Apr 22, 2022EngineFire
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH the vehicle stalled as if someone had pulled the vehicle. Numerous warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact slowed down and pulled over safely then removed herself from the vehicle. Once exited the vehicle it became totally engulfed in flames and was destroyed; however, prior to exiting the vehicle noticed black smoke coming from the hood. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. There was a police report. There were no injuries sustained or medical reports. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
NHTSA ODI 11461808
Mar 23, 2022EngineFire
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence, she attempted to start the vehicle and noticed smoke coming from the hood near the battery compartment. The vehicle then caught on fire. The fire department came to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The cause of the fire was a faulty engine component. The vehicle remained at the residence and was not repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.
NHTSA ODI 11457956
Feb 19, 2022EngineFuel systemFire
Smell like gas everyday I don’t want my car get in fire
NHTSA ODI 11452945
Nov 23, 2021EngineFire
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while inside the vehicle with the engine idling smoke was suddenly present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene who extinguished the flames. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. No further information was available. The contact indicated that the failed engine was a replacement engine previously installed under a recall campaign. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. Consumer had the car inspected and was told there was oil leakage but inspection states engine presented with oil inside. *JB
NHTSA ODI 11441467
Nov 7, 2021EngineFire
My engine began smoking while I was driving I pulled over to see where the smoke was coming from and it burst into flames
NHTSA ODI 11439650
Nov 7, 2021EngineFuel systemFire
My 2013 Kia optima caught fire while I sitting idle in the vehicle in a parking lot outside of an establishment in May of 2021. I started my vehicle, and was finishing up a phone call when I noticed smoke coming from my hood. When I opened the hood to investigate flames shot up from my engine. I called 911 and fortunately the fire department was close and we're able to put out the fire quickly and no one was hurt. If it hadn't been for the phone conversation keeping my attention, I would have taken off normally and the outcome could of been seriously different. I'm not sure what happens when you are actively driving a car that engulfs in flames but I imagine it's not pretty. There was a open recall on my car for a low pressure fuel tube malfunction that was thought to cause fires. The Kia dealership denied I had an open recall asked me to remove car from facility or they would tow it . They were low on space. . They said that they wouldn't cover my car for any reason anyway because it doesn't have the original engine it came with. The engine was replaced by Kia because of engine defect and recall but the local dealership could not see this car history. Eventually I was able to get a case opened with the corporate office and an inspection was done. They still denied me and no one was on the same page as far as car history. Was given the run around. The inspection report and estimate I have contradict one another. They spent 6 to tell me my cars problem is not there fault. They are unable and willing to answer my questions about inconsistencies.
NHTSA ODI 11439604
Nov 4, 2021EngineFire
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 75 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, the front of the vehicle was in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
NHTSA ODI 11439388
May 27, 2021EngineFire
I was driving my car normal speed stop and go and suddenly my vehicle started to smoke and not soon after it was on fire I had my engine replace by keep the 1/21/21-1/31/21 so I’m wondering my why my car is nothing but a metal ashes
NHTSA ODI 11418708
Apr 20, 2021Electrical systemEngineFire
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY GOING 70MPH WHEN MY ENGINE LOSES POWER AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD TURN ON. I PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TRY TO TURN IT BACK ON UNSUCCESSFULLY. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE HOOD AND I OPENED IT UP TO SEE THE ISSUE. THE SMOKE BEGINS TO INCREASE AND IN A COUPLE IF MINUTES A FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH/AROUND THE ENGINE
NHTSA ODI 11413112
Feb 22, 2021EngineFire
ON FEBRUARY 19, 2021 AT AROUND 12:50 A.M., A FRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME IN MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID EX ON A CITY STREET AND WE WERE A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF-WAY HOME WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CAME ON. I STARTED LOOKING FOR AN OPEN GAS STATION SO I COULD STOP AND CHECK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING VISIBLY WRONG WITH MY CAR. BEFORE I COULD REACH A GAS STATION, I HEARD A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND UPON LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR I SAW SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CAR AND SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE THE CABIN ALSO. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE CAR THEN COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE, SO MY FRIEND AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY. THE ENGINE AREA BURST INTO FLAMES. I CALLED 911 AND REPORTED IT TO THE POLICE AND WAITED FOR THEM TO COME. THE CAR EXPLODED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THEY GOT TO ME AND THE FIRE QUICKLY ENGULFED THE CAR REACHING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE STREET HAD TO BE COMPLETELY BLOCKED OFF FROM ALL TRAFFIC. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE AS WE BARELY MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND HOW RISKY IT WAS BEING IN THE CAR BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. AS FAST AS EVERYTHING HAPPENED WE FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. IT TOOK THE FIRE CREW ABOUT AN HOUR TO PUT THE CAR OUT. EVERYTHING INSIDE THE CABIN WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. AFTER GETTING A RIDE HOME FROM THE POLICE I STARTED RESEARCHING ONLINE THE ISSUE I HAD JUST GONE THROUGH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS MANUFACTURER RECALL #SC200TE, NHTSA RECALL #20V750 FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH SEEMED TO FIT THE EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH MY CAR.
