2013 Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally with a sound coming from the steering rack. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hybrid system failure, pull over warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with a blown head gasket failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer for almost one year. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. Vin was unavailable.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF MCCOMB (1030 LONGLEAF RD, MCCOMB, MS 39648) AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A NEW ENGINE UNDER THE RECALL HOWEVER, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL REPAIR BECAUSE THE MILEAGE WAS OVER 150,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A HYBRID AND GASOLINE ENGINE SO THE ODOMETER MILEAGE SHOULD NOT BE THE DECIDING FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHICH VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED OR EXCLUDED FROM THE FREE RECALL REPAIR AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EARNHARDT KIA (2121 E BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85022, 602-346-5400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE SPECIFICS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND "CHECK HYBRID BATTERY AND DO NOT RUN" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ROMEO KIA OF KINGSTON (111 SCHENK DR, KINGSTON, NY), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

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.

ELECTRICAL INTERIOR LIGHT TURN ON WHEN YOU LEAN ON THE ARM REST ALSO GOT A OIL CHANGE AND THE OIL LIGHT WILL NOT RESET CAUSE THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE OIL PRESSURE

ENGINE OIL LEAKING

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A HYBRID SAFETY WARNING LIGHTING UP. IT GOES ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE POWERS DOWN TO 25 MPH. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM WHEN DRIVING SPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.

2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON INDICATED PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DIAGNOSIS IS AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. WE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. I NOTICED THERE ARE RECALLS FOR 2011 - 2012 OPTIMA HYBRID AND 2011 - 2013 OPTIMA VEHICLES, AMONG MANY OTHERS BY HYUNDAI AND KIA. 2013 OPTIMA HYBRID MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED.

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN A HCS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED. THE KIA DEALER SAID THE SAFETY FUSE OF 125 HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A 150 SAFETY FUSE AS WELL AS THE NEW BATTERY, $897 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED KIA WHY THEY DIDN'T RECALL THE 125 SAFETY FUSE, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE!

I WAS AT A STOP AND WHEN THEIGHT TURNED GREEN I LET OFF MY BRAKE PEDAL AND LIGHTLY PUT PRESSURE ON MY GAS PEDAL WHEN THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES AS TO NOT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE A FEW OTHER TIMES BUT ALWAYS ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DUPLICATE FOR A SHOP TO SEE AS IT'S COMPLETELY RANDOM WHEN IT HAPPENS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "HYBRID FAILURE" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA STORE EAST (7301 NEW LA GRANGE ROAD, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 40222, (502) 425-1234) WHERE THE RELAY AND ECU BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A FAULTY FUSE BLEW OUT WITHIN THE HYBRID MOTOR. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE RELAY WITH AN INCREASED VOLTAGE FROM 125 AMPS [WATTS] TO 150 AMPS [WATTS]. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

TODAY MY CAR CUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING. THE DISPLAY READ HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING. IT THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY FOR ME TO PULL OVER AND STOP DRIVING THIS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES OVER THE WEEKEND AND I'VE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM I ALSO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THAT WAS A WASTE BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER THAT WAS SERVICED IT HAPPENED AGAIN

VEHICLE WOULD'T START THE ENGINE RANDOMLY. KIA DEALER WASNT ABLE TO FIND THE ISSUE SINCE I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN AND IT WAS RUNNING AT THAT TIME. RANDOMLY SHOWS HYBRID SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY WORKING.

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID THIS MORNING. WHILE DRIVING, I SUDDENLY GOT A WARNING MESSAGE THAT SAID "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE STOP SAFELY DO NOT DRIVE". I PULLED OVER AND SMELLED WHAT SEEMED TO BE FIRE, BUT SAW NOTHING. I CALLED MY FIANC TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THE CABIN STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND POPPED THE TRUNK. THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN A TOW YARD. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I WOULD HAVE DONE OR COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS.

1. DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE BLEW. KIA REBUILT THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE. 2. DRIVING VEHICLE ON STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. KIA RESET MAIN CONTROL UNIT TO FIX ISSUE. 3. DRIVING VEHICLE ON STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. KIA WANTS TO REPLACE MAIN CONTROL UNIT. CAR HAS PASSED THE WARRANTY BY 10K MILES. NOT COVERED.

