10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,974 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2015 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #16

May 272022

Optima

  • 84,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal to merge onto the highway, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that she had not observed any warning lights being illuminated. The contact pulled off the highway and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had no oil and had seized. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

- Wilmington, CA, USA

problem #15

Mar 142024

Optima

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while the daughter was driving at approximately 80 MPH and attempting to pass a tractor-trailer in the left lane, the vehicle behind her aggressively merged into the same lane causing a crash to the passenger side of the vehicle. The other vehicle fled the scene. The contact's daughter merged to the shoulder of the road. There was damage to the front passenger side door, and front passenger wheel well, and tire. The vehicle failed to restart. The police were on the scene however no Police Report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a collision center for cosmetic repairs but the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer mentioned a recall related to the engine, but it was not eligible for engine replacement because the vehicle had not had a software update performed for the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

- Portage, IN, USA

problem #14

Apr 242024

Optima

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal smoke odor inside the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was an oil leak in the engine compartment. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine, determining that the engine was consuming oil abnormally quick, and the engine might soon need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #13

Apr 012024

Optima

  • 151,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle, the check engine and several other warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating, and the contact was concerned about a possible fire. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The contact stated that she waited about 30 minutes and restarted the vehicle and drove back to her residence. The manufacturer was not made aware. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Garnerville, NY, USA

problem #12

Dec 032023

Optima

  • 81,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine and low engine oil warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that an unknown fluid had leak and damaged the electrical components in the engine compartment, causing the engine to seize. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.

- Duluth, GA, USA

problem #11

Oct 192023

Optima

  • 102,589 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the engine seized. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that there was metal in the intake and exhaust cam shaft. There were metal shavings in the oil. The contact was also informed that the pistons were off by twenty-four degrees. There was an indication that cylinders #1, #2, and #4 had misfired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 102,589.

- Maplewood, MN, USA

problem #10

May 272023

Optima

  • 184,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact's daughter was driving at approximately 60 MPH when numerous lights on the dashboard illuminated. The contact stated that her daughter said that the vehicle stalled, however, she was in the right-hand lane and pulled over. The daughter said that smoke was being emitted from the engine compartment. The contact stated her daughter was picked up by family and the vehicle was left at the side of the highway. The contact stated that the daughter's companion retrieved the vehicle. The contact stated that he opened the hood and checked the oil and observed that there was no oil showing on the dipstick. The contact filled the vehicle's oil reservoir and started the vehicle. The contact said that he also reported that all panel warnings illuminated and the vehicle had begun to emit smoke. The contact stated he pulled off the roadway, opened the hood, and observed smoke and flames being emitted from under the engine block. The contact stated he had immediately closed the hood and moved away from the vehicle. The contact stated that he reported that the vehicle continued to emit smoke but no more flames were observed. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 184,000.

- Lagrange, GA, USA

problem #9

Mar 302023

Optima

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact stated he heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact observed white smoke coming from under the hood. The contact was able to pull over with the engine still running however, when he stopped and turned off the vehicle, he was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the oil and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #8

Jan 152023

Optima

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while his wife was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that his wife steered the vehicle to the side of the road and parked the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to a lack of engine oil. The contact stated that he had never noticed a leak and had followed the maintenance schedule for oil changes. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #7

Jan 152023

Optima

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. After stopping at a red light, the engine suddenly failed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 88,000.

- Bensalem, PA, USA

problem #6

Nov 082022

Optima

  • 106,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed him that he had failed to complete the knock sensor detection system (KSDS) repair and provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #5

Aug 262022

Optima

  • miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her mother was driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's mother depressed the brake pedal and veered to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts and emitted abnormal loud knocking sounds. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the contact stated that an oil change was completed on the vehicle approximately one month earlier. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #4

Jul 212022

Optima

  • 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, an abnormal knocking noise was coming from the engine. The vehicle then lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where she was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle would not be covered under warranty or recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #3

Jun 152022

Optima

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The catalytic converter was replaced however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,000.

- Southerland, OR, USA

problem #2

Mar 312022

Optima

  • miles
Driving on highway 54 all of a sudden vehicle seized up on me at 75 mph in the dead of night, steering was difficult to control and hit an object while trying to stop off the highway IN A BLIND CURVE! Was stranded for 6 hours until local shop towed vehicle and replaced condenser-radiator-fan ( object was debris on side of highway) could not get car going and a smell of electrical short coming from under hood. Have not been able to fix problem and have spent 11 days in Carrizozo NM trying with bewildered mechanics to get me back on the road. They replaced starter -fan-radiator-condenser-changed fluids (motor & transmission) to find out motor unable to reset. I-??ve spent over $6,000 dollars in motel-tows-parts -labor -due to this vehicle. I found out of recall when I was told to buy an engine. This car almost took my life due to sudden engine failure on the highway in the AM hours.

- Denver , CO, USA

problem #1

Jun 122021

Optima

  • miles
I was driving my car on the street going about 35-45 mph when all of a sudden with no warning my car stopped completely. It had to be towed.

- Inglewood, CA, USA

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