NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Kia Optima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
My car overturned/flipped over after i hit a very small bump in the road located on [XXX] in Utica Ny doing about 15 mph in a trailer park where I worked I have printed out all of my recalls on my 2014 Kia Optima GDI there was some brake fluid on the ground around the area where my car landed in a ditch however the Sheriff that came to the scene of the accident and the female state troopers failed to even check or smell the fluid after I informed both the officers and the Deerfield Fire Department the only ones willing to give me any advice on how to handle this matter even though I could had lost my life then to show up to court for the tickets I got for literally driving 15 mph in a trailer park and my car flips over into a ditch and not be able to make a statement in court due to the paperwork not being in to the courthouses computer system in [XXX] at 6:00 to show the judge all my recalls as well as plead not guilty to them I find unprofessional and as for the damage sustained to my vehicle I need to find an independent property adjuster to do a investigation however it is set to go to the Kia Dealership located at 5056 commercial Dr., Yorkville, NY, for the recalls on December 30, 2024 however due to the damage done in the roller I am unsure on what to do please help I paid for this car in full as a private sell and it had no issues with it at all no lights on the dashboard or anything was driving good at time of accident on [XXX] at [XXX] until I literally hit that bump in the road of the trailer park should anyone from your agency need to contact me to view the damage and pictures please contact me at [XXX] for I could not upload all documents and photos thank you very much [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Hit dig mark in road caused by a plow about a half inch to a 1 inch deep by 5 to 7 inches wide while driving 15 mph down the road into work on November 19,2024 around 1:03/1:10 pm next thing I know I am upside down in my car in a ditch about four to five feet wide by 3-4 feet deep
The paint/ clear coat all over the car is peeling rapidly and absolutely everywhere
1. On [XXX] the steering wheel stuck 2 minutes after me and my wife exited the highway and tried to park on a mall’s parking. 2. On 13 November 2024 I brought car to Herb Chambers Kia of Burlington dealership to fix (93 Cambridge St, MA-3A, Burlington, MA 01803. Phone: (781) 202-3456) . 3. On 27 November 2024 got Kia back from the dealership. Drove it back home on a highway, and a few minutes later after exiting the highway the steering wheel stuck again. 4. On 29 November 2024 the car was towed back to the Herb Chambers Kia of Burlington dealership. 5.On 14 December 2024 got Kia back from the dealership.
Upon an engine light appearing I immediately turned the car around, and parked it at my fiancé's house. I had called kia and it was a little bit until I could take my car In. I had driven it over there which did ride a little rough. Informing kia of my issue they inspected it. I was told the second cylinder had melted which was caused by a spark plug. I do not understand how this happened, Kia said I am responsible for this and that they will not cover any repairs. As a result my car is junk and I am now left without a vehicle. I believed that it was caused due to the Theta II Class Action law suit as the only possibility for this happening is due to the fact that the car consumes large amounts of oil and constantly needs replenished. Which I believe is a direct cause, and high oil consumption is apart of the defect within the "Theta II Class Action." However they denied my claim.
There is a recall on steering shaft.
The clear protective coat has failed over the white paint. I was originally unbothered. However, now I've learned it is a known issue in this and other makes/models. I am fearful the areas where paint has chipped, are now showing wear and rust. I've learned rust can weaken the body and affect the safety/structure. What can be done to correct this? This is my first report, if I should begin elsewhere, please advise. Thank you in advance for any help. I would simply like to have a reasonably safe vehicle and dont want to be negligent in not reporting/caring for the issues.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle suddenly went into LIMP mode. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact then drove to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that an unknown software update regarding the engine knocking was previously performed on the vehicle. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be covered due to the rebuilt title. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
A high pressure fuel pump, the car is at a shop to get worked on. I was told not to drive the vehicle because it can catch on fire. The part that was leaking was connected to the engine which could cause the car to catch fire if it touched the hot engine. I was scared to drive the vehicle because it smelled like straight gas, I was terrified thinking the car was going to blow up. So I parked the car , so nothing bad can happen to me or others. I also Called Kia of Waldorf and the did not have an appointment until the following week of the 20th. Yes this was confirmed by an independent service center. No there was not any warnings on the dash board. But I do know it was a recall one time before on the high pressure fuel for Kia optima’s.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated after the vehicle was started and warmed up, the engine made an abnormal loud knocking sound. The vehicle was towed to Chavez Automotive, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. Additionally, the dealer was contacted for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed due to the vehicle having a Salvage Title. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The paint on my car has started to crack and peel. The car is 10 years old, but hasn't been in any accidents or anything toxic sprayed on it. I feel that this should be under warranty or recall, as it will effect the resale value.
