NHTSA Complaint #11330210 — 2015 KIA OPTIMA

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WAS TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH ON DRY STREET IN THE FAR LEFT LANE (FAST LANE), MY CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND LIKE METAL CLICKING AND THEN CAR STARTED SMOKING. MY HUSBAND GETS OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND THE SMOKE GOES FROM GRAY TO BLACK AND WHEN HE LIFTED THE HOOD UP FLAMES COMING FROM REAR AND PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE! LUCKILY SOMEONE PULLED OVER AND HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE AND POLICE BOTH ARRIVED ON SCENE AND REPORTS MADE. VEHICLE TOWED HOME; WAITING TO TOW TO DEALER TO FIND OUT CAUSE OF FIRE. REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON THE VEHICLE AND NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS JUST FIRE. KIA KNOWS THERE IS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND CHOOSE TO ONLY RECALL CERTAIN YEARS WHEN THEY BASICALLY KNOW ANY VEHICLE BETWEEN 2011 AND 2018 CAN BE AFFECTED. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE BUT VERY UPSET THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND KIA STATES SINCE IT'S OVER 100,000 MILES THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR