What 578 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Optima

HEV Warning light comes on and says HEV malfunction, stop car. Within seconds the car shuts off and has no brakes and then stops in road construction, blocking up an entire lane of traffic, as there was no shoulder because of barricades. I panic as I can’t get out without getting ran over. After sitting for 5 minutes, car restarts and drives away ok. Car has done this off and on for 2 years. After the first incident, I took it to Kia of New Bern who charged me $400 to “update software” according to a TSB, even though it was under warranty. After getting the car back, the next day the warning came back on. I called Kia of New Bern and they said they will charge another diagnostics fee I couldn’t afford, so I didn’t go back. There are many others who have had the same issue with their KIA Hybrids. These cars are a danger to their drivers and the unknowing public who share the roads with them. KIA Should be ashamed of the amount of cars experiencing this issue and their lack of solutions to fix it.

NHTSA ODI 11509397

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an unknown recall repair which included a system update and while driving 45 MPH after the recall repair, the vehicle experienced inadvertent braking, without another vehicle nearby. The contact coasted the vehicle until the vehicle regained normal acceleration functionality. The contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance, Traction Control, ABS, and Blind Spot Detection system's warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic linked the failure to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000

NHTSA ODI 11504733

While driving around hand 35 miles per hour, I felt like the vehicles emergency brake came on. I had warning lights for AUTO HOLD, CHECK BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL, E- BRALE, vehicle self diagshows electronic brake system Check ABS/ESC condition. Breaks feel tighter and car doesn't brake as before plus you could feel the stability system not working. This has occurred 6 times in the last 2 weeks

NHTSA ODI 11485371

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that the dealer stated that the vehicle would not receive the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) until parts for 20V100000 was available, and the repair was completed. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel and emitting a fuel odor within the cabin of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The approximate failure mileage was 103,748. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11482053

The contact owns 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11454661

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled while driving. The contact manually pushed their vehicle to the side of the road and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle where more smoke was coming from the engine and fire coming from the passenger side of the engine. The contact ran to a nearby business to get a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. The contact was in process of the vehicle being towed to a local dealer. The contact concerned that NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 ( service brakes, hydraulic) was related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11440967

The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that as he attempted to merge onto a highway at 45 MPH, the brake pedal and steering wheel locked up upon the depression of the brake pedal without warning. Due to the failure, the contact hit an electrical box encased in concrete as the vehicle continued to roll into bushes before it came to a halt. The airbags deployed upon impact. The contact exited the vehicle and removed his son from the back seat. The contact was not treated for injuries at the scene. The contact's son had a few lacerations on his neck that did not need medical attention. A police report was filed. A few days, his insurance towed the vehicle from the scene to an independent junkyard where the vehicle was deemed a total loss. A week later, the contact sought medical treatment for pain in his chest and right arm; the contact was diagnosed with a hairline fracture to his sternum. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that his vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact attempted to reach out to the manufacturer by email but did not receive a response. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

NHTSA ODI 11439468

Traction control light has recently started coming on all the time and stays on. When you turn car off and it cools off then the light is off again. Another issue is when I place foot on brake the passenger side parking light comes on and the passenger brake light has had to be replaced 7 times since i bought car in February 2021

NHTSA ODI 11422079

I LEFT THE DEALER LOT AT CLOSING TIME 2/5/2021 THE TRACTION LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS WARNINGS WERE ON THE ABS LIGHT THE CAR BRAKES SKIDDED UPON APPLYING BRAKES DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THE CAR SHOOK WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ENTIRE MOTOR WAS GOING TO FALL OUT . LATER MY 17 YEAR OLD WHOM HAS DRIVEN FOR 2 YEARS WAS DRIVING A FEW MILES FROM HOME SHE SAID THE STEERING WENT OUT THE BRAKES WENT OUT SHE SKID ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD DID NOT HIT ANYTHING YET THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR CAME APART THE FRAME AND ALL . SHE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY. I TOLD HER TO DRIVE SLOW AND SHE WAS ONLY GOING AROUND THE CORNER I HAD PLANNED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MONDAY BJUT WAS TOTALLED BEFORE I DID. SHE REPORTED GOING 45 MPH ON A ROAD WHEN I HAD THE ISSUES I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 45 ON A REGULAR ROAD DID NOT DRIVE IT ON AN INTERSTATE YET DUE TO THE UNEASY WAYS IT WAS HANDELING AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A WRECK IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING AND 1 AND A HALF HOUR DRIVE EACH WAY TO WORK FOR 40 YEARS . THE CAR ALSO FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN ALSO'

