2015 Kia Optima complaints

2015 KIA OPTIMA WHITE PEAR PAINT JOB DELAMINATION ON HOOD, TRUNK SIDE PANELS BY WINDOWS AND FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELDS. AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, HAS BEEN INSPECTED. NATIONAL PROBLEM, INSPECTED BY KIA DEALER REFERRED BODY SHOP. FIRST TIME APPEARED VERY VISIBLE 1 YEAR 1/2 AGO. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO KIA, FILED CLAIM, CASE #[XXX] ON 10/11/2023, TODAY, 11/17/2023 RECEIVED E-MAIL "VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY". MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN GEORGIA WITHIN THE SAME TIME(S) OF THE CLASS ACTION RECALL FOR 2013 AND 2014 MODELS. I REQUEST MY CASE BE RECONSIDERED FOR THE PAINT REQUEST. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving on Hwy 19 the vehicle shut down. The motor turned off and I was able to slowly roll to the side of the road. The car did not start again.

When driving down the highway car will beep a message on dashboad to pull the car over and turn engine off. the HEV light will be flashing. you can turn engine off and re start in a minute or so. the check engine light stays on and tells me to check hybrid system this willl ocur at random once a week or two times in a month. Kia dealership has not fixed the issue. I dont trust driving the car or safe when pulling off a busy highway. ON hand held obd did get a trouble code P0A37 Generator Temperature Sensor Hi Range .

Something is so wrong with my car, I can not see through the UVO screen no sound at all, can not detect my car key unless I put my key on dashboard. UVO works and dies instantly. Something in computer part of my KIA is BAD not operating normal. I take my car to KIA in Lithonia GA still NO HELP!! NO KIA DEALER WILL HELP ME UNLESS I PAY A HIGH DOLLAR! My 2015 Kia Optima EX needs help.

The paint on my Kia is abnormally bubbling and flaking off.

The contact leased a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the front passenger's side window, the rearview camera, and the brake lights were intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. The contact shifted into neutral(N) and was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of several bystanders. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was leased, and it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the battery warning light and the steering warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and drove to the residence, where the vehicle remained parked. The vehicle was not repaired. The Kia dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Engine failure & fuel leak. Also oil was burning extremely fast . I had taking it to the dealership while back ago for a recall and said it was fixed. Few months later gas started running out fast. A check light engine came on saying there was an evaporation leak. I did call the dealership to see what exactly they fixed, emailed them. They kept telling me they would call me back and never did. Wouldn’t get any emails back. I took it upon headquarters to let them know about the oil burning fast and emailed. And called them. Apparently there was nothing they can do and told me I have to call the dealership. I took the car to my mechanic because I trust him more than the actual dealership at this point. And I brought up concerns about my safety being in that car. No one heard me out or seemed to care. And now forward months later after check light engines on and the pcv valve getting changed, purge valve. The light stopped coming on after changing the purge valve got change which linked to the code that showed up. I started seeing online that Kia optima’s have so many engine problems , misfires etc. and now my Kia has an engine failure. I tried to contact Kia again by entering the info for a settlement and I was told there is nothing they can do about it. So now I’m left with $5,500 to finish paying off my loan for the car and can’t even drive the car anymore. I havnt felt safe In my car for months and no one would hear me out.

I was driving when the vehicle began to shake and then the check engine light came on. I stopped at a red light and when the light turned green and I processed to go the car shut off while in traffic. I then waited to see if the car would turn back on and it did just long enough for me to get out of the roadway. I had the car towed back to the dealer from whom I purchased the car from. He had his mechanic check the vehicle out and informed me that the engine seized. He then had it towed to a repair shop and they also confirmed the engine seized. When I purchased the vehicle 9 months ago it came with a warranty. The warranty company is now saying that I am responsible for the cost of the diagnostic testing which is $2,500.00 before they will replace the engine. I reached out to Kia and they are also saying that I am responsible for the diagnostic testing and that the warranty company can choose a new or used engine replacement. I asked Kia if the engine was ever replaced during the first engine recall but representative refused to say if it was or wasn't. My car is still at the repair shop. These matter needs to be addressed as there may be others going through the same issue. This is the second time this has happened to me. I previously had a 2011 Kia Sportage that did the same exact thing. I returned it to the dealer whom I purchased it from and that vehicle was added to my credit report as a repo and resold at an auction. I hope and pray the issue was repaired before it was

Unknown

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced due to abnormal knocking sound. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, there was a strong gasoline odor coming through the A/C vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the low-pressure fuel hose was leaking and needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V093000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road however, the vehicle was not able to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was caused by the engine seizing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

The paint on my vehicle has been bubbling and chipping off for years. I did buy my vehicle used and was a certified pre owned. It was in great condition at the time of purchase. The paint became a problem soon after owning the vehicle. I didn’t think much of it till it continued to peel off more and rust in certain areas. I noticed more vehicles like mine had the same problem. I began looking into it and seen that others were complaining of the same issue as mine online. I did contact Kias main corporate office and they wanted estimates and pictures. I did not go thru with this because they said it was a process to even get approved and if they approved it they would only paint certain parts, and not the whole car. I figured why paint parts if the same paint was used originally to paint the entire car then chips could happen anywhere else. And if paint was approved on certain areas I could only file once and to me that didn’t seem worth it at the time so I decided to see if this would become a recall and have been waiting patiently. Im very unhappy with KIA regarding this issue. It’s clearly a problem amongst multiple customers. I have this nice car and it’s embarrassing to drive like this. I hope this message reaches someone who will do something about this. Thank you

Engine lost power and when restart was attempted, it could torn turn over. Tried restarting 3 times with no success. After this, smoke started coming from the hood. I opened the hood and noticed a small flame at the driver side bottom of the engine compartment. Flame intensified and grew and eventually I extinguished with a fire extinguisher. I had just replaced the starter that same week and replaced some wiring at a local car repair facility.

Bought car February 22 less than 5200 miles. Died on hwy October 6. Kia denied claim. Had no ideal of a software update. Never heard of that in my life. Almost lost my life with this car

Kia has a Nation Wide Campaign for faulty engines, that will display a code (consistent in the campaign), my daughter purchased a 2015 Kia Optima, 76,000 miles, that was a rebuilt title, however the damage was on the back passenger door, body damage only. Was surprised it was even totaled out from the insurance, however due to the high theft issues with Kia's insurance companies are paying them out to avoid the theft as well as the engine issues. Currently, Kia is telling us that they will not replace the engine (even though this is the campaign they are advertising) due to the rebuilt title, even though the defective engine is from the manufacture and nothing to do with the body damage to the back passenger door. This car was repaired in full and cleared to be re-titled as a rebuilt title. These engine issues can cause the vehicle to seize while driving, it goes into Limp mode (safety mode) which reduces the speed and power to the engine and there are reports that the engine can catch fire. Kia is doing these engine replacements under the MFG warranty and have stated they are lifetime replacements, due to the continued problems and yet they want to not replace hers when a insurance company decided to total the car our for damage that could have been repaired.

The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 58 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear center passenger side of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle rolled. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injury to the lower back, head, and neck that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle slowed down and then became inoperable. The battery and check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle had been diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty engine block. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

My engine locked while driving on the highway, I have got the car inspected twice since I purchased it and only had it for a year and it passed, everything worked fine and no hazard lights were on dashboard until it stopped then the battery and engine light showed when stopping! I had no problems with the car prior to it, just stopping on me I had my kids with me and we were going to another state so that’s dangerous! I had to get it towed to a Kia dealership and was told they had 4 recalls on my car and the problem was the engine locked but I was told they would not do it free of charge or under warranty because the car has a salvage title overall the car was still drive able and in good condition up until that point.

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.

Motor failed and Kia replaced the motor. Now my dim lights and fog lights will not work. All fuse, relay, etc.. has been tested along with bulb replacement…

My Kia optima has been having engine issues regarding fluid spilling in different components of the vehicle, first started within spark plugs, then in the exhaust camshaft, once I fixed those two issues it's now spilling within my wiring hardness. I was told to fix my valve cover which I did but oil is still spilling out from the engine and into other components. The vehicle stalls while driving on the highway which is unsafe for myself and other drivers due to the speed slowing down without warning until after the decline in speed. I've went to an independent service center, but once new issues arouse I assumed he was just trying to get more money out of me but I even brought it to Kia and still seems to have issues occur. I received an engine light warning when the vehicle stalls, there is times where the car actually turns off but not completely ( I guess due to the car being in drive mode) and I have to actually push my engine start/stop button for the engine to start again.

