2015 Kia Optima Complaint Log

Driving my car on a busy highway. Car completely stopped. Putting myself in extreme danger! Tried having the car jumped off and that did not work. I waited hours on a tow truck on this busy highway! Had the car towed to a mechanic and was told that the engine has blown. Called manufacturer and was told that my vehicle was a part of the class action lawsuit, but I failed to comply with the recall. Well, I am the second owner and HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THIS RECALL!

My engine locked while driving on the highway, I have got the car inspected twice since I purchased it and only had it for a year and it passed, everything worked fine and no hazard lights were on dashboard until it stopped then the battery and engine light showed when stopping! I had no problems with the car prior to it, just stopping on me I had my kids with me and we were going to another state so that’s dangerous! I had to get it towed to a Kia dealership and was told they had 4 recalls on my car and the problem was the engine locked but I was told they would not do it free of charge or under warranty because the car has a salvage title overall the car was still drive able and in good condition up until that point.

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 58 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear center passenger side of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle rolled. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injury to the lower back, head, and neck that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle slowed down and then became inoperable. The battery and check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle had been diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty engine block. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

Bought car February 22 less than 5200 miles. Died on hwy October 6. Kia denied claim. Had no ideal of a software update. Never heard of that in my life. Almost lost my life with this car

The paint on my Kia is abnormally bubbling and flaking off.

On October 10th 2024, my 2015 Kia Optima caught fire while I was driving. The fire originated from the engine compartment, completely engulfing the vehicle in flames within minutes. Component/System Failure: The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but Kia had previously issued a recall for this model due to an engine defect that posed a fire risk. The vehicle is no longer available for inspection as it was completely destroyed in the fire. However, I have multiple videos documenting the incident, including footage of the fire and the aftermath. Safety Risk: My safety and the safety of others were severely compromised. The fire started suddenly while I was driving, forcing me to evacuate the vehicle immediately. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, I could have suffered serious injuries or worse. Additionally, the fire posed a danger to other drivers and pedestrians nearby. Reproduction/Confirmation: The issue has not been reproduced, but it aligns with the recall Kia issued for this model. Prior to the fire, I attempted to schedule an appointment with Kia to address the recall, but I never received confirmation, and no inspection was performed. Inspections: After the incident, I contacted Kia, and they sent an investigator to inspect the remains of the vehicle. No police or insurance representatives conducted an independent inspection. Warning Signs: There were no warning lights, messages, or obvious signs of a problem immediately before the fire. However, I had previously noticed a recall related to fire risk for my specific model and attempted to schedule an appointment with Kia, but they never responded. Given Kia’s history of engine fire recalls, I strongly believe this incident is related to the known defects in this vehicle model.

Pearl white paint is peeling off in chunks. Not normal.

Engine Rebuild/Replace: #4 CYLINDER WALL DAMAGE ALLOWING OIL INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER I have kept very good care of my car and have provided appropriate maintenance including oil changes 3k-5k with synthetic oil and also recently had full tube up April 2023.

My car is dragging/hesitant to pick up speed. While on the highway, it takes a while to reach minimal speed. No warning lights are on, but one mechanic advised code, under turbo boost. My steering wheel vibrates at speeds above 40 mph (unsure if it's related to turbo), but no one seems to be able to find the core of the problem for repair, Kia dealership included. I've been trying to seek repair for close to a year, without satisfaction.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence. There was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle when the vehicle restarted. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 115,911.

While driving on Hwy 19 the vehicle shut down. The motor turned off and I was able to slowly roll to the side of the road. The car did not start again.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

I was driving the car 30 mph and the engine just cuts off completely and dies in the middle of the road in traffic. It wouldnt start. There was no time given to pull off the roadway. I get to safely call a tow truck which took them 3 hours to get there. They took it to Kia and there Kia says it has 4 recalls and the engine is seized up. Even though Kia is responsible for motor replacement and has replaced motors in other Kia's they have denied me of a new engine die to their recall. I have paid dearly for that car for 6 years now that im a thousand away from paying it off and having my sanity Kia almost gets me killed on the street and took what sanity I have left. They say they are not going to fix any of the recalls on my car.

The engine is being to make a sound. When I checked it’s the rod knock. In the end of September my wife drove the car to work where it stopped working. That’s when I heard and seen what it was. It’s my understanding that many optimas have been having engine problems. I was told to take it to a dealership and Kia would fix it that there was a recall. Please let me know if this is true or any help you can provide.

My Kia optima has been having engine issues regarding fluid spilling in different components of the vehicle, first started within spark plugs, then in the exhaust camshaft, once I fixed those two issues it's now spilling within my wiring hardness. I was told to fix my valve cover which I did but oil is still spilling out from the engine and into other components. The vehicle stalls while driving on the highway which is unsafe for myself and other drivers due to the speed slowing down without warning until after the decline in speed. I've went to an independent service center, but once new issues arouse I assumed he was just trying to get more money out of me but I even brought it to Kia and still seems to have issues occur. I received an engine light warning when the vehicle stalls, there is times where the car actually turns off but not completely ( I guess due to the car being in drive mode) and I have to actually push my engine start/stop button for the engine to start again.

My vehicle has 82000 miles and was due for new brakes. I an a retired former dealership technician so I decided to replace the brakes myself. When I removed the front brake calipers, I saw an unusual amount of rust of the steel caliper pistons. I've done thousands of "brake jobs" in my 30 years and I've never seen a caliper piston this bad. I plan on buying and replacing them soon. My concern is that these pistons look like they would rust completely through causing a failure of the brakes. This shouldn't happen on a 2015 MY vehicle or any vehicle.

Motor failed and Kia replaced the motor. Now my dim lights and fog lights will not work. All fuse, relay, etc.. has been tested along with bulb replacement…

My sunroof basically spontaneously combusted while I was driving, sending tiny shards of glass flying. Thank goodness my sunshade was closed to catch all the glass shards and that no vehicles or bystanders were nearby to be hit by glass. The loud noise startled me but I was able to keep calm enough to drive the car to a safe location to inspect what had happened

Excessive shaking of engine, stalled out while driving on highway, knocking in the engine.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving after a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that an unstated hose had failed, causing the engine to seize. The contact called an unknown local dealer and was informed that the warranty on the vehicle was under another person's name. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

1st problem happened when I was at a complete stop, at a traffic light, in rush hour traffic. All the sudden steam started coming out from underneath my hood. I instantly looked at my temperature gauge and it did not show anything however I knew something was wrong when the light turned green I immediately pulled over, out of the street as far as I can get without being hit by other cars. I put on my hazard lights. Pop the hood. I had a gallon jug in my trunk. And I walked to a store to fill it up with water. Came back, poured the entire gallon into the radiator. Waited for at least 30 minutes. Started the car and made it home. After that incident, the problems with this 2015 Kia Optima has snowballed. It just amazes me that it has started happening 2000 miles after my extended warranty expired. I had to purchase and replace spark plugs, the coil packs, two other sensor things, which I do have the receipts for and now the car reeks a gasoline and it automatically kicks into overdrive and I lose my reading on my tachometer, this puts it into a disabled mode, I'm on the freeway in Russia traffic, trying to pull over without getting into an accident. Do I believe this is a safety concern? You're damn right I do am I mad yes. I am taking my k i a into the dealership. After doing my research on this make and model, is the dealership doesn't honor what the claims department and the media response to this problem. Will then I will leave the car with Kia because I cannot afford a new engine. I will have to call to finance company and let them know that I voluntary I'm letting them come repo this car, good luck selling it

