2015 KIA OPTIMA Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. After stopping at a nearby service station and turning off the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The fire department was called to the scene and noticed a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact indicated that there were no flames present during the incident. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine was damaged due to an electrical malfunction and needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted and notified the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 110,000.

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.

The vehicle was purchased from Carmax on or about 4/10/21. On or about 3/25/22, the vehicle broke down while being driven. It was towed to the Coral Springs Kia dealership for assessment. A representative from the dealership advised that the engine needs to be replaced due to "rod bearing failure". The representative further advised that the manufacturer is refusing to cover any of the costs associated with the repair, which the dealership estimates to be $6,289.50 (see uploaded repair estimate). I believe the manufacturer should be liable for the costs of repair, which fall within Product Improvement Campaign PI1802.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle overheated and shut down. The contact drove safely off the highway. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, after being impounded on the side of the highway. The dealer diagnosed the failure with rod bearing failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

Hi my wife was driving home from work when she heard a noise from under the hood her car then shut off for no reason on the highway, she started the car again started driving then the engine light came on and shut the car off again once again on a busy highway making it hard to pull over she made it home but engine was knocking checked the codes and it had codes for your rod bearing issues on the year before code p0014 and code p1326 not sure if anyone else had this problem but this is definitely not safe! For a vehicle to just shut off first no codes or anything making it dangerous for the driver and the people around the driver this matter really needs to be looked at, especially when someone almost gets into an accident bc the car just shuts off and is...

Engine/motor failed which disabled the car on highway. Traveling on 3/4 lane highway with heavy traffic. Safety was risked due to almost being hit from behind and cars swerving out the way. Problem was assessed and thought to be repaired but occurred again causing more possible damage to engine. Warning lamp illuminated seconds before the car shut off which was not enough time to pull over safely. Car had to be towed off highway.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate and then lost motive power. The oil warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer performed a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

The motor is locked for a second time. The first time occurred in May of 2018, I had approximately 80,000 miles on the car. I was leaving from the gas station and as soon as I made it into the middle of the street, the car just cut off. I had a mechanic come look at it, and they told me that the motor was locked up. So I had it towed home, bought another motor and got it repaired. Now here it is 04/14/2022, and the motor is locked up again. This is ridiculous!!! I have had to replace multiple parts (the lower control arm for example) several times over 200 hundred dollars each time. I refuse to replace this motor for a second time and have never got reimbursed for nothing!! I used to love KIA but honestly, this is a crappy car and company.

I was driving on the highway going about 60 an then all of a sudden the car loss acceleration and stopped. Lucky I was about to pull on the side of the highway.

While driving my car felt as though it was running differently and upon looking at my dash board I saw 4 different indicator lights. The charging system warning light, engine oil pressure light, immobilizer indicator light with smart key, and malfunction indicator light. I brought my car to a stop and because I did not know exactly what was wrong I turned my vehicle off. Upon trying to restart my car is when the brake would not press in and the car would not turn over. I had the car towed to my mechanic who contacted me the next day to let me know that the engine was locked up due to the HECU and that I needed to contact a Kia dealer close to my home because there was actually a recall on this from the manufacture. I then had the car towed to a Kia dealer near my...

1. The O2 Sensor malfunctioned causing check engine light to come on. The Catalytic Converter failed or malfunctioned, an it is available for inspection upon request. 1wk after replacement of O2 Sensor installment, check engine light illuminated once again. [Official diagnosis was the catalytic converter was faulty but no mention of replacing 02 once catalytic converter was fixed]. 2. My safety as well as my children's safety was put at risk because there was and still is (even after repairs made from dealership where car was purchased) an issue with broken exhaust system and leak. A broken exhaust system poses extreme danger because it releases carbon monoxide (CO)- an odorless ,tasteless, highly toxic gas, which can travel in passenger area and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Overexposure to this odorless and colorless gas can cause death. Even in mild cases of exposure to CO can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue....

Engine locked up exactly like it is described in NHTSA ID Number 1147025. The manufacturer refuses to honor the civil suit judgement on this vehicle due to the previous owner and a Kia dealer not performing 1 recall.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine code P1326 (Knock Sensor Detection System) and failed the bearing test. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the FTC. The failure mileage was 129,272.

