10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,546 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Kia Optima brakes problems

brakes problem

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2015 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #40

Jun 282024

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The check oil and my fans stopped working and also my fuel pump and also my battery light went

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #39

Jun 182024

Optima

  • miles
has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall It smells like burning

- Garnerville, NY, USA

problem #38

Apr 302024

Optima

  • miles
- 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

- Riverview, FL, USA

problem #37

Apr 032024

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've been having an issue with my car just out of the blue breaking while I'm going into it seems to be only a left turn I had let Kia know about this when I took it in for the other recalls just recently nobody seemed to have any idea of what was going on or look at me like I was crazy I guess and now I see this recall that explains everything to a tee of what my car is doing I need somebody to contact me please. This has almost gotten me into serious accidents on more than one occasion

- Homosassa, FL, USA

problem #36

Mar 232024

Optima

  • miles
Car stalled. Received check Brakes warning. ABS pump motor voltage fault message.

- West Chicago, IL, USA

problem #35

Mar 192024

Optima

  • miles
Coming to a stop and breaks go to floor u will freak out this happens in 2 different times

- Snellville, GA, USA

problem #34

Dec 012022

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1. While stepping on the brakes my car has revved up as if I was pressing the gas. So I let my foot off the pedal and pressed the brakes again. This happened 2 times that week. And another time while I was coming to a stop light as I pressed the brakes, my car revved up but didn-??t actually make my car speed up. I had to press the brakes again for it to stop. 2. My battery was smoking and I replaced it. 3. My car is consuming oil. The dealership did a series of oil consumption testing due to the exhaust leaving extra carbon residue on my car. They said it was fine but I don-??t think they solved the issue.

- Burien, WA, USA

problem #33

Apr 122023

Optima

  • miles
My car started smoking while parked at work for no reason and I had to call the fire department. It stop smoking by the time the fire department came. I had it towed to the Dealer. My brakes are a mess but especially on a wet road you have to pump them to try to stop. I have taken it to the Dealer and of course they find nothing wrong. I told them to test drive it on a wet raining day and try to stop hard. Supposedly they could not but I have almost been it several accidents and had to run through a red light because I could not stop. So, I try to drive this car on a rainy day or drive slowly. This car has been trouble since I got it and the dealer will not listen.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #32

Sep 162023

Optima

  • miles
My vehicle has 82000 miles and was due for new brakes. I an a retired former dealership technician so I decided to replace the brakes myself. When I removed the front brake calipers, I saw an unusual amount of rust of the steel caliper pistons. I've done thousands of "brake jobs" in my 30 years and I've never seen a caliper piston this bad. I plan on buying and replacing them soon. My concern is that these pistons look like they would rust completely through causing a failure of the brakes. This shouldn't happen on a 2015 MY vehicle or any vehicle.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #31

Sep 022023

Optima

  • 94,700 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes and the steering column were inoperable. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to safely pull off to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated that the engine started smoking. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that in December 2020 and March 2023, recall repairs were completed on the ABS and TCU modules. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 94,700.

- Ocean Isle Beach, NC, USA

problem #30

Aug 132023

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Warning message appeared on the dashboard regarding HECU malfunction. Kia was contacted and stated the car is not covered under a recall.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #29

Jan 092023

Optima

  • miles
The vehicle caught fire

- Greer, SC, USA

problem #28

Oct 172022

Optima

  • miles
As I was driving on the Interstate, my car lost power and I was unable to push on my gas or use my brakes to slow down to pull off the interstate. Lights begin flashing with a warning that read -?? Check Hybrid system. Stop vehicle and turn off engine. This is the second time this has happened but before my car shut off and didn-??t turn back on. I was going to be hit by a semi truck had he not swerved around. Also, this the 5th time this week it has happened.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #27

Aug 102022

Optima

  • miles
Brake Failure, Having to pump brakes in order to stop vehicle, driver rear tail light burning, causing short in wiring

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #26

Dec 042021

Optima

  • miles
For one my car is very sluggish when taking off and shifting gears Jerks badly. MY electrical is messing up on my radio and camera. Sometimes I smell rubber burning. When I have my cruise on it will speed up on its on and jerk when it does and when i press my brakesbto slow down it doesn'twant to slow down unless iash really hard. When taking off from a hill or a dead stop it doesn't want to shift and slags and rattles when it shifts. Bluetooth works sometimes and sometimes it doest it depends on when my backup camera works or not. I bought this car used in June of 2021 with a little over 92000 miles. I know when something doesn't sound right and when something is messed up, there is something wrong with my car. So far I haven't been in an accident but I don't want to be either.

- Laurel , MS, USA

problem #25

Jul 312022

Optima

  • miles
Recently has a new engine installed at pitre Kia, due to a recall malfunction, they installed a new engine but didn-??t fix the recall problem, now that I have my car back. My engine moves when I hit the brakes, my brakes go all the way down sometimes, doesn-??t stop the car at all, I am in danger everyday I drive my car, I never know if my brakes will fail on me. Or my car will burst out into flames, and I can smell fuel in the cabin of the car really strong, I have really bad gas mileage and my steering wheel is a lot stiffer than normal

- Santa Fe , NM, USA

problem #24

Dec 062021

Optima

  • miles
I was in a accident in December where I went to brake at a light and hydra planed forward. Into the car I front of me. Which my driving record I can-??t understand how the is happened is this a reflection of the recall and Kia-??s parts took since just a few weeks ago to come in to the collision center from being back ordered since mid December I have been in a out of pocket rental practically begging to get my 4000$ I paid to enterprise since So because of this lengthy time my inspection was up in march but I can-??t get it inspected because the check engine light came in the very first day I brought it home. Went to turn on my ac being a warm day and no cool air I called the collision center they then decide to tell me they are waiting on three parts still the ac compressor a part for the bumper and the turbo sensor. Meanwhile since it is a insurance claim I cannot have them check the recall part. So I made a appointment with Fred beans Kia in langhorne pa for the recall and a oil change they had the car all day to tell me that I need the part and it will be ordered that was April 23. Meanwhile Iam still driving with expired inspection. I then noticed my car started to shake and make loud sound when started and is feeling like Iam going to stall out and it does. It feel safe me being a single woman I don-??t want to get stuck I called bot the the collision center and the dealership inquiring about the parts ordered and now my car is running horribly one pointed the finger at the other leaving me worried scared frustrated and upset. Please help me.

- Levittown , PA, USA

problem #23

Nov 032021

Optima

  • miles
Dean mckrary Kia had my car from November to December 12, 2021 with the agreement to repair all existing service recalls. There yet remain service recall 21V331. The agreement with the service manager that all recalls issued would be repaired. They did not keep their word.

- Eight Mile, AL, USA

problem #22

Feb 132020

Optima

  • miles
I have my driver side tail light out, when I bought the car in 2019, they said I have 30 days to bring in my car so they can replace what needs fixing, well I hit day 32 and I-??ve had to replace my tires, brakes, headlights and tail lights because they all went out on my own dime, now my brakes are making me nervous because sometimes it feels like my car isn-??t slowing down to a stop and I have to slam them to stop sometimes.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #21

Feb 162022

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle lots brakes while driving, smell of gas and caught fire under hood. Engine had been completely replaced due to recall in January 2022 Vehicle was a complete loss, luckily son was able to get out.

- Mansfield, TX, USA

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