2015 KIA Optima Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2015 KIA Optima, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 81,250 miles. The words owners use most often: “caught fire” (7% of reports).
- 135electrical system complaints
- 81,250median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 49%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Caught fire: mentioned in 10 of 135 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 54 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 135 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 24 a fire, 4 an injury.
KIA Optima electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 14 | 9% | — |
| 2019 Optima | 23 | 11% | 18,000 |
| 2018 Optima | 33 | 14% | 39,463 |
| 2017 Optima | 25 | 10% | 24,000 |
| 2016 Optima | 104 | 14% | 66,500 |
| 2015 Optima | 135 | 13% | 81,250 |
| 2014 Optima | 60 | 10% | 71,500 |
| 2013 Optima | 146 | 11% | 86,900 |
| 2012 Optima | 122 | 13% | 79,000 |
| 2011 Optima | 63 | 11% | 85,650 |
| 2010 Optima | 13 | 17% | 75,000 |
| 2009 Optima | 16 | 14% | 66,500 |
| 2008 Optima | 15 | 10% | 97,000 |
| 2007 Optima | 14 | 8% | 89,500 |
| 2006 Optima | 23 | 15% | 65,150 |
| 2005 Optima | 29 | 20% | 99,000 |
| 2004 Optima | 45 | 20% | 85,000 |
| 2003 Optima | 25 | 18% | 78,769 |
| 2002 Optima | 14 | 13% | 72,000 |
| 2001 Optima | 17 | 12% | 9,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists electrical system for the 2015 KIA Optima. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the rear taillight socket wiring harness failed to function as intended. The contact was informed that the brake lights were inoperable. The contact stated that…
I would say that the time this incident happened I was driving and me and me nephew were in car at time taking to shop to see why it was making a sound like air and all of sudden the car started swerving and slowing down and then it made a pop sound and smoke started coming from the car and I was…
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The primary failure involved the engine. The vehicle experienced a major engine failure that resulted in an engine replacement under a manufacturer recall. After the replacement engine was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2015 KIA Optimas have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 135 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2015 KIA Optima (13% of the 1,009 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2015 KIA Optima electrical system?
No recall currently lists electrical system for this vehicle.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 81,250 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2015 KIA Optima?
The most frequent phrase is “caught fire”, in 10 of 135 complaints.
Other 2015 KIA Optima problems
- Engine problems (622)
- Structure problems (76)
- Steering problems (69)
See all 2015 KIA Optima problems or electrical system problems across all Optima years.