My 2015 Kia Optima EX with 56,462 miles which I am the original owner. On 09/07/2024, my vehicle oil light came on and the vehicle was taken to Weston Kia in Gresham, OR. This vehicle has had regular oil changes every 3,000 miles since purchased performed at Weston Kia. The service department found a leaking oil pressure switch and preformed the repairs totaling $248.60 on 09/08/2023. Per Kia 10yr/100,000 Powertrain warranty for original owner "In the Engine: Cylinder block, cylinder head and all INTERNAL PARTS, timing gear, seals and gaskets, valve cover, flywheel, OIL PUMP, water pump and turbo charger, pg. 6." I believe this part is covered per Kia warranty and the definition of drivetrain "A powertrain is a system inside a vehicle, in a car, a powertrain consists of the engine or motor and its internal components, such as the energy storage system, transmission and driveshaft." After reviewing all Kia warranty information and speaking to customer service at 800-333-4542 (Who stated the repairs are not covered), there is no information to the contrary that a oil leaking pressure switch that is located within the engine block is not covered. Kia would not provide any detailed information that shows this part falls outside of the terms of my 10yr/100,000 mile warranty.

I have a 2015 Snow White Pearl Kia Optima. My car have several spots where the paint has started to boil and peel off the car. The peeling has spread to all over the car and I can see new spots that start off looking like a cigarette burn, you can also see where the paints bubbles up.

The paint is chipping off in large pieces. We hand wash this vehicle and the paint will just chip right off.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes and the steering column were inoperable. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to safely pull off to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated that the engine started smoking. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that in December 2020 and March 2023, recall repairs were completed on the ABS and TCU modules. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 94,700.

I’ve had my 2015 Kia optima since 7/11/23. My dipstick showed oil full. I drove it 977 miles from 7/11/23 until August 23 2023. My oil went from full mark on dip stick to low. My vehicle I purchased had 66,892. I should think it shouldn’t be losing a quart oil in a little over a month. I had to add a quart of oil. This is unacceptable.

The paint is coming off in chunks anywhere from an inch to 5 inches at a time. Not from rock chips.

I had oil changed by Jiffy Lube for a very long time dedicated to getting it changed. Anyways, I was driving down the road and all of a sudden the motor started knocking I pulled over and had to have it towed because the knocking was getting louder and louder.

Windows were broken and steering column was broken in to. Car was stolen and spray painted the seats and front end was smashed.Car was totaled

I recently got a 2015 Kia Optima LX, I loved the vehicle and decided to buy it. I had no issues until I decided to drive it, and after 30 minutes of driving, I faintly hear a sound coming from the engine, as if it's hitting some metal. Shortly after, a warning light on the dashboard turns on. I reach home and decide to scan it with a small OBD scanner I have, and to my surprise, it's showing error code P1326. The vehicle is running very poorly, making a sound like metal rubbing against metal, and it has no power at all. I'm stuck on the road with the vehicle like this. It has 104,600 miles on it.

Warning message appeared on the dashboard regarding HECU malfunction. Kia was contacted and stated the car is not covered under a recall.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving into a parking lot at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact restarted and parked the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence the following day. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

Car was driven to work and died on side of road a few weeks ago. Would not take a jump. Had funny smell when hood was up. Had to tow it home. 2015 (bought in 2016 from Kia Dealershop with 130 miles. We were the only owner. I think it was used for test drives? Dealership said engine seized ( only 35,000 miles). Haven't heard from them yet. No rental car! What can we do. Under Powertrain warranty. Thanks [XXX] and [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON THE 57 FREEWAY AND MY CAR STOP RUNNING AND I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR CATCH ON FIRE. EVERYTHING STARTED IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED KIA AND MADE A COMPLAINT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME.

Engine is using excessive amount of oil. It has been changed on a regular basis have documentation bought the car new. I have noted that there are several complaints of the rings going bad in this model engine of the rings letting oil blow by. When is the NHTSA going to demand a recall as this can cause the motor to blow up and causes much more carbon emissions. Please make this a priority recall before more people get hurt and the emissions put out more pollutants/carbon in the air..

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 60 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was informed by her son that the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact stated that while her son was pulling the vehicle over to the side of the highway the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that her son attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not been repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

Driving down Interstate and car stopped with no warning. It was confirmed engine seized at 113,576 miles.

