general problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Optima - part 1

Yesterday, [xxx], my 2015 kia Optima engines reved up wothout me pushing the gas & within seconds later a loud noise and metal fell from under the hood. After pulling over, popping the hood on the passenger side and under the engine a fire had started. My daughter was seated in the back passenger side her door had locked, thankfully the passenger door was left opened bc within minutes the entire car was filled with smoke and engulfed in flames. Prior to this the steering wheel would jerk even while at a red light. This car just did have 100,000 miles & no knowledge this prior. Thank god I was able to get my daughter out of this vehicle & this didnt end in a tragedy due to negligence if this was a prior known fact. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I’ve gotten my vehicle fixed four times now thinking it was an electrical issue, not aware of the recall. Did my research this fifth time when my brake lights completely went out and smoke at some point in times come through my air-conditioning. I’ve spent more money trying to fix the vehicle with no idea that there were issues already about it.

In September of 2025, my radio and back up camera stopped working. I contacted hayward kia and was informed by staff member, eraca craig, that my 2015 kia Optima needed a software update that was covered by a recall. I waited several weeks for the dealership to contact me once the update was available. During the waiting period my car's battery started to drain intermittently. I had to have the battery recharged multiple times by aaa. The battery would stay charged for a few days, maybe a week, then I'd experience the same issue. Aaa towed my car to kia hayward on October 3, 2025. They charged my battery and kept my car over night to see if the battery would stay charged, it did not. Eraca told me that the ac delco battery I purchased on January 16, 2025 was not "compatible" with my car. She recommended a factory kia battery which I purchased on October 7, 2025. By November 1, my kia battery had drained. Aaa recharged the battery and it held a charge until November 25, 2025. When I took my car to kia on November 11, 2025 for the software update, I was told that the update did not apply to my malfunctioning radio and camera therefore I needed to replace the entire unit for $4,080. 49. On December 6, 2025 I had a diagnosis performed on my car, it reported codes c1102, b1102, b1112, and p000. C1102 indicates an issue with the hecu. My 2015 kia Optima has had three recalls related to the hecu (#sc284,#sc212, &#sc197). On December 8, 2025 I made a request, via e-mail, to eraca craig that my hecu be inspected for leaks and to have the hecu fuse replaced. I understand that these services were recorded as performed in the past, but I need them performed again because I'm not satisfied that kia has remedied the situation. I've also filed complaints with the kia customer care center. My case numbers are #25697367 and #25723089.

My 2015 kia Optima has a failing abs/hecu module consistent with the kia abs fire recall. The brake lights stay on constantly even when the brake pedal switch is unplugged. If I unplug the abs/hecu module, the brake lights immediately turn off, which confirms the abs module is back-feeding power into the brake light circuit. I also previously experienced the abs pump running with the vehicle turned off. Currently the abs, esc, eps, and brake warning lights are illuminated and all stability/abs functions are disabled. This is a clear safety hazard affecting braking, electrical safety, and vehicle fire risk. I have already been to the kia dealer twice and they dismissed the issue after only checking the recall fuse. They refused to address the abs module itself even though the vehicle is unsafe. The recall appears insufficient because the module has now failed. I need kia to replace the abs/hecu module under recall safety remedy.

The incident took place on Sunday, December 30th. I was driving to pick up my children from their father and on our way home my car stopped accelerating entirely. This had only happen one other time a few days prior. I was in a gas station parking lot and initially when I turned my car on and went to put it into drive it wouldn’t accelerate. I thought that was odd so I did the only thing I knew how to, I checked my oil levels. Levels were full and no other issues were there. The check engine light had popped up when I turned my car back on but my car did accelerate so I thought nothing of it. I took my car to auto zone for a diagnostic and they told me my “b cam shaft” sensor needed to be moved and that could be causing the engine light to come on and ticking in my motor. I called a few shops getting quotes and eventually was forced to tow to the closest shop to me after my car refused to start overall. They replaced the battery and the b cam shaft censors and still were unable to get the car started. They told me 3 recalls were open on my car, including the motor and to have it towed to kia for a full replacement. After calling kia to have the repairs done, they refused me service based on a previous owner not handling prior recalls.

While driving my 2015 kia Optima I was getting ready to turn in to my residence. My car completely shut off but my lights had got dimmed. So I had it towed to the kia dealership then proceeded to tell me it has three recalls on it. Then a customer service representative said that I would have to pay $200,and something dollars to have my car diagnostic done. Whoever I replied even with these recalls I have to pay for diagnostic test to be done she replies yes,but I’m thinking they are just trying to make money off customers.

All recalls were not done false input information they never fixed engine bearing recall I’m getting a consultant to handle all the false information being provided by kia federico in woodriver.

My motor bearing is knocking very loud I was refused service upon arrival dealer was making my service very complicated asking me to go dig up old receipts and various other things that was not actually caused for and I was at risk by driving the car there until it shut off due to engine failures when the car has fire risk and could possibly explode and they have confirmed it’s the engine but have not done any maintenance to my engine the check engine light flashes heavy non stop as well was even denied a loaner car still until today.

My car caught on fire just sitting under the carport. The investigator said that it was electrical. Our neighbor seen it and told us to get out the house and started popping. I tried to get in for the brake line but no one would call me back to see about it. When I go thru water and get on the brake it jerk like.

My car started having electrical issues, started smoking and stopped completely while driving, now it won’t turn on / start.

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.

I have repeatedly been denied service by kia customer service and kia dealerships regarding my safety recall. This ongoing issue has caused significant stress and inconvenience. I am simply requesting that my recall be completed so I can safely operate my vehicle. Despite my efforts, I continue to receive invoices for repairs while being denied the necessary service. I am frustrated by the lack of support and resolution.

My 2015 kia Optima hybrid poses a serious safety risk. While driving at highway speeds, the car has randomly shut off multiple times. A "check hybrid system" or hybrid battery warning appears on the dashboard, and the vehicle either loses power entirely or switches to electric-only mode and coasts to a stop. This happens without warning, putting my life and the lives of others at risk. I already had the relevant hybrid system recall work completed by a kia dealer, but the issue persists and the car remains unreliable and unsafe. This appears to be a known issue affecting many 2011–2016 Optima hybrid vehicles. Kia needs to be held accountable for continuing hybrid system failures that occur post-recall and outside of warranty. This is a dangerous, recurring defect.

Was driving down the highway and all of a sudden the car shut down in the highway lucky cars was not close by. Tried to crank it it would not crank would not take a boost it won’t say anything I had the battery checked at auto zone the battery is really good. The mileage on the kia Optima is 1,900 actual miles it will not crank or move it was very scary I called kia customer service there wanted to charge me over $400. 00 dollars to come get it and take it to the shop so it took me 2 days to find a tow to get it home and it still needs to go to the kia shop.

Engine keeps shutting off.

When I was driving my car had stopped driving, the engine light had popped up. I put a new battery, and starter on to see if that was the problem, but it wasn’t. I then took the car to battleground kia in greensboro, nc. They confirm that the engine had stopped working due to being locked up and it had a recall on it. First they said they can’t fix the engine without my registration and license, I turned that in then they said they will not fix the recall if I don’t have enough evidence of oil changes which I’ve handed over to them multiple times. I thought a recall was suppose to be fixed without hassle. My kia advisor is matt cates. Email:mcates@battlegroundkia. Com.

The contact owned a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, he noticed an abnormal burning odor; however, the temperature gauge did not indicate that the vehicle was overheating. The contact stated that upon noticing that the burning odor was becoming stronger, the contact pulled to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, he noticed flames coming out through the upper part of the hood, near the windshield. The contact opened the hood and noticed that there was fire under the hood. The contact stated that the fire expanded, and the vehicle significantly burned from the front end to the rear seats. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact was unsure whether a fire department report was filed. The fire department advised the contact that the fire was caused by an electrical or mechanical failure. There was no injury sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle turned off unintendedly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the technical service bulletin NHTSA 10252085 (electrical system, engine and engine cooling); with a similar failure description. The failure mileage was approximately 92,394.

