| Issue ID | 1675179 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 11339728 |
| Manufacurer | Kia Motors America |
| Brand | KIA |
| Model | OPTIMA |
| Model Year | 2015 |
| File date | 05/12/19 |
| Component | ENGINE |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | I purchased a new 2015 kia optima. Completed regular maintanence on it, and the engine failed (locked up) at 138,000 miles. Later, i was advised the 2015 kia optima and other kia's were found to have faulty engines. Kia did not offer assistance at the time, but are now offering assistance since i have traded the kia with a locked motor. I have been given the run-around for weeks and today a "regional manger" called and offered zero assistance and basically told me the faulty motor was not their problem. When the motor locked up, i was passing a car on the highway. The optima stalled while i was in on-coming traffic, and then the motor died. I was able to pull over safetly, and the car smelt like an electrical fire, it never started again. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 138000 |
| Number of Occurences | |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | HOT SPRINGS, AR |
| VIN pattern | KNAGM4A78F5XXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | N |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | |
| No. of fatalities | |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
| Number of cylinders | |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | 55 |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |