KnownCarProblems2015 Kia Optima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,009 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Optima, most often about the engine (64% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Optima model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory3 recalls for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2015 Kia Optima problems
Engine
647 complaints · 64%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Your sitting at a red light or driving down the road, and the car just stalls/turns off without any warning what so ever. This actually just started today. After looking it up, it seems to be happening quite a bit & nothing is being done by Kia. This is ridiculous, not to mention scary! It's an accident waiting to…
Engine locked up durring acceleration to 40 MPH why merging into traffic found out engine has a bent rod. Oil and coolent where sufficint but Kia will not fix or replace. Could of caused my wife to crash or be hit by traffic
Other or unspecified
139 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 61,500 miles.
On october 15, 2018, I purchased from pep boys four goodyear all season 205/65r16 tires. On two separate occasions since then I have had a tire puncture and flatten immediately as a result of very little measurable side impact with a curb. After researching this matter online I have determined that others are having…
I own a 2015 Kia Optima. I have a panoramic sunroof that stretches he entire length of the car. I was driving down the highway during a very brutal winter where we had temperatures in the minus category a few times. While driving on the beltway doing approx. 55mph, there was a loud sound that sounded like a gun shit.…
Electrical
135 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 81,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, alternator/generator/regulator, instrument cluster/panel, propulsion system.
Car engine stopped while driving on highway. Road ranger attempted to jump car off but sparks came and multiple cables were burnt out.. Car would not start. Took it to multiple automotive shop and was advise to contact Kia for recall
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the contact activated the hazard lights. The contact called roadside assistance and had the vehicle towed to lou fusz Kia (1025 n lindbergh blvd, st louis, mo, 63132). The dealer diagnosed that the alternator failed and…
Brakes
90 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 89,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling at a traffic light, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and move to the side of the road where the vehicle stalled again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds and while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a burning odor coming from the engine compartment.…
Body and structure
76 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Body paint is peeling on hood and rear bumper ; Kia dealer said Kia only warrants the paint job for only 3 years. I am contending Kia knows this and is deceiving its customers from day 1; unacceptable !
Vehicle burst into flames without provocation. Vehicle was in perfect, pristine condition. Was in vehicle 5 minutes on way to work in am. Vehicle was being driven approx 5 miles per hour on a busy main road. Slowed down to stop at red light and the car died, instrument panel started flashing and engine burst into…
Steering
69 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles.
I noticed while driving at highway speeds that you have to fight to keep it on the road. It veers to the left and when corrected, then veers to the right, this continues as long as you are driving at highway speeds between 50 and 75 miles an hour. When you slow down the car feels loose and sways easily from left to…
I have noticed that as I am driving on the the interstate that my steering is sticking, this too me is very uncomfortable and this should be noted as a safety concern, this problem should be looked into before t turns deadly.
Fuel system
56 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 104,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
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…
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
Transmission
49 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 83,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
My 16 year old son saved his money (since 13 years old) and purchased back in october 2019 the car used from a dealer with 79546 miles on the car. On february 18, 2020 on his drive home from school he noticed a loud knocking noise. He was not sure where it was coming from, no warning lights came on whatsoever. He…
I have never had any problems with my vehicle since the day I bought it brand new. I make sure to get regular maintenance and I am not a harsh driver. I was driving about 50 MPH on a 2 lane road. The light ahead turned yellow and I slowed down to stop. Once my vehicle came to a stop at the red light, it made a weird…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Kia Optima recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the hecu fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed november 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2024 through june 18, 2024. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc284.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 borrego, 2014-2016 cadenza, 2010-2013 forte, forte koup, sportage, 2015-2018 k900, 2011-2015 optima, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, soul, 2012-2017 rio, 2011-2014 sorento, and 2010-2011 rondo vehicles. The hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An electrical short in the hecu increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the hecu for leaks, replacing the hecu if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on july 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20v-519. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc212.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 optima and 2014-2015 sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20v-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: If the hecu short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hecu for leaking brake fluid and replace the hecu if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began october 20, 2020. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc197.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 optima and 2014-2015 sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began january 17, 2019. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc172.
Full defect summary
Kia motors america (kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 optima, 2012-2017 sorento and 2011-2018 sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17v-224, warranty, or the knock sensor detection system (ksds) product improvement campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Questions about the 2015 Kia Optima
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Kia Optima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (647 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles); other or unspecified (139 complaints, typically around 61,500 miles); electrical (135 complaints, typically around 81,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Optima have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Kia Optima?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Optima model year since 2000, with 1,009 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.