NHTSA ODI 11396011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHICH RESULTED IN HER VEHICLE ROLLING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND LANDED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WAS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND CHEST; AS WELL AS LACERATIONS TO HER RIGHT LOWER ARM AND LOWER ABDOMINAL AREA. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNCERTAIN OF ITS CURRENT WHEREABOUTS. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:17V224000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, SHE HAD NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11378662

HEV LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD STATING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. STOP VEHICLE AND TURN OFF ENGINE". VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN CITY ON TRAFFIC LIGHT AND SUDDENLY GOT THAT AND CAR STOPPED IN 15 SEC AND COULD NOT MOVE ANYMORE. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY CAUSE 15 SEC IS NOT ENOUGH FOR SAFELY STOPPING! WITNESSES HELPED TO PUSH THE CARD TO THE SHOULDER APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEM WAS LOCKED AS WELL CAUSE OF HEV SYSTEM STOPPED SUPPLING THE POWER. KIA CONCORD REPLACED THE SAFETY PLUG ASSY-MALE 125 AMPS TO 150 AMPS (PART # K 37586 4R002). CAR HAD ONLY 82K. AS FAR I SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IF MANUFACTURER IN ALL CASES UPGRADES IT TO HIGHER FUSE, THEN THIS IS A REASON FOR RECALL. NOW I WARRY ABOUT NEXT ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE THAT FUSE.

NHTSA ODI 11353894

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH AND AN ALERT POPS UP. IT SAID "POSSIBLE BMS CONDITION." I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE, BUT ALSO NOTICED MY CAR SPEED REDUCING. I SAFELY GOT INTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND THEN THE CAR STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP. ANOTHER ALERT TO CHECK BRAKES WENT ON. I PUSHED THE BRAKES OVER AND OVER TO GET THE ALERT OFF. IT THEN OVER A TIME SPAN OF 3-5 MIN STARTED TO SLOWLY RUN LOW ON ELECTRICITY BECAUSE THE HAZARDS LIGHTS WERE BLINKING SLOWER. I GOT IT TOWED AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. BEEN LOOKING IT UP AND MOST LIKELY IT'S THE FUSE IN THE BACK TRUNK UNDER THE COVER UNDERNEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11321454

WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN ITS WARM OUTSIDE. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL GO OFF AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE TRACTION LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR AWHILE. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF AFTER A FEW MILES, OTHERS IT TAKES A DAY TO GO OFF. ONLY DIFFERENCE I CAN SEE WHILE DRIVING IS THAT BEFORE IT COMES ON THE BRAKES WILL GRAB HARDER THAN USUAL. THE LIGHTS ONLY COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A STOP. NEVER WHEN IN PARK. THIS STARTED A FEW DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'VE HAD THE CAR AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11317165

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW LOT AND THEN TOWED TO KIA ATLANTA SOUTH (7310 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260, (770) 968-3400); HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 11277353

BRAKE REAR LIGHTS WENT OUT, CHANGED BRAKE SWITCH AND FUSE AND LIGHTS STILL NOT WORKING. ONLY HAVE 49800 MILES ON THE CAR. WAS ON HIGHWAY AND A MAN STOOED ME AND LET ME KNOW THEY ARE NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11203154

I WAS TRYING TO BACK IN BETWEEN2 VEHICLES IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. AND WHILE DOING SO, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNCHED BACKWARDS WITH A JERKING MOTION, LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO DO 2 DIFFERENT THINGS ATONE TIME, AT FULL RATE OF SPEED AND DOING SO, IT BACKED INTO THE VEHICLE TO MY LEFT, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SIGHT, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS HAPPENING ON THE NEWS. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF AND I WENT ONLINE TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. I WAS NOT HURT AND IF MY COUSIN WASN'T IN THE CAR, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD'VE BELIEVED ME. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I'M REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10758899