2012 Kia Optima: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Feb 28, 2026 · Acceleration, Brakes · WV

When the brake pedal is pressed on the brakes will grab. It snatches the car kinda hard. Also when you give the car gas it will hesitate and will not accelerate. Another with the gas is that you can be driving at a higher speed such as 45 to 55 or so and you press down the gas pedal like your going into passing gear and it will not accelerate it’s like it’s trying to stop. Feels like the car is gonna fall on down onto itself and it loses power.

Filed Jan 14, 2025 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light eventually became illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved a fault code for the engine variable valve timing solenoid. The contact was informed that the engine variable valve timing solenoid needed to be replaced. The contact called a dealer and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Mar 19, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · 24,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the brake lights continuously remained illuminated. The taillight bulbs blew out on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there were several unknown warning lights flashing. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

Filed Jan 23, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · 88,800 miles · DE

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle hesitated. The vehicle lost motive power and was slow to accelerate. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the high-pressure fuel pump was failing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine). The approximate failure mileage was 88,800.

Filed Jan 4, 2023 · Engine · 77,210 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her grandson was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started hesitating before the vehicle stalled in the middle of the roadway. The driver was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts, but the vehicle was idling rough. The contact stated that the near-stalling failure had occurred several times. The contact stated at the recent failure the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed by the contact's son-in-law who retrieved DTC: P1326 (Engine). The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,210.

Filed May 4, 2021 · Engine · 120,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia optima. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and stalled with the battery and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact stated she shifted to neutral and pushed the vehicle into her driveway. The vehicle was towed to quality kia of greenwood (1706 montague ave ext, greenwood, sc 29649, (864) 223-2542) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Filed Jan 28, 2021 · Engine · 63,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, when the vehicle began to hesitate and the he heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact he was able to park on the side of the road and notice smoke exit the hood. The contact stated a police officer was nearby and parked behind his vehicle. The contact stated the fire extinguished on it's own before the fire department arrived to the location. A police and fire report was not filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to local dealer northtown kia ( 3900 sheridan dr, amherst, ny 14226: (716) 217-2390) and diagnosed the failure was caused due to a oil leak. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency campaign number: 18v907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine), however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

Filed Sep 29, 2020 · Electrical, Fuel system · 160,200 miles · AR

Kia replaced my engine after it failed while driving. Now it hesitates and sometimes jerks like it's about to run out of gas. The skid light comes on even when it's dry. The break light pops on even when the vehicle isn't in use. There is a recall for fuel pipe damage after engine replacement but they won't acknowledge it or even inspect my vehicle know it can cause a fire

Filed Jul 29, 2020 · Fuel system · 80,000 miles · CA

My 2012 optima was taken to imperio kia in dana point for a mandated engine inspection. After the inspection, I noticed the adviser acting strangely. My car engine started to hesitate, and began to smell rubber burning. The dealership did not ever answer the phone, and with 4 weeks they closed down. My car was inspected at kia of irvine, who determined the engine was damaged beyond repair, it had metal pieces and rubber pieces in it, the hoses were disconnected and there was rubber melted onto the exhaust manifold. There were missing clamps and numerous other probems. Kia replaced my engine and turbo with rebuilt parts, after a wait that lasted 4 more weeks. Kia provided me a 5 year extended warranty on all the components that were replaced and damaged in this case #12538291. In 2019, another mandated inspection occurred for the fuel pump system and fuel pipe in the vehicles that previously required a replacement engine, because there was a danger of fire. On july 28, 2020, the optima started to lose its power, and choked and hesitated upon startup while I was in traffic. It was very dangerous. I reopened the engine claim and took the optima into the irvine dealership. They clain there is no extended warranty, that it does not exist! They accept no responsibility for the inspection or lack there-of for the fuel pipe, and claim that the warranty and recall do not cover the fuel pump. Agents are working from home due to covid-19, and there is no customer service to speak of. The quote from the dealership is extremely high and they want to charge me a high diagnostic fee as well. I have been through enough trauma because of kia, and I want them to be held accountable. Their warranty records are a disgrace.

Filed Mar 8, 2020 · Engine · 94,699 miles · PA

I was driving and heard some knocking and smelled an exhaust like smell, after getting off the highway and stopping at a stop light, the car would not accelerate pass 25 MPH when pressing on the gas pedal and would stutter & hesitate. I stopped for a diagnosis at the closest car shop. After their evaluation they thought it could be the transmission but since they were a oil change & tire shop they could not help. Since the car was drivable, I thought I could make it back home very slowly, I drove no more than an 1/2 mile and could not accelerate pass 10 MPH. I parked the car and had it towed to another auto repair shop 3 miles away. Outcome, they resealed timing cover which included replacement of front crank seal, valve cover gasket and cleaned residual engine oil from engine. Also, resealed lower oil pan and replaced oil and air filter and cleaned residual engine oil. Even after this repair, they test drove the car and verified the car would not accelerate pass 30 MPH and would stutter and hesitate. They informed me that it maybe the hybrid system. I went online regarding the hybrid system(still under the factory warranty of 100,000)and noticed a recall on the non-hybrid kia optima with my same experience. I had it towed to the dealership close to my house. The dealership performed a diagnosis and their findings were 'could not duplicate customer's concern at this time, there was no oil leak found on the engine and vehicle drive properly during road test.' my car has been sitting for over 11 months. I did take it to the dealership recently for inspection & emission, passed as car had less than 5,000 miles from last service. However,on the way home, 1.2 miles away, the hybrid system warning light came on 'safely stop and do not drive'. I put on the hazard lights and made my way home as I was half-way, the car has been sitting since. Please recall'make this right

Filed Oct 2, 2019 · Engine · 76,000 miles · PA

There are two (2) issues that are possibly connected. The first is excessive oil consumption. The kia dealership confirms that I am using approximately 1 quart per 250 miles, but they state that they cannot do anything for the issue. Additionally, the car has also become sluggish. Acceleration time has been greatly increased and car hesitates when the gas pedal is depressed. Both of these issues have me concerned for my safety in normal driving conditions and also when I need to accelerate quickly.

Filed Oct 1, 2019 · Engine · 93,371 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 kia optima. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle began to hesitate and seized in the left turning lane. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to kia of carson (located at 22020 recreation rd, carson, ca 90745, (424) 277-0368) where it was currently being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling) on september 23, 2019. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,371.