NHTSA ODI 11397417
Feb 3, 2021EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 209,000.
NHTSA ODI 11394468
Nov 14, 2020Electrical systemEngineFire
I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD,THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THINKS IT WAS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. IT WAS IN PARK WHILE I WAS DROPPING SOMEONE OFF WHO WAS GETTING OUT OF MY CAR
NHTSA ODI 11374627
Nov 9, 2020EngineFuel systemCrashFire
WHILE DRIVING ON A ROAD WITH MY LITTLE COUSIN. ALL MY FUNCTION LIGHTS CAME ON AND AND MY CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND SLOW DOWN SO STARTED TO PRESS ON THE GAS FOR ACCELERATION A BLOCK DOWN THE WAY WE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE I PANICKED TRYING TO GET OVER AND RAN UP ON THE CURVE AND CAME OFF IT PULLED TO A SAFE SPOT AND ME AND MY COUSIN BOTH EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WHEN WE GOT OUT MY IT WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD MY COUSIN NOTICED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE CAR SO I LOOKED AND IT WAS ON FIRE SOMETHING FELL TO THE GROUND ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI 11373782
Sep 15, 2020Electrical systemEngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A LONG DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SINCE ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET AND CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DECLARED TOTALED BY HIS INSURANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,800.
NHTSA ODI 11355142
Sep 4, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFire
I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ROUGHLY 65 MPH. MY VEHICLE PRETTY MUCH WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO TRAVEL AT A CERTAIN TOP SPEED. OVER HEATING THEN BECAME A VERY DRASTIC ISSUE. I LOOKED ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE FOR ANY KNOWN RECALLS THERE WERE SOME FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL BUT MINE WASN'T LISTED? I CALLED A FAMILY MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED IN MORE GREATER DETAIL ABOUT MY ISSUE FROM START TO FINISH, HE ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THAT IT WAS DISPLAYING THE EXACT QUALITIES AS THE LISTED RECALL AND I SHOULD CALL KIA MOTOR COMPANY TO HAVE THE LOOK INTO MY CLASS OF VEHICLES FURTHER. LONG STORY SHORT I WAS BASICALLY LEFT HOMELESS IN A CITY AND STATE PRETTY MUCH BEAT ON THE WHOLE IDEA OF EVERY GETTING MY CAR BACK AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IT DROPPED BELOW 28 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES FROM HOME. BECAUSE OF THIS CORPORATIONS NEGLIGENCE. I LOST MORE THAN A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP I HAD TO START BACK OVER AGAIN AND I'M UNFORTUNATELY AN ONLY CHILD WITH NO PARENTS SO IT WAS VERY MIND BOGGLING.. I MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO COME TO SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT WITH KIA TO NO AVAIL. SOME ONE WENT SO FAR AS TO STEAL A SAFE OUT OF MY VEHICLE. WHICH I HAD PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED AND VANDALIZED THE INSIDE OF MY CAR BEYOND REPAIR. THANKS KIA, FOR VICTIMIZING ME TO MAKE YOUR MILLIONS.
