2015 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,008 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 31 involved a crash and 74 involved a fire. 23 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 20V519000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,008 reports, newest first.
Engine, Oct 21, 2020
CUT SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY, BEGAN SMOKING AND NOW WILL NOT START. IN CHAMBLEE GA
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 20, 2020
VEHICLE HAD SERVICE LIGHT ON FOR ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT'S OK TO DRIVE TODAY UNTIL THEY SERVICE IN THE MORNING. THEY HAD A SENSOR SHOW FOR THE HEUC. I DROVE 10 MILES APPROXIMATELY HALF ON FREEWAY AND AT FULL 65MPH THE CAR MADE A VERY LOUD ELECTRICAL NOISE AND LOST FULL DRIVE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY AVOID GETTING HIT AT FULL FREEWAY SPEEDS IN RUSH HOUR AND ABLE TO GET ON SHOULDER AND EXIT RAMP. CAR TURNED BACK ON AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 15MPH AT THE LIGHT AND WAS TOWED TODAY DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INQUIRY.
Engine, Oct 12, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH AT AT ABOUT 65 MILES A HOUR AND MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND WOULDN'T START. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND GOT IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY GOT BACK TO ME ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER AND SAID MY ENGINE WAS BLOW BUT IT WAS ON RECALL BUT MY CARFAX ONLY HAVE ONE OIL CHANGE DONE SINCE I BOUT THE CAR. I PROVIDED THEM WITH UP TO DATE SERVICE RECORDS AND I TOLD THEM THE LAST TWO OIL CHANGES I DID WERE ON MY OWN. THEY JUST GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL IF IT'S A RECALL I THINK IT SHOULD BE FIXED I'M 19 YEARS OLD AND I STILL OWE 12000 ON THE CAR AND IT'S MY FIRST CAR I EVER BOUGHT ON MY OWN AND MY ONLY WAY OF TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU
Other or unspecified, Oct 7, 2020
DRIVING THE 15 KIA OPTIMA WHEN THE VEHICLE START LOSS THE POWER AND ENGINE DIE, TRY TO START AND ENGINE START HARD. TOWING TO A MECHANIC SHOP, EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE, NO CODES, START THE ENGINE AND THE NOISE CAME, ENGINE IS NOCKING.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 4, 2020
MY KIA STARTED OUT MAKING A STRANGE SQUEALING NOISE, THEN IT STARTED LOOSING POWER. WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I PUSH THE GAS PEDDLE AND IT TAKES AWHILE TO GET UP TO EVEN 35 MPH. I WAS TOLD THE TURBO MANIFOLD WAS BAD SO I HAD ONE PUT ON. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED MAKING A CHA CHA CHA NOISE. I TOOK IT BACK AND HAD TO GET ANOTHER TURBO, ONCE AGAIN SAME THING. KIA DEALERS SAID TURBO AGAIN. SO I'M OUT LABOR AND TURBO COST ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE TO WORK I NEED MY CAR, I NEED IT FIXED NOW. I LOVE THE CAR BUT I AM SO SICK OF STRESSING OVER EXPENSES, AND LOOSING MY JOB NOT ABLE TO GET THERE. I JUST WANT IT FIXED CORRECTLY, OR MONEY TO GET A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. I'VE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY GMC,CHEVY AND PONTIAC VEHICLES. I DO LOVE MY KIA BUT I WILL GO BACK TO THE MOST RELIABLE CAR. NO POWER IS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEED TO TAKE OFF BUT THE CAR BOGS DOWN. SO I YOU WILL I REALLY NEED TO FIND A MECHANIC THAT CAN TELL ME WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG AND FIX IT. FIVE MECHANICS APPARENTLY DON'T KNOW EITHER. I DON'T NEED MY CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. SO PLEASE TELL ME SOME GOOD NEWS THAT I WILL HAVE A DEPENDABLE CAR SOON.
Engine, Sep 28, 2020
KNOCK SENSOR DETECTOR IS MALFUNCTIONED. THE ENGINE VIBRATES WHEN ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE NOW.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 17, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SHE BECAME AWARE OF A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE RECENTLY, HE NOTICED THAT THE HIGH FUEL PUMP LEAKED FUEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE PARKWAY FAMILY KIA LOCATED AT 22555 US-59, KINGWOOD, TX 77339, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. *LN*DT*JB CONSUMER STATED DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP.*JB*JB
Service brakes, Sep 13, 2020
AT ABOUT 1500 MILES ON THE CAR, I HAVE 2200 NOW, I STARTED TO NOTICE A GRINDING AND A ROUGH CONTACT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS KIA HAS HAD AOT OF ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES ON THE STINGER SINCE INTRODUCTION. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALERSHIP SOON BUT PER THE RESEARCH, KIA DOES NOT HAVE FIX OTHER THAN REPLACING REPEATEDLY.
