What 1,000 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Optima Phev

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ELECTRICAL INDICATION IN SIDE THE VEHICLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE SHAW KIA (6802 S PADRE ISLAND DR, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78412(361) 204-2731) WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS BURNT DUE TO A WIRE HARNESS CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11374845

ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND I WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME MAYBE A DAY OR TWO THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND I REGAINED STEERING. SINCE THEN IT HAS COME BACK ON AGAIN AND I HAVE HAD NO POWER STEERING SINCE THIS PERIOD I KNOW THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THIS AND BELIEVE THIS IS PART OF IT, HOWEVER I AM TOLD THAT MY PROBLEM IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT I NEED TO PAY TO HAVE THE SAFETY ISSUE FIXED ON MY OWN.

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ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THAT DAY THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND I REGAINED POWER STEERING. LATER THAT SAME DAY THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REAPPEARED AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY CLAIM THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT FALL UNDER ANY RECALL THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11373549

VEHICLE HAD SERVICE LIGHT ON FOR ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S OK TO DRIVE TODAY UNTIL THEY SERVICE IN THE MORNING. THEY HAD A SENSOR SHOW FOR THE HEUC. I DROVE 10 MILES APPROXIMATELY HALF ON FREEWAY AND AT FULL 65MPH THE CAR MADE A VERY LOUD ELECTRICAL NOISE AND LOST FULL DRIVE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY AVOID GETTING HIT AT FULL FREEWAY SPEEDS IN RUSH HOUR AND ABLE TO GET ON SHOULDER AND EXIT RAMP. CAR TURNED BACK ON AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 15MPH AT THE LIGHT AND WAS TOWED TODAY DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INQUIRY.

NHTSA ODI 11365382

8/27/2020 CAR HAD BEEN AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS BEFORE FOR THE SAME ISSUE...CAR SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY AFTER 'CHECK HYBRID CHARGING SYSTEM' LIGHTS FLASHING 'SHUT DOWN ENGINE' LIGHTS FLASHING. KIA HAD DETERMINED CAR JUST NEEDED A 'HYBRID BATTERY UPDATE' FAST FORWARD...I WAS DRIVING TO VISIT MY MOTHER IN IDAHO, DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED: 'CHECK HYBRID CHARGING SYSTEM, SHUT OFF ENGINE.' ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, AND 'POSSIBLE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ISSUE' DIAGNOSTIC FLASHED ON THE RADIO SCREEN. THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER BEFORE LOCKING UP COMPLETELY, WHEEL LOCKING, SHUTTING OFF AND SPINNING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY ANOTHER OTHER CARS WERE CLOSE BY OR ELSE THIS WOULD HAVE EASILY TURNED INTO A FATAL CRASH. 3 HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A $450 TOW INTO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS 2 HOURS AWAY.. AND I FIND OUT IT'S A BLOWN HEV FUSE AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM/BATTERY HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A DEAD CAR. FAILED AT AROUND 79,500 MILES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST KIA OPTIMA HYBRID TO DO THIS!!! RECALL THESE CARS BEFORE THEY KILL SOMEBODY!! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A 5 YEAR OLD CAR SHUTTING DOWN AND LOCKING UP ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING. ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AGAIN. IT HAS THE 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHICH KIA IS SAYING COVERS NO PART OF ANY REPAIRS. ODD SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE HYBRIDS!! RECALL THESE DEATH TRAPS!!!

NHTSA ODI 11352021

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR TOLD ME TO PULL OVER AND CHECK THE ENGINE. I PULL OVER, WAIT A LITTLE WHILE, AND TRY TO START IT AGAIN. IT DOESN'T START. THEY HAVE SOMEONE COME OUT TO JUMP IT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOOD. I START TO DRIVE AWAY AND MERGE BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I LOOSE POWER--- I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE GAS, THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFFENING UP. I AM SOMEHOW ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, BARELY GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, AND THEN USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKES. THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED ME. I JUST HAD IT SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE SO I TOOK IT BACK. IT TURNS OUT THE HYBRID FUSE WENT OUT. I LOOK IT UP ONLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE! I INFORMED ANOTHER KIA DEALER AND THEY WERE ALSO UNAWARE OF THIS. IT'S INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND MY LIFE WAS ENDANGERED.

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THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF. THIS ENDED UP KILLING MY BATTERY. WHEN I GOT THE BATTERY RECHARGED IT ALLOWED THE CAR TO START WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING PUSHED IN. ALSO I NOTICED THAT THE STOPPER HAD BROKEN. THIS ALLOWED THE COMPUTER TO THINK THAT THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED EVEN THOUGH THE PEDDLE WASN'T PUSHED.

NHTSA ODI 11339639

I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 KIA OPTIMA. COMPLETED REGULAR MAINTANENCE ON IT, AND THE ENGINE FAILED (LOCKED UP) AT 138,000 MILES. LATER, I WAS ADVISED THE 2015 KIA OPTIMA AND OTHER KIA'S WERE FOUND TO HAVE FAULTY ENGINES. KIA DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE AT THE TIME, BUT ARE NOW OFFERING ASSISTANCE SINCE I HAVE TRADED THE KIA WITH A LOCKED MOTOR. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND FOR WEEKS AND TODAY A "REGIONAL MANGER" CALLED AND OFFERED ZERO ASSISTANCE AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THE FAULTY MOTOR WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. WHEN THE MOTOR LOCKED UP, I WAS PASSING A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE OPTIMA STALLED WHILE I WAS IN ON-COMING TRAFFIC, AND THEN THE MOTOR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFETLY, AND THE CAR SMELT LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, IT NEVER STARTED AGAIN.

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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN STREET WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT OFF, ELECTRICAL, MOTOR, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP . SHE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD , A MAN PULLED OVER TO HELP HER AFTER 20 MINS THE CAR WAS AS ABLE TO START AGAIN. 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. VERY SCARY .

NHTSA ODI 11320479

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN BELLEVUE NE I TRIED TAKING IT BACK WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK. THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND SENT ME TO EDWARDS KIA IN COUNCIL BLUFFS IA. MY BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE HORRIBLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THEY IN NE SAID THEY WERE COMPLETELY FINE. IT COST $600 TO REPAIR. THE BELLEVUE MANAGER ASKED ME WHAT I EXPECTED HIM TO DO ABOUT IT. THEY LET ME LEAVE THE LOT WITHOUT INSPECTION MY CAR. THEN I HAD A MOTOR RECALL MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. EDWARDS KIA IN COUNCIL BLUFFS CURRENTLY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND TELL ME THAT IT COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 6 WEEKS BEFORE I GET IT RETIRED TO ME

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I WAS HEADED FROM OHIO TO MICHIGAN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE ANYMORE AND I GET THIS BURNING SMELL AND THEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS START FLASHING AND THEN THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY STOPS I POP THE HOOD OPEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT'S LEAKING OIL WHICH IS NOT MY FAULT CAUSE I JUST GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND THEN THE CAR JUST REFUSES TO START NOW I CAN GET THE LIGHTS ON AND STUFF BUT AS FOR THE ENGINE TURNING OVER IT'S JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN AND I'M SURPRISED KIA HASN'T HAD A RECALL ON ANYTHING AT ALL FOR THESE ENGINES CAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEM

NHTSA ODI 11317959

BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA HAVE STOPPED WORKING ON LOW BEAM I HAVE FOG LIGHTS BUT I CAN'T SEE MAYBE 20 FEET IN FRONT OF ME IT'S ALREADY CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE ONE WRECK I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTATE WHEN MY LIGHTS WENT OUT

NHTSA ODI 11291187

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A TWO LANE STREET AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE MOTOR CUT OFF. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. WHEN I GLANCED UP I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11288199

VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT PROVOCATION. VEHICLE WAS IN PERFECT, PRISTINE CONDITION. WAS IN VEHICLE 5 MINUTES ON WAY TO WORK IN AM. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN APPROX 5 MILES PER HOUR ON A BUSY MAIN ROAD. SLOWED DOWN TO STOP AT RED LIGHT AND THE CAR DIED, INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED FLASHING AND ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11286358

2015 KIA OPTIMA TURBO.. I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IN DOING SO, I REALIZED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING AND WHEN I LOOKED DOWN, ALL OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASHBOARD. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER JUST MAKING IT OUT OF THE LANE OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, I PLACED MY CAR IN PARK TURNED EVERYTHING OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I THEN SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. FRIGTHTENED THAT IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AGAIN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I THEN CALLED FOR A WRECKER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP THAT SAME DAY. DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY WERE WAITING TO SEE IF KIA WAS GOING TO APPROVE REPLACING THE ENGINE. WAS TOLD I SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BY TOMORROW. STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. DETAILS TO FOLLOW.

