car which was in the garage and look at my battery that I purchased was still in the car, had not been removed and I started the car. Successfully. I was still told couldn't take car.