Body problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Optima

On August 25th around 7:00 pm, the vehicle suddenly caught fire while parked after a short test drive. The car had just been purchased a few days prior and was taken to a mechanic for a precautionary inspection. During the test drive, the mechanic parked the vehicle in a residential driveway. After backing in, smoke was observed coming from the engine bay. When the hood was lifted, the engine area was already on fire. The fire department was called immediately and was able to extinguish the flames before the fire spread to surrounding property. The fire completely destroyed the vehicle. The vehicle had no warning lights, unusual performance issues, or prior signs of trouble, and it appeared to be in good condition prior to the incident. This fire posed a serious safety hazard and could have resulted in injury or property damage. Component or system that failed: the engine area, likely associated with the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) fuse/fire risk. The vehicle may or may not be available for inspection, as it is severely burned. Safety risk: the fire posed a serious hazard to the mechanic, surrounding property, and anyone nearby. Rapid ignition could have caused injury or significant property damage. Problem confirmation: the fire was observed firsthand by the mechanic. The open recall related to the hecu fuse/fire risk indicates a known defect consistent with the incident. Inspections: the fire department responded and documented the incident. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or insurance representatives, but the recall status is verifiable through official records. Warning signs: there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. This incident appears consistent with the conditions described in the open recall for the hecu fuse/fire risk, suggesting a possible link between the recall defect and the fire.

Rapid delamination and paint peeling in the color of snow pearl white. The entire car is affected by this defect. Somewhere on the paint assembly line a missing step in the paint procedure is causing detrimental corrosion and overall safety and protection of the elements from outside.

Snow white pearl paint is peeling at numerous location rear driver's side window button not working siruis xm radio not working . Dealt with xm and stated it was a kia antenna however kia tells me its sirius xm problem.

Power train and engine failure and causing my kia to catch on fire at 11:30 coming back home from work. I was driving home and smell smoke and car was shaking and when I stopped at the highway to open and look fire was on while driving and I had to call 911 and stop the fire. I had some fire extinguisher in the car I stopped the fire and towed the car and I replaced engine and powered train for over $9000 between repairs and labor and transmission and engine.

I did not know about this recall and my dad was driving my car caught on fire and blew up now I do not have a car please help.

Sunroof trim seal loose, the rubber seal/trim catching under the sunroof glass.

Body paint chipping. Is known issue when speaking to insurance, kia dealer and paint body repair.

My vehicle has not repaired. I have not been in an accident. However there are two open safety recalls for my car and I am terrified that myself or someone else is going to be injured or even killed due to this problem has yet to be resolved. The first recall for my car is the headliner plates. I took my car into my local dealership (stokes kia of goose creek) and they told me it would take 10 business days before they could inspect my car and determine what the problem is (it’s a recall so I don’t understand why they would have to identify a problem that was clear in recall letter). However, I asked if they would repair my car within that 10 day period if they “identified” the problem. They told me it could take an additional 10 business days or longer for the repair (for them to get around to fix it because they were extremely backed up). I asked if I would be provided a loaner vehicle or rental and they told me no. They instructed to try the other kia dealership which is much further away from me. I ended up trying the other kia dealership. However, they told me they would not provide a loaner car but they did schedule an appointment for my repair. They told me it should not take long for the repair but they could have my car for about 3 days until they can get around to fixing it. I went along because I wanted the issue fixed so I prepared to make arrangements for the possibility that I wouldn’t have a car for 3 days. However, like the day or so before my appointment kia country called me saying that the parts for the repair were on a national back order and that I would be notified when they are available. I have yet to notified. Now there is another serious recall that there is no remedy for. I am extremely uncomfortable with my car with these recalls that can’t be fixed. This is not my fault so I shouldn’t have to suffer or be without a car due to these problems. I want to know what other options do I have?.

Door latches lock you in the vehicle, currently 67k original miles, both front door latches would not allow you to exit car, at 50-51k miles, the window must be down, and to get out, crawl out, or reach out, pull outside handle and open door, then put up window, reset latch so it aligns , close door. If cars on fire and window up from inside, you can’t get out! you will burn up w/car and passengers, because you’re trapped by door from getting out.

Vehicle was broken into and stolen…steering wheel column damage, wheel locked, wreck…usb cord used to crank car. . Police report filed #2209013764me.

While driving at the speed limit on July 9th 2021 my kia Optima started smoking within a minute of us pulling over the front of the car was on fire.

A few months ago the paint on my car begin to bubble, chip, and peel away. The paint color is snow white and I have been informed of and read a lot about DE-lamination occurring in the pearl and snow white paint of some kia models. The car has not been involved any accidents and is in great condition aside from the unknown cause of the paint chipping.

