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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED UP, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AND ONLY SMOKE REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND STATED THAT THE EXHAUST HAD BURST AND OIL LEAKED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2018, THE ENGINE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AND TURNED OFF. NO ONE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, MELTED THE TIRES AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WITH SMOKE. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE IT SPREAD TO THE GAS TANK.

NHTSA ODI 11151352

2015 OPTIMA SXL WITH 130K MILES REGULARLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL HIGHWAY MILES. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A MILD KLANKING SOUND. SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A LOUD BANG OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD AND ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. PULLED OFF THE ON THE SHOULDER AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE AND A FEW OTHER LIGHTS WERE ON. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CONTINUED TO BURN. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NO PRIOR SOUNDS OR NOISES SUGGESTING A PROBLEM. ALL KIA UPDATES OR MAINTENANCE NOTICES WERE HANDLED BY A KIA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH ALL OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE DONE BY A SHOP. HAVE HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THIS IS NOT ONLY A SURPRISE BUT A CONCERN AS THIS IS MY SECOND KIA (PRIOR ONE IS STILL OWNED).

NHTSA ODI 11124659

KIA OPTIMA 2015 WITH 20K MILES CAUGHT FIRE. ENGINE STOPPED WHILE AT RED LIGHT, IN DRIVE. STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. CALLED 911. VEHICLE BEHIND ME CALLED REPORTING SEEING FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. KIA REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11113309

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THICK, BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HUDSON KIA (36 WATER ST, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,386. *TT CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER ON 5/11/18, SERVICE REPORT STATES ENGINE DEFECT AND EVAP CANISTER RECALL WHICH DOES NOT SHOW UP ANYWHERE. UPDATED 9/21/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11096681