I was driving on the expressway onto the exit ramp going about 75 mph when my car suddenly slowed down even though my foot was on the pedal as I kept trying to drive, it was slowing down. The temp gauge was exactly in the middle and the rpm was at 0. The mph was at 60 mph even though it was slowing down it didnt change on the reader. When I realized the mph on the reader was not changing all the service lights came out on the dash. So I idled to a stop on the side of the road when I got out of the car I realized there was smoke coming from the hood and it had a really awful smell of something burning. I know the engine didnt over heat because the coolant reservoir is full and the upper radiator hose had pressure. Ive been having an issue with burning oil so I topped it off with a qt of oil. I left the car off for about 2 hours and then tried to start it and the engine would not start , the break pedal became hard to push down but the burning smell got worse. So I decided to turn the car off again. Meanwhile im still stuck on the side of the road. I watched a couple of youtube videos and there are many people having the same issue with the radiator fan, or a leak in a pipe or hose, or some sort of sensor.

For the past month or two my vehicle hesitates to start on the first try. I can smell an odor at times when this occurs. Most recently it seems to occur more frequently when the outside temperature is warmer.

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).

Has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall it smells like burning.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated while her granddaughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and there was smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. The driver was able to pull to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact met her granddaughter on the side of the road. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the smoke was coming from underneath the vehicle, under the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that an unknown wiring harness had burned, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21v331000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the repair could not be covered under the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

Lost power while in the middle of a turn while driving happened intermittently power steering and traction control lights come up on dashboard.

Drove this 15 kia Optima on the highway when all of a sudden it lost power and died. There was no lights or symptoms prior to this happening. The vehicle ran as it should up until the other day, the engine had no codes or lights on in the vehicle. . Then without any signs at all the vehicle stalled and almost caused an accident on the highway and the would not start. Barely made it to the breakdown lane. We had it towed to a shop and we spent some time checking the kia over to find out the starter had melted. We installed a new starter and now the engine has a very loud knocking sound that was never there before. Based on reading the safety recalls and bulletins on this kia and issues surrounding this vehicle online, we should meet the criteria for a claim. Can you help me please!!!!.

While driving on freeway lights, flicker and car just dies. Steering goes out and lose control of vehicle. Then will randomly start up again.

On or about 13 may 2024 my family and I traveling. During the travel the vehicle displayed “hybrid system stop and do not drive”. We took it in to kia during the time that they had the vehicle, they informed us that it needed an ecu update (recall). When services were finished, we picked up the vehicle and was made to pay for services that were part of the recall. When we left the dealership, the lights on the dashboard appeared 1. Engine, 2. Hev. We called the dealership back and informed them what happened. They told us to take the vehicle back to them. After checking it, they informed us that due to the update that was done to the vehicle it triggered faults in the battery. They informed us we would have to replace the hybrid battery that would cost us about $13,000. We stated to them our vehicle wasn’t having battery issues when we initially turned the vehicle in for service. They refused to assist and stated it wasn’t there responsibility even though it was given to us with these faults. We left the dealership and after driving for a few minutes, the warning sign came on and the car began to smell like smoke. I contacted kia corporate and informed them that the vehicle displayed a message on the dashboard and smoke. The gentleman I spoke to informed me not to drive the vehicle and park it away from other vehicles and to get the vehicle to kia to check services. We took it to a different kia for services. They informed us that the hybrid battery needed to be replaced and the cost. I explained to them the recall issue and that the vehicle was given to us with the issues that started to occur after the update. They said it wasn’t their responsibility and that they weren’t going to fix the damages or issues that were caused by another dealership. I called kia corporate and informed them of the situation and how the dealership refused to make repairs although they knew the hybrid battery issues were triggered from the recall updates/repairs.

I have 3 issues currently going on with my 2015 kia Optima. The first is the oil control valve. This is supposed to be covered under my extended warranty that I pay for. If I didn't have the extended warranty I would be responsible for putting a new engine in a car with less than 60,000 miles on it. However, it will take time for the adjuster to come out and then to decide if the entire engine should be replaced which would then take even longer. The second issue is the O2 sensor which is part of the exhaust. Apparently in a care with less than 60,000 miles on it it's not unusual in the kia Optima for this to go bad. Kia knows this is an issue but hasn't done anything about it. Lastly, the stop module in the braking system needs to be replaced. After hitting my brakes at a red light the esc light came on and the brake lights don't go off. It's very dangerous as no one behind me can tell if I'm stopping or not. There was a previous recall for the hec system which I had fixed. Per that recall brake fluid can leak and cause an electrical issue within the brake system but my kia dealer service department is telling me it's not related to the original recall. I think it is and I think kia should make the repair with no charge to me on a car with less than 60,000 miles on it. How does the engine, the exhaust system and the electrical system all go bad at the same exact time? this is unacceptable.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start-up. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the oil level was extremely low. The contact was unaware of any oil leaks. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost of towing the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) after the failure had occurred. The failure mileage was approximately 184,000.

