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.
Air bags, Oct 28, 2019, crash
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND 1/3 CAR HIT THE SECOND CAR IN THE SECOND CAR HIT ME STOPPED AT A LIGHT IN THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY I HAVE A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY FROM IT THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED FROM THE ACCIDENT AND NOW IS AT KIA OF CANTON BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH A RIDE WHICH IS A RECALL BUT FROM THE ACCIDENT I AM NOW UNABLE TO WORK OR DO ANYTHING
Engine, Oct 15, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, HAD TO SLOW DOWN FOR A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THIS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT RESPONDING AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. NOW THE VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND LUCKILY IT LASTED UNTIL THE EXIT AND I HAD TO STOP ON THE RAMP AND GET MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEARBY MECHANIC.
Engine, Oct 12, 2019
MY ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STATE HIGHWAY, GOING ABOUT 70. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL DOWN TO AN EXIT AND PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE EXIT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK HOME. I HAD BOTH MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN AND NOTHING CAME BACK WRONG. OIL IS REGULARLY CHANGED AND UPKEPT.
Engine, Oct 11, 2019
AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS, FROM ENGINE SMOKE, LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE KNOCKING, CHUGGING WHEN I'M DRIVING AS IF IT WERE GOING TO STALL. THEY TURNED ME DOWN SO I'VE HAD NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO DEAL WITH IT . NOW MY CAR IS BURNING OIL, ABOUT A QUART A WEEK. IT CONSTANTLY SMELLS OF BURNING OIL AND THE CHUGGING WHEN DRIVING THE CAR HAS GOTTEN WAY WORSE TO WHERE IT FEELS LIKE MY CAR IS ABOUT TO COMPLETELY STALL AND SHUT OFF. I COULD DRIVE IT 5 MINUTES OR FOR AN HOUR AND IT ACTS THE SAME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE EVEN DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 10, 2019
FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD SHOWS WRONG A GAS LEVEL CONSTANTLY , FUEL PUMP ISSUE WHICH SENDS WRONG INFO TO THE DASHBOARD
Exterior lighting, Oct 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO RICART KIA (4255 S HAMILTON RD #210, GROVEPORT, OH 43125, 614-836-6503), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT WATER HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT, WHICH LED TO THE TAIL LIGHT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR AND RECOMMENDED THAT HE FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA TO HAVE THE DEFECT PLACED UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 6, 2019
I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2017 WITH 34K MILES APPROX. I AM CONSTANTLY PUTTING OIL IN MY CAR AND IT SEEMS TO EVAPORATE IN 2-3 DAYS. THERE IS NO LEAK AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE CAR IS CONSUMING SO MUCH OIL. LATELY THE CAR HAS BEEN KNOCKING AND WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SPUTTER AND BEGINS TO STALL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN AND NO LONGER USE THIS VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FIND THAT THIS YEAR VEHICLE HAS THE MOST OVERALL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND THERE STILL HAS YET TO BE A RECALL ON THE ENGINE? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY KIA SKIPPED THIS YEAR?? LET ALONE BLAME CONSUMERS THAT IT'S THEIR FAULT FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, YET WHEN TOLD THE SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED, WILL FIND SOME OTHER LAME EXCUSE SO THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT AT FAULT. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO HAVE THIS ENGINE RECALLED? WE AS CONSUMERS, MYSELF, A SINGLE HARD WORKING PARENT, DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE JUST BECAUSE KIA SAYS IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. THIS PROBLEM STARTED BEGINNING OF APRIL 2019, MY VEHICLE HAS 52K.
Engine, Oct 5, 2019
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AFTER TAPPIN MY BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN WE WENT TO ACCELERATE TO THE SPEED AGAIN MY CAR STARTED FLASHING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 2000 RPMS. NOW IN A LIMP MODE. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IS METAL IN MY ENGINE.
Engine, Oct 1, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE VEHICLE LOST MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. CAR PROS KIA HUNTINGTON BEACH, 18835 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648, (714) 274-4632, WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000.
Structure, Sep 29, 2019
THE ANTENNA SHARK COVER BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING. THESE SCREWS LOOK CHEAP AND UNSAFE IT FLEW OFF ON HIGHWAY..
Engine, Sep 27, 2019
BURNING OIL, ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE IN TRAFFIC, CAR WON'T RUN
Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2019
INTERMITENT EBGINE LIGHT AND GOES ON AND OFF. HAD IN A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY STATE ITS A CALAYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE SLIGHT TICK ONLY WITH EXCILARATION ON AN UPHILL CLIMB BUT NOT HARDLY NOTICEABLE. NO LOSS OF POWER OR OTHER ISSUE. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 76,700 MILES.
Power train, Service brakes, Sep 25, 2019
MY BRAKES AND TRACTION LIGHTS COMES ON RANDOMLY. IT STARTED HAPPENING A YEAR AGO. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES SINCE LAST YEAR. IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING, IT JUST COMES ON AND SOMETIMES WHEN I GET IN AND START THE CAR THEY COME ON.
