2011 Kia Optima: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Dec 7, 2015 · Acceleration · 25,000 miles · NJ · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia optima. While driving 10 MPH and proceeding to stop, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle began to surge forward without warning. The contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. A police report was filed. Injuries where sustained, but medical attention was not required. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Prior to the crash, the vehicle was diagnosed three other times and it was determined that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

Filed Jun 13, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 29,500 miles · IL

This is the second time I report this unintended acceleration, last month happened on may 4 , I documented in my previous complaint, they returned the car 5-21-14 they didn't find anything, on june 6 again the car accelerated when I was stepped on the brake and ready to put it in park, they told me to take the car to another dealer until now don't hear from them, called kia in california left messages no call back, today a got a hold with another person jenny, and she repeat like a broken record we cannot duplicate the problem but they still keep the car for a long time, I have a case # [xxx] the federal safety agency should investigate this, like I explained to this lady engineers should look at this situation not the mechanic, is something to do with the computer, they just follow instructions and their machine tell them nothing is wrong, like I mentioned before in my other complaint this one is the fourth time that happened, what are we waiting that some people got kill to investigate, look at the problems that toyota and general motor had, they wait until people died then start doing something, thank you to this site that we could voice our concerns. *tr information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) updated 1/6/2015

Filed May 15, 2014 · Transmission · 29,500 miles · IL

On 5-4-14 I was driving from wisconsin when we decided to stop at wal-mart, while we were waiting for a person to move out of its parking spot, my optima start to accelerate even when I had my foot in the brake, my first reaction was to move the gear shift to neutral and then the engine start racing up the RPM were very fast (was in neutral), at the moment a lady and her small kid were crossing in front of my car, god knows what it would happened if I wouldn't move the gear to neutral. This is the third time last year it did the same thing in july when I was at the stop sign , the second time was this year in january when I came back home from work then I was parking when the car starting accelerating but I was holding up with concrete bar on the ground that is in my parking lot, at that time I shut the engine off, but it was not much of concern because I was not driving the car in the street. Next day (5-5-14) took the car to the dealer, and they contacted kia to report this issue, on may 7 at 4:20 pm a gentleman from kia his name was [xxx] called me to get some information about this sudden acceleration and told him everything that happened and gave a case #2706364, then on 5-7-14 another gentleman from kia corporation called me, his name [xxx], and told me that he is in charge of my case now and will call me to let me know about the outcome of this, well he didn't call so I called him back on 5-15-14, (10 days later), he told me he was waiting for the dealership to call him, I went to the dealer and I was informed by ed the service manager that they were doing some tests, he called me later saying that he talked to [xxx] in kia corporation and he gave 11 point of inspection to do. Situation should be investigated by the federal safety agency to avoid any future incidents that could cause some serious injuries or fatalities. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 30, 2014 · Acceleration · NJ

Tl* the contact owns 2011 kia optima. The contact stated that while at a stop with the brakes depressed, the engine rpms increased as the vehicle abnormally accelerated six feet. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a stop by depressing the brake pedal with force. The sudden acceleration was experienced on two separate occasions. The dealer performed a diagnostic but was unable to generate a failure code. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 18,100.

Filed May 15, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 12,500 miles · FL

Sudden acceleration! Happened approximately 6 months ago and again on may 10th. Going slowly towards a stop sign while braking to stop, the car suddenly accelerates and lunges forward. Stepped on the brake but car keeps going. Put shift lever in neutral with engine racing and after about 2 seconds the engine slowly drops to idle. No accidents caused because no one was in front of me. Very dangerous situation! Took car to the dealer on may 15th and they could find no codes present and said the vehicle was operating as designed.

Filed May 6, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 28,500 miles · GA · crash

On april 25th, 2013, I drove from the atlanta area to shannon, ga. Near adairsville, ga. I stopped a the gate put the car in park, set the brake. Before I could get out the car surged forward smashing the gate. I hit the brake, backed it up, put it in park, set the brake and again before I could get out it surged forward. This time when I backed up put it in park I turned off the motor. Jumping forward in my story, I called kia and found out the car was on recall. I looked it up on the internet only to see the notices would not be sent out until may 2013. Kia. Is replacing the part but will not fix the front end damage. They told me to call my insurance company. Kia ran some test and said it showed nothing wrong with my car. I would have been run down and killed or in the hospital. All I ask is for them to fix the front end of my car and replace the gate. They still have my car so the mileage is and estimate. I did use cruse control. Case #[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 29, 2011 · Acceleration · 7,000 miles · MA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2011 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle began to decelerate abnormally. After a few moments, the vehicle suddenly surged forward. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the shoulder and stopped. Black smoke then began to rise from under the hood and the vehicle was immediately engulfed into flames. The fire department appeared on the scene to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not examined for the cause of failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure and the current mileages were 7,000.