May 25, 2018EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN HIGH SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED FIRE AND SPARKS UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
NHTSA ODI 11097934
Feb 21, 2018EngineFire
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND WITH SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. PULLED OVER AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND NOT LONG AFTER ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. FOUND OUT AFTER THE FACT THAT CAR HAD RECALL ON IT. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DID NOTHING TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
NHTSA ODI 11074148
Feb 6, 2017Fuel systemCrashFire2 injuries1 death
CAR HIT A GUARD RAIL AND EXPLODED IN FIRE. DRIVER DIED FROM BURNS. ON INTERSTATE 8 AT MP-107, MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ. CUT OFF BY A NON-IMPACT VEHICLE. DRIVER STEERED TO AVOID CONTACT AND HIT GUARD RAIL. DRIVER SURVIVED IMPACT BUT LATER DIED OF BURNS. ABOUT 75 MPH. PASSENGER SURVIVED BUT RECEIVED SERIOUS BURNS.
NHTSA ODI 10949906
Jun 8, 2016Electrical systemEngineFire
MAY 9TH 2016, DRIVING TO WORK ON I-44 HEADING TO WORK, MY VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING SHUTS OFF AND DIES, I START TO SEE WHITE SMOKE COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I SAFELY PULL THE CAR OVER TO SHOULDER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL ROLLING. EXIT THE VEHICLE AND OPEN THE HOOD, AND THE ENGINE CATCHES FIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY CERTIFIED MECHANICS ALL WITH THE SAME ANSWER THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I HAVE SINCE COMPLETED THE TOTAL LOSS PROCESS WITH MY INSURANCE. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO WERE ABSOLUTELY ZERO HELP. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AS IT ONLY HAD JUST OVER 36000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI 10873251
Jun 8, 2016EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE OIL NEEDED TO BE REPLENISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,550.
NHTSA ODI 10873241
Mar 28, 2016AirbagsCrash
I WAS T BONED BY A LADY IN A DODGE MINI VAN WHO RAN A STOP SIGN APPROX 30 MPH THERE WAS DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT OF MY CAR TO THE REAR WITH THE PASSANGER DOOR BEING RIPPED OFF DURING THE IMPACT. THE SIDE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
NHTSA ODI 10851883
Feb 17, 2016EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE REPAIR DUE TO EXCESSIVE SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA ODI 10836751
Aug 24, 2015Speed controlBrakesCrash
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
Feb 17, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel systemCrash1 injury
I WAS IN A PARKING STRUCTURE, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I CONTINUED A FEW FEET TO MY DESIGNATED PARKING STALL AND WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL THE CAR ACCELERATED AT WHAT FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE FULL THROTTLE ON IT'S OWN. THE SURGE OF THE VEHICLE FORCED THE CAR TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND BODILY INJURY TO MYSELF. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD. THIS CAR HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. NOW I AM TERRIFIED TO EVER DRIVE IT AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10683947
Jul 30, 2014AirbagsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A FIRE TRUCK. THE FRONTAL, SIDE, AND REAR AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES AND CAME TO REST ON A CURB FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED THAT THE CONTACT SEND THEM PHOTOS AND THE POLICE REPORT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ UPDATED 12/3/2014 *JS..UPDATED 03/01/17 *BF UPDATED 10/30/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI 10617634