2012 Kia Optima Fuel System Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

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

Car was involved in the class action suite for the motor replacement and had the motor replaced at 156,763 miles on the car. Since the replacement the high pressure fuel pump has had to be replaced twice and is not needing replacement again with only 218,000 miles (62000 miles since replacement). There where no previous issues with the HPFP before motor replacement and KIA will not do anything about the HPFP continuous failure. This appears to be a very common issue with the KIA products and yet no recall has been issued. This is ultimately a safety issue as the vehicle can cut off while in motion causing a risk for collision but has not been addressed by anyone other than a Repair bulleting put out by KIA in 2013 to all their dealerships for this issue so KIA is aware of the issues with the failures. This needs to be addressed before someone is injured or killed due to this re-occurring malfunction part.

There is a leak around the fuel tank with a significant fuel smell coming inside the cabin. amount

My vehicle has been smelling like fuel inside of the vehicle and cannot take it to a kia dealership due to them being backed up. There are no visible leaks inside or outside of the vehicle but it is unsafe to inhale fuel and every time i fill it up, the smell gets stronger.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE SOON AFTER REFUELING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ORR KIA OF SHREVEPORT (1111 E. BERT KOUNS INDUSTRIAL LOOP, SHREVEPORT, LA 71115) WHERE SHE WAS PROVIDED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE WHICH SHE DECLINED. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED ORR KIA OF BOSSIER CITY (3601 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111) WHERE SHE WAS ALSO GIVEN ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC FEE WHICH SHE ALSO DECLINED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HER FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY 2012 OPTIMA WAS TAKEN TO IMPERIO KIA IN DANA POINT FOR A MANDATED ENGINE INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE ADVISER ACTING STRANGELY. MY CAR ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE, AND BEGAN TO SMELL RUBBER BURNING. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVER ANSWER THE PHONE, AND WITH 4 WEEKS THEY CLOSED DOWN. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AT KIA OF IRVINE, WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, IT HAD METAL PIECES AND RUBBER PIECES IN IT, THE HOSES WERE DISCONNECTED AND THERE WAS RUBBER MELTED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THERE WERE MISSING CLAMPS AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROBEMS. KIA REPLACED MY ENGINE AND TURBO WITH REBUILT PARTS, AFTER A WAIT THAT LASTED 4 MORE WEEKS. KIA PROVIDED ME A 5 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT WERE REPLACED AND DAMAGED IN THIS CASE #12538291. IN 2019, ANOTHER MANDATED INSPECTION OCCURRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AND FUEL PIPE IN THE VEHICLES THAT PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A DANGER OF FIRE. ON JULY 28, 2020, THE OPTIMA STARTED TO LOSE ITS POWER, AND CHOKED AND HESITATED UPON STARTUP WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I REOPENED THE ENGINE CLAIM AND TOOK THE OPTIMA INTO THE IRVINE DEALERSHIP. THEY CLAIN THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT IT DOES NOT EXIST! THEY ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INSPECTION OR LACK THERE-OF FOR THE FUEL PIPE, AND CLAIM THAT THE WARRANTY AND RECALL DO NOT COVER THE FUEL PUMP. AGENTS ARE WORKING FROM HOME DUE TO COVID-19, AND THERE IS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SPEAK OF. THE QUOTE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY HIGH AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME A HIGH DIAGNOSTIC FEE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH TRAUMA BECAUSE OF KIA, AND I WANT THEM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEIR WARRANTY RECORDS ARE A DISGRACE.

FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOTICED A FAINT FUEL SMELL AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF. ALSO NOTICED AFTER STARTING ENGINE. WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING I TOOK ENGINE COVER OFF AND FUEL WAS SPRAYING OUT OF THE TOP B-NUT FITTING ON THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE. FUEL LINE IS ON THE UPPER PART OF ENGINE. THIS IS THE SAME FUEL LINE IN RECALL SC172. ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 11/2019 UNDER RECALL.*DT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED, WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SAFFORD KIA OF FREDERICKSBURG (5204 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540)-891-7400. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE CODE AT THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT THE SAME DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). AS PART OF THE RECALL REPAIR THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE WAS INSPECTED BUT WAS NOT REPLACED BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO FAILURE WITH THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,227. *LN*JB

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle and proceeded to her destination. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was contamination in the fuel system. The contact was informed that the fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the fuel system had been replaced less than three years ago. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

THERE'S A RECALL ON LOW PRESSURE FUEL HOSE DEFECT FOR 2013 AND 2014 KIA OPTIMA (KIA RECALL #SC187) BUT MY 2012 ALSO HAS SIMILAR FUEL SMELL. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO KIA OF IRVINE (CA) FOR DIAGNOSIS ON MARCH 7, 2020 AND WAS TOLD HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE CONNECTOR TO FUEL PUMP IS MISSING A SMALL TAB AND MAY NEED REPLACEMENT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SINCE I RECENTLY REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET MYSELF WHICH WOULD INVOLVE DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP, THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LINE MISSING TAB. BUT THE ISSUE IS THERE WAS NO FUEL SMELL AFTER I REPLACED THE GASKET. THE SMELL WAS RIGHT AFTER THEY REPLACED THE TURBO WHICH ALSO INVOLVED DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE FUEL LINE TO FUEL PUMP. INTERESTINGLY, THERE'S ANOTHER SIMILAR RECALL (KIA RECALL #SC172) WHERE IT INVLOVE KIA'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN DAMAGING THE SAME FUEL LINE AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT WORK ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES. THE FACT THAT KIA HAS HAD RECALLS DUE TO FUEL ODOR ON SAME MAKE/ MODEL, AND THE FUEL SMELL WAS AFTER THEY SERVICED MY VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR VEHICLES FUEL LINE ISSUE. FURTHERMORE KIA SHOULD TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AS THE CAR COULD POTENTIALLY SPARK FIRE. PLEASE HELP!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE CAUSE FOR THE RATTLING WAS NOT DETECTED. AS THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING, THE RATTLING NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. INVALID VIN.

