10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,075 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 fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2015 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #17

Mar 222021

Optima

  • 65,000 miles

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

When you accelerate, for example to pass another vehicle, the vehicle will completely shut off, all lights illuminating on the panel the vehicle. The vehicle must be placed in park and restarted. Sometimes it starts right away, sometimes it takes a few minutes.

- Brookhaven, GA, USA

problem #16

Jun 122020

Optima

  • miles
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.

- Marmaduke, AR, USA

problem #15

Aug 072020

Optima

  • 171,361 miles
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

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #14

Jul 282020

Optima

  • 88,000 miles

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

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

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #13

May 222020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 117,284 miles
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately over 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled, there were no warning lights. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer langdale Kia (1508 N ashley St, valdosta, ga 31602; (229) 242-0715) who diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle's engine was replaced under warranty and the fuel pump was replaced under the recall NHTSA campaign number: 18V907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine). The contact stated approximately 10 days later the vehicle suddenly caught started to smoke from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that approximately 5-8 minutes later the smoke drastically increased, then, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and a fire department report was made. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,284.

- Valdosta, GA, USA

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problem #12

Apr 202020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
The car sped is faster than what the speedometer day. The car jerks when you are sitting idle. The oil light keep coming on when the oil stick show that's its oil in there. Car don't pick up speed fast enough check engine light came on.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #11

Jun 052020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 87,992 miles

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

Engine light just started flashing and no acceleration whatsoever. Takes forever just to get up to 30 mph. Called Kia and was told they don't know if there's a recall or not on that year. Not helpful at all. I'm afraid for my daughter to even drive it now and it's her only form of transportation to work.

- Opelika, AL, USA

problem #10

Oct 012019

Optima

  • 65,000 miles
When taking off at a stop light or getting onto the interstate (basically when accelerating) the car feels like it has no power. You can hear a weird noise and sometimes you will smell burnt oil or something burnt. Also, I had a recent oil change and within the month I had to add oil again. There is no sign on my driveway that there is a leak. Please look into this as there are multiple people with the same issues.

- Rockledge, FL, USA

problem #9

Jan 082020

Optima

  • 120,000 miles
My vehicle is among the vehicles registered/qualifying for a recall. My dealer was to have replaced my entire engine during the first recall my vehicle received. Within a week/some 5 days or so my check engine light was back on. Taking the car back to my dealer, it was suggested that I pay $145 just for them to do a diagnostic on the/my vehicle they had just serviced. My car is currently registered/qualifies for a recall that stems and or is related to the previous recall that my car had... as recently as a few days ago (1/8/2020), the same dealer supposedly 'fixed' the recent recall. I'd went by the dealership, they serviced the vehicle - check engine light went/was off. I'd say what was an hour or so having the car back in my possession from the dealer, the check engine light was back on. I'm appalled at the fact that I'm currently experiencing a issue that has been on going over a year. In my research on recalls I'm not to be charged anything by law surrounding rectifying a recall. On more than one occasion my dealer has suggested that I pay after feeling that they've rectified the problem concerning my vehicles recall. I have valid third party diagnostics that interestingly enough were free, unlike the diagnostics my dealer would suggest I pay for on a car that is surrounded by a serious recall issue. And more interesting is my having received a diagnostic that rendered the results that are the same codes surrounding the recall, and this after/on a day/ the last day - my car was serviced/supposedly 'fixed.' I'm appalled at the suggestion that I 'upgrade, ' into a new car, pay anything, how any car having received a 'new engine, ' though 5 days later the check engine light is back on - that's 'scary.' I have necessary documentation that can show my dealer is oblivious to public safety laws surrounding recalls due to remedies they suggested on 'fixing, ' my vehicle.

- East Point, GA, USA

problem #8

Dec 082019

Optima

  • 92,000 miles
I was driving the car on a two lane street at a normal rate of speed when the motor cut off. I coasted to the side of the road and tried to restart the engine. When I glanced up I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I opened the hood and the engine was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the flames and the car is a total loss.

- Fox River Grove, IL, USA

problem #7

Nov 192019

Optima

  • 19,524 miles

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

As I was driving on the interstate 3 vehicles passed waving frantically before speeding by. I noticed a reflective orange flicker along the base each vehicle. This was followed up by a loud knocking sound before I lost all accelerating power but retained RPM revs as I pressed the pedal. I allowed the momentum to get me as far up the exit ramp as possible prior to pulling over onto the grass. I placed the car in park and turned it off to be met with an instant roll of smoke up the front windshield, out of the front grill, and from the passenger side tire area. I exited the vehicle to the sound of liquid hitting a hot surface and hissing. I stepped away from the vehicle and looked underneath to be met with rolls of fire dripping to the ground from beneath the engine and along the bottom center of the undercarriage of the car. I immediately cleared the area and my vehicle was complete engulfed in flames in less than 4 minutes. No sensors or alarms notified me of any type of malfunction.

- Vienna, GA, USA

problem #6

Nov 082019

Optima

  • 108,010 miles
While I was driving the lights on my dashboard came on and the car began to lose power/speed and then the car stopped and I was unable to restart the engine and some minor smoke and weird smell

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #5

Jan 202019

Optima

  • 60,000 miles
Fuel level indicator on dashboard shows wrong a gas level constantly, fuel pump issue which sends wrong info to the dashboard

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #4

Mar 082018

Optima

  • 85,000 miles
The following happens anytime while driving the electronic control unit and software, sensors, actuators, warning lights, fault codes, and performance related concerns of the electronic stability control system. My passenger window won't go up once you put it down without a fight. I been to the dealer 4 times and it's not fixed.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #3

May 012019

Optima

  • 100,009 miles
I had just reached my destination. After being parked for approximately 30 - 45 minutes when I tried to crank up to leave. I put it in the drive gear and it would not move forward or backward when put in the reverse gear; then I had it towed. Then when attempted to crank it; it caught a fire and destroyed all of the motor, and most of the car before the fire could be extinguished

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

Aug 242018

Optima

  • 5,900 miles
Leaking clear liquid that, stains driveway. See when car is moved.first noticed 8/18.had checked by dealer.no leak was found.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 222018

Optima

  • 46,000 miles
My 2015 Kia Optima with 46,000 miles started smoking and running roughly; I brought it to the dealership where the service manager then gunned the engine very hard until the engine seized up. Later they told me the engine needed replacement for 7K and they would not cover it because I did not get oil changes with them. I told them I change my own oil or get it done at a local place in town because I don't feel like waiting for 3-4 hours for oil changes at the Kia in glendale ca where btw the service is terrible. This engine should be recalled like the others; it is not a production defect it is an engineering defect and the sooner Kia recognizes that the less liability they will be responsible for. This company is a real disappointment and I hope they will move to a voluntary recall and not put all their customers through hell waiting for the government to force them. I speak nothing but negatively about these cars so other people won't be in the position I am in.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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