The contact’s husband owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at undisclosed speeds, he heard a knocking sound coming from the hood of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's husband was able to coast the vehicle to a stop. The contact then stated that after her husband allowed the engine to cool, he was able to restart the vehicle. The contact then stated that the following day, her husband attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. The contact’s husband then notified AAA to tow the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that the starter might have caused the failure. The contact stated that her husband replaced the starter however, the failure recurred. The contact then notified a friend who is an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the failure was engine related; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Paint peeling appears to be a defect in paint it is the Pearl White Paint

Car was stolen because of kia issue

Engine pinging Hesitates when pulling out at times

I own a 2015 Kia Optima (VIN:[XXX]) with a 2.4L GDI engine. The engine has failed — a local repair shop diagnosed it as a “jumped timing” issue, which matches the well-documented Theta II engine defect. I never received recall notice or notice of the required KSDS update. Kia has denied me coverage, stating the update was not done before failure. I now have a vehicle that is undriveable and potentially unsafe. Kia confirmed there is no extended warranty or coverage for rod bearing failure — despite widespread issues — and they ignored my open fire-risk recall (NHTSA 21V331000) in their denial. I am requesting that NHTSA review why my VIN is excluded despite the same failure symptoms, and ask that Kia be required to expand recall eligibility or offer a goodwill resolution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2015 Kia Optima engine seized on the highway at 70mph without any warning. Engine light illuminated and lost all power. This was a replacement engine with approximately 75,000 miles. Original engine was replaced at 125k due to excessive oil consumption (burned 1 quart in 800 miles). Vehicle has been at the dealership since the end of June awaiting engine replacement (again).

As I was driving on International Drive in Myrtle Beach,SC my car suddenly died. The engine seized .

engine died while driving 45 on highway, tow to garage and was told to take to dealership because of a recall for my engine. towed the car to the dealership and they check and are telling me that my car engine wasn't covered and I would have to paid for the repair. I was told the problem was the engine manufactured with the rod bearing issue. My safety was at risk because car died on a state highway.

Driving on highway auto lost all drive power and stopped running. Zero warning or lights were ever noted on car and no vehicle function had been observed in previous days. Auto towed and mechanic checked vehicle. Found engine seized and unrepairable. Shop reviewed this as a known recall from previous models repaired. Kia contacted by owner, VIN reviewed and noted to be part of a class action suit as well as confirmation this malfunction was a recall. Told by Kia that recall would not be honored since this is a second owner. However we researched this and could not find any recalls prior to purchase of this vehicle. This malfunction could have resulted in accident, injury or death and we as owner were given no choice to repair or even identify this malfunctioning vehicle.

My air and heat stopped blowing air on 4 (high speed) I took to mechanic who couldn’t find a issue with the resistor, motor, or any components related to it so he took the dash off to check the climate control. The connector going into the back of the switch control to control the temperature speed was burnt and so was the unit. He said it was a wonder my car hadn’t caught on fire and it should have blown a fuse before burning that bad. I did get pics of the connector but didn’t of the control panel. I am now afraid to drive my vehicle as this is a expensive repair and their seems to be a lot of electrical issues with Kia from what I am finding and I don’t even have this vehicle paid for yet. They replaced a motor in December due to failed components on their end

my paint on my Kia Optima Pearl White paint is bubbling and peeling in various areas of my car exposing the metal to corrosion. It is peeling on the trunk and on the roof in various places.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact's daughter was driving at approximately 60 MPH when numerous lights on the dashboard illuminated. The contact stated that her daughter said that the vehicle stalled, however, she was in the right-hand lane and pulled over. The daughter said that smoke was being emitted from the engine compartment. The contact stated her daughter was picked up by family and the vehicle was left at the side of the highway. The contact stated that the daughter's companion retrieved the vehicle. The contact stated that he opened the hood and checked the oil and observed that there was no oil showing on the dipstick. The contact filled the vehicle's oil reservoir and started the vehicle. The contact said that he also reported that all panel warnings illuminated and the vehicle had begun to emit smoke. The contact stated he pulled off the roadway, opened the hood, and observed smoke and flames being emitted from under the engine block. The contact stated he had immediately closed the hood and moved away from the vehicle. The contact stated that he reported that the vehicle continued to emit smoke but no more flames were observed. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 184,000.