Remember when owning a Kia meant owning a throwaway car? Not anymore, as they’ve reimagined themselves over the last decade into one of the most desirable brands around. However, even the sought after models have issues.
Does the 2015 Kia Optima engine have a recall?
Nope, but it does have two other recalls, including some related to the engine. There are also a number of manufacturer communications and consumer complaints related to this vehicle.
The recalls include:
- Hydraulic electronic control unit may short
- High pressure fuel pipe may leak
In this article, we’ll cover these recalls in full and provide insight into the related manufacturer communications. These are notices sent to owners and dealerships about maintenance, procedures, or other details that may impact the engine of the vehicle.
We will also note some of the consumer complaints related to this vehicle. Stay up to date on the 2015 Kia Optima engine recalls by using Vehicle History.
Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit May Short
NHTSA Recall ID: 20V519000
In August of 2020, Kia issued a recall notice to owners about the service brakes and hydraulic system. In affected vehicles, the brake fluid may leak into the vehicle’s Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU). This can lead to an electrical short of the vehicle.
If an electrical short occurs, that can cause the engine to fail and increases the risk of an accident. A secondary issue relates to an increased risk of engine compartment fire. In both cases, those in the car can be hurt.
Kia alerted dealerships to inspect the HECU. They looked for any noticeable brake fluid leaks on the vehicle. If found, they replaced the HECU. These repairs began in October of 2020.
High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak
NHTSA Recall ID: 18V907000
This recall was issued in December of 2018. It relates to vehicles that have had an engine replacement. This may have been done outright through a repair, warranty, or due to the Knock Sensor Detection System Product Improvement Campaign.
In these vehicles, a high-pressure fuel pipe that connects directly to the fuel pump may have some damage to it from the engine replacement process. In some cases, there is a misalignment of these components. In others, there is improper torqueing. This can lead to a fuel leak.
Should a fuel leak occur, it may occur near the ignition source. This may increase the risk of fire and injury to those in the car.
Kia notified owners of this problem. They then had dealerships inspect the fuel pipe. If there was any evidence of damage or misalignment, they then had the fuel pump replaced. These repairs began in January of 2019.
Manufacturer Communications
Kia released a large program called the Knock Sensor Detection System Product Improvement Campaign. The goal of this campaign was to respond to claims related to engine failures. A total of 4 million vehicles, including those from Hyundai, were affected by this claim, including the 2015 Kia Optima.
The campaign required dealerships to update the software of the vehicle’s engine so it can detect engine failure sooner. The system is designed to sense vibrations occurring in the engine that are an indication of excessive bearing wear.
Should the engine suffer this type of noise, the software should put the vehicle into a safe operation mode. This mode reduces the vehicle’s acceleration and speed limits to get the driver home or to the dealership for repairs. The goal is to reduce the risk of a more severe engine failure.
This program is not an official recall. It did require updates from the dealership. However, Kia did not address the underlying potential problem related to the engine that would create this type of noise.
Consumer Complaints
It is also important to note the numerous customer complaints related to the 2015 Kia Optima engine. Some of these may be related to the previously mentioned problems. Others have not been addressed by Kia.
One such complaint relates to the engine seizing up without warning. Owners noted they were driving the vehicle, and it suddenly stopped working. This leads to the need for a new engine. Some drivers reported this occurs at high speeds on the highway while others were operating in residential areas.
Some drivers reported not just a knocking or jolting of the car but also jerking and shaking. It can make loud, unexplained noises as well. Most often, drivers are unable to drive these vehicles home. This type of power loss is a common statement in the numerous customer complaints drivers have noted related to the engine.
At this time, there are 321 complaints for the 2015 Kia Optima. Of those, 197 relate to the engine in some way.
How Do You Handle an Open Recall on the 2015 Kia Optima?
Wondering if there will be a new engine recall on the 2015 Kia Optima? You can find out about recent recall updates by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.
Owners can enter the VIN of the vehicle to pull up a list of all applicable recalls for it. If there are any recalls not completed, the system will display this information as well.
Drivers, or those planning to purchase a pre-owned 2015 Kia Optima can enter just the make, model, and year into the system as well if they do not have the VIN. They can then see all related recalls listed.
In most situations, owners will need to call Kia’s customer service number at 1-800-333-4542 to inquire about the recalls. This will allow for the repairs and service appointments to be scheduled at the right local dealership.
