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Electrical systemPart report

2015 Kia Optima Electrical system Problems

Complaints
135about this part
Share
13%of 1,010 total for the year
Median mileage
81,250miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 135 complaints about the electrical system of the 2015 Kia Optima, 13% of the 1,010 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 81,250 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 24 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #11554959, filed 2023-11, 141,727 miles

“Engine lights keep coming on and off. But doesn't give a code when I take it to get serviced. Took it up to Kia to tell them that on my way home from the dealership, that my wall caught on fire in the trunk from the socket that holds the bulbs.back lights go out constantly after the bulbs are changed or the socket has been changed.”

NHTSA complaint #11395981, filed 2021-02, 152 miles

“The brake lights would not go off when I turned my car off. This ended up killing my battery. When I got the battery recharged it allowed the car to start without the brakes being pushed in. Also I noticed that the stopper had broken. This allowed the computer to think that the brakes were engaged even though the peddle wasn't pushed.”

NHTSA complaint #11339639, filed 2020-07, 58,556 miles

“I was driving the road when out of the sudden the engine stops and sometimes turns on on itself,its seems like the engine locks and the cars stops suddenly.it also happens and I turn on intersections,when I accelerate to gain speed it turns off and I have to put the car on neutral and turn it on. On all of these occasions my family traveling with me.”

NHTSA complaint #11171544, filed 2019-01, 61,000 miles

“I was driving the car on a two lane street at a normal rate of speed when the motor cut off. I coasted to the side of the road and tried to restart the engine. When I glanced up I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I opened the hood and the engine was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the flames and the car is a total loss.”

NHTSA complaint #11288199, filed 2019-12, 92,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2020149%
20192311%
20183314%
20172510%
201610414%
201513513%
20146010%
201314611%
201212213%
20116311%
20101317%
20091614%
20081510%
2007148%
20062315%
20052920%
20044520%
20032518%
20021413%
20011712%

Other parts of the 2015 Kia Optima

Engine
623 complaintsOther or unknown
140 complaintsBrakes
90 complaintsBody and structure
76 complaintsSteering
69 complaintsFuel system
56 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
49 complaintsVehicle speed control
36 complaintsEngine cooling
31 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsElectronic stability control
10 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2015 Kia Optima

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology