What 578 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Optima

The contact works as an investigator for the Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division. The contact was investigating a 2014 Kia Optima with a salvaged title and reported that the air bags failed to deploy in a front-end collision. The contact stated that the air bags may have been removed or the air bag sensors were disconnected. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at 30-35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. No warning light was illuminated. The driver's face struck the steering wheel upon impact. The driver received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where the insurance company investigated the crash, but had not yet deemed the vehicle totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11706493

Hit dig mark in road caused by a plow about a half inch to a 1 inch deep by 5 to 7 inches wide while driving 15 mph down the road into work on November 19,2024 around 1:03/1:10 pm next thing I know I am upside down in my car in a ditch about four to five feet wide by 3-4 feet deep

NHTSA ODI 11631095

My car overturned/flipped over after i hit a very small bump in the road located on [XXX] in Utica Ny doing about 15 mph in a trailer park where I worked I have printed out all of my recalls on my 2014 Kia Optima GDI there was some brake fluid on the ground around the area where my car landed in a ditch however the Sheriff that came to the scene of the accident and the female state troopers failed to even check or smell the fluid after I informed both the officers and the Deerfield Fire Department the only ones willing to give me any advice on how to handle this matter even though I could had lost my life then to show up to court for the tickets I got for literally driving 15 mph in a trailer park and my car flips over into a ditch and not be able to make a statement in court due to the paperwork not being in to the courthouses computer system in [XXX] at 6:00 to show the judge all my recalls as well as plead not guilty to them I find unprofessional and as for the damage sustained to my vehicle I need to find an independent property adjuster to do a investigation however it is set to go to the Kia Dealership located at 5056 commercial Dr., Yorkville, NY, for the recalls on December 30, 2024 however due to the damage done in the roller I am unsure on what to do please help I paid for this car in full as a private sell and it had no issues with it at all no lights on the dashboard or anything was driving good at time of accident on [XXX] at [XXX] until I literally hit that bump in the road of the trailer park should anyone from your agency need to contact me to view the damage and pictures please contact me at [XXX] for I could not upload all documents and photos thank you very much [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11627394

The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while parked and unoccupied, the vehicle caught fire. Smoke and flames were coming from the engine of the vehicle. No injuries were sustained. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) however the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure opened a case and the vehicle was inspected; however, the inspector could not determine the origin of the fire due to the fire damage. The failure mileage was 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 11626176

The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the vehicle had begun to burn. The fire department was called and the vehicle fire was controlled using water to extinguish the flames. The contact stated that the fire department filed a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot and had not been examined by a dealer or insurance adjuster. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was aware of one recall associated with the VIN, NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), however there were a total of three recalls - NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine), and NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that she was not aware of the other two recalls. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11578729

The car caught fire last night and burned up while parked.

NHTSA ODI 11514559

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

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

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

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