- the issue occurred for the first time 4/30/2024 - the following 3 warning lights appeared while I was driving: abs, traction control, and brake - I took the vehicle immediately to a facility to have the warning codes read. The printout showed: c2402 & c2380 - the warning lights remain illuminated every time the vehicle is turned on - I believe there is a safety concern of a potential fire or brake failure.

I received a safety recall notice in November 2023 stating that there is defect with hydraulic electrical control unit (hecu) in my car that can result in an engine compartment fire either while I am driving my car or when it is parked. As of April 2024, I am still waiting to be notified that the part to fix this issue is available. This delay is putting my life and my children's lives at risk every time we drive in our only car, as well as the drivers around me if my car catches on fire when I am near them. In addition, this issue puts our home, as well as our neighbors' homes, at risk of catching on fire since I am not able to park outdoors away from other cars and structures as was recommended. In the past few days, I have felt a difference in my car's performance and today 04/19/24, the malfunction indicator lamp (mil) warning light turned on. According to the notice I received, I am supposed to stop driving my car and have it taken to a dealership immediately if this happens. However, I called my local dealership, and the earliest appointment available is on 05/13/24. I have no other car and cannot afford to drive a rental car for almost 30 days. I have been placed into a horrible situation because of this major issue. I have to risk my safety every time I am in car and even when it is simply parked because of this. This is completely unacceptable, and kia should be held responsible immediately as I have no other means to remedy this problem.

I was driving in downtown gilbert when I pulled up to a red light. My car would not inch forward when taking foot off brake. I then had to put my foot all the way down to get my car to drive. When taking a turn my car would run perfectly until I stopped. Then we pull up to parking garage and the car just stops without while in drive so I put it in park and then turn it off and then back on and it works again. I had the alternator, battery and starter checked and they were all good no issues so why am I having electrical problems with my vehicle kia needs to fix this.

Hi, I own a 2015 kia Optima. Sometimes when I drive it, I get a burning smell from the dashboard/engine after driving it after a while. I received a kia recall notice regarding an electrical short circuit in November 2023. The notice said that the electrical short circuit could cause a fire, which I think is the cause of the burning smell. When I called kia to bring the car in, they said there is no remedy to fix it yet. So I receive the notices in November 2023 and at the time of writing it is March 5th 2024, five months after and kia does still does not have a remedy to fix the problem. I think this is a major safety issue that is not solved in a timely manner as there is potential risk of fire every time I drive my car. I hope NHTSA can step in and have kia expedite a remedy to fix this hazard that can lead to potential injury and/or death. Thank you concerned kia owner.

I need remedy compensation in regards of my recalls my engine warranty was gone after being replaced due to engine seized 01/01/2023 I had engine warranty since 2020 and now my car was being rejected refused rejected excluded iam being discredited I own my 2015 kia Optima I lived sleep in my car iam hoing through financial hardship since 2021 I need legal advice help assistance please.

I purchased my car in 2015 at 23k miles, now we're at 86k miles and I'm experiencing issues. How is there a recall for this car but no remedy yet when there is a high risk of fire? shouldn't there be a resolution for this safety concern? I noticed my car in 2022 would smoke here and there when driving, and I would smell burning. I took it to my mechanic and he changed the head gasket, and the smoking stopped. There is residue on my engine from a leak from the oil. My mechanic at the time told me I might still smell burning oil just due to that. As time went on things were fine but a year later, the oil smell came back stronger. I notice it only on longer drives, so I do believe my car is leaking oil. Also, the amount of time I've changed my break lights this year and head lights. They dim so fast over time and eventually go out to where I have to replace them. There is 100% an electrical issue going on.