Kia Optima Complaints (2015)

1,022 consumer complaints on file.

#11489054October 12, 2022
ENGINE
i was driving my 2015 kia optima lx 2.4L which i recently got i am currently the second owner and did not receive no mail containing any open recalls to my car and the engine seized up and now the Kia dealership does not want to help me out , what can i do?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11488540October 9, 2022
ENGINE
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!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11488354October 7, 2022
ENGINE
My Kia had been using oil at an abnormal rate. Could not identify anything wrong. The car would sometimes unexpectedly stall out and the oil would be a little low, even relatively soon after an oil change. I would top it off and it would operate fine. This month the engine seized up completely. When we had a mechanic disassemble the engine and examine it, he found abnormal damage to the engine, including carbon deposits from burned off oil that had escaped and not returned for lubrication, as well as metal shavings in the oil pan.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11488080October 5, 2022
ENGINE
Driving one day and I hear a knocking sound coming from the engine. It locked on me on the way home and isn’t drivable. Took it to the dealership and they said it had a recall and the engine needs to be replaced. Kia denied the engine replacement saying I took to long to come in. I bought it used and never received a letter in the mail about it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11487830October 4, 2022
ENGINE
2015 Kia Optima began to not accelerate on freeway when trying to reach 2 rpms. Took for diagnostic it was stated solenoid needed replaced. However, the engine was knocking and I was informed that I needed a new engine. Mechanic did not want me to invest money into vehicle. I pulled up vehicle and see this as an issue for 2015 Kia Optimas. That current issues have been reported by numerous people. My car had no lights or warning sensors regarding these issues. Now the engine is inoperable and I have no vehicle w a car payment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11487885October 4, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
The vehicles paint started peeling on one of the rear columns. I have noticed very many different Kia optimas with the same issue when it came to the same color paint. The paint is snow white pearl. I’ve had no success working with Kia and it is clearly a defective paint issue. I own several cars older and they never had issues. They are unwilling to help.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11486212September 24, 2022
STEERING
Vehicle lost power steering completely. Has been inspected. Steering wheel sensor needs to be replaced. ABS light active as well as steering wheel light. No reason as to why this happen but it seems to be and ongoing issue for Kia Optima owners after reading other reports online.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11485856September 22, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Have a white pearl paint that is completely chipping off by the pillars, windshield sides, top of the trunk, roof, around the gas tank and some car door edges. Have read an excessive amount of kias with MAJOR white paint job problems. It is also obvious the paint is thin as water which is contributing to this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11485326September 19, 2022
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11484708September 15, 2022
ENGINE
While driving on the freeway vehicle began to knock. Pulled off the freeway into a dealership. Dealer said there was little oil in the engine despite having an oil change less than 1000 miles prior. Engine burned through 5 quarts in less than 1000 miles. No oil lights or check engine lights on causing engine failure and need for a new engine. Told vin does not fall under the endings oil consumption recall of similar model/year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484326September 13, 2022
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
2015 Kia Optima Hybrid HEV system. Months after purchasing the vehicle two different lights would come on the engine. One is the HEV warning light and the other is a flashing “Turn off engine and check HEV system”. The first time it happened the vehicle turned off. It was towed to Kia, 02/2020. They change some sensor and sent me on my way. 3 weeks later the HEV warning light came on again so it was towed to Kia for the 2nd time, 03/2020. This time they said they could not recreate the issue. A month later the light came on again and again but since the light never stayed on, I kept getting told by Kia that I’d have to take it in when the light stayed on. 01/2021 the light came on again, with the flashing warning and the vehicle turned off, mid-drive. It was towed to a mechanic shop near me, where they replaced the wiring harness completely, but a month later the same light came on again. Over the course of the year, the warnings kept turning up and time and time I kept getting told they needed the light on at the dealer so they could determine with the codes, what is wrong. 07/2022, light came on as I was merging on to the freeway and the car shut off. I was able to make it turn on and make it home safe. The next day I towed it to the shop where they replaced the wiring harness and they stated they could not touch it further since the codes they got where “High voltage battery” codes and a specific tech is the only one when could work on it. I took it to Kia where it stayed 33 days. They changed a part. Two days later the HEV light came on again, so I took it back. They kept it one day, drove it 60 miles and they could not recreate the issue. I got it back on Saturday, 5 miles out the light came back again and again. I took video. Called Kia and now the car is back at the dealer while they try and figure out the issue. I’m scared for my life. The car gives no warning when it decides to shut off. Wheel locks on the times it does turn off. HEV system is no good.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484140September 12, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving down the road. The glass is pushing outward like it was broken from the inside of the car. Nothing hit the care at the time, there was a loud explosion sound and then cracking sounds after that.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11482491September 1, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her mother was driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's mother depressed the brake pedal and veered to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts and emitted abnormal loud knocking sounds. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the contact stated that an oil change was completed on the vehicle approximately one month earlier. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11482198August 31, 2022
ENGINE
2015 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THEY WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HAD NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11482252August 31, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. The paint on my car has been pealing off. I can make myself available for the car to be inspected. 2. No 3. I have the problem on multiple vehicles of the same make and model 4. Yes 5. No This is problem that the manufacturer should be responsible for. It causes monetary damages to the owners. Upon resale of the vehicle they will be out thousands of dollars towards the value of the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11481705August 29, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I purchased a 2015 Kia Optima SXL Turbo in Snow White Pearl color on Dec 11,2020. In Mid 2021 I started to notice little chip marks in different places throughout the exterior of the car. On April 16,2022 i was washing my car to prepare for vacation and as i was washing a large patch of paint flew off. I attempted to rinse the car to prevent further chipping only to my surprise more paint flew off in another area. The more rinsed the worse it became. i havent washed my car since june in fear that paint would just keep peeling,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11481424August 26, 2022
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11480002August 18, 2022
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, an abnormal knocking noise was coming from the engine. The vehicle then lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where she was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle would not be covered under warranty or recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11479941August 18, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, AIR BAGS
I BEEN REPORTED THE RECALL ABOUT MY CAR ENGINE AND OTHER PROBLEMS THATS GOING ON WITH IT BUT THE MANUFACTURER WON’T FIX IT SO WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO HAVE ALL THESE RECALLS FIXED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11479707August 17, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Brake Failure, Having to pump brakes in order to stop vehicle, driver rear tail light burning, causing short in wiring
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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