Engine, Sep 12, 2020
AS I WAS COMING UP TO AT STOP LIGHT IT FELT AS IF THE CAR HAD LOSS POWER I LOOK DOWN AT MY DASH TO SEE ALL MY INDICATOR LIGHTS ON I TRIED TO PUSH ON THE GAS BUT ALL IT DID WAS STUTTER WITH VERY LILTTLE POWER DID WANT TO GO SO I PULLED TO SIDE TURN KEY OFF FOR 5 MINS OR SO CHECKE ALL FLUIDS CAPS AND LINES ALL WAS OK STARTED RIGHT BACK UP BUT IT WAS A SLIGHT THUMP SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE BUT DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT CAUSE IT WASN'T LOUD ENOUGH I THOUGHT TO BE CONCERN FEW MINS INTO DRIVING SOUND KINDA FADED. VERY NEXT DAY MAYBE 15 MILES INTO DRIVING SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN LOSS POWER INDICATOR. LIGHTS COME ON I PULL OVER ONLY THIS TIME I SIT WAIT 5 10 MINS TRY TO START CAR AGAIN IT DOESN'T EVEN CRANK OVER 20 MINS GO BY I TRY TO START IT AND IT DOES ONLY TO HEAR THAT SAME THUMPING SOUND BUT LOUDLY THIS TIME SO I PUT CAR IN DRIVE SOUND FADES AS I START SLIGHTLY PUSHING CAR THE THUMP SOUND BECAME A LOUD METAL SOUNDING NOISE LIKE SILVERWARE BOUNCING IN A BUCKET I TURN IT OFF AN IT'S BEEN SITTING SINCE
Engine, Sep 9, 2020
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS OFF APPROX 20 MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE STARTED TO DIE DOWN. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TO SCARED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON TO SEE IF I COULD DRIVE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT KIA THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS NOT AN ENGINE ISSUE HE THINKS IT MAY BE FROM A SLUDGE BUILD UP FROM OIL (BECAUSE HE REALLY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE). I HAD JUST TAKEN MY CAR FOR ITS OIL CHANGED THAT SAME DAY. WHICH THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANY KIND OF BUILD UP. THE KIA EMPLOYEES WERE RUDE WHEN I CALLED AND REQUESTED A LOANER CAR. THEY AT FIRST TOLD ME TO COME DOWN AND PICK UP A CAR, ONCE I DROVE IN, THEY DENIED ME FOR A LOANER CAR AND TOLD ME I COULD RENT ONE FOR 35 A DAY. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY CAN'T GET A CODE TO COME UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH KIA THEN IS TELLING ME IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN ASKED WHY THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE, THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE BUILD UP THEY HAVE TOO, WHEN REALLY THEY DON'T TECHNICALLY KNOW FOR SURE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE ISSUE. SO NOW KIA IS EXPECTING ME TO PAY 7,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE, WHICH WOULD BE COVERED IF THEY CAN GET A CODE TO COME UP. SO, NOW I AM FORCED TO PAY THIS TO GET MY CAR UP AND RUNNING SO I DON'T LOSE MY JOB (WHICH I HAVE ALREADY MISSED SEVERAL DAYS DUE TO NOT HAVING A VEHICLE). MY FATHER AND I MET WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE IS UNDECIDED WHAT THE ISSUE, OR CAUSE IS AT THIS TIME. THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE, AND KIA TOLD HER THE SAME THING THAT IT WAS CAUSED FROM A OIL SLUDGE ISSUE, BUT AFTER MONTHS OF ARBITRATION, KIA COMPENSATED HER FOR THE DAMAGES.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 7, 2020
HI MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA ON 08/07/2020 I PUT THE RECOMMENDED GAS IN MY TANK AND THEN GOT ONTO THE INTERSTATE AFTER ABOUT 5-15 MINS IT STARTED LOOSING POWER AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE PAST 60. ALSO NOW WHEN I START DRIVING IT JERKS REALLY BAD AND WON'T GO PAST 2 ON THE RPMS. WHEN IT JERKS I'M ASSUMING THAT IT IS THE GEARS TRYING TO CHANGE. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE HAS ACTED WEIRD EVER SINCE BUYING THIS CAR IT COMES AND GOES AND JUST RECENTLY IS WHEN IT STAYED ON AND WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT BEGAN FLASHING WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY ISSUE BEGAN
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 4, 2020
'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, FIRST WITH MY BREAK LIGHT SWITCH, THEN MY A/C CONTROL PANEL WENT OUT . NOW. AS I WAS WAITING FOR MY FOOD IN THE DRIVE THROUGH LANE MY CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF BUT MY CAR WAS STILL ON, I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND GET MY ENGINE GOING AGAIN.I ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE MY ENGINE WON'T START BUT MY CAR WILL TURN ON ALSO WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHTS I OFTEN FEEL MY CAR JITTER A LITTLE. I HAD MY BATTERY CHECKED BUT THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I WILL BE TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
Engine, Aug 31, 2020
ENGINE JUST LOCKED UP WILL NOT RESPOND YOU TURN THE KEY AND NOTHING HAPPENS I WAS DRIVING ON HWY AND IT JUST SHUT OFF AND WOULDNT START AGAIN IVE HAD IT AT THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY CANNOT FIQURE OUT THE PROBLEM THEY THINK IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE IT HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES BEFORE
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 29, 2020
8/27/2020 CAR HAD BEEN AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS BEFORE FOR THE SAME ISSUE...CAR SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY AFTER 'CHECK HYBRID CHARGING SYSTEM' LIGHTS FLASHING 'SHUT DOWN ENGINE' LIGHTS FLASHING. KIA HAD DETERMINED CAR JUST NEEDED A 'HYBRID BATTERY UPDATE' FAST FORWARD...I WAS DRIVING TO VISIT MY MOTHER IN IDAHO, DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED: 'CHECK HYBRID CHARGING SYSTEM, SHUT OFF ENGINE.' ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, AND 'POSSIBLE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ISSUE' DIAGNOSTIC FLASHED ON THE RADIO SCREEN. THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER BEFORE LOCKING UP COMPLETELY, WHEEL LOCKING, SHUTTING OFF AND SPINNING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY ANOTHER OTHER CARS WERE CLOSE BY OR ELSE THIS WOULD HAVE EASILY TURNED INTO A FATAL CRASH. 3 HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A $450 TOW INTO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS 2 HOURS AWAY.. AND I FIND OUT IT'S A BLOWN HEV FUSE AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM/BATTERY HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A DEAD CAR. FAILED AT AROUND 79,500 MILES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST KIA OPTIMA HYBRID TO DO THIS!!! RECALL THESE CARS BEFORE THEY KILL SOMEBODY!! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A 5 YEAR OLD CAR SHUTTING DOWN AND LOCKING UP ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING. ESPECIALLY WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AGAIN. IT HAS THE 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHICH KIA IS SAYING COVERS NO PART OF ANY REPAIRS. ODD SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE HYBRIDS!! RECALL THESE DEATH TRAPS!!!
Steering, Aug 26, 2020
I AM SENDING THIS COMPLAINT IN REGARDS TO COMPLAINT #11317148. ON MARCH 09, 2020 I FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE TO MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA.I CONTACTED KIA MOTORS @800-333-4542 CASE #[XXX] SPOKE WITH [XXX] ABOUT THE ISSUE ON MARCH 16, 2020 AND [XXX] ON MARCH 17, 2020 AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT PREMIER KIA LUFKIN TEXAS SAID I DECLINE TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING FLUID CHANGED WHICH WAS THEY DECLINE TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER ANY WARRANTY, SO I DECIDED TO PAY THE $1298.00 ON JUNE 09, 2020 TO HAVE PREMIER KIA LUFKIN TEXAS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY. I ALSO CONTACTED KIAPARTS.COM ABOUT WHERE TO LOCATE THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND RECEIVED A EMAIL ON MAY 27, 2020 FROM [XXX]AT HANSOMOTORS PARTS DEPARTMENT INFORMING ME THAT MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA HAVE AN ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THERE IS NO PUMP OR RESERVOIR. BUT LIKE I SAY FOR SAFETY ISSUES I PAID THE $1298.00 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. MY QUESTION NOW IS HAVE THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE THAT WOULD WARRANT ME A REFUND OF $1298.00 THE AMOUNT I PAID PREMIER KIA ON JUNE 09, 2020? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON ANY AND ALL RECALLS CONCERNING MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THANKS. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Engine, Aug 26, 2020
PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. PUT ON LIMP HOME MODE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND IT TURN OUT THE KNOCK SENSORS AREN'T WORKING AND I NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE.
Engine, Aug 20, 2020
THE ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND CAN'T PICK UP SPEED OVER 60 MPH AND KNOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON
Engine, Aug 17, 2020
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY CAR STALLED ON ME OUT OF NO WHERE. I WAS ABLE TO GET STARTED. ALL MY LIGHTS ON MY DASH BOARD CAME ON AND MY CAR WAS MAKING A BAD RATTLING NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME, STILL STALLING FROM TIME TO TIME. I GOT IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP. HE SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD ENGINE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BLOW. I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. IT NEVER MADE A NOISES BEFORE OR ANYTHING TO INDICATE MY ENGINE WAS GOING OUT. I GOT MY PILES CHANGED ON 8/11/2020 AROUND 2:30PM AT MURPHYSBORO, IL WALMART. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 8/13/2020.
Engine, Aug 16, 2020
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MY CAR STARTED JERKING, SHAKING AND MAKING NOISES. IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE HOME, SO I PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME.
Engine, Aug 10, 2020
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT I WENT TO TAKE OFF AND LOST ALL POWER. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO THE SERVICE FACILITY WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM AND I WAS JUST TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA LX WITH 64,000 MILES.
Engine, Aug 4, 2020
AS I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I PULLED UP TO A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND I THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER COMING UP BEHIND ME WITH MY 80-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER IN THE CAR. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH LOW MILES AND I HAVE OIL IN IT AND OUT OF NOWHERE THERE'S IT'S LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SOMEHOW MY OIL IS BACK LOW AGAIN. THIS SO TOTALLY ON KIA SO MANY COMPLAINTS NOT ENOUGH RESOLUTION.
Engine, Jul 30, 2020
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE VEHICLE LACKS ACCELERATION. A LOUD TAPPING IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THIA STARTED ON JULY 25, 2020 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
Structure, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 29, 2020, crash, fire
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE OR STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK I COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL BECAUSE I HAD NO BREAKS. THEN I HAD A TOW TRUCK COME AND PULL ME OFF THE FREEWAY TO SEE IF I COULD START MY VEHICLE HOWEVER IT DID NOT START ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASH ON AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND SMELL LIKE FIRE I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE IS FRIED BECAUSE THE OIL PUMP WAS NOT BEING PUMPED INTO THE MOTOR THEREFORE IT LOCKED UP HE SAID I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME REASON I CHECKED THE RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SYSTEM THAT A 2015 KIA OPTIMA IS UP FOR RECALL. I BELIEVE KIA NEEDS TO REFUND THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 88,000 MILES IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED KIA NEEDS TO CALL ME
Power train, Engine, Jul 26, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TENNESSEE AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS IN RIGHT LANE AND I PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER. A DOT EMERGENCY REPAIR TRUCK STOPPED AND TRIED TO JUMP MY CAR, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED, NOT EVEN A NOISE OR ANYTHING. CALLED AAA FOR A TOW.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 24, 2020
I WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR STARTED TO BOG DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT CONTINUED TO DO IT EVERY FEW SECONDS AND WAS GETTING WORSE THE WHOLE WAY TO THE SHOP, WHICH WAS THE CLOSEST ONE I COULD FIND AS SOON AS IT STARTED DOING IT. THE SHOP RAN THE ERROR CODE AND GOT A KNOCK SENSOR ERROR. I HAD KIA COME PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT TO THE SHOP. THE SHOP PERFORMED A BEARING CLEARANCE CHECK AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS SO THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD DUE TO "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE". WHILE REPLACING THE ENGINE THEY FOUND THE TURBO HAD PLAY AND SO THEY INSTALLED A NEW TURBO ASSEMBLY. AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT THEY FOUND THE STARTER SEIZED, THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT THEY PERFORMED THE ECU UPDATE AND RESET ADAPTIVE VALUES, THEN PERFORMED WIRING SIGNAL INTERFERENCE CHECK WHICH STARTED OK. IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE SHOP I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER WHEEL AREA. SHOP ENDED UP REPLACING CALIPER AND WHEEL BEARINGS ALONG WITH NEEDING AN ALIGNMENT. ALL HAPPENED AROUND 58K MILES. LUCKILY STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SHOP SAID IT WAS JUST A BAD ENGINE. NOTHING I COULD OF DONE COULD OF CAUSED IT.