Engine seized and failed whilst traveling 70 MPH down I-10
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH several hours after an oil change was performed on the vehicle, the engine seized. The battery, the check engine, and the low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road close to a swamp. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer contacted the manufacturer, and an engineer was sent to diagnose the vehicle. The engineer determined that the repair could not be covered because Kia Campaign Number: PI1803 (Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement) had not been performed on the vehicle; however, the contact had not received the Service Campaign notification in the mail. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact followed up with the manufacturer, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 127,718.
Motor seized up
Oil consumption issues. Was informed when check engine light appeared. Oil light also appeared. Over 3qts consumed in 20 days. Car shut off while driving. Engine noisy and shaky.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The contact also stated that the failure had occurred several days earlier, but the vehicle was able to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the camshaft sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to another independent mechanic, who additionally determined that the engine had seized due to abnormal bearing wear, resulting in irreparable engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 136,000.
Complaint Summary: I am the current owner of a 2014 Kia Optima, which is affected by recall 23V652 related to the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU). The vehicle was imported to the UAE, and the recall was not addressed by the previous owner. As a result, I am now facing significant safety issues. Since taking ownership, I have encountered multiple engine problems, including sudden power loss, severe vibrations, and abnormal behavior from the throttle. These symptoms align with the issues outlined in the recall notice, indicating that the vehicle may pose a safety risk to me and other road users. Despite my efforts to diagnose the problems, I have already incurred costs exceeding 13 AED on various repairs and diagnostic services, all while being unaware of the existing recall. It was only recently that I discovered the recall information online, which has heightened my concern regarding the safety of my vehicle and the potential for further complications. Given these circumstances, I am requesting assistance from the NHTSA in resolving this recall issue and guidance on how to proceed with the necessary repairs while the vehicle is registered under my name in the UAE. It is crucial for me to ensure the safety of my vehicle for my own protection and for the safety of others on the road. I appreciate your attention to this urgent matter and look forward to any support you can provide. Please let me know if further information or documentation is needed Thanks alot
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while reversing and turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel felt abnormal and made an abnormal clunking sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone however, the failure could not be replicated. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
There is a serious malfunction with the motor driven power steering. Needs replacement as I am not able to steer my car thus I am not able to drive it.
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while parked and unoccupied, the vehicle caught fire. Smoke and flames were coming from the engine of the vehicle. No injuries were sustained. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) however the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure opened a case and the vehicle was inspected; however, the inspector could not determine the origin of the fire due to the fire damage. The failure mileage was 113,000.
My engine locked up while driving down the interstate. I was almost hit twice because I was in the middle lane trying to get over and it was slowly giving out. I was able to barely make it to the side of the road and cut my car completely off. Once the car was off it would not crank back up. I had it towed to a local shop. He called me the next day to inform me my engine locked up but that I had a recall on my engine for this exact issue but I would have to take it to the local Kia. BEFORE I even had it towed there I called and spoke with Kia about my recalls. They stated they were still covered and I had an extended warranty on the engine recall. Kia gets the car.. a week later they call me to tell me it is NOT the engine and only the starter! YAY! Right? Wrong, another week passes and they now call to tell me they replaced the starter and now it is my engine that is the concern, it is completely locked up and the recall will not cover it. I called the local shop back and talked to the guy there that said it should 100% be covered and he did not see an issue with my starter when he looked at it 2 days before it was towed to Kia from his shop. I would not have put a starter on the car if they would have told me there could still be an issue with the engine. They actually stated it was not the engine in the call that I approved the starter to be replaced in. Now they are wanting to charger me for the engine and the starter which was put on my car under false pretenses. They have fully taking advantage of me and that I do not know much about cars but lucky I had someone else look at it that does know a lot about cars before taking it to Kia. Otherwise I wouldn't have known they were trying to scam me. It is awful!
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled and restarted. The check engine warning light was blinking. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to DTC Code: P0326 Knock Sensor (1 Circuit Range Performance Bank 1). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who informed the contact that there was no recall coverage for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 217,581.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway and observed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine had seized, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
I bought this from a dealer ship and it is having some issues when it is gearing down dont know if its the fuel injectors or what but its got some issue with it getting proper fuel
Engine died after knocking and shutting off in the middle of tragic. Engine will not even make a sound now. Spoke to the dealership ans they refused to repair my car bc 1) I stopped going to the dealership for maintenance back in 2016 and 2) I have not completed any of the recalls.
White paint is peeling all over the car, in spots as large as 6 inches by 4 inches.
