What 916 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima Phev

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

NHTSA ODI 11424258

ON DECEMBER 9, 2018, I ATTENDED MY SON'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT ON A COLD SUNDAY AFTERNOON (APPROX. 30 DEGREES). DURING HALF-TIME I DECIDED TO SIT IN MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA TO WARM UP. AFTER 10 MINUTES OR SO, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE THE SMELL OF A BURNING ENGINE. I THEN NOTICED GREYISH BLACKISH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT MY CAR OFF AND BARELY EXITED THE VEHICLE IN TIME. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL AND HOOD WAS ON FIRE. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES, MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I GOT A BRAND NEW ENGINE (SO THEY SAY) INSTALLED BY KIA JUST 8 MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS BAD AND PART OF A RECALL. THEY ORDERED THE ENGINE AND HAD IT INSTALLED IN A MATTER OF DAYS. ONCE AGAIN THIS WAS JUST 8 MONTHS AGO!! I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGES, WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME. KIA NEEDS TO GIVE ME AND THE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND HOW THEY PLAN TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION! THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT IN MY CAR IN 30 DEGREE TEMPERATURES FOR HOURS IF I WANTED WITHOUT IT GOING INTO FLAMES. I AM PLEADING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE REVIEW ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW

NHTSA ODI 11160978

THE CARE STALED AT LOW SPEED PULLED OVER SIDE OF ROAD AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE, OPENED THE HOOD AND FIRE HAD STARTED AT FRONT TOP OF ENGINE UNDER THE AIR CLEANER, SOME WARE, HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED IT.

NHTSA ODI 10903804

2012 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH & WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE/BRAKE. RECENTLY WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE WITH NO ITEMS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE ISSUE...UPDATED 10/04/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 10892633

WHILE TRAVELING FROM KNOXVILLE TN.WE NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WHILE TRAVELING ON I-75.AS WE CONTINUED ON THE SMELL WENT AWAY.WE REFUELED IN SWEETWATER TN. AND CONTINUED ON.AT A REDLIGHT IN MADISONVILLE WE NOTICED THE SMELL AGAIN.I PULLED INTO A WENDYS PARKING LOT AND CHECKED BENEATH THE HOOD.THERE WAS NO GAS SMELL OR LEAKS.WE CONTINUED ON TO HWY 68.NEAR FARNER TN. THE CAR HAD A HOT SMELL AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS WENT UP IN FLAMES.WE PULLED ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE.THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS, AND THE CAR DID NOT MISS OR SHUT OFF.NO WARNING WHATSOEVER.WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT ONLY.FLAMES CONSUMED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE EXITED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10587361