What 748 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Kia Optima

I WAS GOING WEST ON 210 IN REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA APPROXIMATELY AT 6:15 P.M. WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED BY A 2015 TOYOTA CAMRY. HIS RIGHT FRONT FENDER RAN INTO MY LEFT BACK FENDER CAUSING ME TO SPEND AND SETTLE ON THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. THE SIDE DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA LX. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD MADE A TURN AND THEIR VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE CONTACT AND THEIR WIFE JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE/FIRE REPORT WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MADE AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT AND THEIR WIFE DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THERE WAS NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. THERE WAS NO OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN THE FIRE. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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ON MAY 31 2019 MY KIA OPTIMA 2016 CAUGHT FIRE RANDOMLY AND WITHIN 4 MINUTES WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT TOTALED MY CAR AND DAMAGED SOME EQUIPMENT AT SONIC DRIVE IN WHERE I HAD PULLED IN

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AS I BEGAN CROSSING THE INTERSECTION (HIGHWAY) I ENDED UP GETTING T- BONED HALFWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BY A PICKUP. HE WAS SPEEDING GOING ROUGHLY 60MPH IN A 45MPH ZONE MY KIA OPTIMA SUSTAINED PASSENGER SIDE/ AND FRONTAL IMPACT DAMAGE. THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT SENT ME SKIDDING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND NONE OF MY FRONTAL AIRBAGS ACTIVATED NOR DID THE SEATBELT LOCK UP. THIS LEAD ME TO SUSTAIN HEAVY CHEST INJURIES FROM THE IMPACT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE STAYED RUNNING UNTIL EMT DISCONNECTED THE POWER TO IT.

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I WAS INVOLVED UN A REAR END COLLISION. I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED @ A TRAFFIC LIGHT. SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE REAR END OF THE CAR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM THE IMPACT. I ENDED UP HITTING MY HEAD VERY HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED @ ALL FROM THE COLLISION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT PUSHED THE BUTTON BEHIND THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT TO RELEASE THE SEATS, THE HEADREST DETACHED AND STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE LEFT EYE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN EYE INJURY, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,400.

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I WAS REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED IN BREAKDOWN LANE OF A SECONDARY HIGHWAY (40 MPH) PROBLEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IS THE INADEQUATE CUSHIONING IN THE HEADRESTS OF THIS CAR AND PROBABLY MANY OTHERS. SUFFERED A CONCUSSION THE EFFECTS OF WHICH ARE STILL ONGOING. I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE STANDARDS APPLIED TO HEADRESTS TO HAVE ENERGY ABSORBING CUSHIONING. *TR

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VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, STOPPED, IN THE WEST CONSHOHOCKEN MUNICIPAL COMMUNITY BUILDING PARKING LOT, 112 FRONT STREET, WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. THE CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. I WENT TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I PRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON, A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN A LOUD JACK HAMMER SOUND STARTED. CAR SHOT BACKWARDS IN REVERSE AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING AND A BELL RINGING. I PUMPED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. IN HAD JUST BEEN TURNED OFF, AND WAS ALREADY IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. CAR WENT ON OUT OF NOWHERE, AND WENT IN REVERSE THE LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 25 CARS AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR.POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THEY REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. MURRAY KIA WAS WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN INSURANCE PROBLEM. NOT TRUE!! MY PASSENGER AND I WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND COULD BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR INJURED OTHERS. THANK GOD THE PARKED CAR WAS THERE AND ONLY THEN DID THE CAR CRASH INTO IT, AND STOP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, FLAMES IGNITED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. *JS

