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

DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC GRIEVIANCE DEPRESION HOMELESSNESS RACISM CRITICISM HATE CYBERBULLY ATTACK I LIVE IN MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA I HAD [XXX] I HAD TBONE ACCIDENT IAM NOT FAULT FOR I HAVE ALL STATE INSURANCE I NEVER GET HELPED COMPENSATED THEY CLOSED MY CLAIMS I HAD MULTPLE CITATIONS 13 IN EL CAJON 4 IN SAN DIEGO 4 3 HOLLYWOOD 1 RIVERSIDE THAT I WASNT AWARE OF AS I WENT TO DMV TO RENEW MY CAR REGISTRATION I WAS BILLED FOR $1522 PAID $2200 FOR RENEWAL THERES PEOPLE WHO CROSSED MY LIFE WHO DAMAGED MY VEHICLE IT WASNT DRIVEABLE FOR ONE YEAR PARKED AT [XXX] THEN APRIL 2022 THIEVES INTENDED TO STEAL MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS THEY BROKE MY WINDOW ALL MY PERSONAL ITEMS WAS GONE IT WAS TOWED BY AGENCY HAD TO PAY $1000 WITH BUSTED WINDOWS MISSING PERSONAL ITEMS DENT TBONE ACCIDENT I SUFFERED BURDEN PAIN DEPRESSION EMOTIONAL DISTRESS WHILE I WAS BEING MOCKED CRITICIZED UNLAWFULLY I HAD TRAUMA THERE IS NO RELIEF RECOVERY IT DIDNT STOP THERE AFTER I PICKED UP FROM ROAD ONE TOWING AGENCY I HAVE IT TOWED MOVED PARKED IN [XXX] THEN MY ENGINE SEIZED UP WONT START IGNITION THEN BROUGHT KIA KEARNY MESA SERVICE DEALERSHIP JAN 1, 2023 THEN IT GOTTEN WORST MORE REPAIRS REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN I HAVE LIFETIME WARRANTY ON MY ENGINE THEY INSTALLED BAD ENGINE REPLACED DEFECTS ON IT I WAS [XXX] MULTPLE TIMES NO PEACE OF MIND UNTIL PRESENT DEC 09, 2024 ALL THE REPAIR ORDERS WASNT BEING DONE PROPERLY. THEY PUT DAMAGES ON ME I GOT STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES IN HIGHWAY FREEWAY INTERSTATE SIDE STREETS FOR ALL ISSUES ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT HAPPENED TO ME I COULDNT GET RECOVERY JUSTICE THEN [XXX] I HAD TRAFFIC COLLISION ACCIDENT IAM NOTAT FAULT I WAS BEING INTEROGATED BY KEMPER INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS TRYING TO ACCESS MY VEHICLE IMFORMATION DATA WHEN THEIR CLIENT HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND I WAS WITH MOTHER WE BOUGHT HAD WHIPLASHED BACKPAIN WENT STRAIGHT TO E.R UNTIL NOW THEY WONT GIVE ME PEACE OF MIND I SUFFERED THE WORST PAIN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11629788

Engine lost power and when restart was attempted, it could torn turn over. Tried restarting 3 times with no success. After this, smoke started coming from the hood. I opened the hood and noticed a small flame at the driver side bottom of the engine compartment. Flame intensified and grew and eventually I extinguished with a fire extinguisher. I had just replaced the starter that same week and replaced some wiring at a local car repair facility.

NHTSA ODI 11552409

I HAVE 2015 KIA OPTIMA GREY OR PLATINUM GRAPHITE EXTERIOR COLOR SINCE AUG 2019 I HAD AN TBONE ACCIDENT LAST DEC 26 2021 WHICH IAM NOT AT FAULT FOR NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF COMFORT CARE CLAIM IT WAS DURING COVID PANDEMIC I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GRIEVIANCE BEING HATE LEFT IN DESPAIR ALSO JOB LOSS WITH NO INCOME UNSTABLE LIVING SITUATION WHICH I WAS LIVING ON MY PERSONAL VEHICLE BEEN GOING THROUGH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP UNTIL PRESENT I HAVENT BEEN DRIVEN UNTIL I BROUGHT TO KIA DEALERSHIP JAN 1ST OF 2023 DUE TO MY PERSONAL INJURY AND CAR ACCIDENT IT WAS LEFT PARKED GOT TOWED WITH BUSTED WINDOWS HAD MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS BEING GONE MISSING.... I HAVE ROUGH YEARS... IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET BACK UP IN MY FEET MY CAR HAS RECALLS ARENT BEING REPAIRED FAIRLY. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME TO ADHERE MY CONCERNS I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE IF POSSIBLE...I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