Engine, Sep 18, 2019
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT A COMPLETE FAILURE WAS GOING TO OCCUR. I HAD NO PROPULSION AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. I OWNED THE VEHICLE AS THE ONLY OWNER (PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW) FOR ONLY THREE YEARS WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. NO ONE EXPECTS THEIR VEHICLE TO FAIL IN A THREE YEAR TIME PERIOD FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS AROUND 180,000 AND PAST THE WARRENTY. I DRIVE FOR UBER AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE FOR UBER. A NEW VEHICLE FAILING IN A THREE YEAR TIME SPAN (FROM TIME OF PURCHASE) BECAUSE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED IS UNREASONABLE. KIA ISSUED A SOFTWARE UPGRADE ON MY VEHICLE AFTER MY ENGINE FAILED THAT ADDRESSES THE EXACT TYPE OF FAILURE THAT OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE (INDICATING THAT KIA WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PRODUCT.
Engine, Sep 16, 2019
NEARING 60,000 MILES, THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A WEIRD ENGINE NOISE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE CONNECTING ROD WAS BAD AND THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. THIS ISSUE IS VERY WELL KNOW AND WIDESPREAD. THE KIA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE, SHOULD THE ENGINE BLOW. THE DEALERSHIP FELT THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE BUT KIA CORP. DECLINED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, WHICH IS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT THE OIL WAS NOT AT THE RECOMMEND LEVEL. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED LAST SUMMER AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE OIL WAS LOW; NO SERVICE LIGHT OR OIL LEVEL LIGHT. TO AVOID PUTTING MY 6YR. OLD AT RISK, I HAD TO CHOOSE TO PAY $5500 TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THIS IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT EFFECTS MY CHILD'S DAY-TO-DAY. I HAVE ALSO COME TO LEARN THAT THE ENGINE INSTALLED IS RE-MANUFACTURED AND ONLY HAS A 12-MONTH WARRANTY. DESPITE KIA'S REASONING, THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE FAR TOO COMMON FOR HYUNDAI/KIA OWNERS, PLUS THEY HAVE ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR OLDER MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINES SHOULD CARRY A LONGER WARRANTY.
Engine, Sep 16, 2019
WHILE DRIVING CAR SHUT OFF. STARTED SMOKING AND NOW WILL NOT START
Steering, Sep 11, 2019
POWER STEERING DISENGAGES WHILE DRIVING
Engine, Sep 6, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNIVERSITY KIA (5105 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL BLVD, DURHAM, NC 27707) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,673. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Engine, Sep 3, 2019
MY CAR IS KNOCKING AND WONT GO OVER LIKE 35MPH WITHOUT SHAKING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS.
Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2019
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THEY DON'T WORK IN MOTION OR SITTING STILL. IHAVE TO KEEP HIGH BEAMS ON AT NIGHT. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL KIA VEHICLES, YET THE PROBLEM ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 23, 2019
ENGINE LIGHT PLUS TRIANGLE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PART WAS REPLACED LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR 1 DAY CAME BACK ON AND LOSSES POWER I HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC KEEP TAKING TO DEALERSHOP THEY CLAIM RHEY ARE QAITING ON QORS FROM MANUFACTURERS NO WORD FOR 2 MONTHS NOW THEY HAVE BEEN DODGING MY CALLS BY PUTTING ME ON HOLD OR DROPPING MY CALLS
Steering, Aug 22, 2019
STICKY FEELING IN THE STEERING AT ANY SPEED. TAKES A LITTLE MORE THAN NORMAL FORCE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 20, 2019
2015 KIA OPTIMA TURBO.. I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IN DOING SO, I REALIZED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING AND WHEN I LOOKED DOWN, ALL OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASHBOARD. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER JUST MAKING IT OUT OF THE LANE OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, I PLACED MY CAR IN PARK TURNED EVERYTHING OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I THEN SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. FRIGTHTENED THAT IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AGAIN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I THEN CALLED FOR A WRECKER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP THAT SAME DAY. DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY WERE WAITING TO SEE IF KIA WAS GOING TO APPROVE REPLACING THE ENGINE. WAS TOLD I SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BY TOMORROW. STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
Engine, Aug 19, 2019
MY CAR HAS ONKY 64804 MILES AND MY ENGINE IS LOCK
Engine, Aug 18, 2019
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN THE SPEED HIT 60MPH THE CAR STALLED AND ALOT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXAUST. THE CARD BEHIND ME HAD TO SLOW DOWN. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I TURNED IT ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON ANYMORE AND THE CAR MADE SMOKE. I CALLED COMUNITY KIA ON BAYTOWN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BAD PCV VALAVE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I PAID FOR IT AND THEY REPLACED IT AND AS I DROVE OFF HOME THE CAR KEPT DOING THE SAME AND STALLING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE FIRST TEST MY CAR WAS LOW 2 QUARTS AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. "IT LOST 2 QUARTS BUT WE DONT KNOW WHERE ITS GOING" I TOLD HER IT DIDNT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE I DIDNT WANT IT TO CATCH FIRE AND SHE SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. THAN I DROVE IT 600 MILES AND THE CAR THREW A WHOLE LOT MORE SMOKE AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE AND THE SMOKE I CLAIMED WAS COMING OUT WAS NOT. THAT THE TECHNICIANS TURNED IT ON AND DROVE IT DID NOT SEE ANY SMOKE. I SHOWED UP TO THE DEALER AND TURNED IT ON AND SMOKE CAME OUT AND PRESSED ON THE GAS AND A HUGE CLOUD CAME OUT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. SO NOW THEY WANT ME TO GET A NEW ENGINE AND SAY ITS BECAUSE I FAILED TO DO THE OILCHANGE.