What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Sportage Phev Phev

Engine fire which led to explosion and total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11743850

hit skip acident 12/25/2022 Germain Body Shop, Powell, Ohio for repair Computer module airbag system -part number 959103w800 not available as of 6/20/2023 The repair shop is aware of the liability. Can not release, State of Ohio laws. Confirmed from Germain Kia Columbus, the email part is been on backorder.

NHTSA ODI 11528061

I’m going to mall and then go to the store in route 61 in Frackville PA the chips in road break my windshield is so much my phone number [XXX] my name is [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11522679

Sudden acceleration accident

NHTSA ODI 11511417

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a burning odor was detected with smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle then lost motive power. Additionally, after refueling the vehicle, a fuel odor was detected while driving. A bystander alerted the contact that the vehicle had caught fire and to exit the vehicle immediately. The contact was able to safely exit the vehicle. There were flames coming from the engine compartment and underneath the vehicle. The bystander used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the smoke coming from the engine compartment. Police and fire department reports were filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The vehicle was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brake, Hydraulic) however, the contact had not yet received the notification. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11479533

This car was electronically going crazy tenants calling police cause alarm wouldn't stop going off Smelled gasoline but no leaks o roll the windows down engine ram n lights get dim no check light ever came on car shutting off child locked in car behind this then it goes up in smoke while driving on the freeway what the hell should I say more we could have list our lives in that car I have 2 kids 1 and 2. I need justice asap I have kids with astma is it due to this faulty vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11479658

Engine stalled at a stop sign. Smoke started coming from the front of the vehicle and engine burst into flames. No warning lights, no sign of something going wrong. My safety and that of my husband was out at risk due to risk of burning to death, being badly burned, others being injured from being in the vicinity etc.

NHTSA ODI 11462157

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that he had taken the vehicle to a dealer to have it diagnosed for rough engine functioning. The contact stated that the dealer diagnosed that the vehicle needed to have the engine replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was returning to his residence at approximately 30 MPH, when the vehicle's engine began to shake and had a loud explosion. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated. The contact was able to return to his residence and turned the vehicle off and observed white smoke issuing from under the hood. The contact stated that he opened the hood and the smoke dissipated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle and could not. The contact received a recall letter from the manufacturer and relates the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11461533

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ODI 11460114

CAR WAS IN A COLLISION WITH METAL BRIDGE BARRIER(STANDING SOLID OBJECT) HEAD ON, SPUN TO HIT BOTH REAR SIDES AND SPUN SOME MORE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVER SIDE PANEL AND RESULTED IN A CONCUSSION. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN I HIT AN ICE BLOCK ON THE ROAD, SPUN TO THE SIDE AND HIT THE METAL BARRIE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD HEAD ON AND SPUN MORE TO HIT THE BACK TIRE. CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS ACCORDING TO INSURANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11372638

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THEN EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS THEY WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT AND DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA OF CERRITOS DEALERSHIP ((562) 860-2424 LOCATED AT 18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11082031

THE 2015 KIA SPORTAGE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE MY WIFE HAD A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT. SHE WAS INSIDE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES WHEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ABOUT A RED KIA IN THE PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE LOOKED, IT WAS HER CAR & THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ALREADY ON SCENE & THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11078775

DROVE VEHICLE APPROX 10 MINUTES SMELLED A BURNING SMELL, THOUGHT IT WAS THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN NEXT LANE, ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT LIGHT, I NOTICED THE HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE, I EXITED VEHICLE AND JUST 1-2 MINUTES ENGINE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11040471

CPSC:I HAD A TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED ON MY 2015 KIA SPORTAGE., I WAS EXISTING THE CASTLE ROCK MOTEL IN FRIENDSHIP, WI WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHERE MY 1 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CAR SEAT. ONE OF THE HOTEL EMPLOYEES SAW ME STRUGGLE TO GET HIM OUT OF THE CAR SEAT AND CAME TO ASSIST, AT THE SAME TIME DAUGHTER (WHO WAS ALSO IN THE CAR WITH ME) CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE HOTEL EMPLOYEE RETRIEVED SOME TOOLS AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISMANTLED THE BACK PANEL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND DETERMINED THE ROOT CAUSE WAS THE WIRING HARNESS "BLACK BOX." THEY ADVISED ME TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR BEFORE CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT. *BF UPDATED 07/19/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 11009830

I WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 50 MPH AND A WOMAN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I (T BONED ) HER. MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY ALL FUNCTIONS STOPPED WORKING.THE CAR FILLED WITH WHITE SMOKE FROM THE AIR BAG. MY WINDOWS WERE UP AND I COULD NOT ROLL THEM DOWN NOR STEER.I COULD NOT BREATH THE CAR WAS ROLLING IT STOPPED AT APPROX. 50 FT.WHEN I GOT OUT I WAS GASPING I HAD A WHITE SUBSTANCE ALL OVER ME IN MY NOSE. I'M VERY CONCERNED.

NHTSA ODI 10919930

INVOLVED IN A VERY LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT, GOING APPROXIMATELY 8-10MPH IF THAT, VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, PRESSED BRAKE, ROADS ICY, AND SLID INTO VEHICLE WHICH PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. IMPACT CAUSED AIRBAG TO COME OUT AND BROKE MY HAND/WRIST/ARM IN 3 PLACES. I SIT FAR ENOUGH BACK ON PURPOSE, THE AIR BAG ONLY STUCK MY ARM. I DON'T THINK I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AT ALL. I AM PERMANENTLY DISFIGURED AND HAVE LIMITED FUNCTION OF MY DOMINANT HAND NOW.

NHTSA ODI 10913926

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSION, SPRAINED NECK, AND SPRAINED SHOULDER THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10884082

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. ....UPDATED 10-27-15 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10767409