Paint keeps chipping and the car bounces I have got it fixed twice and it’s still doing the same thing.

Paint has began chipping and p delamanating starting on the driver side column and hood.

I was merging back onto the freeway after I had a panic attack due to being over a bridge with all these cars and the car behind me proceeds to aggressively try to cut me off from getting over and hit the back of my car causing damage.

On 4/9/19, my vehicle caught fire while I was driving it from my work on way to simi valley first kia dealership. I was on 118 freeway westbound in slow lane in chatsworth, CA. Onto freeway shoulder to call aaa when a stranger pulled up ahead of me, got out of his car, ran towards me shouting to me to get out, the car was on fire beneath level of the windows so I couldnt see the fire. . I got out, it blew up, & was totalled. No collision occurred. My witness saved my life. He took a video.

Side mirror stopped working driver side. The motor from power fold mirror keeps running non stop making the grinding noise and also causing the battery to drain.

My car is a 2013 kia Optima. It has been chipping about 1 year after I purchased it. Now its just real real bad. It is the pearl white and chipped on the hood, roof, passenger side door behind the driver side, top of trunk, side of trunk, front of the hood. It looks horrible.

Driving my 2012 kia Optima on the highway. Noticed the smell of smoke then visually saw smoke. Began to pull over and flames began to billow from under the hood. The brakes were not operational. Rolled to a stop and exited the vehicle. Car was fully engulfed within a minute.

I was driving my car in union NJ on September 25 2018. I was on my way to pick up my next passenger doing uber. When I get to the stop light less than a mile away from the customer I start seen smoke coming from the hood of the car. I accelerate the car so I can look for a safe spot to get out and inspect the vehicle. I took a right into the school parking lot and when I came out the vehicle the car was on fire! there was a police officer minutes within the car catching on fire and called the firefighters. Police called back up and another patrol officer came. Firefighters came in about 5 minutes and turned the fire off. The vehicle in totaled, everything in the engine bay burned. The police called a towing company and seton towing inc came and took the car.

Delamination of the white pearl paint.

I was driving down a residential street at 35mph and heard what sounded like a loud explosion. I literally thought a gun shot had been fired towards me and hit my vehicle. I tried looking around and nothing seemed to be shattered until I saw my arm bleeding slightly. And small shards of glass on the seat. I pulled the car over to the side of the road and the sun roof was completely shattered. I am able to tell that there was no impact from a rock or anything as the glass is blown outwards and not inward. I am not sure how the glass �blew up� or shattered if not from any impact but this is very concerning as I do have small cuts on my arm from the glass coming through.

My fiance was drivingdriving 55 down the i77 highway north getting ready to turn off the exit and she heard a loud bang. Next thing she knew she had glass all over her. The powered sunroof exploded!!!!the glass cut her hand in a few spot but thankfully she is ok and didnt wreck the vehicle and that our kids weren't in the car. My fiance called the police and said there was nothing they could do and my insurance has a 1000$$$ deductible.

Several areas on my vehicle the paint is chipping in large chunks. The paint is not fading but coming off. I enquired to the dealership about this years ago but they said it was not in warranty for that anymore. The only reason im enquiring about it now is because I see many vehicles (kia Optima in pearl white) on the road with the similar issue as me.

I have sent in complaints on my kia many of times and the one just came out about the latches, mine is not on the recall list. I have had the middle part of my glass crack the windshield that was and still under warranty and more but it seems I am being over looked on my car. I guess the only action to take is a class action lawsuit against kia America. When you have the proof they still do not believe you.

We were on the wantagh pkwy as usual then we heard a loud explosion which sounded like the tired had blown. When arriving home we notice the sun roof had exploded and all the glass was inside of the roof. Thank god through our insurance it was fixed and replaced. . . . . We hate to think that it would happen again. If it does kia need to fix and replace it.

Sunroof shattered while driving.

Exiting hwy 71 east bound to woodward decreasing speed the vehicle in front of me had a car cut in front of her. I had a safe distance and slammed my brakes. My brakes did not grab as usual my car did not stop and I hit the vehicle in front of me. I truly believe my brake system failed. I will take my car into kia when I get it back.

