# 2015 KIA OPTIMA — ENGINE
> NHTSA complaint `2238808` · 2026-08-24 · Kia America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** KIA
- **Model:** OPTIMA
- **Year:** 2015
- **Manufacturer:** Kia America, Inc.
- **Component:** ENGINE
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
My 2015 KIA optima experienced a catastrophic engine fire while I was driving. There was no warning, I just heard a boom in the engine bay the breaks stopped working and all electrical cut out. As I'm coasting, because I'm unable to stop, flames started to come in through under the dash. I couldn't turn the car off, nor put it in park so the doors stayed locked. The driver window was opened just enough for me to grab the top and break it, allowing me to crawl out. The car coasted itself to the shoulder then blew up (I had a full tank of gas.). All this happened in the manner of 30 to 35 seconds. It's important to note that KIA just replaced the engine 2 months prior to this incident.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · MORVS · CC0 1.0*