DEAN MCCRARY OF MOBILE AGREED TO FIX ALL ACTIVE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE ON 11/3/2021. THEY KEPT MY CAR UNTIL 12/4/2021 CAUSING HUNDREDS IN RENTAL FEES. MY CAR STILL HAS AN ACTIVE RECALL WHICH WAS ISSUED IN MAY, 2021. THE SERVICE MANAGER ASSURED ME ALL RECALLS WOULD BE REPAIRED.

The morning of 3-1-2022, after driving for approximately 5 minutes, I noticed a ticking/knocking coming from the engine area. 10 minutes later, I stopped and opened the hood and it was definitely coming from the engine. This continued that evening when I went home. Sometimes it was quiet, but others times loud. I dropped it off at my mechanic the next morning, they later called saying it was an internal engine knock and they couldn't do anything with it. The next day I took it to another auto repair mechanic and was told the same thing, but they also said it needed a new motor, but to contact kia for any recalls. There are none for my 2015, but 2011-2014 DID have recalls and they were for the same problem I was having. I was given an appt for the following Tuesday, but by Friday afternoon the engine completely shut...

While driving on the highway, car suddenly lost power which was dangerous because there was no shoulder to pull over out of the way of other vehicles, & another car could have slammed into the back of mine, luckily was able to coast far enough exit highway. Had car towed to shop was told the engine had seized up. With no warning at all. Then I learned about the recall for this car, unfortunately a little too late in my case.

While driving the vehicle the engine shut off with no warning in heavy traffic. 10 seconds before the check engine light came on and then just seized. 3 police officers came to push the vehicle to the roadside out of traffic. I never Knew of a KSDS install on this vehicle and Kia admits that there is a defective engine but will not fix the car since this install was not complete. The police officers told us that we were extremely lucky to have not been injured in an accident as we sat in the middle of the highway. So we now have a vehicle that we are paying for with a seized motor that kia admittedly knows was defective but they refuse to fix. We never got a notice to have this installed. When I look on your site, there is a recall but for something completely different. How...

Every morning when I start the car and try to accelerate the car has no power, I have to stop turn the car off and restart the car again for their to be power. This simple restart works for a couple months before the check engine light comes on. When I take the car to Kia they tell me that because the diagnostics machine isn’t giving them a code they don’t know what to fix, however the diagnostics machine resets the check engine light and the process starts all over. This all started right before Kia replaced the motor on a recall. The car is doing the same thing as it was when I had it towed to them and they said the motor was seized up.

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.

Battery, Fluid and Engine light came on and all the sudden car stop and died in the middle of the highway.

I have a 2015 Kia optima that started experiencing problems the week of January 26th. I contacted Kia Consumer Affairs and was advised to have my car towed to Van Guard Kia of Arlington TX since there were 2-3 recalls on the car that I was not aware of. I was told by Kia Consumer Affairs that if the problem with my car was related to a recall, that Kia would be responsible for the repair. I spoke with George (service manager at dealership) today and he informed me that my car would need a new motor and this is due to the recalls on the car. George also stated that I would be responsible for the cost of the repair. I contacted Kia Consumer Affairs again this morning and was told they would have to call dealership and get more information. I've never had any problems with my car...

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was unable to be restarted and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer who also stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 98,123.

ENGINE FAILED, CHECK OIL LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. HAD TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN THE CAR AND KIA WOULD NOT FIX. PRODUCT UPDATE CAME ON THE CAR PRIOR TO US BUYING IT, SO WE HAD NO IDEA. CAR STOPPED ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING, LUCKILY NOONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER IT WAS ALREADY CLOSED SO NOTHING WE CAN DO. KIA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE THEY SHOULD BE RESPONISBLE FOR FIXING IT.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 72 MPH, the engine seized and the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rod bearing needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer also informed him that the knock sensor repair was not previously completed on the vehicle; however, the contact never received a notification from the manufacturer regarding the knock sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

My engine blew while driving home from work. I was driving 60 mph and the rod went through the bottom of my engine

Without warning, my car died while I was driving it. The engine locked up. The engine is toast. No reason for this to have had happened. I'm now without a vehicle as a single mom. Thank God I wasn't turning in front of a semi when it just randomly died!

