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

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while accelerating at 55 MPH, there was an abnormal burning smell detected. While driving, she was alerted by another driver who informed her that the vehicle was on fire. The passengers were able to exit the vehicle safely. The vehicle was engulfed in flames. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was previously taken to an independent mechanic, who said the engine was bad. The engine was previously replaced at 147,000 miles. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11740785

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph and slowing down to enter a parking garage, she observed black smoke emanating from under the hood, and the vehicle stalled. The contact then observed flames near the windshield wipers coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and called 911. She observed flames coming from under the hood and under the vehicle, and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the garage manager attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. The police and fire department arrived shortly after the attempt, and the fire department extinguished the fire. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not taken, and she was not aware of any fire department report being filed. The vehicle was bulldozed out of the parking garage and towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 75,309.

NHTSA ODI 11738851

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, during a DoorDash delivery, the vehicle vibrated. The contact pulled to the side of the road and noticed smoke emitting underneath the vehicle from the right side. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed smoke emitting from underneath the hood. The state troopers were called. By the time the fire department arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames, and the engine had exploded. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact was not injured. No police report was filed. The state troopers believed that the fire was caused by an electrical short. The contact stated that prior to the fire, the vehicle vibrated when idled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. The insurance company was not notified about the fire. The contact was unaware that NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) was associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the fire. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.

NHTSA ODI 11725022

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the contact could smell a burning smell within the vehicle, and then he noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and exited the vehicle, opened the hood, and noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine. The contact exited the vehicle and stood on the side of the road, and called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. The contact mentioned the police showed up on the scene; however, he could not remember if he received a police report. A fire department report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to Pro-Cars. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned he contacted his insurance company, and they informed him that the vehicle was a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they transferred him to the escalation department and informed him that an inspector would inspect the vehicle, and he had to wait seven to ten business days for a resolution. The failure mileage was 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11705972

I was driving on the freeway when I noticed smoke coming out of my hood. I immediately exited the freeway, pulled over, popped the hood open, and my engine was on fire. There were no warning lamps on my dash. I don’t know which components were involved and inspection of the components after was not possible, because everything under the hood burned by the time firefighters responded.

NHTSA ODI 11664430

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

My wife driving the 2015 Kia Forte on [XXX] on [XXX] Mile Marker [XXX] North bound at 60mph and vehicle lost all power and caught on fire. The vehicle coasted to the side of the road. Police and fire were called and extinguished the flames. There were no accidents or no injuries. I attempted to get KIA to resolve the case as the Theta Engine is known for this issue. Kia refused all claims under Kia Customer Care Case number [XXX]. Kia of Dayton Car dealership reported an engine connecting rod broke and ejected out the side of the engine allowing engine oil to hit the exhaust manifold starting the fire. This is know Safety Issues with this Engine Series that Kia refuses to honor past Law Suit Settlement. I have the Police report, Fire Dept. Report, and Estimate for repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11643110

I was driving to a new job , it was about 5:45am when I noticed my car wouldn’t go faster or stop. I seen fire , tried to stop car, I was going about 15-20 mph when i decided to just get out of the car and run , care went into complete flames

NHTSA ODI 11642661

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 fire

NHTSA ODI 11618263

While driving on Hwy 19 the vehicle shut down. The motor turned off and I was able to slowly roll to the side of the road. The car did not start again.

NHTSA ODI 11555425

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

My car started smoking while parked at work for no reason and I had to call the fire department. It stop smoking by the time the fire department came. I had it towed to the Dealer. My brakes are a mess but especially on a wet road you have to pump them to try to stop. I have taken it to the Dealer and of course they find nothing wrong. I told them to test drive it on a wet raining day and try to stop hard. Supposedly they could not but I have almost been it several accidents and had to run through a red light because I could not stop. So, I try to drive this car on a rainy day or drive slowly. This car has been trouble since I got it and the dealer will not listen.

NHTSA ODI 11550399

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

The vehicle caught fire

NHTSA ODI 11518984

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number:  21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) on Facebook. The contact called the local dealer and made an appointment for March 25, 2023. The contact stated on March 23, 2023, while driving 50 mph, depressing the accelerator pedal but the vehicle began to decelerate. The contact stated the battery warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and when exiting the vehicle she saw smoke but no fire/flames exiting the hood. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11513556

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

May 28,2022 car stalled no warning, car towed to service center found out engine trouble, claim denied by warranty because it was related to a Kia recall,Knock Sensor Detection System, car was towed to Kia Dealership on June 7,2022, where it was confirmed that engine seized do to the recall, had engine replaced and car returned July 9,2022, on July 10,2922 returned car to dealership for engine knocking noise, car repaired tensioner pulley and alternator m, picked car up July15,2022. On August 7,2022 car stalled while driving and smoke coming out of hood, engine was on fire and engulfed entire vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11489706

My car started smoking while I was driving! From under hood and into vents in car bad! Got pulled over and some yelled my car was on fire, get out! There were no lights on for car! I had ran one of those diagnostic checks that morning ( have it set for once a month) Nothing came back on it at all, car seemed to be great! Left house and 15 mins later car caught fire in the engine! I could of died and my dog! Fire looks to have burned through the fire wall!

NHTSA ODI 11488540

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, smoke was coming inside the vehicle. The contact had to stop the vehicle and turn off the vehicle, when the contact restarted the vehicle, he saw flames coming from the windshield wipers. While opening the hood of the vehicle to see where the flames were coming from, the contact burned his hands. Medical attention was not required. The vehicle burst into flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to a repair facility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11485326

On January 12, 2022 I was informed by Danbury KIA (Danbury, CT) that my 2015 KIA Optima required a recall engine replacement. I left the vehicle with the dealer and the repair was completed on Jan 31, 2022. I picked up the car on February 1, 2022 and on February 3, 2022 the car was destroyed by an engine fire. My insurance company deemed the car a total loss and compensated me for the market value of the car. At the time the car was completely paid off and I was still in excellent condition. I had no reason to trade for a newer model - especially with the new engine. After the insurance payoff I still needed to finance $25000 for the purchase of a comparable replacement vehicle. To date neither the dealer nor the KIA corporation have contacted me or made any attempt to address my loss.

NHTSA ODI 11481424

I was in a accident in December where I went to brake at a light and hydra planed forward. Into the car I front of me. Which my driving record I can’t understand how the is happened is this a reflection of the recall and Kia’s parts took since just a few weeks ago to come in to the collision center from being back ordered since mid December I have been in a out of pocket rental practically begging to get my 4000$ I paid to enterprise since So because of this lengthy time my inspection was up in march but I can’t get it inspected because the check engine light came in the very first day I brought it home. Went to turn on my ac being a warm day and no cool air I called the collision center they then decide to tell me they are waiting on three parts still the ac compressor a part for the bumper and the turbo sensor. Meanwhile since it is a insurance claim I cannot have them check the recall part. So I made a appointment with Fred beans Kia in langhorne pa for the recall and a oil change they had the car all day to tell me that I need the part and it will be ordered that was April 23. Meanwhile Iam still driving with expired inspection. I then noticed my car started to shake and make loud sound when started and is feeling like Iam going to stall out and it does. It feel safe me being a single woman I don’t want to get stuck I called bot the the collision center and the dealership inquiring about the parts ordered and now my car is running horribly one pointed the finger at the other leaving me worried scared frustrated and upset. Please help me.

NHTSA ODI 11464149

Vehicle lots brakes while driving, smell of gas and caught fire under hood. Engine had been completely replaced due to recall in January 2022 Vehicle was a complete loss, luckily son was able to get out.

NHTSA ODI 11453004

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 25-30 MPH on a one-lane road, the vehicle inadvertently began to stall. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stopped and turned off the vehicle but was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact attempted to jump-start the vehicle with the assistance of her friend however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact’s friend informed her that he smelled a burning odor. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the battery, the starter, and the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to bring the vehicle to their location for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 126,620.

NHTSA ODI 11448269