{"count":116,"message":"Results returned successfully","results":[{"odiNumber":11624035,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/18/2023","dateComplaintFiled":"11/07/2024","vin":"KNAGE228195","components":"ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING","summary":"The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal knocking noise and then stalled. The contact stated that the battery and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the vehicle stalled several times while driving to the mechanic. The mechanic had diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there were metal shavings in the oil pan and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11554765,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/10/2023","dateComplaintFiled":"11/12/2023","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"STEERING,SUSPENSION","summary":"After 131,500 miles, struts, rotors and pads wore out.  Lower ball joint and control arm also wore out,  No injuries or accident.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11433866,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":true,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":1,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/08/2021","dateComplaintFiled":"09/21/2021","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"The airbags did not deploy while the car was being driven at 65 mph on Interstate 275 S and crashed into a wall barrier. Since the airbags did not deploy, the driver's head was thrown around because the rest of his body was held firm by the seat belt. The driver was transported by ambulance to the hospital.  After several tests, it was determined that the driver suffered a broken neck and spinal damage and must wear as an Aspen neck brace for 6 weeks and then be examined by a Neurosurgeon to determine if there is any further damage or additional medical care is required. The driver is unable to work until released by a Neurosurgeon. The car was declared a total loss.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11405236,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/18/2021","dateComplaintFiled":"03/28/2021","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN COLD THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD INTO FIRST AT ABOUT 20 MPH. ALMOST AT SOMETIMES FEELING LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT FROM THE BACK. MY NECK HAS STARTED HURTING FROM WHIPLASH. THIS IS A VERY HORRIBLE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IN STATES WHERE ROADS BECOME WET, ICY, AND COVERED WITH SNOW, THIS CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE/ POSSIBLY DEATH.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11403684,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/05/2021","dateComplaintFiled":"03/18/2021","vin":"KNAGE228X95","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD FROM 2ND TO 1ST. DEALER RESET MODULE 10 MONTHS AGO. SOLVED PROBLEM. PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER RESET MODULE BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. CHECKED INTERNET, PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11394898,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/20/2020","dateComplaintFiled":"02/05/2021","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11353024,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/02/2020","dateComplaintFiled":"09/03/2020","vin":"KNAGE228795","components":"SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE","summary":"LAST WEEK, ON AUG 29TH 2020, I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT U-TURN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP.  I GOT SCARED AND JUST DROVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT STREET AND TURNED RIGHT ONTO THAT STREET.    ON AUG THE 17TH, 2020 I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED.  THE MECHANIC SAID THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO FIX THAT.   APPROX 2 WEEKS LATER, SEPT 2ND, THE MOTOR BLEW ON MY CAR WHILE DRIVING ON A HWY.  THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE A/C VENT RIGHT BEFORE IT HAPPENED.  THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11317876,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":true,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":2,"numberOfDeaths":1,"dateOfIncident":"02/25/2020","dateComplaintFiled":"03/13/2020","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS DECEASED DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE HEAD ON WHERE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE EXACT EVENTS WERE UNCERTAIN. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE DAUGHTER WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED FEMUR AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER (RIVERSIDE COLLISION CENTER LOCATED ON 1441 SOUTH BRANCH RIVER RD, ROMNEY, WV 26757) WHERE THEY WERE REFUSING TO RELEASE THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER REPURCHASED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF THE COLLISION CENTER. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *LN*JB*DT*JB*DT*DT*JB*DT*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11312041,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":true,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"02/19/2020","dateComplaintFiled":"02/28/2020","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM","summary":"DRIVING AT 70 MPH, ENGINE DIED AND CAR STARTED SMOKING. PULLED TO SHOULDER, FRONT END OF CAR CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED WITH FOAM. CAR A TOTAL LOSS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11298828,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/30/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"01/12/2020","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"ENGINE","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11269021,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/27/2019","dateComplaintFiled":"10/16/2019","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING","summary":"BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND DRAINS BATTERY.  REAR BRAKE LIGHT NOT FUNCTIONAL.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11256185,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/20/2019","dateComplaintFiled":"09/17/2019","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"STEERING","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF BELZER'S KIA CHEVROLET DODGE RAM KIA (21111 CEDAR AVE, LAKEVILLE, MN 55044, (952) 232-6897), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO LUTHER BLOOMINGTON KIA (1701 AMERICAN BLVD W, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55431, (612) 424-7641) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11218787,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/20/2018","dateComplaintFiled":"06/09/2019","vin":"","components":"ENGINE","summary":"A BEARING IN THE MOTOR OR SOMETHING GAVE OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. I AM UNABLE TO START IT AND KEEP IT STARTED. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE CEASED UP. IT ONLY HAS LIKE 126000 MILES ON IT.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11193878,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":true,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"05/20/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"04/04/2019","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT SENT NOTIFICATION OF THE VEHICLE BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FROM MARCH 29, 2013. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER, AN OFF DUTY FIRE FIGHTER FLAGGED THE CONTACT TO QUICKLY PULL OVER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE FIGHTER REMAINED AT THE SCENE AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A FACILITY, INSPECTED THE COLLISION DAMAGES, AND CLAIMED THE VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11191747,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/25/2019","dateComplaintFiled":"03/26/2019","vin":"","components":"STEERING","summary":"MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND NOTHING WILL HELP UNLOCK IT. IS THERE A RE CALL","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11144815,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/01/2018","dateComplaintFiled":"11/01/2018","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"THE AIRBAG (SRS) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AT ABOUT 88,200 MILES IN OCTOBER, 2018. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WHILE DRIVING BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON EVER SINCE THEN.   TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALER WHO CHECKED THE VEHICLE'S DIAGNOSTIC CODE (B1346) AND TOLD ME THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED .  THIS WAS DONE AFTER THEY ORDERED THE PART  FOR A TOTAL COST TO ME OF $329.72.     THE CLOCK SPRING PROBLEM WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL FOR 2008 OPTIMAS AND SOME OTHER KIA MODELS.  SINCE THE SRS SYSTEM MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WITH A FAULTY AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY COMPONENT PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY KIA LIKE IT WAS FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11113658,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/07/2018","dateComplaintFiled":"07/25/2018","vin":"KNAGE228795","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING","summary":"HEADLIGHTS REPLACED 6 TIMES.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11112018,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/13/2018","dateComplaintFiled":"07/17/2018","vin":"","components":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS","summary":"SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE STATIONARY AND CONTINUED WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING..NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY RESET IT COMES BACK NEXT DAY AND STAYS ON.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11104892,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/12/2018","dateComplaintFiled":"06/30/2018","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11013923,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/07/2017","dateComplaintFiled":"08/09/2017","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (UNIVERSITY KIA, 6519 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35806, (256) 217-1700) TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,913.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11013124,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/02/2017","dateComplaintFiled":"08/06/2017","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11011323,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/28/2017","dateComplaintFiled":"07/28/2017","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT'S A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.  THERE WAS A RECALL UP TO 2008 OPTIMA'S FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT THE 2009.  THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A KNOWN ISSUE AS I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS.  IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KIA SHOULD PAY SINCE THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AN IT'S AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT AND SPECIAL ORDER.  THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THIS REPLACEMENT.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":11000636,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/21/2017","dateComplaintFiled":"06/22/2017","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"ENGINE","summary":"THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING TWO MONTHS AGO AND YESTERDAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WITH NO WARNING.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10994142,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/02/2017","dateComplaintFiled":"06/09/2017","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"MY CAR HAS 60,603 MILES ON IT THE SRS  LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED  IT HAS REMAINED ON FOR  THE PAST WEEK. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.  AFTER EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF KIA'S RECALLED ALL THE WAY UP TO 2008 FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AS IT STANDS NOW ALTHOUGH IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER ANY HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES WARRANTY.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10958780,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"02/15/2017","dateComplaintFiled":"03/06/2017","vin":"5XXGN4A61CG","components":"ENGINE","summary":"MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LEAKING OIL LINE WHICH FEEDS LUBRICATION OIL FROM THE ENGINE TO THE TURBOCHARGER.  THIS OCCURRED AT 58,000 MILES, WELL WITHIN THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR THE DRIVE TRAIN.  HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE OIL SUPPLY LINE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT THE ENGINE AND TURBO WERE.  THE LOSS OF THIS LINE WOULD RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO NO OIL, AS WELL AS THE TURBO, AND THIS WAS MOST LIKELY TO FAIL WHEN UNDER ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC AS THAT IS WHEN THE LOAD ON THESE COMPONENTS IS GREATEST.  FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AT THIS TIME COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.  EVEN IF THE LINE DID NOT FULLY FAIL, THE LEAKING OIL IS LOCATED AT THE TURBO HOUSING WHICH IS PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IS LIKELY, AFTER SOME TIME, TO RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE WHICH WOULD LIKELY DESTROY THE CAR.    SINCE THIS COMPONENT, THE OIL SUPPLY LINE CONNECTS THE ENGINE  AND THE TURBO I FIND THAT IT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER THE WARRANTY.  IT ALSO IS A SEVERE POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE.  I WISH TO ENTER MY CONCERNS TO THE NHTSA.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10946214,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/01/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"01/18/2017","vin":"KNAGE228195","components":"SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10913802,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/29/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"10/04/2016","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.  THIS IS APPARENTLY AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 2009 OPTIMAS","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10908403,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/21/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"09/21/2016","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON, AFTER PASSENGER MAT REPLACED ON RECALL. THEY FOUND CODES B1346 AND B1481 FOR DRIVER'S AIRBAG RESISTANCE TOO HIGH FOR STAGES 1 AND 2. NEED TO DIAGNOSE IF AIRBAG IS FAULTY OR CLOCK SPRING.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10905824,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":true,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/02/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"09/12/2016","vin":"KNAGE123085","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER MOTORIST NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10895227,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/02/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"08/12/2016","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"STEERING,AIR BAGS","summary":"TOOK 2009 KIA TO DEALERSHIP, TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 BECAUSE OF AIR BAG ILLUMINATION.  WAS TOLD IT WAS TWO THINGS.  THE OCS MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN.  KIA ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 2008 OPTIMA FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE (CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY).  THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 2009 KIA OPTIMA.  WE DID, HOWEVER, RECEIVE A LETTER FROM KIA REGARDING THE OCS MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.  UNFORTUNATELY, KIA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFECT ON THEIR PART.  PRICES FOR REPAIR? OVER $1,500.  THESE TWO ITEMS ARE CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE REPAIR THESE SAFETY ISSUES.  THESE ISSUES DID NOT OCCUR BECAUSE OF MISUSE - THEY ARE OCCURRING AND HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF KNOWN DEFECTS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10895023,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/11/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"08/11/2016","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED.  RECEIVED LETTER FROM KIA IN JULY 2016 THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS ISSUE. IT STATED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AND HAVE IT CHECKED AND THAT IF ANY PROBLEMS IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.  IN REALITY, THAT IS NOT TRUE. ONLY IF YOU PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD THESE KNOWN AIR BAG ISSUES BE HANDLED BY KIA.  THE COST TO REPAIR?  $1,500.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10895026,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/10/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"08/11/2016","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD - STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES.  SHIFTS HARD FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR - AROUND 20 MPH.  TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE SYSTEM (COMPUTER) UPGRADE IN JANUARY OF 2014 ($500) -- THIS FIXED THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS.  TOOK IT BACK IN JANUARY OF 2015 ($500) FOR ANOTHER SYSTEM (COMPUTER) UPGRADE.  IT FIXED THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.  TOOK IT BACK TO KIA AND THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION.  I ASKED THE TECH IF HE COULD GUARANTEE ME THAT THIS WOULD STOP THE ISSUE.  HE TOLD ME HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT INSTALLING A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD STOP THE HARD DOWNSHIFTING ISSUE.  IT DOWNSHIFTS SO HARD THAT YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10893258,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/02/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"08/04/2016","vin":"","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE REGARDLESS OF THE GEAR SHIFTER'S POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE FAILURE WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10885306,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/15/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"07/16/2016","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON.  DEALER SAYS IT'S A CLOCK SPRING THAT'S NOT UNDER MY WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WILL COST $335.00 ON TOP OF THE $84.00 I PAID FOR DIAGNOSIS.  IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON 2009'S AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2008'S FOR THIS PROBLEM.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10883726,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/08/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"07/09/2016","vin":"","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, WON'T GO OFF AND NOW EHICLE WON'T PASS STATE INSPECTION.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10873729,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/02/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"06/12/2016","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. NOTHING HAPPENS ON THE VEHICLE","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10864996,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/01/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"05/15/2016","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"MY COMPLAINT REGARDS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2015 AND HAS REMAINED ON. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHT ON AND WHILE KIA RECALLED THE 2008 MODELS, THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THE 2009 MODELS DESPITE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF ISSUES WITH BOTH THE AIR BAGS AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT. LAST YEAR, THE DEALER FOUND A LOOSE SENSOR THAT THEY RECONNECTED, IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO PASS INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY.  AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF MY AIR BAGS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND I'M STUCK BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WON'T PASS INSPECTION.  THE DATE IS ESTIMATED AS IT HAPPENED BETWEEN JUNE 2014 AND JUNE 2015 WHEN I WAS UP FOR MY NEXT INSPECTION.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10855265,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/13/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"04/13/2016","vin":"","components":"VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10853256,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/03/2016","dateComplaintFiled":"04/04/2016","vin":"KNAGE210151","components":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING","summary":"CONSTANTLY BLOWING THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS.  HAVE REPLACED 4 BULBS IN 4 MONTHS. ON 04/03/16 I LEFT TO START MY CAR TO GO HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM TO DISCOVER I HAD NO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND MY HIGH BEAM WOULD NOT STAY ILLUMINATED UNLESS I HELD   THE LEVER THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS. BOTH BULBS ARE OUT AGAIN! THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10839971,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"05/06/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"03/04/2016","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE","summary":"THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE MIDDLE OF 2013 AND THE DEALERSHIP WHEN ASKED DURING EACH OIL CHANGE IS WE WILL CHECK IT OUT. EVER SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10825581,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"05/07/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"02/11/2016","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10821936,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/01/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"01/24/2016","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10811256,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/15/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"12/19/2015","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"WHILE I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL, UNTIL RECENTLY, THE DEALER ADVISED MY INFORMATION WAS PROBABLY NOT PASSED ON TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I WENT TO THE KIA DEALER IN CRYSTAL RIVER AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY PUT A NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP MY ABS/ESC LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND MY CAR STARTED DOING ALL KINDS OF FUNNY THINGS LIKE VIBRATING AND SHUTTERING UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. YOU KNOW YOU COULD FEEL THE SHUTTERING ON THE GAS PEDAL. AT THAT POINT I HAD NO BRAKES AND BARELY STOPPED. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY THING BUT NOW ITS DOING IT ALL THE TIME AND I CAN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL. I STILL OWE ALMOST 9000.00 DOLLARS AND CAN'T AFFORD A COSTLY REPAIR FROM A RECALL.. I HAVE SPOKE WITH SOME PEOPLE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN CAUSING THE ECS TO MALFUNCTION IN MANY CASES AND CAUSED THE STABILITY OF THE CAR AND ABS TO ACT UP.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10789825,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":true,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/26/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"11/11/2015","vin":"","components":"AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE","summary":"WHILE HITTING SEVERAL TREES IN MY KIA OPTIMA, GOING ABOUT 45MPH, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AND FROM LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE OF THE CAR, THEY ALSO THINK THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, NO THANKS TO THE AIR BAGS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10788142,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/21/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"11/03/2015","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"FOR A LONG TIME, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. WE HAVE TAKEN THE KIA TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. EACH ONE SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG AND TURNED OFF THE WARNING LIGHT. BOTH DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT, IF YOU PUT A CELL PHONE ON A KIA CAR SEAT, THAT WILL SET OFF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT EVEN THOUGH NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR SEAT. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER WE START THE CAR AND STAYS ON THE ENTIRE TIME, UNTIL WE TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE LIGHT TURNED OFF DURING REGULAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT HOURS. THIS MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, BECAUSE, IF IT'S ON ALL THE TIME, WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHEN WE DO HAVE AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. SINCE OUR FORD AND OUR HYUNDAI NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN WE PUT A CELL PHONE ON THE CAR SEAT, THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE KIA AIR BAG WARNING SYSTEM. BECAUSE YOUR FORM ONLY ALLOWS ONE DATE AND MILEAGE ENTRY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE TOOK OUR KIA TO KING KIA ON 09/26/2014, WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS 68,239, AND TO HERSON'S KIA ON 10/21/2015, WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS 71,649. SO KIA HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.  UPDATED 12/18/15*LJ  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10785953,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/19/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"10/26/2015","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10763836,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/14/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"09/15/2015","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10735238,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"05/01/2015","dateComplaintFiled":"07/20/2015","vin":"","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN CLEARED 3 TIMES AND IT KEEPS COMING ON. THEY RECALLED THERE 2008 MODELS AND MY CAR WAS MADE IT 2008, AND I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY NEED TO RECALL 2009 MODELS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10730207,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/15/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"06/24/2015","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"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.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10712912,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/15/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"04/26/2015","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"ENGINE","summary":"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. NHTSA 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!   *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10701931,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/01/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"03/26/2015","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE","summary":"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. NHTSA 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!  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10695380,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"02/24/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"03/19/2015","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"I AM A OWNER OF THE KIA 2009 OPTIMA, AND I BROUGHT IT FROM LUMBERTON KIA OF LUMBERTON, NC   THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA, IS WHEN I GET READY TO MAKE A STOP MY CAR JERKS REALLY HARD AND I HAVE TOLD THE LUMBERTON, KIA TO PLEASE CHECK IT WHEN I WOULD GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES BUT THE TECHNICIAN WOULD TELL ME THAT HE CHECK IT AND FEEL NOTHING BUT IT DOES IT IN MY CAR EVERY DAY EVEN MY PASSENGERS FEELS IT WHEN THEY ARE IN THE CAR.I FEEL THAT I HAVE A MALFUNCTION IN MY BRAKES BUT I NEVER WHO I NEEDED TO TALKED WITH ABOUT MY CAR UNTIL MY FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THIS WEB SITE.I HAVE NOT HAD NO ACCIDENTS THUS FAR WITH MY CAR AND I HOPE I DON'T IN THE NEAR FUTURE.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10692363,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/17/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"03/05/2015","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND BREAKING THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A ROUGH DOWNSHIFT AROUND 20 MPH.  IT WILL LITERALLY JOLT THE DIVER AND PASSENGERS. THE TRANSMISSION WILL DO THIS UNTIL IT HAS WARMED UP. IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND MADE ONE ADJUSTMENT TO THE TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE BUT TO NO AVAIL.  I STOPPED BY THE DEALER AGAIN YESTERDAY AND THEY SAID I WOULD BE CHARGED A $105 FEE JUST TO LOOK AT IT. I AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO LOCK-UP AND CAUSE A WRECK.   *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10680743,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/12/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"02/02/2015","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"WHEN I GET AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD FORM 2ND GEAR TO 1 ST GEAR HWNE IT IS COLD ...BUT ONCE IT WARMS UP IT IS FINE ...THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT ... IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES ...IT HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN ...I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THE WARRANTY RAN OUT ... I CALLED KIA THEY SAID THE SAME THING ...THIS IS A ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ... THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ... I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ...IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT ...IT IS SAID THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS ... I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMAS ...PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THIS MATTER ...IT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND ..THANKS [XXX]     INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10672981,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/01/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"01/16/2015","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD BY ITSELF. CAR LURCHES FORWARD.  IN RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME THING.   FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES, BUT MECHANIC SAID BRAKES WERE FINE.  IT CAN ONLY BE THE TRANSMISSION / POWER TRAIN.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10668318,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/03/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"12/26/2014","vin":"KNAGE228195","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL UP TO MANUFACTURE DATE OF JAN 2008 (SC094). HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURED OCT 2008 EXHIBITS THE SAME FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 2009 MODEL YEAR.   *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10666973,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/28/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"12/17/2014","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AT AROUND 84000 MILES. WHEN THE ERROR CODE WAS READ, IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH FAULTY OCS MAT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE (B1448). IT SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM OF MANY KIA VEHICLES WITH POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, YET THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THE ONLY SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MAT ($1700-2000), WITH ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT MALFUNCTION AFTER 10 MILES (THE ELECTRIC SENSOR OF THE MAT CAN INTERFERE WITH ELECTRONIC DEVICES NEARBY).  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10661501,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/15/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"12/02/2014","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"THE ESC ALARM CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN SHUDDERING.  I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT IT SEEMED TO MAKE THE SHUDDERING WORSE.  IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER  SO I COASTED THE VEHICLE.TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES.  I TURNED THE IGNITION AGAIN AND THE CAR CAME ON FIRST TRY BUT THE ESC ALARM WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AND USUALLY IS ALTHOUGH IT TURNS OFF FROM TIME TO TIME.  *JS","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10653402,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"05/27/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"11/07/2014","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"UNKNOWN OR OTHER","summary":"LEFT FRONT INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE IN HALF DURING NORMAL SERVICE.  EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER, RIGHT FRONT INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE DURING NORMAL SERVICE.  BOTH THESE INSTANCES MADE IT DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE CAR, WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW TO ACCESS THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE.  SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY RISK IF IT WERE TO OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10650849,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/12/2009","dateComplaintFiled":"10/28/2014","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"SHORTLY AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS CAR THE AIR BAG (SRS) LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK IT BACK  TO DEALER. SCAN TEST FOUND CODE B1447 OC ECU DEFECT, FOUND POOR CONNECTION AT CONTROL UNIT. THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND STATED THE UNIT WAS WORKING NOW AS DESIGNED. EVERYTHING GOOD UNTIL 10/6/14, 57000MI., 52 DAYS OUT OF BASIC WARRANTY. CALLED KIA DEALER, WANTED TO SCAN IT FOR $95.00. SAID THEY WOULD APPLY SCAN FEE TO REPAIR BILL. (ILL BET THEY WOULD!) TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TECH. WHO HAS A HIGH TECH SCANNER. I DON'T HAVE THE CODE BUT HE TOLD ME IT HAS A DEFECTIVE PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I THINK ITS HIGH TIME KIA DOES THE RIGHT THING AND OWNS UP TO ITS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS LIFE-SAFETY ISSUE.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10643517,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/28/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"10/09/2014","vin":"","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD BY ITSELF.  IN RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME THING.  IN SPEAKING WITH MY PERSONAL MECHANIC, HE SAID THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION PORTION OF THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY - NEW TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE NEEDS TO BE RE-DOWNLOADED TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND THEN THE COMPUTER RESET - THIS SHOULD RETRAIN THE TRANSMISSION ON WHEN TO DOWNSHIFT.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10641684,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/01/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"10/06/2014","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM","summary":"AFTER A BATTERY REPLACEMENT, THE BATTERY SPARKED WHEN THE CAR FIRST TURNED ON, BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON. FROM THAT POINT FORWARD WE HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THE BRAKE LIGHT ON AND TWO OTHER LIGHTS ON THE DASH ON CONSTANTLY. WE TOOK IT IN AND SPENT $4000+ ON OIL CHANGES, FRONT END REPLACEMENT AND SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS THAT TOOK ALMOST A MONTH AND A MASTER MECHANIC FROM KIA TO FIND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A WIRING HARNESS ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THAT BECAUSE OF THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO GET REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE WIRING HARNESS STILL SHOWS FOUR LIGHTS ON THE DASH.     IF A SIMPLE BATTERY REPLACEMENT CAN CAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS TO FRY THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S THE BATTERY.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10640596,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"09/01/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"10/01/2014","vin":"KNAGE224295","components":"VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,858. ..UPDATED 11/17/14 *BF","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10639695,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/20/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"09/29/2014","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"I PURCHASED A USED KIA OPTIMA IN MARCH 2012, BUT HAD, WHAT I THOUGHT WERE \"GRABBING\" BRAKES.  I TOOK IT IN WHEN I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-067.  I HAD THE CAR ANALYZED, AND FOUND IT HAD THIS SHIFTING ISSUE.  I HAD THE REPROGRAMMING DONE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, THEN NOT ONLY DID THE DOWNSHIFTING ISSUE START BACK UP AGAIN, BUT NOW HAVE ACCELERATION ISSUES AS WELL.  NOW THE VEHICLE \"LOPES\" ON ACCELERATION - SOMETIMES A LOT .  I CONTACTED KIA ABOUT IT, AND THEY SAID I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK FOR DIAGNOSIS YET AGAIN, AND THEN THEY WOULD THINK ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SECOND SERVICE APPOINTMENT.  I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON IT YET.  IT IS DESTROYING MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE \"BANGING\" OF THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE EXTREME DOWNSHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10638736,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/13/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"09/24/2014","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW DAYS THEN CAME ON PERMANENTLY. I LATER HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL:  NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000, AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. THAT ONLY COVERED KIA 2006 THRU 2008.               IT APPEARS THAT 2009 SHOULD BE INCLUDED.   *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10638161,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/05/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"09/22/2014","vin":"KNAGEN22499","components":"STRUCTURE","summary":"WATER LEAK CAR ROOF TO BODY SIDE WELD NEVER SEALED AT FACTORY, CAUSE EXTENSIVE MOLD DAMAGE. CEILING REPLACED, CARPETS , KIA DEALER UNABLE TO FIND REPLACEMENT BACK SEAT CAN'T REPAIR, MOLDY SMELL. CERTIFIED MOLD EXPERT SAID ENTIRE INTERIOR OF CAR NEEDS REPLACED, AND AIR TESTED BYE A CERTIFIED EXPERT ($2000).  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10626889,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/01/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"08/20/2014","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM","summary":"KIA OPTIMA IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULDN'T TURN CAR ON AND WHEELS LOCKED. HAD   TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH SO SOMEONE CAN NOT STEAL THE CAR. THEY ALSO SAID IF THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE FRONT WHEELS COULD HAVE LOCKED CAUSING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE  AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WERE MANY THAT HAD THE  SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH.   I ALSO LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY AT THE TIME.   *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10626326,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/13/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"08/19/2014","vin":"KNAGE224695","components":"VISIBILITY","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.  THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.   UPDATED 10/03/14*LJ   UPDATED 3/10/2015  *JS","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10621722,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/09/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"08/12/2014","vin":"KNAGE228X95","components":"STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM","summary":"MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA WAS PARKED.  WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN, IT WOULD NOT TURN THE CAR ON.  THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE SLIGHTLY.  THE IGNITION SWITCH AND TUMBLERS WERE NOT READING THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK.  I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED.  I CONTACTED KIA BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS 2 WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10616669,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/15/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"07/27/2014","vin":"KNAGE228195","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM","summary":"THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY.   *JS","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10611346,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"05/09/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"07/17/2014","vin":"","components":"POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE AM, AS I DECELERATE AT THE STOP SIGN, WHEN SPEED NEARS 20-25 MPH THE VEHICLE JERKS HARD LIKE IT'S TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT. SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR AS THE VEHICLE WARMS TO RUNNING TEMP.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10610081,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/09/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"07/12/2014","vin":"","components":"POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"WHEN I BRAKE AND SLOW DOWN MY KIA OPTIMA AND IT GETS TO 20 MPH OR LOWER, IT WILL JERK SUDDENLY AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS CHANGING ABRUPTLY AND DANGEROUSLY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND NOT JUST A RECENT OCCURRENCE.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10609060,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/03/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"07/08/2014","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"UNKNOWN OR OTHER","summary":"KIA OPTIMA IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULDN'T TURN CAR ON AND WHEELS LOCKED.   HAD TO HAVE  IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED.    *JS","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10567076,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"02/17/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"03/04/2014","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING","summary":"I RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING A SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE'S STOP LAMP SWITCH. I SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MY REPAIRS ON JANUARY 22, 2014. I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR PARTIAL PAYMENT OF $101.34. THIS AMOUNT WAS JUST FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. HOWEVER, I SUBMITTED AN ADDITIONAL RECEIPT AND REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FOR THE ACTUAL BRAKE LIGHT REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPLACEMENT WAS $28.10. I CONTACTED KIA AT 1(800) 333-4542 WHICH WAS THE NUMBER INDICATED ON THE LETTER. I WAS TRANSFERRED TWICE WITH NO ASSISTANCE. I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION AS TO WHY I WASN'T PAID THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF $129.42 (THE COST OF THE INSTALLATION AND BULB REPLACEMENT).  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10562910,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"02/03/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"02/04/2014","vin":"KNAGE224795","components":"STEERING,SUSPENSION","summary":"AFTER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTOR AND PADS WHICH [XXX] SAYS HE DID REPLACE BOTH BACK PADS WITH GENERIC PADS EVEN THOUGH MY RECEIPT SHOWED SOMETHING DIFFERENT; I WENT TO GET THE CAR APPRAISE TO SEE HOW MUCH I COULD GET FOR IT ON A TRADE-IN VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD THE CAR NEED FRONT BUSHINGS SO THAT KNOCKED $900 ON THE AMOUNT THEY WOULD GIVE ME FOR IT.  BUSHINGS, ON A CAR BARELY DRIVEN AND I HAVE A 10 YEAR WARRANTY THAT COMES WITH IT, A 10 YEAR WARRANTY I PURCHASE AND A 5 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE TIRES.    CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?  I CAN'T.  I GUESS IF I DROVE IT EVERY DAY THE WAY I SHOULD THE CAR WOULD BE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED AT MY EXPENSE AND ALL THE WARRANTIES MEAN NOTHING; MY MONEY JUST WENT RIGHT UP IN SMOKE.    THIS IS DEFINITELY A PIECE OF JUNK OR I AM BEING SCAMMED.    INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10562540,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/21/2014","dateComplaintFiled":"02/02/2014","vin":"KNAGE224795","components":"SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"AFTER GETTING THE BRAKE LIGHT RECALL SWITCH EXCHANGED THE NEXT DAY MY CAR STARTED MAKING DRAGGING NOISE AND SO ME CLICKING SOUNDS IN THE BACK REAR ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE.  I TOOK IT JEFFREY KIA, ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN ON GRATIOT AVENUE AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RIGHT BRAKE PAD AND THE LEFT ROTOR AND IT WOULD BE $300.    I TOLD HIM I HAD A WARRANTY, EXTENDED WARRANTY AND A TIRE WARRANTY AND THAT I DO NOT RIDE MY BRAKES AND HAS NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH ANY CAR I HAVE DROVE.    MIKE CALLS ME BACK AND SAYS HE CAN ORDER SOME GENERIC PADS AND FIX THE ROTOR FOR $169.    WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP HE PLACED ON PAD ON ONE SIDE AND ONE ROTOR ON THE OTHER SIDE AND THE BREAKING SEEMS UNSURE OF A COMPLETE STOP.  THE DISTANCE SEEMS TOO LONG.    MY CREDIT IS MESSED UP DUE TO FAMILY BUT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SELL THIS CAR AND GET A NEW ONE BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT.  I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE OCTOBER 2010 AND BARELY DRIVE IT.    EITHER KIA IS A RIP OFF OR JEFFREY KIA IS BECAUSE THE TIME BEFORE THIS I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] I NEEDED A BATTERY WHEN I DID NOT.  AT THIS SERVICE CALL IT WAS NOT EVEN MENTIONED.    I BELIEVE THEY HAVE ROLLED BACK THE PROMOTERS ON THIS VEHICLE AND SOLD IT AS NEW AND IT IS DEFECTIVE BUT THEY ARE MAKING ME PAY FOR THE DEFECTS.    THEY MAY BE CREATING THEM BECAUSE THIS IS CRAZY.      INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10562503,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/31/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"02/01/2014","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL","summary":"THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY FORWARD AS IT DOWNSHIFTS AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH.   THE SHIFT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO THROW A PERSON THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD IF YOU WERE NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT.  THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE AND KIA SHOULD FACE THIS ISSUE AND RECALL THESE CARS.. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED.  I COULD EASILY SEE THIS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10559353,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/23/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"01/10/2014","vin":"KNAGE228X95","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS","summary":"THE BATTERY DIED IN MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA AND UPON REPLACING BATTERY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS TAKEN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE WE CHANGED THE BATTERY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS RESET. ABOUT A WEEK LATER IT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND RESET AGAIN. IT CAME BACK ON THE NEXT DAY AND WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT WHAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS THE B1382 & B1481 AIRBAG PROBLEMS AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $1200.00 TO FIX.  WHY WOULD CHANGING THE BATTERY CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS? I HAD ONLY PURCHASED THE CAR 18 MONTHS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10553555,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/22/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"11/23/2013","vin":"KNAGE228895","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"PER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 13V114 I TOOK MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA TO KOONS KIA IN WOODBRIDGE  ON 11/21/2013 TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE'S STOP LAMP SWITCH.   THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER I HAVE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION.    ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON.   BOTH OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS AROSE AFTER THE 11/21/2013 STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10552822,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/15/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"11/18/2013","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT MADE A CONTINUAL NOISE UNTIL BRAKES WERE APPLIED.  THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY MAKE THE NOISE EVEN WHEN STOPPED UNTIL I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES.  THE ESC LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WERE ON AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.  I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HULLMAN'S FORD FOR DIAGNOSTICS.  I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS FAULTY.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10538464,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/30/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"09/03/2013","vin":"KNAGE228X95","components":"ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"I WAS BACKING UP TO PART MY VEHICLE AND PULLED FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR.  WHILE PULLING FORWARD I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED - I THEN SLAMMED MY BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED.  I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND PARKED.  TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND CAREFULLY MOVED FORWARD INCIDENT DID NOT REPEAT.  TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT BURDICK DRIVERS VILLAGE IN CICERO, NY AND DIAGNOSTICS RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.  THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE FAULTY PART NUMBERS.  I HAVE MY OLD BRAKE SWITCH AND IF IT MATCHES THE RECALLED ONES I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED.  MY SON ALSO HAS A 2009 OPTIMA AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10534083,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/07/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"08/07/2013","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)","summary":"THE ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS. TOOK CAR IN TO COWBOY KIA AND WAS TOLD CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THERE WILL BE A $90.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10532072,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/04/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"07/26/2013","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS","summary":"VEHICLE AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD.  WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT A SEAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1500.  THIS IS ON TOP OF A RECENT $2700 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON THE SAME VEHICLE ONE MONTH PRIOR. SINCE WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR, WE CHOSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHICH WE REALIZE IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER EXPENSIVE KIA REPAIR.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10531703,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/04/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"07/24/2013","vin":"KNAGE228895","components":"VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"1ST ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON, PRESSING ESC BUTTON DID NOTHING. CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. BLINKERS WORK, BUT NO BRAKE LIGHTS. FUSES & BULBS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND NONE ARE BLOWN.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10525436,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"07/16/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"07/17/2013","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"SECOND FAILURE OF BRAKE SWITCH.  ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING.  UNSURE IF BRAKE LIGHTS ARE WORKING, IF THE ESC IS WORKING, OR IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT OFF DURING THESE EPISODES.  THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS AND YEARS OF KIA AUTOMOBILES BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL.  IT SEEMS IT MAY HAVE SAME PROBLEM.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10521988,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/02/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"06/26/2013","vin":"KNAGE228495","components":"POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,ENGINE","summary":"THE VEHICLE HAD THREE EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS IN RAPID SUCCESSION.  THE FIRST WAS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STARTED A SEVERELY HARD DOWNSHIFT ON BRAKING FROM ABOUT 25 MPH.  THE WHOLE CAR SHUDDERED AND FELT AS IF WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR A SECOND.  AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING, KIA TOLD US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $2700 WITH NO HELP FROM KIA.  AFTER THIS REPAIR, NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON.  DIAGNOSIS FROM KIA, DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND A $1500 REPLACEMENT ESTIMATE.  WE DECIDED NOT TO FIX THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO TRADE THE CAR IN ON ANOTHER MAKE AND CUT OUR LOSSES.  THE THIRD PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED ONE WEEK LATER WAS A FAILURE TO START AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOR AN HOUR AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE, STRANDING MY WIFE IN 95 DEGREE HEAT.  THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NON-KIA REPAIR SHOP AS I NO LONGER WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH KIA WHO WILL DENY ANY CLAIM AGAINST THEIR SO-CALLED QUALITY PRODUCTS AND WILL BE DISPOSING OF THE CAR AS SOON AS IT IS RUNNING AGAIN SINCE KIA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. AFTER THREE MAJOR FAILURES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE FEEL THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10516046,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/06/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"06/10/2013","vin":"KNAGE224895","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SECURE INTO PARK OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10507521,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/10/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"04/08/2013","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL","summary":"THE VEHICLE LURCHES WHEN SLOWING DOWN BETWEEN 2ND GEAR AND 1ST GEAR.  THE LURCH IS STRONG ENOUGH TO JERK PASSENGERS FORWARD IN THEIR SEATS.  I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN STAMFORD, CT ON APRIL 27, 2012.  THEY REPLACED THE STOP LAMP SWITCH.  THE FIX LASTED UNTIL 63,000 MILES, ALMOST 9 MONTHS LATER.  IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.  I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN PLANO, TX.  THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER UPGRADE ISSUE.  THE UPGRADE DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.  KIA IS NOW TELLING ME THERE IS NO REFUND, NO FIX, AND THAT I'M NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THIS SAME PART ON LATER YEAR MODELS.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10505197,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/19/2009","dateComplaintFiled":"04/01/2013","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.   UPDATED 5/9/13 *CN","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10499505,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"02/01/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"02/21/2013","vin":"","components":"POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES","summary":"IN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE NOTICED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ON MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA THAT THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. I HAVE HAD MY BRAKE PADS CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE. I HAVE HOWEVER NOTICED THAT WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL I STOP FINE WITH NO JERKING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEIR IS NO PROBLEMS THERE AND HAVE ALSO CALLED THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT BUT THEY STATED THAT IF ITS SOMETHING NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE TO PAY $100 JUST FOR THEM LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE REGARDLESS IF THEY FIND THE PROBLEM OR NOT. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR BUT NO INFORMATION ON WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10495243,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/19/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"01/30/2013","vin":"","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA .THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED AND ONCE THE SPEED FELL BELOW 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10495300,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":true,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/30/2013","dateComplaintFiled":"01/30/2013","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE","summary":"AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK AND PARKING MY VEHICLE AT HOME, THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY IN 40 DEGREE WEATHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HRS.  I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND MY CAR ON FIRE AND IS A TOTAL LOSS.  THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED AND DISPATCHED TO MY HOME.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED IT WAS PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.  THERE IS NO REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED OR ANY OTHER ACCESSORIES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE.  THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY, PERHAPS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.   I WAS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM LEAVING WITH THIS CAR TO RETURN TO MY OFFICE AND I AM CONCERNED IT COULD OF STARTED WHILE I WAS IN IT, PERHAPS CAUSING INJURIES OR DEATH.  I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ME, THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IT COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.  I BELIEVE KIA HAS A HIDDEN MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS WAS DESCRIBED IN MY INCIDENT, AND ITS VERY POSSIBLE IT EXISTS ON OTHER KIA VEHICLES.  PLEASE TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AND I THINK KIA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER ASAP.  ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, I WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE KIA TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO ASSURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANYONE ELSE.  *TR  UPDATED 03/12/13","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10494597,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/01/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"01/24/2013","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFT WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND THE GEAR SHIFT FAILURE WAS CORRECTED; HOWEVER, THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING AFFECTED THE VEHICLES ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE ENGINE BECAME IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,553 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,240.   UPDATED 3/25/13 *CN  THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. KIA DENIED THERE WAS EVEN A PROBLEM. IT WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED, WHEN THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION FOR A HARD SHIFT, THEY INADVERTENTLY CREATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROLS.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10489059,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/17/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"12/17/2012","vin":"KNAGE228953","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN OCT 2012.  DEALER STATED THE BATTERY WAS BAD.    BATTERY WAS REPLACED.     AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT RETURNED NOV. 2012      DEALER NOW STATES AIR BAG FAULTY BUT NOT COVERED BY KIA RECALL.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10483964,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/20/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"11/11/2012","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"STRUCTURE","summary":"THE FRONT PASSAGER DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED IN HALF. ONE WEEK LATER THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE BEING OPENED. THERE WAS NO EXTRA FORCE OR PRESSURE ON THE HANDLES THEY JUST BROKE IN YOUR HANDS.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10482678,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"10/01/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"10/30/2012","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL","summary":"WHEN BRAKING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY HARD JERKING MOTION. THE WAY YOUR VEHICLE JERKS CAN MAKE YOU OVERREACT AND IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. NOTICED THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY 1 HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. WENT TO 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION PLACES . THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SOME TRANSMISSION WORK . THEN I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE JUST NEEDED TO BE RELEARNED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. KIA SAID THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE CALLING THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEREFORE IT IS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE YET I SEE OVER 20 TO 30 OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10458183,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/21/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"05/12/2012","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE","summary":"THE FIRST SIGNS OF ANY TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE STARTED IN FEBRUARY/MARCH OF 2011 WHEN THE SHIFTING ON THE VEHICLE WAS ERRATIC ON TAKEOFF AND ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, ROUGHLY SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT TOOK TWO OCCASIONS TO \"FIX\" THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SHIFTING APPEARED TO SUBSIDE IT STILL HAD THE OCCASIONAL ISSUE ON TAKE-OFF.  THE ISSUE PROGRESSIVELY GOT TO THE POINT WHEN I LOST TOTAL ENGINE POWER WHILE CROSSING LANES OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST GETTING HIT.  I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DID I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLES RPM??S ABOVE 1500 (ABOUT 5MPH).  TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY STATED THEY \"FIXED THE PROBLEM\".  RETURNED TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL MY WIFE HAD THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN TO HER ABOUT 9 DAYS LATER COMING WITHIN INCHES OF GETTING HIT WHILE TURNING INTO A BUSINESS.  TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS \"FIXED\" TWO DAYS LATER.  STARTED IT UP THE DAY AFTER IT WAS RETURNED AND HAD THE LOSS OF POWER ISSUE AGAIN.  BESIDE THE POWER LOSS EVEN THE SHIFTING CONTINUED TO BE ROUGH AND ERRATIC. RETURNED IT YET AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED.  CUSTOMER SERVICE DID NOT TAKE MY SAFETY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY.  I AM STILL UNSURE OF THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.  I WILL FIND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THIS VEHICLE IS RETURNED.  BEWARE THAT THE POWER LOSS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME CREATING VERY SERIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT OR INJURY.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10452054,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/17/2012","dateComplaintFiled":"03/17/2012","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)","summary":"ESC STARTS BLINKING WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE GOES DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN.   *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10443514,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/05/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"01/11/2012","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN","summary":"WHEN I BRAKE TO 20 MPH MY CAR JERKS FORWARD. I CALLED THE KIA CONSUMER LINE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM HADN'T BEEN HEARD OF.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10440377,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"03/01/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"12/19/2011","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO HAVE A RE-LEARN PROCEDURE PERFORMED. AFTER THE PROCEDURE, THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10439921,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":true,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":1,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/01/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"12/14/2011","vin":"KNAGE228895","components":"AIR BAGS","summary":"TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER. THE DRIVER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING AS A RESULT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE TO TREAT NECK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,076.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10437898,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/21/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"11/30/2011","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"WHEN DRIVING CAR IS OK, BUT WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 20 MPH  THE CAR JERKS , BUT AFTER CAR I DRIVEN FOR AROUND 10-15 MILES IT DOESN'T DO IT.  *KB","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10435701,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/01/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"11/15/2011","vin":"","components":"SUSPENSION,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)","summary":"WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED HANDLING DIFFERENTLY AND NOTICED THAT THE ESC OFF LIGHT HAD COME ON. I CHANGED THE WAY I WAS DRIVING TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK OF STABILITY AND GOT TO WHERE I COULD STOP SAFELY. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT HAS SINCE COME BACK ON AGAIN TWICE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR OR THAT SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION CONTROL.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10432624,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":true,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/12/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"10/24/2011","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,200.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10425243,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/03/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"09/13/2011","vin":"KNAGE228695","components":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)","summary":"WHILE DRIVING ON A NORMAL DAY WITH OUT RAIN AND GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS ESC STARTS BLINKING AND KEEPS BLINKING AND THE SPEED KEEPS GOING DOWN. EVEN AFTER FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TWICE AFTER REPLACING A BRAKE SWITCH THAT WENT FAULTY. TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT HE COULD NOT FIND ANY CODE ON THE VEHICLE RECORDED. REALLY WORRIED OF THINKING IF THIS HAPPEND WHEN I GO ON TO A FREE WAY.