My check engine light came on Sunday January 23rd. Upon Contacting my local Kia Dealership, I was told that my vehicle has recall # SC212 at which time was advised to bring my vehicle into the Kia dealership for diagnosis. On Friday, January 28th I dropped my vehicle off at my local Kia dealership and within 3 hours received a call from my Service Advisor who stated the following issues were found: 1. Oil leak; REPLACED: Valve cover gasket, high pressure fuel line, and high-pressureSe fuel pump bolts. 2. Recall SC212; REPLACED: Multi-Fuse and Fuse Box Cover per campaign instructions. 3. Serpentine Belt; REPLACED: Drive Belt 4. Brake Pads; REPLACED: Front Brake Pads and Machined Rotors. 5. Brake Pads; REPLACED: Rear Brake Pads, in addition to Replacing both rear rotors. 6. REPLACED: Cabin Air Filter 7. REPLACED: Engine air filter 8. Oil and Filter Change; Performed LOF, set tire pressures,...

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s mother’s residence and then to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that a software update had not been completed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided due to a discrepancy. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 25-30 MPH on a one-lane road, the vehicle inadvertently began to stall. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stopped and turned off the vehicle but was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact attempted to jump-start the vehicle with the assistance of her friend however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact’s friend informed her that he smelled a burning odor. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the battery, the starter, and the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to bring the vehicle to their location for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 126,620.

The piston and valve are failing and yes it is available for inspection. My vehicle lost power in the middle of the freeway. I took it to the dealer and they said there was loss of compression in number 3, and there was cylinder scaring which they then said the valve malfunctioning. They then sent my claim to Kia motors and they said they aren’t going to put it under the warranty. There was no warning or any type of message before the incident.

THIS CAR HAVE PROBLEM ENGINE AND KNOCK SENSOR P1326. FUEL PROPUSION.SYSTEM. I LOST DAYS OF WORK ..AND MONEY TOO.I LOST MY JOB Consumer stated vehicle is still in the dealership.

I was driving my 2015 optima on 1-5-22 on a 4 lane road going up a hill the car stalled dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Car would not start I was stuck in heavy traffic. I had to have it towed to my house. This vehicle had a recall repair done in 2017 for this same issue. The dealership replaced the engine. I have not taken it to the dealership. Mileage at failure 173,000.Milage at first failure 57,000.

The engine on my 2015 Kia Optima failed as I was entering a freeway at night time. There was no indication that anything was wrong with the car on the dashboard and it had been running fine for about 15 minutes prior to completely shutting off without warning. When my car was taken into the dealership in Carson, CA, it was inspected and I was advised by the technician that this issue was a recalled one. He stated that he had seen this issue in many cars but could not begin to fix it until it was reviewed by their corporate office. Days later, the corporate office advised that they would not cover fixing this recalled issue and had passed the problem on to the extended warranty company. Then, the inspector from the extended warranty marked the engine's inspection as inconclusive. Kia and their extended warranty partner say that we...

Wife dropped car off to have oil change done at local mechanic shop we have done business with for years on 1/3/21 during her lunch. Wife picked car up after completion of oil change and drove back to her work approximately 1 mile away. Child seat was in the Optima so when I got off work I went and changed cars with her so I could pick up grandchild. When started it had a ticking sound and about 3/4 of a mile later it started shaking and making a loud rattling sound. I drove another 1/4 mile to home and parked it. No check engine light came on. My immediate thought was that the oil plug might have been left out. I checked the oil and it was full. I called mechanic and asked if it had any issues or sound and start up and he responded that it did...

The vehicle’s (2015 Kia Optima Hybrid) engine died suddenly in the middle of a busy intersection (I had the green light). It alerted suddenly that the hybrid battery could not charge the engine (first time this type alert has ever come up); the engine made a loud, metallic scraping sound and then died. The car stopped instantly after the sound and my safety, as the only person in the vehicle, was put in danger of getting hit by other vehicles driving through the intersection. I was honked at and had a near miss from the vehicle immediately behind me. The car was towed to a Kia dealer, has been inspected and is in the process of total engine replacement. The vehicle has just under 69,000 miles and has been out of commission at the dealer since November 27, 2021.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was unable to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine had locked up and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle's speed decreased as the RPM's increased with the engine and battery warning lights illuminated. The vehicle lost all power and was pushed to the side of the road as it failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as a starter which was replaced. The vehicle failed to start, and the failure was then diagnosed as a seized engine. The engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who confirmed the engine failure. The contact stated that the dealer informed him that the manufacturer did not approve the repairs for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) as the previous recalls were not completed. The contact stated that he found out about...

Granddaughter driving car, when car starting running erratic. Made it home and I check it and car was knocking and would not run over 30 mph. Engine light was flashing, changed oil myself and found medal particular in oil and filter. Motor is no longer safe to drive. Only has 122,000 miles. Engine was running fine up till this point.