Kia 2014 Optima LX-There are noises in the steering column when turning the wheel or going over bumps. It sounds like metal rubbing together. Took it to a mechanic and it was determined there was a coupler problem and it was recalled. The mechanic said we should take it to Kia to be fixed. I am anticipating having trouble getting them to fix it because my car year and model does not fit the total criteria. I am in New Jersey and live on the coast near long beach island. It is humid here even though NJ is not listed. [XXX] Kia recalled some 2011–2014 Optima vehicles to replace the flexible coupling in the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS). The recall was for vehicles produced between August 12, 2010 and December 18, 2013 that were sold or registered in areas with high humidity and warm ocean waters. The flexible coupling can wear out over time, causing noise when turning the steering wheel, especially when the car is stopped. Kia dealers replaced the coupling at no cost to customers. Please let me know how I should proceed. I will be visiting my local Kia to see if they will accomodate us. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
driving down the road went over a speed bump and all the sudden the steering wheel started making a clanking noise it seem to steer fine but the steering column makes some kind of noise. i was told they have a recall on this item a bushing or something like that
My son and his pregnant fiancé were traveling on [XXX] West bound Thursday [XXX]. They just got out of a construction zone near Rolla MO. At mile marker [XXX] the engine shut down with no warning at 60 mph and all the lights on the dash came on. He had a hard time controlling the car due to the steering being very tight and the brakes were manual. They got a tow to a safe place. I drove 5 hours to meet them and used a scanner to see what codes the car had. Zero codes showed up on my scanner. The engine immobilizer was engaged. We could not get the car started so I rented a U-Haul and car dolly and brought the car back to Indiana to the Avon IN Andy Mohr Kia dealer where we bought it. It was scheduled to be seen Tues [XXX] at [XXX]. I did not hear from them, so I called at 2:30. They informed me an engine was ordered for the vehicle. The Knock sensor detected a bearing knock and shut the car down at high speed on an interstate. The car has no outstanding recalls. I asked about the Knock sensor recall for Kia and ask why the car did not go into limp mod so they could make it safely off the interstate. No response from the dealer. This is a terrible design to have the car shut down at high speeds on an interstate. This could be deadly. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started losing motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. However, while replacing the battery and starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
My paint is delaminating all over my vehicle and is flying off in large sheets. My car now has metal exposed which is susceptible to rust which poses a risk to the structure of my vehicle and the potential of my windshield flying off as a result. This first started occurring less than 2 years after purchasing my vehicle in 2019. KIA fails to recognize this manufacturer defect and it continues to delaminate at an alarming rate.
My Kia motor was ordered Kia gave me a hard time to rent me a car. I went 2 months with NO Transportation. Finally I got my car back and every 3 weeks different lights are coming on. Seat belt is now own O2 sensors had to be changed Now Cadillac Converter Light is on. I didn't know that getting a new motor I would have to keep spending money that I don't have. Kia should be responsible for this it shouldn't be my fault that I'm being punished for a Bad MOTOR.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Zone where the vehicle was scanned and diagnosed with a failure with the knock sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a local independent mechanic where the knock sensor was replaced. The contact stated that the failure had recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
Car caught fire, parked in driveway, partially damaged the house.
Car had a smell of gas fumes. I have not gotten it inspected but I haven’t driven it after. There could be a gas leak. Not sure what the issue is but it caused an issue
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the vehicle had begun to burn. The fire department was called and the vehicle fire was controlled using water to extinguish the flames. The contact stated that the fire department filed a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot and had not been examined by a dealer or insurance adjuster. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was aware of one recall associated with the VIN, NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), however there were a total of three recalls - NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine), and NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that she was not aware of the other two recalls. The failure mileage was unknown.
I had a fuel leak, I bought this used car from a used dealership. Took it afford kia last year where there was no fix for either the recall or the previous recall of the fuel leak (apparently it was already fixed) went to go replace part of the fuel line and it wasn't even properly fixed, they had electrical tape and zip ties around just an extra layer of rubber they put around it. Not sure who "fixed it" before but now I'm suffering the aftermath of a part of missing fuel line which I don't have the strength to get the metal link into it, and an undriveable car. I didn't even know there was a fuel line issue cause kia just told me there were no open recalls on it for anything fuel related instead of telling me there was a previous recall which clearly wasn't fixed properly.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle began to make abnormally loud sounds prior to pulling over to the side of the roadway, where the vehicle then stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 231,054.