I was driving with my wife at approximately 70 mph on a flat, freshly paved highway with no overpasses or others cars nearby when all of a sudden an extremely loud crash (sounded like a gun shot) occurred right above our heads. All of a sudden the sunshade on the interior roof started flapping around wildly in the wind and hundreds of pieces of shattered glass started raining on my wife and my head and body. The sound and falling glass was so sudden and distracting that I nearly swerved off the road, but luckily was able to maintain control of the car. As my heart beat out of my chest, I quickly pulled over to the side of the highway to calm down and assess what had happened. Upon further inspection it looked like the sunroof had spontaneously exploded outward from the cabin. We have no logical explanation for why it occurred other than that it was a pre-existing manufacturing defect, which sounds consistent with other instances I have read online. Doing some additional research I found that there are apparently hundreds of cases of this occurring in kia models and a class action lawsuit is being built. Despite all of these instances being reported I was never alerted by kia that this was an issue or possibility. My car is in the shop now and kia is investigating whether or not they will cover the repair costs (they better after all we went through). My wife and I both suffered several punctures/splinters on our head, arms, and legs from the tiny glass shards. My wife also received a gash/cut on her palm from a piece of glass. Kia needs to address this very serious issue before it happens to others who may not be as lucky as we were to walk away relatively uninjured.

This started in June 2014 during the mid summer. The trunk would come open while just sitting there or come open while driving. So far no one has been hurt by it opening up while I have been driving but it could come open while I am driving and if I was to travel on the interstate at 70 mph and it was to open it could cause my back window to break or fly off and hit another car causing injuries. Last year during the night we had heavy rain the whole night and when I got up it was still raining hard and I noticed after going out the trunk was open wide. The mat in the trunk was soaking wet, back and front mats and inside where the tire goes had a little one 2 feet of water. I cannot give the dates for all of the time except 4 which was on 10-14-14 where Ford kia had to remove the water and dry out parts. I was stuck with the bill in which I have the bill and in October 8, 17, 24 November 4,12,19,27. December 10,15. 18 22, 24. 31. January 2015 2, 8,15,17,18. I have contacted the dealership here about it and I was told there was nothing that could be done and I told them that the people that lived next door had a wireless key that they could open, turn on my lights inside and out and a couple that lived two doors down had a car and when they moved in that he could open his doors and such which would unlock my doors and turn on the lights and open the trunk and they said at the shop that the freq on my car cannot be changed. It seems that I got a car that many of the people can come and try their key and get inside and just push the button and take off. It happens during setting and driving so the speed I cannot state right.

Driving down the freeway at 70 mph, sunny clear weather, temp 85. No overpasses or other vehicles in sight. The sunroof exploded showering an enormous amount of glass on top of my head resulting in a few minor cuts. Either I was struck by a meteorite or kia has defective glass. The dealer replaced it for $550. 00 and no explanation. As there are several other posts with similar descriptions I feel kia has defective glass and this should be investigated. . I very nearly lost control of my car at freeway speeds.

Making a call with my bluetooth equipped in the vehicle, looked down to verify connection, by the time I looked up I was a foot away from a parked vehicle, I swerved as to the left as much as I could but it was too late, I slammed into the vehicle causing damage, my hood and engine were practically crushed in and along the passenger side of my vehicle, my car came to a hault before jumping over the median. None of airbags deployed. I was going speed of 50-60 miles per hour.

The sunroof exploded while I was driving down the highway shortly after 7am et. It sounded like a gunshot. I pulled over and looked at it and then drove straight to the dealer.

My first year of buying my kia brand new, I started having small chips in the paint. It started near the sides of window frame and hood first. I was baffled that the paint was already chipping but related it to highway driving and assumes it was rock chips. Then about the third year of owning the car, a big chunk came off the roof. One big chuck right at the front and also near the back drivers door. Now those spots are becoming more and more visible as the paint is starting to come off in chunks. It is not completely off the car yet but you can see where it is bubbled and separating from the metal.

I was driving on highway during rush hour when I heard a loud explosion and sound of glass rattling. At first I though I had a blowout on one of my tires, so I manage to pull over to the emergency lane. I then did a walk around of my car and saw the busted sunroof. There was nothing overhead nor did I see any flying rocks or debris at the time of the explosion. There was nothing other than the explosion. The glass was bubbled up like it blewout and not in. There was a hole the size of a basketball in the middle of the sunroof. There were no rocks or anything inside the flap between the glass and interior. Also the flap cover is very thin and flimsy, if something had fallen on it, it would have hit me on the head because it is just a thin material cover. Furthermore, it was a sunny day, at roughly 73 degrees. All I can say is for a sunroof to explode outwards, the glass has to be defective in some sort of way. It scare the living lights out of me, it was such a loud explosion. If I had the cover undone, I would have been hurt by the broken flying glass. I took it to the dealer and the manager there took pictures and then made a comment that he would forward the pictures to the dealer but that it would be denied because the last kia that came in with the same problem the dealership claims person he was planning on forwarding the pictures to had denied the claim and it looked the same! this shows me that kia is very aware that their product (sunroof) is defective and has a potential to explode but of course they will not claim their product has any defects because it would cost them too much. I am not the only one with this incident obviously. I need for you to begin an investigation into trying to determine if the glass is not tempered enough to withstand certain temperatures or if there are other defects that cause it to explode.