2012 Kia Optima: multiple warning lights

Filed Feb 27, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA · fire · 1 injury

Unknown but We were driving home from friant in motion when the car died and started smoking, no indication light were on before until after the incident all warning lights were on dash. Our lives were put at risk due to this. We were not able to control steering wheel or to get out of the way of traffic.

Filed Dec 13, 2025 · Transmission · FL

The failure involves the component covered under the active safety recall campaign. The affected part/system is still installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request by the manufacturer, dealership, or the federal safety agency. Recall number : 23V6552 While driving in traffic, the vehicle suddenly began to slow down without warning, started jerking, and lost normal operation. I was forced to pull over to avoid a collision. This sudden loss of power and control placed me, my passengers, and surrounding drivers at risk of an accident. Yes. The issue was confirmed by an authorized dealership. The dealership acknowledged that the problem is directly related to the active safety recall but refused to perform the repair due to vehicle mileage exceeding 150,000 miles. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealership representing the manufacturer. No inspection has been performed by police or insurance representatives at this time. No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the incident. I had not received the recall notification letter at the time I purchased the vehicle. The first occurrence happened suddenly on 12/10/2025, when the vehicle began slowing down and jerking in traffic. After I pulled over and parked, multiple warning lights and messages appeared, and the steering wheel stopped moving normally. This vehicle has an open the federal safety agency safety recall. Safety recalls do not expire based on mileage or ownership. The dealership acknowledged the issue is recall-related but refused to perform the repair due to mileage limits, which is inconsistent with federal safety recall requirements.

Filed Jul 18, 2025 · Engine · 160,000 miles · MO

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked, with an abnormal hissing sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle and entering the cabin of the vehicle through the A/C vents. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that there was a hole in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact notified the insurance company; however, no claim was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Jan 22, 2025 · Engine · VA

On the evening of December 5, 2024 my 2012 KIA OPTIMA's engine completely seized out of no where while traveling on a very busy road where the speed limit is 50mph putting my life and other drivers that share the roads life in danger. Thank god I was able to succesfully merge over into a safe place as the car came to a hault. Previous to this incident the car was running perfectly fine with no dash lights on what so ever. Once I was in a safe place I called KIA headquarters immediatly, I was told that I have to pay to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership and that I would be reinbursed depending on the issue of the vehicle after being diagnosed. The very next morning I called KIA corporate to open a case for the vehicle, in which i was told that my specific year, make and models engine was under a lifetime warranty. I then recieved a call from the dealership Decmember 6, 2024 and i was told my optima would be diagnosed and if the issue is due to the KIA engine class settlement that the engine would be replaced free of charge and if it is not then I would have to pay $380 to have the engine repaired under the lifetime warrantly & that the car could not be looked at until December 16, 2024. Once December 16, 2024 came around I recieved a call from the KIA dealership and I was told that my vehicle could not be diagnosed due to the time frame in which i bought the vehicle and that I needed to have my car moved from their lot or I would get charged $80 a day storage fee so I had to have my vehicle towed back to my home where it is currently just sitting. To this day (January 22, 2024 I am still dealing with trying to communicate with KIA CORPORATE AMERICA to have this matter resolved for I am very aware of the engine recall issue for my specific year make and model. My vehicle has yet to be inspected and the only time the warning lamps came on was once the engine completely seized, all of the dash lights popped on.

Filed Jun 17, 2022 · Electrical · IN

The speedometer quits working, the car will not shift into gear after parked and turned off, all the dash lights come on. You have to hit the reset button on the gear shift to get the car to do anything.

Filed Sep 22, 2021 · Transmission · PA

My wife had been complaining that while driving 2011 optima hybrid at highway speeds the car would suddenly lose power and slow to 30 or 40 mph while the pedal is floored. Took it to the dealer who said we needed a new battery which did not solve the problem. 2nd time came with a warning on the dash to check hybrid system, back at the dealer they said it appears to be some special fuse in the trunk ($300)…problem sill persist however this time the car completely shut down on the road, dash was lit up like a Christmas tree. Had to get it towed. Now dealer says its the HPCU and that’s going to run almost $6000. Dealer was willing to install a used one i got on EBay, they charged $1300 for the install they tell me the problem still exists.

Filed Aug 31, 2021 · Engine · 203,000 miles · GA · fire

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while driving at 30 - 35 mph, the vehicle loss motive power without warning. The oil warning light was first illuminated then all of the warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The contact tried to restart the vehicle when she detected a smoke odor and saw there was smoke coming from under the hood. The contact exited the vehicle with her daughter. The contact then opened the hood and saw that the engine had caught fire. The contact had a friend from nearby come help to put out the fire with water. No medical attention was received. No police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained on the side of the road. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 203,000.

Filed May 8, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · 99,075 miles · TX

Tha car shut down in the middle of the road would not start all lights came on and could not steer gave the car gas on gas pedal nor could I brake to get out of the road. Has been towed to demontrond kia to see if under warranty for repairs almost lost my life on highway

Filed Feb 13, 2021 · Engine · 100,000 miles · IL

I'd had no mechanical issues w/ my vehicle, whatsoever & all routine maintenance is done on time. While driving on the highway one day & suddenly all the warning lights came on & lots of smoke coming from under the hood. Pulled to the side of the road, had it towed to the nearest kia dealership. After a few days, it was explained to me, by the service team that my engine was shot, but I wasn't given an explanation as to why. There were no recalls at that time on the hybrid vehicles; however, I just got a recall letter for my optima hybrid, dated 1/27/2021 that described the very thing that I experienced with my car. This prompted me to visit this website to explain my issue.

Filed Jan 30, 2021 · Engine, Transmission · 113,000 miles · GA

Vehicle shut down with low power at 50 MPH with all lights working. Computer has car shut down and can not start.

Filed Aug 10, 2020 · Engine · 111,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia optima. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving and making a left turn the vehicle seized. The contact stated multiple warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to cruise the vehicle on the side of the road. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and when lifting the hood saw fire. The contact stated the driver ran to his employer and was able to extinguish the fire with 5 fire extinguishers. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact stated no fire or police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to her residence. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired as of yet. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact stated that she found several unknown recalls on line that was related to the vehicle failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Filed May 16, 2020 · Engine · 150,000 miles · AR

Engine stopped while in motion on the interstate with children. All of the lights on the dash came on but it wouldn't accelerate. Would not re start after powering off.