NHTSA ODI 11543067

I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON THE 57 FREEWAY AND MY CAR STOP RUNNING AND I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR CATCH ON FIRE. EVERYTHING STARTED IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED KIA AND MADE A COMPLAINT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME.

NHTSA ODI 11541660

I purchased a kia turbo optima from bob's lamphere's beaverton oregon kia dealership 9 days later I felt the acceleration awkwardly bi wanted to return it or exchange but was told no contract was only within 5 days. I took it to kia dealership for diagnostic 3 times I had it for 9 months the last 6 weeks was the 3rd time until Feb 28th It was totaled by a uninsured motorist memes william benton penny lll Or. Driver lic# 1289466 Of 1633 n.e. 76th portland oregon 97213 he was speeding illegally bypassing on a bridge into on coming traffic which was me he ending totally the back end of my kia. No air bags deployed I had no airbag warning light on I suffer injuries whiplash in my neck shoulder and back to this day Wild willy seemed to have injured his leg to the point of amputation ... Portland police report# 21-54465 which is the report that wild willy gave a false identity. Later the officer text giving his real identity. To this day I haven't been compensated for bodily or auto damageby wild willy or Geico my insurance. And lost my kia in a junk yard with a remaining of a bill of 12,000 of 25,500.

NHTSA ODI 11501694

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE OR STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK I COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL BECAUSE I HAD NO BREAKS. THEN I HAD A TOW TRUCK COME AND PULL ME OFF THE FREEWAY TO SEE IF I COULD START MY VEHICLE HOWEVER IT DID NOT START ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASH ON AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND SMELL LIKE FIRE I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE IS FRIED BECAUSE THE OIL PUMP WAS NOT BEING PUMPED INTO THE MOTOR THEREFORE IT LOCKED UP HE SAID I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME REASON I CHECKED THE RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SYSTEM THAT A 2015 KIA OPTIMA IS UP FOR RECALL. I BELIEVE KIA NEEDS TO REFUND THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 88,000 MILES IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED KIA NEEDS TO CALL ME

NHTSA ODI 11342038

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER LANGDALE KIA (1508 N ASHLEY ST, VALDOSTA, GA 31602; (229) 242-0715) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 5-8 MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE DRASTICALLY INCREASED, THEN, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,284. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI 11330795

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

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 3 VEHICLES PASSED WAVING FRANTICALLY BEFORE SPEEDING BY. I NOTICED A REFLECTIVE ORANGE FLICKER ALONG THE BASE EACH VEHICLE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED UP BY A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND BEFORE I LOST ALL ACCELERATING POWER BUT RETAINED RPM REVS AS I PRESSED THE PEDAL. I ALLOWED THE MOMENTUM TO GET ME AS FAR UP THE EXIT RAMP AS POSSIBLE PRIOR TO PULLING OVER ONTO THE GRASS. I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF TO BE MET WITH AN INSTANT ROLL OF SMOKE UP THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, OUT OF THE FRONT GRILL, AND FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AREA. I EXITED THE VEHICLE TO THE SOUND OF LIQUID HITTING A HOT SURFACE AND HISSING. I STEPPED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO BE MET WITH ROLLS OF FIRE DRIPPING TO THE GROUND FROM BENEATH THE ENGINE AND ALONG THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY CLEARED THE AREA AND MY VEHICLE WAS COMPLETE ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN LESS THAN 4 MINUTES. NO SENSORS OR ALARMS NOTIFIED ME OF ANY TYPE OF MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ODI 11281964

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