Car started to leak out the fuel pumps pressure system started to leak gas
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights were very dim. The contact stated that the high-beam headlights had to be used while driving in poorly lit areas. The contact had called a local dealer and was informed that a diagnostic test was needed to check the headlights. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the reflective coating in the headlight assemblies had deteriorated to the point that there was an accumulation of reflective material debris on the headlamp floor and that other reflective material was peeling away from the sides of both headlight assemblies. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the heat of the light bulbs was degrading the reflective material. The headlight assemblies were not replaced. The contact changed the light bulbs and both headlights were still dim. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The car is available for inspection upon request, but I plan to finally get rid of it soon. I worry greatly about the next driver that ends up with this car. While driving, a message pops up on the dashboard that says "Check Hybrid system. Stop vehicle and turn off engine". I've learned that I have about 15 to 30 seconds to find a safe place to pull over or the car will shut off on it's own. This has happened on the freeway at 70mph and it's happened at 20mph while driving through my neighborhood. I bought the car used in 2017 and this would happen once every six months or so. In the past couple of years it's gotten more frequent. This car is going to get me or someone else seriously injured or killed. I'm always on edge that this will happen while I'm on the freeway in an area without a shoulder. Then I'll just be sitting immobile on the highway, trying to get the car to start back up and I'll get rear-ended by an unobservant driver at 65mph. I've taken the car to a Kia service department twice. The first time they couldn't reproduce the issue and told me to bring it back when it happens again. I took it in for a second time a couple years later and they told me it was the high voltage fuse. They kept my car for a month, gave me the runaround and never replaced the high voltage fuse. After doing some research online, I read that other Optima Hybrid drivers were told to change their high voltage fuse from 125A to 150A. I performed this replacement myself and I still experience the issue. There were no other warnings prior, just the "Check Hybrid system" message before the car shuts off.
Clock spring broke causing airbag light to turn on. Clicking when turning steering wheel. Airbag will not deploy due to this issue. $800 cost of repairs
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a burning fume in the interior of the vehicle. The contact parked the vehicle and the flames were coming from under the hood. The contact safely exited the vehicle. The fire department and the police were on the scene. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. No police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled to be towed to a local tow yard. The contact stated that the vehicle had been serviced for an oil change one week before the failure occurred The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 60 MPH, and was unable to accelerate as needed. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the knock sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V093000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 165,000.
Exact same issue happened to my 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid (NHTSA ID Number: 11556409). I was traveling on the freeway approximately 65mph and out of nowhere the engine turned off, brakes did not work and steering quality went to a manual operation. I almost got into a serious accident as I could not control my vehicle. The hybrid system warning light, to stop using the vehicle became illuminated for approximately 30 seconds. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer ( Koons Kia, 14208 Richmond Hwy, Woodbridge, VA 22191, United States). We are still awaiting diagnostics. A few years ago the standard hybrid light came on (not the same warning light) in which we took it to the same dealer to fix. It was still under warranty at the time, however took them weeks to fix the issue as I had to take it back multiple times. They eventually replaced something in the hybrid system that was worth around $5-6k, since then we have had no other issues. We conduct the routine maintenance on the vehicle, passes all inspections.
Manufacturer paint defect. Kia refusing to pay full (or even 1/2) of repairs on pearl white 2014 Kia Optima.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal to slow for traffic however, the vehicle failed to properly respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle drove off the roadway, jumped the curb and came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to a towing compound. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
Airbag / SRS light came on. Took vehicle to the dealer service center for diagnostics. They found the issue is the Air Bag - Clockspring Assembly / Spiral Cable: 51K1Z01 : BODY ELECT CONCERN. With the airbag light on none of the airbags will deploy in the event of an accident. So the clock spring assembly must be replaced and is currently not under any manufacturer warranty.
I was with my family on PA I-476. While traveling home in our 2014 Kia Optima the vehicle’s dash lights such as oil lamp, battery, etc popped on. As soon as I noticed the lights the vehicle had completely lost all drivability. Lights operable and possibly radio and accessories but I had to react so quickly as it was so unexpected. The vehicle completely lost its function and I was unable to operate it but in the capacity of steering and hardly able to break. Lost all power components. We are so thankful I was able to make a split second decision to dodge traffic while vehicle was decelerating, 18 wheelers going by 70+ mph (speed limit) and pulled off to one of the few shoulders. This scenario was so dangerous that if I didn’t believe in a higher being before, I do now! Most the lanes are sandwiched by concrete barriers and there happened to be a coned off area I was able to decisively pull over to. There was no warning this was happening. The vehicle was operating normally. The engine compartment was smoking and all I could think was to get my family away from traffic. The look on my wife and daughters face and the words my daughter asked me was life changing. The vehicle is at Kia dealership since Saturday night. It’s Wednesday and they cannot provide diagnostic yet but are charging me for a starter already? They began to inspect vehicle Monday.