2015 KIA OPTIMA Complaints

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. After a visual inspection, the contact observed an excessive amount of oil leaking from underneath the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with engine failure, observing a hole on the side of the engine block. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer however, the diagnosis was not yet confirmed. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 112,000.

I purchased a 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid on [XXX], from Nissan of Grapevine, TX. The vehicle had an open safety recall issued in 2021 (PI2104) related to engine failure, but neither Kia nor Nissan informed me of this recall before my purchase, nor was the recall repair ever performed. On [XXX], my engine suddenly seized while driving, leaving me stranded. I had the vehicle towed to Meineke in Pflugerville, where they confirmed the engine failure but declined to perform an official diagnostic due to liability concerns. In 2024—over a year after my engine had already failed—Kia America finally mailed me a recall notice. By this time, the damage was irreversible. I took the car to Kia of Round Rock on April 2, 2024, where I was charged a diagnostic fee despite the engine failure being caused by the known recall issue. Kia then denied me warranty coverage, claiming I was ineligible because the recall repair had not been performed prior to the failure—even though I was never informed of it in time. Now, my vehicle has been impounded at AusTex Towing since March 6, 2025, because it is inoperable and cannot be registered. If I cannot afford the impound fees, my car will be auctioned off, leaving me responsible for payments on a vehicle I can no longer use. Safety Concerns: -Sudden engine failure while driving poses a serious crash risk. -Failure of recall notification system—I was only informed AFTER my engine had already failed. -Negligence by the manufacturer and dealership—Neither Nissan (the seller) nor Kia (the manufacturer) addressed the recall prior to the failure. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Kia America and Nissan of Grapevine’s handling of this recall to determine whether their actions constitute negligence in notifying owners about critical safety defects. Kia should be held responsible for either covering the cost of repairs, offering a buyout, or reimbursing me for my financial losses (towing, impound fees, and loan payments). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FO

When driving on the highway my car suddenly started to stall with me on the highway. It went from 80 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour and then completely shut off in the lane of the highway. Thankfully I was able to pull over to safety. I attempted to start again, and the engine started with a weird noise coming from it. I had it towed to my local Mechanic who told me that my engine is part of a safety recall.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. While the contact's sister was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact's sister parked the vehicle and performed an inspection of the vehicle. The contact's sister opened the hood and confirmed the smoke was coming from the engine. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer; however, the dealer provided an unofficial diagnostic result of possible engine failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

I was driving home from work when my car started to herk. So I pulled over turned my car off. When I started it again it started to knock and not accelerate. I scanned the computer telling me that it was a knock sensor. I took it to a mechanic and he told me there were brass shaving in my oil. Also said I need to replace the engine because of the problem.

The engine started knocking so I started driving to the dealership. The car stalled on the highway and wouldn’t restart. I’m having it towed to the dealership. My daughter has the same engine and it did the same thing. KIA replaced her engine.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over, stopped on the shoulder lane, and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the knock sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

The paint on the vehicle is separating from the body. This vehicle is available for inspection at any time. The paint begins to peel and break off when it rains, and it washes into the drains. From there, it ends up on the grass where my young child plays, potentially getting on his hands and into his mouth. Additionally, animals like birds are picking at the paint on the grass. My insurance has verified this problem, and there were no prior signs that indicated any issues. Recently, following a storm, water started bubbling up beneath the paint, causing it to crack and eventually blow off. It started in a small area but with every rain gets worse.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

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.