2015 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
56,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 12 complaints (41.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 50.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Engine: 5; Steering: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2018: 8; 2019: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11078279 · 2018-03-09 (March 9, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U-TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN FUEL AND ELECTRIC EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2017. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (RICK CASE KIA IN SUNRISE FLORIDA). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,096 miles reported. Look up ODI 11078279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091290 · 2018-05-01 (May 1, 2018)
I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING PASS 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL GETS KINDA STUCK IN THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. IF I TRY TO STEER EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT IT GETS STUCK LITELY, NOW IT WILL NOT DO IT IF I'M MAKING A COMPLETE TURN! IT'S HARD DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT IN THE LANE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING. JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT IT DOES IT NOT ONLY ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ALSO ON CITY STREETS. IT'S ONLY HAPPENING AFTER I GO OVER APPROXIMATELY AFTER 35 MPH.
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11096903 · 2018-05-20 (May 20, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY, FOG LIGHTS, HIGH BEAM ALL ARE FINE, TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, TOLD IT NEEDED NEW HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT THE ISSUE, RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR FOR HEADLIGHT ISSUES. PLEASE, HOW DO I GET THI S RESOLVED. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEVER MENTIONED A RECALL
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099834 · 2018-06-04 (June 4, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE MESSAGE "HYBRID BATTERY ISSUE, PLEASE SHUT CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY" DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH KIA OF TEMECULA (26799 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRA REPLAY BATTERY AND THE SAFETY PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11115359 · 2018-08-02 (August 2, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT CALLED SEELYE FORD OF KALAMAZOO (3820 STADIUM DR, KALAMAZOO, MI 49008, [phone removed]). THE MANUFA…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121645 · 2018-08-22 (August 22, 2018)
ANTENNA COVER FELL OFF WHILE CAR WAS REVERSING FROM HOME DRIVE-WAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,021 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150361 · 2018-11-09 (November 9, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TEN MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT BURST INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED AWAY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PLANNED TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,400. *TT CONSUMER STATED FIRE STARTED AT THE HYBRID BATTERY. *JB *T…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163271 · 2018-12-24 (December 24, 2018)
ON DECEMBER 5, 2018 MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN AN INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL I HAD BATTERY POWER, ALL OF THE GA RESTART IT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL I HAD BATTERY POWER, ALL OF THE GAUGES WOULD A CYCLE BACK-AND-FORTH WHENEVER PUSHING THE START BUTTON,HOWEVER IT WAS JUST LIKE THE GAS MOTOR WOULD NOT FIRE. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT IT SHOWED A LOT OF CODES, AND THEY WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO DECIPHER THEM AND WOULD NOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163271 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.