I WOULD SMELL FUEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING SO EVENTUALLY I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT. THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE CRACKED AND WAS PULLING OFF THE QUICK CONNECTOR. THE PLASTIC QUICK CONNECTOR BECAME BRITTLE BECAUSE FUEL WAS SPILLING ON IT CONSTANTLY AND EVENTUALLY BROKE. THERE WAS A RECALL RECENTLY DONE ON THE SAME KIA MODEL AS MINE BUT THE 2013 & 2014 MODELS. THE SAME ISSUES IS AFFECTING THE 2012 KIA OPTIMAS AND THIS YEAR SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE SAME RECALL. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT FUEL LINE AND IF NOT WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR. I WAS QUOTED $600, I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY HUGE TO REPLACE A FITTING AND MAYBE SOME HOSE SO I TRIED TO GO AS LONG AS I COULD BUT EVENTUAL THE QUICK CONNECT BROKE AND THE RISK OF FIRE WAS TO GREAT TO CHANCE DRIVING IT. SO MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 6 MONTHS AND OF COURSE I NEED A NEW BATTERY AND POSSIBLY OTHER THINGS TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND DEPRESSED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RATTLE, THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FLICKERED, AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTA WEST KIA (LOCATED AT 1301 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRING, GA 30122, (678) 715-5399) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND UPON CHECK THE THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR HAS MADE 3 DIFFERENT SENSORS GO. MY FUEL JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. FROM A FULL TANK TO EMPTY OR THE READING CHANGES WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO A SMELLS OF GAS THAT CAN BE SMELLED WHILE DRIVING AS WELL COMING FROM THE VENTS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE DAY I WENT TO PUMP GAS AND IT IS SPITTING THE GAS BACK AT ME, I ONLY GOT TO PUT IN LIKE $1.80. WENT TO ANOTHER GAS STATION, SAME THING, IT WILL NOT LET ME PUMP GAS INTO IT. I TRY THE NEXT DAY AND I GET A LITTLE BIT OVER $2.00. I CALLED KIA, TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP AND A CANISTER, WITH LABOR COST ME $1436.76. MY DAUGHTER GETS GAS THE FIRST TWO TIMES AFTER THIS SERVICE AND LETS ME KNOW IT IS STILL SPITTING OUT GAS TOWARDS THE END OF FILLING UP. SO THE NEXT TIME (WHICH WAS A MONTH AFTER SERVICE) I GO TO FILL THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY IT KICKS THE GAS BACK OUT. I TRY PUMPING LIKE A SECOND OR TWO SECONDS OF GAS AT A TIME, THE GAS IS BUBBLES UP AND IT LITERALLY TAKES ME ALMOST 20 MINUTES TO PUMP $27 IN THE TANK. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE KIA STORE AFTER GAS TRIP NUMBER TWO AND HE THEN SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS NEW. SO AT THIS POINT I FEEL HELPLESS!! AND I AM NOT SELLING THIS CAR TO GET OUT OF IT TO BURDEN SOMEONE ELSE. I ALREADY SEE THINGS ONLINE THAT SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME JUST DRIVING THIS KIA WITH OTHER ISSUES REPORTED. NOW I HAVE A FUEL ISSUE, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A SINGLE DAUGHTER AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,861.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL A SECOND ATTEMPT WAS MADE. ONCE STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANAHAWKIN KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP FAILED AND PREVENTED FUEL FROM REACHING THE ENGINE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ *BF THE DASHBOARD "CHECK ENGINE LAMP" CAME ON AND STAYED ON. UPDATED 10/4/18*JB

TURBO FEED AND RETURN LINES LEAKING CAUSING IT TO LOSE OIL WHICH COULD CAUSE TO ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE JUST HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LINES LEAKING IN WHICH KIA WILL WARRANT THESE EVEN THOUGH THEY PLAY A VITIAL PART IN ENGINE OPERATION. CURRENTLY I HAVE SEEN MANY ISSUES ON FORUMS AND WEBSITES SO NOT JUST A FEW CARS. SHOULD HAVE A RECALL JUST LIKE THE ENGINE RECALL ISSUES. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL THEREFORE DEATHS COULD OCCUR. THIS NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY RECALLED MAY CAUSE ENGINE FIRES FROM HEAT ON THE EXHAUST AND OIL LINE DIRECTLY ABOVE IT LEAKING.

2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DOME LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY TURNED ON. THE CAMSHAFT FAILED. *JS