CAUGHT ON FIRE, NON COLLISION, PLEASE SEE LINK TO MY FEATURED NEWS STORY HTTP://WWW.EMAILTHIS.CLICKABILITY.COM/ET/EMAILTHIS?CLICKMAP=VIEWTHIS&ETMAILTOID=1865502621

FROM A STOP AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION, OVER SEVEN (7) TIMES THE CAR HAS JOLTED FORWARD AND STOPPED ABRUPTLY, LOSING MOST POWER TO THE MOTOR AT THAT POINT. AUDIBLE ALARMS RING AND THE DASHBOARD HAS READ BOTH "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING! IMMEDIATELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE" AND "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM". THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING LEFT TURNS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC THAT THEN HAS TO SLOW AS I SLOWLY CREEP OUT OF THE INTERSECTION.

THE MPG HAS DECREASED FROM 38-40 MPG TO 30 MPG SINCE I HAD THE FUEL INJECTION SERVICE PERFORMED. THE DEALER OFFERS NO HELP. WISH I NEVER HAD IT DONE.....I GET SUDDEN SURGES OF ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THE DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT HELP ME. THE NEWEST ISSUE IS WHEN TURNING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN IN THE CAR TO LOW IT KICKS ON THE AC. THIS TOO IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I ACTUALLY SHOWED THE SERVICE MANAGER THE PROBLEM YESTERDAY AND WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE MORE THAN 6 TIMES, FIRST HE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL, THEN SAID HE WOULD CHECK IN TO IT. SCHEDULED AN APPT TODAY FOR FOLLOW UP AND IT IS NOT ACTING OUT TODAY. HE SAID I CAN PAY TO HAVE THE MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT BUT SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT HE DOESN'T THINK HE CAN HELP ME. EVEN THOUGH HE WITNESSED IT YESTERDAY, HE SAYS SORRY. THEY TREATED ME LIKE I WAS MAKING ALL THIS STUFF UP. THE DEALERSHIP IS THE LAST PLACE I WANT TO SPEND MY DAY, ESPECIALLY SPENDING THIS KIND OF MONEY. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUES WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS. THEY ARE LOSING A CUSTOMER !

I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID WITH FAULTY HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT/FAILED OVER 10 TIMES STARTING 3 MOS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. AFTER 1/2 YEARS AND 4 FIXES, INCLUDING COMPLETELY REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT PACKAGE, I FILED THE LEMON LAW PAPERWORK (I PURCHASED IN APRIL 2013.) IN NOV OF 2014. I WAS TOLD THEY GET A FINAL FIX. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AGAIN. THEN, IN DEC 2015, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN & HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AGAIN. KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN RUDE TO ME AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD COMPLETED THE FINAL FIX A YEAR BEFORE. I HAVE PHONE VIDEOS (WITH WITNESSES) FROM YEARS AGO, 11/18/14, 1/25/16, 3/18/17, 3/27/17, 4/8/17 AND 12/10/17. MOST OF THE TIMES I HAVE BEEN OUT AND HAVE HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT HATE THE DANGEROUS ISSUES. KIA HAS MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH I'M NOT IMPORTANT, MY SAFETY IS A NON-ISSUE AND THAT THEY FIX IT EVERY TIME, BUT IT IS NOT TRULY FIXED IF I HAVE HAD 6 MAJOR REPAIRS OVER 4 YEARS. I'VE BEEN AT THE POINT OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OVER THE STRESS AND FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND OF LETTING KIA BULLY & CONVINCE ME I DO NOT QUALIFY TO GET MY CAR REPLACED. I AM PUTTING MY SAFETY FIRST NOT TO MENTION THE EMOTIONAL STRESS, INTERFERENCE WITH MY WORK, PUTTING FAMILY & FRIEND'S SAFETY AT RISK. NEVER KNOWING IF AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN & HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN TOLD TOO MANY TIMES THIS IS THE LAST FIX! I DON'T LIKE CONFLICT AND HAVE PUT MY FAITH IN KIA TOO MANY TIMES AND PUT MY FAITH IN THEM OVER MYSELF. I'M DONE BEING THE NICE PERSON. I HAVE HAD MELTDOWNS OVER THIS, ARGUMENTS WITH MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER OVER THIS, INTERFERENCE WITH MY WORK, BEEN STRANDED OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE OF THIS! KIA TOLD ME TODAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY CAR AT THIS TIME. I CANNOT GO ON LIKE THIS ANY LONGER. I NEED YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE ENGINE REVS WHILE IDLE PERIODICALLY AND THE ENGINE REVS STILL WHEN U LET GO OF THE GAS. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS AFFECTED BY KIAS LATEST RECALL... AND CAUSES ISSUES WITH ME BEING ABLE TO BRAKE AND SUCH CUZ THE CAR ENGINE REVS WHEN THE GAS ISNT BEIN TOUCHED. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING

TAKATA RECALL: CAR AT 35K MILEAGE AND DISPLAYS 'HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING, SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE'. HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIPS WHO STILL CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS. ALSO, SEEMS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DISCHARGING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE!! ISSUES HAVE YET BEEN FIXED!

