2009 Kia Optima: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 5, 2021 · Transmission · 102,000 miles · GA

When car is slowing down and /or approaching a stop sign it gives a hard jerk. Even if traffic slows down on the express way it gives a hard jerk. This has been going on since november 2020.

Filed Jan 12, 2020 · Engine · FL

After I bought my used 2009 kia optima, I was experiencing a hard downshift when it decelerated, it was so abrupt it felt as if the brakes had been applied very rapidly and the car would jerk forward. It happens when the vehicle first starts and goes away after it has warmed up. The vehicle was taken to a kia dealer and we believe they reprogrammed the transmission control module. It stopped for a while but it is doing it again after a couple of years.

Filed Jun 30, 2018 · Transmission · 117,000 miles · FL

Car lurches at 20 MPH when slowing down to a stop. This happens after just starting the car, once driven on the highway it downshifts without lurching forward. This happened years ago around 70,000 dealer flushed transmission and it was ok until now at 120,000. Seems like this is a common reoccurring problem that should be recalled.

Filed Aug 6, 2017 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · DE

My 2009 kia optima with 90,000 miles is experiencing a hard downshift into first gear when it decelerates to about 20 MPH. It is so abrupt, it feels as if the brakes have been applied very rapidly. The car jerks forward and is accompanied by a clunking sound from the transmission. It mostly happens when the vehicle is cold and goes away after it has warmed up. It just started and I have not taken it to be serviced.

Filed Jan 18, 2017 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia optima. While driving the vehicle at higher speeds and attempting to reduce the speed by depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would reduce speed as normal til around 20 MPH. The vehicle would suddenly jerk forward. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Apr 13, 2016 · Acceleration, Brakes · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle violently jerked. The contact mentioned that excessive force was required on the brake pedal in order for the vehicle to come to a stop. In addition, the contact stated while approaching a stop sign, the vehicle continued to accelerate while the brake pedal was depressed and failed to stop. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 11, 2016 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia optima. While driving 10 MPH and decelerating, the vehicle jerked violently. The failure recurred when the vehicle was cold. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Filed Jan 24, 2016 · Transmission · 67,500 miles · FL

When vehicle is started at first and after slowing down between 20-30 MPH applying brakes to slow down the vehicle makes a hard downshift jerk causing a harsh jolt. This happens continually up five times then decreases. This is a safety hazard and could cause death.

Filed Sep 15, 2015 · Transmission · 52,000 miles · NY

When driving the vehicle it jerks forward and downshifts aggressively around 30 MPH. Kia is aware of the issue and will not fix it because there is no recall.

Filed Jun 24, 2015 · Brakes · 14,000 miles · OH

Approaching a stop sign or light, when I apply the brakes smoothly, the brakes will grab and the car will jerk to a stop, usually when the car is going less than 20 MPH. This is much worse is cold weather. After about 10 minutes of driving, it no longer occurs. We just bought the car in august 2014, so this is the first winter we've had the car, so I don't know if the prior owners tried to have it fixed or not.

Filed Apr 26, 2015 · Engine · 30,000 miles · IL

I have the same problem as other describe here. I had this issue in 2011 when slowing down from 10 mile speed (believe) . Dealer fixed with programming (as they said). Now recently last three month happening exactly like following post. I have contacted dealer and have appointment this week. (see what happens..) =========================== late last year (2014) in our kia optima 2009 got some transmission issue which is difficult to explain for. To me it looks like a manufacturing defect which kia must resolve. This is what I experienced: in 2014 october, I started feeling a heavy jolt/jerk whenever I used the car and the engine is cold. The jolt is so strong that every passenger noticed it. This happens only when I try to slow down the car and it gets near to 20 mphr. So the factors are: 1. Cold 2. Downshift 3. Speed 20 mphr on slippery roads it may be very dangerous which can lead to major injuries. Kia must accept this dangerous manufacturing defect before it start taking lives. It is very annoying issue too, it is always on my mind while driving which is causing distraction while driving. Kia must take an action instead of sitting quite. They must issue recall this to fix this dangerous issue. The federal safety agency also should support all the people with same problem so that people can believe their safety standards. I took my car 2-3 times there and explained the issue, but they could not fix it so far. If kia's own dealers cannot fix this problem then who will? Thanks for reading my complaint against kia!

Filed Mar 26, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 50,000 miles · OH

Late last year (2014) in our kia optima 2009 got some transmission issue which is difficult to explain for. To me it looks like a manufacturing defect which kia must resolve. This is what I experienced: in 2014 october, I started feeling a heavy jolt/jerk whenever I used the car and the engine is cold. The jolt is so strong that every passenger noticed it. This happens only when I try to slow down the car and it gets near to 20 mphr. So the factors are: 1. Cold 2. Downshift 3. Speed 20 mphr on slippery roads it may be very dangerous which can lead to major injuries. Kia must accept this dangerous manufacturing defect before it start taking lives. It is very annoying issue too, it is always on my mind while driving which is causing distraction while driving. Kia must take an action instead of sitting quite. They must issue recall this to fix this dangerous issue. The federal safety agency also should support all the people with same problem so that people can believe their safety standards. I took my car 2-3 times there and explained the issue, but they could not fix it so far. If kia's own dealers cannot fix this problem then who will? Thanks for reading my complaint against kia!