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EnginePart report

2015 Kia Optima Engine Problems

Complaints
623about this part
Share
62%of 1,010 total for the year
Median mileage
86,996miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 623 complaints about the engine of the 2015 Kia Optima, 62% of the 1,010 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 86,996 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved and 48 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

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

“3 months prior to my car going into limp mode I had an incident where I was on the highway and had to come to a stop of major traffic and suddenly my car cut off out of nowhere. I got it to crank after putting it in park, but it was very scary being on the highway thank God it was traffic to where cars wasn't going so fast. …”

NHTSA complaint #11570912, filed 2024-02, 101,650 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

“I have experienced several issues with my Kia. I have replaced catalytic converter (direct fit), and the valve covering gasket. However, the engine reports issues every other month. The dealership dismissed everything stating that the engine is fine. But wherever I take the car to get an oil change, they say I need to contact the dealership. I have been consistently managing my car maintenance but it does not help.”

NHTSA complaint #11568205, filed 2024-01, 189,436 miles

“Trying to avoid another vehicle approaching me in a head on collision, my engine began to stall, brakes locked up which caused suspension issues of the vehicle. Due to this, the vehicle was completely totaled and global lending services is consistently reporting it as a repossession. Both vehicles were in motion and it was on a la hwy.”

NHTSA complaint #11373237, filed 2020-11, 1,200 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

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202010268%
20199243%
201813257%
201716564%
201642656%
201562362%
201428448%
201361444%
201239843%
201125643%
2010912%
20091412%
20081913%
20071610%
200675%
200431%
200321%
200244%
200121%

Other parts of the 2015 Kia Optima

Other or unknown
140 complaintsElectrical system
135 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