NHTSA ODI 11245360

I HAD JUST REACHED MY DESTINATION. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 - 45 MINUTES WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK UP TO LEAVE. I PUT IT IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN PUT IN THE REVERSE GEAR; THEN I HAD IT TOWED. THEN WHEN ATTEMPTED TO CRANK IT; IT CAUGHT A FIRE AND DESTROYED ALL OF THE MOTOR, AND MOST OF THE CAR BEFORE THE FIRE COULD BE EXTINGUISHED

NHTSA ODI 11219237

CAR WON'T START WHEN YOU PUSH TO START WITH BRAKES

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TAKATA RECALL JUST PULLED INTO MY JOB CAR WAS IN PARKED. CAR WAS STILL RUNNING HAD ABOUT 45MINS TO SPARE BEFORE CLOCKING IN. NOTICE THE CAR BEGIN TO SMOKE AS I'M SITTING PREPARING MY SELF FOR WORK. NO WARNING SIGNS APPEARED TO NOTIFY ME THAT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF TO SEE IF CAR WILL COOL DOWN. SMOKE SEEMED TO GET HEAVIER. I GOT OUT THE CAR AND SEEN THERE WAS FIRE UNDERNEATH. IMMEDIATELY I NOTIFIED EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. GOOD SAMARITANS HELPED PUT OUT THE FIRE. EMERGENCY OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS ELECTRICAL THAT CAUSED IT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ARAPAHOE KIA (9701 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112, (720) 262-9111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A COMPUTER UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

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OIL LIGHT SENSORS AREN'T WORKING

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I WAS DRIVING THE ROAD WHEN OUT OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE STOPS AND SOMETIMES TURNS ON ON ITSELF,ITS SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE LOCKS AND THE CARS STOPS SUDDENLY.IT ALSO HAPPENS AND I TURN ON INTERSECTIONS,WHEN I ACCELERATE TO GAIN SPEED IT TURNS OFF AND I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR ON NEUTRAL AND TURN IT ON. ON ALL OF THESE OCCASIONS MY FAMILY TRAVELING WITH ME.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LOU FUSZ KIA (1025 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST LOUIS, MO, 63132). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE CHANGED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11162210

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS JUST SHUT OFF. THIS IS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, AND WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. STILL HAVE NO LUCK GETTING IT RESTARTED AFTER BEING TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE

NHTSA ODI 11153415

I BOUGHT A 2015 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN OCTOBER 2014. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR MODULES. THE FIRST ONE THAT BROKE (PASSENGER) IN MARCH 2016 AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE WINDOW SHATTERED ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TO REPLACE THE MODULE AND WINDOW IT WAS $700. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT BAD IN JULY 2017. THAT WAS $250 TO REPLACE SINCE THE WINDOW STAYED IN TACT. HERE WE ARE NOVEMBER 2018 AND FOR THE SECOND TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE REGULATOR HAS GONE BAD. THAT'S 3 TIMES I HAVE REPLACED THE SAME PART WITH KIA GENUINE PARTS (PURCHASED FROM KIA) IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI 11151879

ENGINE ( AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ) SHUT DOWN (3 TIMES) COMPLETELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY , WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS( TWICE) AND ONCE WHILE AT TOLLS. ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU TURN KEY OCCASIONALLY , ITS LIKE BATTERY IS DEAD. I BELIEVE THAT FIRST AND SECOND TIMES I WAS FLASHING HI BEAMS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER THESE EVENTS HAPPEN , THE MILEAGE GUAGE RESETS, AND CLOCK IS WRONG. ALSO NOTICE THAT THE RADIO FLICKERS,, AND OR TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. ALSO, NOT ABLE TO RESET TRIP MILEAGE, AND NOTICED THAT SHIFTER BUTTON INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT DEPRESS.

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