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

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at the red traffic light, another vehicle, driving off a highway ramp at an undisclosed speed, crashed into the rear-end of the vehicle. An unknown red warning light was flashing. The air bags did not deploy. The seat belts failed to restrain the contact as needed, causing the contact to hit her forehead against the steering wheel, which propelled the contact's head back to the headrest, and then the contact hit her forehead against the steering wheel for a second time. The contact was able to exit the vehicle but felt dizzy and off balance. A police officer filed a report and informed the contact that the vehicle was safe to drive. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the nearby hospital, where the contact received medical assistance. The vehicle was later driven to the residence, where it remained parked. The contact sustained a concussion, bruises on the forehead, neck, and lower back back pain, a worsening of the contact's generative bone disease condition. The contact might undergo a back surgery. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic two months later. Both the mechanic and the insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle operated as designed during the incident. The contact was referred to the owner's manual. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11699361

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The defects involve multiple electronic control systems, including steering, braking, and airbag modules, which continue to generate active and stored Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) even after the May 2, 2023 recall repair. The vehicle remains in our possession and is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Because the vehicle fails to illuminate dashboard warnings, we were unaware of critical malfunctions occurring in real time while driving. This creates the risk of sudden failure in steering, braking, or airbag deployment, directly endangering both occupants and the public. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Independent diagnostic scans repeatedly confirmed active and stored DTCs following the recall repair. These findings show the defects are reproducible and ongoing. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle was inspected by Kia’s authorized dealer, Spradley Motors in Pueblo, CO, for the recall repair. Since then, diagnostic evaluations have been performed by independent service providers. Documentation of these inspections is attached. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No dashboard warning lamps illuminated, even though faults were recorded internally by the vehicle’s control modules. The absence of warnings despite active codes is itself the central safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11689769

Driving on [XXX] to Eureka, Ca. Just outside of Laytonville, CA. the vehicle in front of me swerved into oncoming traffic lane (no vehicle in his way) to go around rock, then rock was there, I swerved to the right, but hit the rock, went up on embankment, flipped over and slid to a stop. There is an upcoming California Highway Patrol report from Mendocino County, with support witness (PG&E employee) statement given to California Highway Patrol. No airbags deployed throughout the car. Pictures attached of inside and outside vehicle. No deployment of airbags was written into the report from auto wreak retriever. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11686340

I was driving on the Northbound side of the Interstate when my brakes failed when I pressed them to avoid a collision on the highway. The steering wheel malfunctioned when I tried to avoid a head-on collision with another vehicle. I couldn't control or stop the car, causing me to swerve left to right, and I then completely lost control of the vehicle. I crashed into the middle of the highway, but because my brakes had failed, the car continued at full speed into the Southbound side of the highway, causing me to wreck into a semi. The Colorado State Patrol investigated the accident. Right before I wrecked into the semi-trailer, I noticed all of the lights on the dashboard were off. My Steering wheel had fallen off completely, but the airbag never deployed even though every other airbag had deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11661667

I OWNED MY 2015 OPTIMA SLX SINCE THEY HAVE IT REPLACED MY ENGINE IN KEARNY MESA DEALERSHIP I PAID OUT OF POCKET FROM REPAIRS LABORS THERE IS A DEFECTS ON DOOR PANELS AIRBAGS ELECTRICL WIRING HARNESS NEVER RECEIVED ANY CLAIM COMPENSATION SETTLEMENT FROM THOSE CLAIM ACCIDENTS THAT IAM NOT AT FAULT FOR IT IS UNLAWFUL UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNFAIR I DESERVE A RESTORATION OF MY PERSONAL VEHICLE I OWNED IT I LIVED IN IT.

NHTSA ODI 11567675

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 58 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear center passenger side of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle rolled. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injury to the lower back, head, and neck that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11550856

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

My daughter was in a collision, going about 40 MPH, and the airbags did not deploy, she is very lucky that the windshield did not bust otherwise she would have been hurt.

NHTSA ODI 11418494

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND SHE HAD RUN A RED LIGHT, SHE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PARTIALLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED 2 BROKEN RIGHT RIBS, LEFT COLLAR BONE WAS SPRAINED, THE RIGHT KNEE AND RIGHT FOOT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF ANYONE WAS INJURED IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE INSURANCE DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER MIKE MILLER AUTO PARK (2007 W PIONEER PKWY, PEORIA, IL 61615: (309) 693-1222) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11402555

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND 1/3 CAR HIT THE SECOND CAR IN THE SECOND CAR HIT ME STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY I HAVE A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FROM IT THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED FROM THE ACCIDENT AND NOW IS AT KIA OF CANTON BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH A RIDE WHICH IS A RECALL BUT FROM THE ACCIDENT I AM NOW UNABLE TO WORK OR DO ANYTHING

NHTSA ODI 11271640

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN 2 FRONT END COLLISIONS BOTH AT DIFFERENT RATES OF SPEED. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. IT WAS FIXED BOTH TIMES BY PROFESSIONAL SHOPS AND INSPECTED BY A KIA CARLOTTA WHERE THEY CLEARED CODES ON FAULTY AIR BAGS AND TOLD ME IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. I WANT THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO FURTHER. I HAVE CHILDREN AND NEED MY AIR BAGS TO WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11183175

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN FATAL ACCIDENT VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A STANDING TREE THEN OVERTURN ONTO IT ROOF THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DRIVER AND PASSENGER NEVER DEPLOYED VERY CONCERNING

NHTSA ODI 10874683