I am writing because my vehicle was a waiting list for months since September 2020 in Mobile, AL at Dean McCrary Kia. I called daily to check the status of my vehicle. I took extended lunch breaks to check on my status of the waiting list. The customer service representatives told me my name remained in the same place for weeks on the waiting list, each time I inquired, due to them having only one technician. The staff was extremely rude. Kia of Mobile would not allow me to leave/park my car on their lot of the Mobile, Alabama location. They stated that I should keep my car at home and when they were ready to repair my vehicle, they would call me. Months went by. No call. In the year 2021, I had my car towed to Kia of Daphne in Daphne, AL. Trevor was the service manager. He...

Car was being driven and out of nowhere engine seized up without my prior warning lights, sounds, or issues. I took it to an independent reputable shop who confirmed the seizure which they admitted was a known problem with these theta Kia engines. Thankfully I was not On a heavily trafficked road so no accidents were caused.

On November 24th, 2021 I was merging onto a busy expressway when everything on my dashboard started flashing and the car shut down. There was absolutely no warning that the engine had no oil. No smell , no engine knocking sounds, no oil low light, no check engine light prior too it happening. It was towed to the nearest mechanic and they confirmed the engine was locked up. There was absolutely no oil in the reservoir per the mechanic. The oil was changed by Big O Tires on September 4th, 2021 and wasn't due for an oil change until December 4th, 2021. I searched my VIN and realized there was an engine recall on my 2015 KIA OPTIMA. I contacted three different dealerships near me to see who could look at it. I had it towed to the dealership and it was confirmed that the engine was locked up. It...

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated for several weeks. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and approaching a traffic light, after depressing the brake pedal the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,115.

The engine failed and started smoking as I was pulling out into traffic. Thankfully I was able to pull to the side of the road to avoid a collision from cars behind me. The car was towed to Kia and the service department confirmed the engine seized and would need to be replaced but Kia will not replace the defective engine even with the class action lawsuits. It has not been 8 months.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the vehicle made rattling sounds and was shaking and jerking. The contact pulled over and parked the vehicle. The check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for weekly oil consumption tests. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed carbon to cleanse. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,516.

Our car began making noise Wednesday, we took it to mechanic who says there's internal engine knock, and engine may need to be rebuilt or replaced. The issue is consistent with Kia's recent billion-dollar class action settlement, where engines were prone to failure fire. The class action claims window is closed. I don't want money, I just want the car fixed. I cannot afford this repair, nor should I have to for a car with under 60k miles. (Kia says it's not under warranty as we're the 2nd owner) I'm looking for any help or guidance for Kia to honor their obligation to repair dangerous vehicles. Please call or email with any feedback if possible - [XXX], [XXX]. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Incident previously reported by telephone to NHTSA agent. On 11/19 while writing report online, [XXX] was accidentally disconnected from Internet at approximately 4:40PM CST. Lengthy comments with details. Can you retrieve? If not and again more briefly, an incident of dangerous unexpected engine shut down and engagement of limp mode occurred on 9/17/21 while [XXX], son, was traveling at 70-75mph in busy traffic on I-43 just north of Milwaukee. Engine eventually restarted but NO check engine light. Oil level okay. Fuel okay. Still precautionary check by [XXX] for possible engine error codes same day immediately after engine failure (limp mode) at Advance Auto in Manitowoc, WI and NO CODES FOUND. Subsequently NO CODES FOUND by dealer on 10/22/21 I have re-uploaded documents indicating Kia Tech Support states "Do not perform any repairs if the concern cannot be duplicated" and also "see if the customer can duplicate it for you." That...

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was in limp mode. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle with the PUSH TO START button however, the vehicle failed to operate. The contact mentioned that there was a waiting period before being able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000. Engine has been replaced. At time of the incident on 9/17/21, no DTC code was registered.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the road after the failure. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The contact was then informed by the dealer that the engine had locked up and needed to be replaced. The dealer contacted the manufacturer and she was informed that since an engine software update was not performed on the vehicle, they would not assist with the repair of the vehicle. The contact spoke directly to the manufacturer and the manufacturer again declined to assist. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was 90,423.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact’s dad stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the starter replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under a recall for the starter. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle came to a complete stop at a stop sign and loss motive power. The contact towed the vehicle to his residence. The contact who works as an independent mechanic, self-diagnosed the failure as the engine seized and was not moving with the crankshaft. There was no metal found in the oil or oil filter. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.