Home · 2015 Kia Optima · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,000)Crash / fire / injury (103)Engine (617)Electrical system (134)Brakes (89)Body & structure (76)Steering (68)Fuel system (54)Transmission & drivetrain (49)Speed control (35)Engine & cooling (29)Airbags (26)

55 of 1,000 complaints match · Engine · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Sep 15, 2021BrakesEngineFire

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 15-20 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and she saw smoke coming out from underneath of the hood of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she was able to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, then it was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine had ceased. The dealer informed the contact that she would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The vehicle was towed to a second dealer (Kia of Riverdale 1 Windbeam Rd, Riverdale, NJ 07457). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not provide any assistance due to the fact that the previous owner of the vehicle had not completed the software update of the vehicle. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 11433105

Sep 3, 2021EngineFire

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately at 40 mph when the vehicle lost motor functionality. The contact was able to pull over and smelled a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that they spoke to a local dealer and was advised to not bring the vehicle in for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 96,127.

NHTSA ODI 11431663

May 10, 2021EngineCrash

EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA FROM THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WOODSTOCK GA I HAVE NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL LIKE BURNING OIL IN THE ENGINE I COULD SMELL IT INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AS WELL .ALSO THE ENGINE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE RUNNING HOT AND CERTAIN DAYS IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRYS TO MAKE THE CAR START .ALSO MY LIGHTS WOULD CONSTANTLY FLICKER INSIDE THE VECHILE .I HAVE PAYED OFF MY KIA AND SOLD IT NOW BUT I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING I WOULD BE BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOMEKIND OF COMPENSATION EVEN AFTER IT WAS SOLD I'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS I LOST THE FIRST LETTER I WAS SENT SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW ALL MY OPTIONS HERE THANK U AND GOD BLESS MY MY CAR WAS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA I BEGAN FINANCING THE VECHILE THROUGH ALLY ON 12/04/2018 IT WAS PAID OFF 10/31/2019 ALSO I KEPT HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND THE WHOLE TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE COMEING FROM MY ENGINE AS WELL AS A BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11415918

Apr 10, 2021EngineFire

I HAD JUST LEFT THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON I-30 EASTBOUND IN BENTON, AR. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN ACTING JERKY AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I STARTED TO CROSS OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE WHEN I NOTICED SMOKING COMING OUT THE BACK. I GOT ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER, PARKED IN FRONT OF EXIT 118, AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN MY VEHICLE CALLING A RIDE WHEN I NOTICED A GENTLEMAN RUNNING TOWARDS ME YELLING, "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE!" I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE, WENT AROUND TO THE PASSENGER DOOR TO RETRIEVE MY PURSE AND LAPTOP BAG FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND MOVED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. BY THE TIME, I HAD RETRIEVED MY ITEMS OUT OF THE FRONT SEAT, THERE WAS SMOKING COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. BY THE TIME, I HAD BEGUN WALKING TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, YOU COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. I WAS CALLING 911 AS I WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE FIRE IS UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE BY K & A TIRES IN MALVERN, AR. THE CAMSHAFT WAS REPLACED, AN OIL CHANGE WAS COMPLETED, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE INVOICE WAS IN THE GLOVE DEPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER WAS GIVEN INFORMATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS/IS UNDER AN NHTSA RECALL# 20V519.

NHTSA ODI 11407392

Mar 15, 2021Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

ON 3-14-2021 ABOUT 225PM I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE I10 FREEWAY IN ONTARIO CALIFORNIA, WHILE MERGING ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP AND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO SHUT OFF AND MY SPEED WAS GOING DOWN . I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY, ONCE I WAS STOPPED I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR THAN WAS ENGULFED WITH SMOKE AND FLAMES I JUMPED OUT THE CAR AND THE CAR LIT UP IN FLAMES. I CALLED ONTARIO POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11402962

Feb 12, 2021Electrical systemLightsEngineFire

ENGINE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND OFF. BUT DOESN'T GIVE A CODE WHEN I TAKE IT TO GET SERVICED. TOOK IT UP TO KIA TO TELL THEM THAT ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THAT MY WALL CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE TRUNK FROM THE SOCKET THAT HOLDS THE BULBS.BACK LIGHTS GO OUT CONSTANTLY AFTER THE BULBS ARE CHANGED OR THE SOCKET HAS BEEN CHANGED.

NHTSA ODI 11395981

Dec 14, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngineFire

DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON THE 405 AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOWED SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT AND 2 OTHERS, THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND ONLY HAD BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO SHUFFLE OFF THE MAIN FREEWAY TO AN OFF RAMP WHERE I PULLED OVER TO ATTEMPT TO POWER THE CAR BACK ON. THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED TO BECOME APPARENT AND I WENT OUT TO LIFT THE HOOD AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT THE OPENING. I RUSHED TO GET MY KIDS OUT THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE BATTERY CABLE OFF TO TRY TO SALVAGE IT FROM CATCHING FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO WIGGLE THE BATTERY CABLE OFF BUT SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY DROPPED OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP CAR PROS KIA IN GLENDALE AND IM BEING INFORMED THE STARTER WAS THE ISSUE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. IM UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS SINCE THE EVENT OF THE VEHICLE LOSING ALL POWER OCCURRED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING .

NHTSA ODI 11383416

Dec 7, 2020EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN ODOR APPEARED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, GET OUT THE VEHICLE, LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, AND WITHIN SECONDS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WENT UP IN FLAMES. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A COLLISION LOT. NO MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11378220

Nov 27, 2020EngineFire

IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, I TOOK MY KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A STALL OUT AND TURNED OUT MY VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE A WEEK LATER AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. WELL A MONTH LATER, ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND I'M HEARD A POP UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE. A MIN LATER MY CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES. NONE OF MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE CAR HAD A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WARNING LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR IS TOTALED AND UNDRIVABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11376741

Nov 5, 2020SuspensionBrakesEngineCrash2 injuries

TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE APPROACHING ME IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, BRAKES LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED SUSPENSION ISSUES OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THIS, THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND GLOBAL LENDING SERVICES IS CONSISTENTLY REPORTING IT AS A REPOSSESSION. BOTH VEHICLES WERE IN MOTION AND IT WAS ON A LA HWY.

NHTSA ODI 11373237

Jul 29, 2020Body & structureEngineFuel systemCrashFire

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

Jun 25, 2020EngineFuel systemFire

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

Jun 22, 2020EngineFire

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WAS TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH ON DRY STREET IN THE FAR LEFT LANE (FAST LANE), MY CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND LIKE METAL CLICKING AND THEN CAR STARTED SMOKING. MY HUSBAND GETS OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND THE SMOKE GOES FROM GRAY TO BLACK AND WHEN HE LIFTED THE HOOD UP FLAMES COMING FROM REAR AND PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE! LUCKILY SOMEONE PULLED OVER AND HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE AND POLICE BOTH ARRIVED ON SCENE AND REPORTS MADE. VEHICLE TOWED HOME; WAITING TO TOW TO DEALER TO FIND OUT CAUSE OF FIRE. REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON THE VEHICLE AND NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS JUST FIRE. KIA KNOWS THERE IS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND CHOOSE TO ONLY RECALL CERTAIN YEARS WHEN THEY BASICALLY KNOW ANY VEHICLE BETWEEN 2011 AND 2018 CAN BE AFFECTED. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE BUT VERY UPSET THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND KIA STATES SINCE IT'S OVER 100,000 MILES THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330210

Jun 3, 2020Body & structureEngineFire

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE! HAD PICKED THE KIA OPTIMA UP THE DAY BEFORE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY HAD INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE, BELTS, AND HOSES. HAD DRIVEN 40 MINUTES FOR A DOCTOR APPT. GOT OFF THE FREEWAY. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE LIGHT (ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM FREEWAY), NOTICED GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. WITH A BROKEN LEFT ARM, HAD TO GET OUT AND ACROSS TRAFFIC. SAW THE FLAMES AS I WAS CROSSING THE STREET. IN UNDER A MINUTE, THE FRONT OF CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327109

Jan 23, 2020EngineFire

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR , WHEN HE HAD TO PULL OVER AND REALIZE THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THIS CAT WAS JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED 3WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED THROUGH PAULDING CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. A DOWN PAYMENT WAS MADE TOWARDS THE PURCHASE

NHTSA ODI 11301309

Dec 10, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire

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

Dec 2, 2019Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

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

Nov 23, 2019Body & structureEngineFuel systemFire1 injury

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

Jul 26, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY IN THE THIRD LANE (FAR LEFT), THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND A FIRE STARTED IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN COASTING TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HE NEARLY CRASHED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING A GALLON OF WATER THAT WAS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT PRESENT. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER FID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE BY AAA. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED THEN TO A REPAIR CENTER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BEARING SHOT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND AS A RESULT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET AND THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DRIVING A RENTAL VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 11235068

Jun 11, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire

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

May 29, 2019LightsBody & structureEngineCrash1 injury

I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON A 4 LANE ROAD AT 45 MPH. AS I WAS PASSING THRU A GREEN LIGHT, A WESTBOUND VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING ME TO "T-BONE" HIS VEHICLE. ALL OF HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.....NONE OF MINE DID. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, SURPRISINGLY; YET I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. I SUSTAINED CERVICAL AND LUMBAR SPINE INJURIES, AS WELL AS A SEVERE WHIPLASH AND CONCUSSION. I AM UNABLE TO WORK, DUE TO SURGERY THAT WAS NECESSARY. I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS SAFE?? I WAS ALSO IN A SIDE COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT; TWO YEARS AGO,WHERE SOMEONE HIT ME, AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AT THAT PARTICULAR ACCIDENT,I WAS STATIONARY; AT A STOP LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11210649

Jan 25, 2019EngineFire

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BRAKES DID NOT WORK CAR SHUT OFF HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR IN NEVER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ODI 11172019

Jan 22, 2019EngineFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 70. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE FIRE. YOU CAN SEE THE BURNED SQUARE SHAPE ON THE HOOD WHICH SHOWS THE DESTRUCTION UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 11171301

Jan 21, 2019EngineFire

ON JANUARY 15, 2019 MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FIRST THEN TIRED TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK SO SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD POPPED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11171144

Jan 8, 2019EngineFire

TAKATA RECALL MY SON AND I WAS RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM! AND THE CAR STARTED SMOKING WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WE CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD ONLY TO SEE FIRE! WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RUNNING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SCARED FOR OUR LIFE'S. SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE OR RIDE INSIDE OF ANY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11165944

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Kia Optima verdict →