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.
Steering, Mar 28, 2015
THE CAR IS UNABLE TO KEEP A STRAIGHT COURSE WITHOUT CONSTANTLY STEERING CORRECTIONS. EYES CAN'T BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD EVEN TO LOOK AT THE REARVIEW MIRROR. IT WILL GO FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE OTHER WITH ANY MINOR BUMP OR EVEN ON A VERY FLAT SURFACE. WIGGLING OF THE STEERING IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT ON A STRAIGHT LINE BUT EYES HAVE TO BE ON THE ROAD 100%. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON ANY ROAD BUT SPECIALLY ON A TWO-LANE ROAD. ACCIDENTS INCLUDING HEAD-ON COLLISION ARE SURE TO HAPPEN. KIA IS NOT DOING MUCH/ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CAR IS ONLY 1500 MILES NOW. *TR
Steering, Mar 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SWUNG FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Steering, Feb 11, 2015
THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM , BUT STEERING CONTROL IS REALLY BAD. AS I AM GOING DOWN THE ROAD,(WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES) THE CAR WANDERS LEFT TO RIGHT WITH NO MIDDLE GROUND. SO IT IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE AS I AM ALL OVER AND NOT JUST PULLING TO ONE SIDE. I HAVE TO KEEP ARMS LOCKED ON STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT AND STILL JUST ISN'T ENOUGH. DEALER SAYS THAT'S WHAT KIAS DO.THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN , AS SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WILL CONE FROM THIS AND THE MAKER DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. LOOKING IN REAR OR SIDE VIEW MIRROR FOR A SECOND AND I CAN BE ON THE VERGE OF THE LANE NEXT TO ME. WHAT WORRIES ME MOST IS I SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS AND NO ONE HAS DONE A THING ABOUT IT. I LOVE THE KIA OPTIMA BUT HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED..MY FAULT FOR LACK OF RESEARCH, HOWEVER YOU WOULD THINK THE MANUFACTURER WOULD FIX AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS HAS TO BE FIXED ALREADY. *TR
Engine, Feb 9, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE NOISE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Vehicle speed control, Jan 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2015
PAINT ON HOOD ROOF TRUNK HAD SPOTS IN PAINT ORANGE PEEL IN PAINT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR
Steering, Dec 2, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 01/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
Steering, Oct 31, 2014
AS THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES THAT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS FEELING AS IF THE STEERING DOES NOT PROPERLY CENTER. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THE ISSUE BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES. THIS RESULTS IN A FEELING OF LACK OF SAFETY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN MODERATE - HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS OR ON NARROW ROADS. I INFORMED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE. A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DRIVE AND AGREED THAT THE CAR HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CONTACTED THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER WHO EVENTUALLY DECIDED THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER THEN CONTACTED ME TO INFORM ME OF THIS. I CHOSE NOT TO ACCEPT THAT THIS SHOULD BE "NORMAL" AND ESCALATED THE ISSUE. KIA MOTORS AMERICA THEN CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY TO OFFER TO HAVE A DISTRICT MANAGER DRIVE THE CAR TO OBSERVE THE STEERING ISSUE. *TR