Engine Rebuild/Replace: #4 CYLINDER WALL DAMAGE ALLOWING OIL INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBER I have kept very good care of my car and have provided appropriate maintenance including oil changes 3k-5k with synthetic oil and also recently had full tube up April 2023.

Pearl white paint is peeling off in chunks. Not normal.

1st problem happened when I was at a complete stop, at a traffic light, in rush hour traffic. All the sudden steam started coming out from underneath my hood. I instantly looked at my temperature gauge and it did not show anything however I knew something was wrong when the light turned green I immediately pulled over, out of the street as far as I can get without being hit by other cars. I put on my hazard lights. Pop the hood. I had a gallon jug in my trunk. And I walked to a store to fill it up with water. Came back, poured the entire gallon into the radiator. Waited for at least 30 minutes. Started the car and made it home. After that incident, the problems with this 2015 Kia Optima has snowballed. It just amazes me that it has started happening 2000 miles after my extended warranty expired. I had to purchase and replace spark plugs, the coil packs, two other sensor things, which I do have the receipts for and now the car reeks a gasoline and it automatically kicks into overdrive and I lose my reading on my tachometer, this puts it into a disabled mode, I'm on the freeway in Russia traffic, trying to pull over without getting into an accident. Do I believe this is a safety concern? You're damn right I do am I mad yes. I am taking my k i a into the dealership. After doing my research on this make and model, is the dealership doesn't honor what the claims department and the media response to this problem. Will then I will leave the car with Kia because I cannot afford a new

Windows were broken and steering column was broken in to. Car was stolen and spray painted the seats and front end was smashed.Car was totaled

I was driving the car 30 mph and the engine just cuts off completely and dies in the middle of the road in traffic. It wouldnt start. There was no time given to pull off the roadway. I get to safely call a tow truck which took them 3 hours to get there. They took it to Kia and there Kia says it has 4 recalls and the engine is seized up. Even though Kia is responsible for motor replacement and has replaced motors in other Kia's they have denied me of a new engine die to their recall. I have paid dearly for that car for 6 years now that im a thousand away from paying it off and having my sanity Kia almost gets me killed on the street and took what sanity I have left. They say they are not going to fix any of the recalls on my car.

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.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving after a stop, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that an unstated hose had failed, causing the engine to seize. The contact called an unknown local dealer and was informed that the warranty on the vehicle was under another person's name. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

My car is dragging/hesitant to pick up speed. While on the highway, it takes a while to reach minimal speed. No warning lights are on, but one mechanic advised code, under turbo boost. My steering wheel vibrates at speeds above 40 mph (unsure if it's related to turbo), but no one seems to be able to find the core of the problem for repair, Kia dealership included. I've been trying to seek repair for close to a year, without satisfaction.

Excessive shaking of engine, stalled out while driving on highway, knocking in the engine.

I had oil changed by Jiffy Lube for a very long time dedicated to getting it changed. Anyways, I was driving down the road and all of a sudden the motor started knocking I pulled over and had to have it towed because the knocking was getting louder and louder.

My sunroof basically spontaneously combusted while I was driving, sending tiny shards of glass flying. Thank goodness my sunshade was closed to catch all the glass shards and that no vehicles or bystanders were nearby to be hit by glass. The loud noise startled me but I was able to keep calm enough to drive the car to a safe location to inspect what had happened

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.

My 2015 Kia Optima EX with 56,462 miles which I am the original owner. On 09/07/2024, my vehicle oil light came on and the vehicle was taken to Weston Kia in Gresham, OR. This vehicle has had regular oil changes every 3,000 miles since purchased performed at Weston Kia. The service department found a leaking oil pressure switch and preformed the repairs totaling $248.60 on 09/08/2023. Per Kia 10yr/100,000 Powertrain warranty for original owner "In the Engine: Cylinder block, cylinder head and all INTERNAL PARTS, timing gear, seals and gaskets, valve cover, flywheel, OIL PUMP, water pump and turbo charger, pg. 6." I believe this part is covered per Kia warranty and the definition of drivetrain "A powertrain is a system inside a vehicle, in a car, a powertrain consists of the engine or motor and its internal components, such as the energy storage system, transmission and driveshaft." After reviewing all Kia warranty information and speaking to customer service at 800-333-4542 (Who stated the repairs are not covered), there is no information to the contrary that a oil leaking pressure switch that is located within the engine block is not covered. Kia would not provide any detailed information that shows this part falls outside of the terms of my 10yr/100,000 mile warranty.

I HAVE 2015 KIA OPTIMA GREY OR PLATINUM GRAPHITE EXTERIOR COLOR SINCE AUG 2019 I HAD AN TBONE ACCIDENT LAST DEC 26 2021 WHICH IAM NOT AT FAULT FOR NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF COMFORT CARE CLAIM IT WAS DURING COVID PANDEMIC I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GRIEVIANCE BEING HATE LEFT IN DESPAIR ALSO JOB LOSS WITH NO INCOME UNSTABLE LIVING SITUATION WHICH I WAS LIVING ON MY PERSONAL VEHICLE BEEN GOING THROUGH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP UNTIL PRESENT I HAVENT BEEN DRIVEN UNTIL I BROUGHT TO KIA DEALERSHIP JAN 1ST OF 2023 DUE TO MY PERSONAL INJURY AND CAR ACCIDENT IT WAS LEFT PARKED GOT TOWED WITH BUSTED WINDOWS HAD MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS BEING GONE MISSING.... I HAVE ROUGH YEARS... IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET BACK UP IN MY FEET MY CAR HAS RECALLS ARENT BEING REPAIRED FAIRLY. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME TO ADHERE MY CONCERNS I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE IF POSSIBLE...I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

I have a 2015 Snow White Pearl Kia Optima. My car have several spots where the paint has started to boil and peel off the car. The peeling has spread to all over the car and I can see new spots that start off looking like a cigarette burn, you can also see where the paints bubbles up.

The paint is chipping off in large pieces. We hand wash this vehicle and the paint will just chip right off.

The concern is more of a cosmetic issue than mechanical. The paint or primer has a defect which is causing my vehicle to peel from the paint throughout the panels. Kia did decline the roof pillar when it first started but then the hood & left rear door is peeling. I paid out of pocket to have it repaired but other panels started to peel which it will not stop.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an abnormal oil consumption. The contact stated that she had been adding engine oil to the vehicle every 400 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact was informed that the vehicle had to experience catastrophic engine failure to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON THE 57 FREEWAY AND MY CAR STOP RUNNING AND I PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR CATCH ON FIRE. EVERYTHING STARTED IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED KIA AND MADE A COMPLAINT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME.

I’ve had my 2015 Kia optima since 7/11/23. My dipstick showed oil full. I drove it 977 miles from 7/11/23 until August 23 2023. My oil went from full mark on dip stick to low. My vehicle I purchased had 66,892. I should think it shouldn’t be losing a quart oil in a little over a month. I had to add a quart of oil. This is unacceptable.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving into a parking lot at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact restarted and parked the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence the following day. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the steering column was previously replaced due to power steering failure. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality inadvertently, and veered to the right lane unintendedly. The anti-skid and the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that he was able to continue driving using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the earliest availability for diagnostic testing was September 8, 2023. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist because the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

I recently got a 2015 Kia Optima LX, I loved the vehicle and decided to buy it. I had no issues until I decided to drive it, and after 30 minutes of driving, I faintly hear a sound coming from the engine, as if it's hitting some metal. Shortly after, a warning light on the dashboard turns on. I reach home and decide to scan it with a small OBD scanner I have, and to my surprise, it's showing error code P1326. The vehicle is running very poorly, making a sound like metal rubbing against metal, and it has no power at all. I'm stuck on the road with the vehicle like this. It has 104,600 miles on it.

Car was driven to work and died on side of road a few weeks ago. Would not take a jump. Had funny smell when hood was up. Had to tow it home. 2015 (bought in 2016 from Kia Dealershop with 130 miles. We were the only owner. I think it was used for test drives? Dealership said engine seized ( only 35,000 miles). Haven't heard from them yet. No rental car! What can we do. Under Powertrain warranty. Thanks [XXX] and [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at low speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was determined that the engine had seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired, and there was no recall for the failure on the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 110,928.

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

2015 Kia Optima engine seized on the highway at 70mph without any warning. Engine light illuminated and lost all power. This was a replacement engine with approximately 75,000 miles. Original engine was replaced at 125k due to excessive oil consumption (burned 1 quart in 800 miles). Vehicle has been at the dealership since the end of June awaiting engine replacement (again).

Engine oil leaks that may cause the vehicle to stall.

Pearl white paint is peeling and chipping. I have photos, paint Samples and Receipts from having to repair to prevent rust.