2015 Kia Optima service brakes problems
49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the service brakes on the 2015 Kia Optima — 5% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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…”
filed Jul 14, 2026
“My 2015 Kia Optima has a failing ABS/HECU module consistent with the Kia ABS fire recall. The brake lights stay on constantly even when the brake pedal switch is unplugged. If I unplug the ABS/HECU module, the brake lights immediately turn off, which confirms the ABS module is back-feeding power…”
filed Jan 2, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can…Campaign 23V652000 · Sep 25, 2023
- Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly…Campaign 21V331000 · May 10, 2021
- Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly…Campaign 20V519000 · Aug 27, 2020
Service Brakes problems in other Optima years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 7 | 5% |
| 2019 Optima | 18 | 9% |
| 2018 Optima | 17 | 7% |
| 2017 Optima | 6 | 2% |
| 2016 Optima | 21 | 3% |
| 2014 Optima | 25 | 4% |
| 2013 Optima | 58 | 4% |
| 2012 Optima | 52 | 6% |
| 2011 Optima | 26 | 4% |
| 2010 Optima | 4 | 5% |
| 2009 Optima | 17 | 15% |
| 2008 Optima | 2 | 1% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2015 Kia Optima
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.