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A CAR ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2016 IN WHICH THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN SEVERE INJURIES. KIA WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THAT A ACCIDENT HAD TAKEN PLACE IN A NEW VEHICLE THAT WAS PURCHASED, AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH IT HAD PASSED THE INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. KIA FAILED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE, ALTHOUGH INDICATING THEY WOULD SEND AN INSPECTOR OUT TO CHECK THE VEHICLE. LATER IT WAS INDICATED THE VEHICLE HAD 2 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH IT (#1. 16V7050000 AND #2. 16V231000), HOWEVER, KIA FAILED TO HONOR THE RECALLS OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILING TO PROPERLY INFORM OF THE DEFECTS. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REACH SOMEONE AT KIA TO RESOLVE THE MATTER, BUT EACH TIME A DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED MR. GUSTAVIO VALILA WAS THE PERSON HANDLING THE MATTER AND WOULD RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER. VOICE MAILS WERE LEFT UNRETURNED AND EMAILS WERE SENT, HOWEVER, MR. VALILA COULD NOT BE REACHED. A YEAR LATER A REPRESENTATIVE RESPONDED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT MEANT TO DEPLOY AND THAT THE COMPANY WAS SORRY FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCE AND SITUATION. THE COMPANY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OR RESPOND TO THE PREVIOUS RECALLS THAT WERE NOT HONORED, NOR DID THE COMPANY CORRECT OR RESOLVE THE CONCERNS OR MAKE AN EFFORT TO ASSIST OR PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE INJURIES SUSTAINED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. DUE TO THE ACCIDENT AND INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING THE ACCIDENT THE DRIVER DIED A WEEK LATER. KIA WAS INFORMED OF EVERYTHING, ALONG WITH RECEIVING PHOTOS AND PAPERWORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCIDENT (THAT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COMPANY REQUESTED), AND HAS STILL CHOSEN TO ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SITUATION OR DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PREVIOUS MATTER / CONCERNS...*BF *TT

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ONE CAR HEAD ON CRASH. PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER HAD MANY INJURIES RIGHT SIDE. HAPPENED IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON A HIGHWAY, IN MISSOURI.

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AS I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN E. KY I LOST CONTROL OVER THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN. I TRIED TO ADJUST RIGHT AND LEFT WITH NO HOPE. I CROSSED THE MEDIUM TO THE OTHER LANE, HIT A LOG TRUCK AND THEN MY CAR FLIPPED ON ITS BACK ON THE MEDIUM. THE WHOLE THING STARTED ON THE STRAIGHT PART BEFORE REACHING THE CURVE. MIRACULOUSL,Y NOTHING HAPPENED TO ME OR THE TRUCK DRIVER. I STILL FEEL THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG. INSURANCE ESTIMATOR SAID MY SIDE IS SO BAD HE CAN'T TELL IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

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WHEN. I'M DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS OFF BUT COMES RIGHT BACK ON AND SOMETIMES THE RADIO JUST SHUTS OFF AND COMES BACK ON PLUS ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE GOES OFF.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 49 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS DETACHED FROM THE HINGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE INJURIES SUSTAINED BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT NOT TO LET ANYONE VIEW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE SENT TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND, SHORTLY AFTER, IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TOO LATE TO SALVAGE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

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I GOT CAR ACCDINET AND THREE AIRBAG JUST POP OUT SO THAT MEANT NEED REPLACE?

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TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED OVER A POCKET OF WATER. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT, AND WAS LATER TOWED TO ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,202. *LN *TR

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WAS HIT HEAD ON BY A SLIDING VEHICLE WITH BALD TIRES. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD US IN PLACE.WE WERE DOING ABOUT 15 MI.PER HOUR OR LESS ON A MT PASS BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DOING ABOUT 45 MI. PER HOUR OR MORE WHEN HIT US. HIGHWAY PATROL INVESTIGATED ACCIDENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 15 HOURS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,700. UPDATED 03/17/17*LJ UPDATED 08/29/2017*JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ENGINE RPMS DRASTICALLY INCREASED TO 6 OR 7. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NUMBER 75 ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE REPAIRS AND PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY PERFORMED AN INTERIM REPAIR AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART FOR A PERMANENT REPAIR. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

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I WAS INVOLVE IN A BAD ACCIDENT WITH 10K IN FRONT END DAMAGE AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HALF OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR CAME APART IN THE DAMAGE

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