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10405823,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"05/31/2011","dateComplaintFiled":"06/10/2011","vin":"KNAGE228595","components":"CHILD SEAT","summary":"I LEARNED THAT SOME USERS OF THE SUPER LATCH BELT ON THE RADIAN 80SL CAR SEAT WERE EXPERIENCING LOOSENING OF THEIR LATCH BELTS DURING NORMAL USE FROM SUNSHINE KIDS JUVENILE PRODUCT'S FACEBOOK PAGE. I WENT TO CHECK MY OWN LATCH BELT AND FOUND IT TO BE LOOSE. I TIGHTENED IT UP AGAIN AND FOUND IT VERY EASY TO LOOSEN THE BELT BY APPLYING SLIGHT PRESSURE WITH MY POINTER FINGER IN AN OUTWARD AND DOWNWARD MOTION. I ALSO PUSHED THE SEAT SIDE TO SIDE TO TEST THE BUCKLE AND DID NOT FIND THAT IT LOOSENED THE BELT, SO IT APPEARS TO REQUIRE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE BUCKLE TO LOOSEN IT. I'VE CHECKED THE BELT EVERY TIME I'VE GOTTEN IN THE CAR SINCE THEN AND HAVE NOT FOUND IT TO BE LOOSE SINCE THE FIRST TIME. MY CAR SEAT SITS IN THE REAR FACING POSITION AND MY TODDLER CAN EASILY KICK THE BUCKLE WITH HIS FOOT AND LOOSEN IT, WHICH COULD BE DEVASTATING IF WE WERE TO EXPERIENCE A COLLISION WHILE THE BELT HAPPENED TO BE LOOSE. I CONTACTED SUNSHINE KID'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, AS INSTRUCTED BY THEIR PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT, AND RECEIVED A REPLACEMENT SUPER LATCH BELT FOR MY SEAT TODAY, 6/9/2011. THEY HAVE ADDED A RETAINING CLIP TO THE BUCKLE, WHICH DOES SEEM TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO LOOSEN THE BELT BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT IT WORKS IN THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NOT INSTALLED THE SEAT WITH THE NEW BELT YET. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL BELT AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IF NECESSARY. I ONLY ADDED A VEHICLE COMPLAINT TO PROVIDE THE VIN; I HAVE NO COMPLAINT WITH THE VEHICLE ITSELF, ONLY THE LATCH BELT OF MY CHILD RESTRAINT.  (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2009, MAKE=OPTIMA, MODEL=KIA).  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."},{"type":"Child Seat","productYear":"9999","productMake":"DIONO","productModel":"RADIAN","manufacturer":"Diono"}]},{"odiNumber":10394045,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"01/14/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"04/02/2011","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"I HAVE A 2009 KIA OPTIMA  LX WHEN I GO TO BRAKE AROUND 20 MPH IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING HARD CAUSING ME TO JERK IN THE SEAT. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME I DO FEEL THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION AND I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED.  *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10376650,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"12/31/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"01/14/2011","vin":"KNAGE228095","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"2009 KIA OPTIMA LX/EX SEDAN 4 DOOR TRANSMISSION  15,000 MILES EXTREME HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP FROM SECOND TO FIRST., ALMOST LIKE IT THROWS THE CAR INTO PARK, ENOUGH THAT IT COULD THROW YOU INTO WINDSHIELD IF NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, IT ONLY HAPPENS 20% OF THE TIME  ON ICE AND SLICK ROADS IT CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.  THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES. *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10372764,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/18/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"12/21/2010","vin":"KNAGZ228095","components":"ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING","summary":"THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2010 AND HAD ONLY 2400 MILES ON IT WHEN THE OIL PUMP FAILED. IT TOOK CITRUS MOTORS IN ONTARIO, CA ALMOST TWO WEEKS TO ACQUIRE THE PART AND REPLACE IT.    UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10360753,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/10/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"10/16/2010","vin":"KNAGE228X95","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,INTERIOR LIGHTING","summary":"MY CONCERN INVOLVES ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.  WHEN DRIVING ON A BRIGHT DAY, THE PANEL ILLUMINATION IS SO DIM THAT THE ODOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN WITHOUT MOVING MY HEAD ALMOST NEXT TO THE STEERING WHEEL.  THE SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER GAUGES, ARE ALSO DIMLY ILLUMINATED.  AT NIGHT AND ON OVERCAST DAYS, THE PROBLEM IS LESS SEVERE.    *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10354445,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/08/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"09/08/2010","vin":"KNAGE228995","components":"VISIBILITY","summary":"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE ON A SUNNY DAY HE NOTICED THAT THE GLARE FROM THE SUN WAS BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT  DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10348323,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"11/28/2009","dateComplaintFiled":"08/09/2010","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM","summary":"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH DURING THE DAY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO READ DUE TO THE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER, THE CLOCK, OR THE RADIO WHILE DRIVING.  THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKED BETTER AT NIGHT SINCE THE BACK LIGHT WAS EASIER TO READ.  THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO  FIND A PROBLEM WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE  VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A TRAFFIC FAILURE IN THE EVENT SHE WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT THE TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,300.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10334503,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"04/08/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"06/03/2010","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT  THE RED WARNING LIGHTS, FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR, RADIO CONTROLS, CLOCK, OIL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE COMMUNICATION LIGHTS WERE DIFFICULT TO READ IN DAY LIGHT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE ISSUE AND WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10311766,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":1,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"02/18/2010","dateComplaintFiled":"02/18/2010","vin":"KNAGE228795","components":"POWER TRAIN","summary":"BOUGHT A KIA OPTIMA A FEW MONTHS AGO AND RECENTLY IT HAS DEVELOPED A DANGEROUS SHIFTING PATTERN WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST ABOUT 20MPH IT JERKS THE !@#$%'.OUT OF YOU AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE BRAKING AT THE TIME YOU MEET A SNAP FROM SEAT BELT AS YOU FLY TOWARDS WINDSHIELD CAUSING SEVER NECK AND BACK PAIN THIS IS GETTING WORSE , DEALER WILLING TO FIX BUT KIA IS IGNORING THE ISSUE AS I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM , I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER ITS PROBABLY JUST COMPUTER ORIENTED BUT KIA HAS TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR , CONTACTED KIA AND AS EXPECTED THERE COMPUTER WAS DOWN AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME! *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10286895,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"08/22/2009","dateComplaintFiled":"10/09/2009","vin":"KNAGE228295","components":"SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE","summary":"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA . WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND UP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED SIX TIMES. THE REPAIR HAS NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY SHOP TO HAVE THE FRAME READJUSTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1500.   UPDATED 11/10/09 *BF  THE VEHICLE PULLED EXTREMELY HARD TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS RE-ALIGNED AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN A TURN WAS MADE, THE VEHICLE TURNED ON IT OWN WITH KNOW HELP FROM THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP, THAT ALL NEW FRONT WHEEL DRIVE WHEELS PULL HARD, IT WAS THE CROWN IN THE ROAD. UPDATED 11/18/09","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]},{"odiNumber":10280163,"manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc.","crash":false,"fire":false,"numberOfInjuries":0,"numberOfDeaths":0,"dateOfIncident":"06/21/2009","dateComplaintFiled":"08/11/2009","vin":"KNAGE228395","components":"VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL","summary":"KIA MOTORS, 2009, OPTIMA, DASHBOARD, SPECIFICALLY THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THIS AREA DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO VIEW WHILE DRIVING, CREATING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FROM SPEEDING TOO FAST TO FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DESIGN DEFECT REGARDING THE INABILITY TO SEE THIS IMPORTANT ELEMENT THE SPEED THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING.  ALSO, SOLD THIS VEHICLE WITH A STICKER CLAIMING A MISLEADING STATEMENT OF CONTENT EQUIPPED IN THE VEHICLE AN \"ECO-MINDER\" THAT WAS NOT OR INTENDED TO BE ON THE VEHICLE. *TR","products":[{"type":"Vehicle","productYear":"2009","productMake":"KIA","productModel":"OPTIMA","manufacturer":"Kia America, Inc."}]}]}