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

On October 10th 2024, my 2015 Kia Optima caught fire while I was driving. The fire originated from the engine compartment, completely engulfing the vehicle in flames within minutes. Component/System Failure: The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but Kia had previously issued a recall for this model due to an engine defect that posed a fire risk. The vehicle is no longer available for inspection as it was completely destroyed in the fire. However, I have multiple videos documenting the incident, including footage of the fire and the aftermath. Safety Risk: My safety and the safety of others were severely compromised. The fire started suddenly while I was driving, forcing me to evacuate the vehicle immediately. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, I could have suffered serious injuries or worse. Additionally, the fire posed a danger to other drivers and pedestrians nearby. Reproduction/Confirmation: The issue has not been reproduced, but it aligns with the recall Kia issued for this model. Prior to the fire, I attempted to schedule an appointment with Kia to address the recall, but I never received confirmation, and no inspection was performed. Inspections: After the incident, I contacted Kia, and they sent an investigator to inspect the remains of the vehicle. No police or insurance representatives conducted an independent inspection. Warning Signs: There were no warning lights, messages, or obvious signs of a problem immediately before the fire. However, I had previously noticed a recall related to fire risk for my specific model and attempted to schedule an appointment with Kia, but they never responded. Given Kia’s history of engine fire recalls, I strongly believe this incident is related to the known defects in this vehicle model.

NHTSA ODI 11644544

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

WAS AT LIGHT THEN PROCEEDED ONCE LIGHT TURNED GREEN TRAVELING ON LEFT LANE ON A 2 LANE CITY ROAD. USED TURNING SIGNAL TO MOVE TO RIGHT LANE WHEN ANOTHER CAR THAT HAD TURNED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON TO THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON. I DID NOT SEE THE CAR AFTER TURNING TO LOOK DUE TO THE BLIND SPOT IN REAR OF MY CAR. AT THE TIME I HIT THE OTHER CARS FRONT LEFT FENDER/TIRE AREA CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. I WAS TICKETED FOR IMPROPER LANE CHANGE EVEN THOUGH I TURNED MY SIGNAL ON & LOOKED. I NOW HAVE TO GO TO TRAFFIC SCHOOL TO KEEP POINTS OFF MY LICENSE & PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OTHER CLOSE CALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES DUE TO THE BLIND SPOT AREA IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11056174