NHTSA ODI 11353252
Aug 12, 2020Service Brakes, AirEngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOSIE WHEN STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS IN HER HAND AND THE CAR WAS OFF BUT STILL WAS HEARING THE NOISE. WHEN SHE OPENED THE HOOD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND WALK AWAY WITH THE KEYS IN HER HAND, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE ABS BRAKE MODULE CAUGHT FIRE AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SERRA KIA (12304 30 MILE RD, WASHINGTON, MI 48095) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE AND HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET DUE TO PART NEEDED TO BE ORDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER AN INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
NHTSA ODI 11348783
Jun 25, 2020Fuel systemEngineFire1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE SUDDENLY SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SCENE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE OWNER SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT FINGER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE HOOD. NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY AS IT WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE LOCAL DEALER ALM KIA SOUTH (4310 JONESBORO RD. UNION CITY, GA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AS WELLS THE MANUFACTURER WERE A CASE WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM. GASOLINE), HOWEVER, WHEN HE CONTACT THE DEALER HE WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
NHTSA ODI 11330872
Jun 22, 2020EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE COOLANT AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE EXTINGUISHED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ALSO NOTICED OIL LEAKING IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT CONTACTED GUNTHER KIA (1900 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317 (954) 800-2125) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
NHTSA ODI 11330054
Jun 12, 2020EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AFTER RUNNING AN ERRAND, SHE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT HOOD FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY WHO TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE AFTER CONDUCTING AN EXAMINATION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER THREE WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 20V-100000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA ODI 11328532
Jun 5, 2020EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE OIL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO SPUTTER BEFORE STALLING. A BURNING ODOR WAS ALSO PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HOT AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER CLASSIC KIA (3875 EASTEX WAY, BELMONT TX) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND STARTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE STARTER WAS NOT REPLACED. ALSO, OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
NHTSA ODI 11327449
Apr 20, 2020Body & structureEngineFuel systemFire
IN THE LATE MORNING OF MONDAY, APRIL 6TH 2020, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 KIA OPTIMA SXL HOME FROM THE STORE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN FILLING WITH SMOKE. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND JUMP OUT BEFORE FLAMES BEGAN TO ENGULF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. HE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE COMPANY WAS DISPATCHED. THEIR RESPONSE TIME WAS SHORT, BUT IT TOOK UNDER A MINUTE FOR THE CAR TO GO UP IN FLAMES (SEE PICTURES ATTACHED). THERE WAS ZERO WARNING THAT THIS HORRIFIC EVENT WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO FUNNY NOISES, NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. IN FACT, I HAD JUST BROUGHT THE CAR INTO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE SERVICE LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE ON MARCH 9. THEY GAVE ME NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO CATCH ON FIRE. WE FILED A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO CONFIRMED THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND LISTED A RECENT, BUT AS YET UNANNOUNCED, RECALL ON MY EXACT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT ACCORDING TO A FEBRUARY 27, 2020 ARTICLE IN US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, KIA WOULD SHORTLY BE RECALLING NEARLY 142,000 2013 AND 2014 KIA OPTIMA'S. FURTHERMORE, 'KIA SAYS A FUEL HOSE CAN DETERIORATE AND CRACK DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. THE HOSES CAN LEAK AND CAUSE FIRES. A FIX IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO START APRIL 16.' ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE ARTICLE NO FIRES HAD YET BEEN REPORTED, GIVEN THE SUDDEN NATURE OF OUR CAR FIRE, IT IS OBVIOUS TO US WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
NHTSA ODI 11321709
Feb 3, 2020EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVIUNG APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND FIRE DEPARTMEN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND THEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI 11306789
Jan 25, 2020EngineFire2 injuries
WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL FOR THEATER PRACTICE ON A SUNDAY AND WITHIN LESS THAN 1 MINUTE OF PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVE ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY CAR AND IT WAS TOTALLY SEIZED, IT DIED . WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ONE OF THE BUSIEST ROADS IN NASHVILLE ..AND WE HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. WE WERE TERRIFIED WE WERE GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. WE MADE A TURN AT THE LIGHT.. COASTING AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF ANOTHER BUSY ROAD .. WHERE WE BLOCKED A FAST FOOD DRIVE. THAT'S AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO. I TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS ON OR OFF. PUSH BUTTON IGNITION WAS NOT WORKING .. THEN SMOKED STARTED ROLLING OUT. WE JUMPED OUT AND CALLED 911 AS IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND BEING A SINGLE PARENT CAN'T AFFORD FOR IT TO BURN UP. IT SMELLED LIKE BURNED PLASTIC OR WIRES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME BUT THE FIRE WAS OUT. THEY COULD SMELL WHERE IT HAD BURNED AND THEY HELPED ME PUSH IT INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT TO GET US OUT OF TURNING TRAFFIC. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND ALL THE POWER WORKED BUT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED.. OUT OF NO WHERE. HERE WE WERE STRANDED AND CRYING. SHE WAS CALLING SCHOOL AS TO NOT GET IN TROUBLE AND I WAS CALLING MY PARENTS FOR A RIDE.
NHTSA ODI 11301840
Jan 22, 2020EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. AS THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE, SMOKE AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE HAD ENGULFED THE VEHICLE AND A MAJORITY OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY THE TIME POLICE AND FIRE ARRIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO LINKED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,549.
NHTSA ODI 11301154
Jan 11, 2020Body & structureEngineFire
ON 1/11/2020 MY 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING THE 2013 KIA OPTIMA WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NO PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNING LIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI 11298640