TAKATA RECALL. CAR HAS BEEN SAYING "WARNING PULL OVER DO NOT DRIVE" ALTHOUGH I AM IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY, IN THE CAR WASH OR ON THE FREEWAY. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES NOW AND THEY SAY DRIVE IT HERE NEXT TIME WITH THE WARNING ON BUT THE CAR FREEZES UP AND TURNS OFF WHICH RESETS THE WARNING DISPLAY! THE DEALERSHIP IS ACTING LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. MILEAGE THIS STARTED IS 58,000.

VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE IN MOTION TO PARK IN A PARKING SPACE. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM A VERY SLOW SPEED OF 5-10 MPH APPROXIMATELY. HAS DONE THIS ON OCCASION AT HIGHWAY SPEED A SUDDEN SURGE SO A BRAKING WOULD RELIEVE PROBLEM.

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE (THANKFULLY PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY), VEHICLE WAS IN EV MODE, WITH JUST CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. AFTER ENTERING GAS MODE BATTERY AND MAINTENANCE LIGHT APPEARED IN ADDITION TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE GREEN "READY" LIGHT ON THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FLASHING AND A WARNING MESSAGE STATING "HYBRD SYSTEM WARNING: SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE" APPEARED ON THE TRIP SCREEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYDRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 85 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAD POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS AND OFFERED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE TOOK A TRIP TO TEXAS TO SEE MY DAUGHTER. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THAT TRIP; WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING ALL ON IT'S OWN... THE 1ST TIME I QUESTIONED IF I HAD ACCIDENTLY BUMPED SOMETHING, THE 2ND ALSO AND THE 3RD ALLOWED IT TO ACT ON ITS OWN AND BEFORE I KNEW IT WAS ALMOST 100MPH. THANKFULLY THE BRAKE ENGAGES.. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR CHECK AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE.. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR THE 5TH OCCASION REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.. I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IF THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN REPAIR..

I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK MONDAY AND A VERY HEAVY RAIN STORM WAS COMING DOWN. AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I SET MY KIA IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON. THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE "P" PARK POSITION, ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THAT SHIFTED POSITION. I PRESS THE POWER BUTTON AGAIN AND IT TURNS ON THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR RATHER THAN TURN THEM OFF. I HAVE TO TRY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE A SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT JUST TURNING OFF MY CAR. TURNING IT ON IS NO PROBLEM, ITS JUST TURNING IT OFF THAT IS CAUSING DISTRESSING. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL UP YOUR CAR WITH GAS WHEN YOU CANNOT EVEN TURN IT OFF. THIS IS A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY! FROM THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I'VE READ, A COMMON THEME ABOUT WATER INTERFERING WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS A COMMON TREND.

WHEN WE TAKE THE CAR TO CAR WASH AND SOME TIME GO OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER , IF THE CAR IS ON MOVE , IT WILL SHUT ITSELF AND I HAD TO STOP THE CAR RESTART THE CAR . IF THE CAR COMES OUT OF CAR WASH AND BE TURN , IT WILL NOT START UNTIL 4 TO 5 HOURS LATER . ERROR WE GET " KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZE" I TOOK MY CAR TO KIA DEALER IN IRVINE , AND THEY TOLD ME DO NOT TAKE THE CAR TO CAR WASH . I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR KIA AND THEY SAID THE HYBRID CAR IS NOT DESIGN FOR CAR WASH. THIS IS A PROBLEM , WHAT HAPPEN IN A HEAVY RAIN IN THE HIGHWAY . DOES SOMEBODY NEED TO DIE THAT COMPANY LOOK AT THIS ISSUE ? THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAIN AND THIRD TIME I AM STRANDED IN STREET BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I WAS LUCK THAT I WAS IN THE STREET IN 91 EXPRESSWAY . *TR

HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE HORRIBLE. WORST OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER SEEN. APPROXIMATE ILLUMINATION RANGE OF THE CAR IS 15 METERS (50 FEET) ON HIGH BEAMS. ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF VEHICLE SEEM FINE, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SHORTCOMING. LAMPS ARE PROPERLY AIMED AND PROVIDE VIRTUALLY USELESS NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. THIS CONDITION IS WIDELY DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET AND THE REMEDY IS 3RD PARTY AFTERMARKET LIGHTING (HID), WHICH VOIDS THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. *TR

WE TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR WASH , AFTER THEY CLEAN THE CAR WE TRIED TO START THE CAR , BUT WE GET AN ERROR " KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZE". WE WERE NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR. THEN MY WIFE BROUGHT THE SECOND KEY , WE GOT THE SAME ERROR. WE TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER AND STILL THERE AFTER 3 DAYS . THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG . I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT , THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG , WHAT HAPPENED IF THIS CONDITION APPEAR IN HIGHWAY ? I DRIVE 30,000 MILES A YEAR AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST EPISODE, I AM VERY CONCERN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THIS HYBRID HAS A VERY DANGEROUS HESITATION ON DRIVER'S REQUEST FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION. REGARDLESS OF IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR AT SPEED A REQUEST FOR ANY SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS MET BY A VERY SIGNIFICANT HESITATION BEFORE ANY NOTICABLE RESPONSE IS MADE. THAT IS FOR ALL SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. THIS BOTH WITH THE "ECO" FUNCTION ENGAGED OR DISENGAGED. THAT IS NOT SAFE. *JS

UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR LOW SPEED, BRAKE WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED INSTRUCTING ME TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, ESSENTIALLY ALL WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN. WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING AND DOOR LOCKS BEGAN CLICKING ON/OFF. CAR BECAME DISABLED AFTER A SHORT DISTANCE AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN IN DRIVE. REQUIRED TOW TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER SCANNED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OVER 20 HISTORY CODES POINTING TOWARDS A CAN ISSUE. AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND ROAD TESTED, HISTORY CODES WERE CLEARED BY DEALER ON 5/24/2014. SAME PROBLEM REPEATED UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS ON 5/28/2014 AND AGAIN ON 6/4/204. DURING THE THIRD INCIDENT, THE CAR BECAME DISABLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AT LOW SPEED AND COULD NOT BE MOVED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION UNDER ITS OWN POWER, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD WITH CROSS TRAFFIC WAITING TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION. AFTER THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM OR REPEAT THE CONDITIONS. AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE, THE CAR BECAME OPERABLE A SHORT TIME AFTER THE INCIDENT AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN A FEW TIMES. AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED IN THE HISTORY CODE. CURRENTLY AWAITING RESPONSE AND DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM BY KIA DISTRICT PARTS SERVICE MANAGER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WOULD EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY EXTERIOR METAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TO WHOM IT CONCERNS, I HAVE A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN RELATED TO THE OPTIMA 2013 HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM NOT SURE IF THE BEHAVIOR I AM GOING TO DESCRIBE IS TYPICAL OR DEFECTIVE. WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED, WITH THE CRUISE SET, I FIND THAT ANY SUDDEN AND HARD HIT TO THE BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE SOME TYPE OF AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FEELS LIKE ABS AND SOUNDS VERY MECHANICAL HOWEVER THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT DEACTIVATE AFTER I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES THE CAR TO A NEARLY COMPLETE STOP (LESS THAN 15MPH) WITHOUT ME HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE MOST RECENT WAS 4/10/14. EARLIER TODAY I WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH THE CRUISE SET, WHEN IT APPEARED A PERSON WAS GOING TO WALK INTO THE HIGHWAY. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID THE PEDESTRIAN, WHO EVENTUALLY DID NOT ENTER THE ROAD. THE SITUATION WAS NOT WORTHY OF COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP HOWEVER THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM I DESCRIBED ABOVE ACTIVATED. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM CONTINUED TO BRING THE CAR TO A SPEED LESS THAN 15 MPH. THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME, UNDERSTANDABLY, HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID ME AS I COULD NOT SPEED BACK UP UNTIL THE SYSTEM RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS TYPICAL OPERATION OR A POTENTIAL DEFECT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. SHOULD I HAVE TO HIT MY BRAKES AND THIS SYSTEM ACTIVATES, I COULD BE SEVERELY REAR-ENDED. THANK YOU. *TR