2014 Kia Optima · symptom sheet
Vehicle fire
- 39owner reports
- 90,000median miles
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Aug 30, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
39 of the 546 complaints on this car describe fire.
Tick what matches of 39 reports
Fire on other Optima years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
What this problem usually is
Fire reports are the most serious complaints on the site. Owners describe fires while driving, while parked and switched off, and for plug-in cars, while charging. Many say it started under the hood. Some already had a recall notice for the cause, and some got one afterward.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the fuel line or pump (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on this problem covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 66,000 and 144,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“On 7/13/26 around 0715 my son was driving our 2014 Kia optima when it caught fire and burned from the engine to the back of the car. Fire dept and law enforcement had to respond and the vehicle along with thousands of dollars of property was destroyed by the fire. This vehicle is a total loss and Iâm trusting an investigation as to I believe their fire started due to the engjbe and electrical faults of Kia motors.”
Filed Jul 13, 2026
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 39 reports involved a crash and 10 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 129 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 113 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 53 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 41 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 33 reports