There are 5 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2015 Kia Optimain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to activate the defroster, the defroster failed to active to defrost the windshield. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the heated steering wheel failed to operate as needed. The contact also stated that the front driver’s side and front passenger’s side heated seats were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
My 2015 Kia Optima has always had issues with the passenger side window getting stuck. Apparently there was a technical service bulletin, and recalls for the 2016 model but not 2015. My son was driving the vehicle the window got stuck and then shattered into 3 pieces. This is a HUGE safety issue and KIA does not want to take any accountability for this. A recall needs to be issued immediately to protect people from shattering glass!!!!! I did open up a case with KIA and so far NOTHING case#[XXX]. Meanwhile my car has been sitting at Beck and Masten Kia in Tomball waiting to be repaired. Why must we pay for this when I complained for months it was a problem and my warranty just expired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is NOT safe. Please issue recall and investigate immediately! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have owned my kia optima for several years and I've had issues with the windshield wipers not going fast enough. I work from home so I do not travel that often but just recently went on a trip & was on the interstate when it started raining very hard. I could not see the car in front of me at all, not even their tail lights. I understand visibility is always worse when it rains but all the other cars were still going at a steady pace & passing me. I had to pull over on the side of the interstate until the rain slowed down to just a sprinkle before I could see well enough to drive. This caused me a great amount of anxiety because i didn't know if I was going to run into someone or if I was even in the right lane. I have several friends that also have the kia optima 2015 & 2016 models and they have said the same thing. The speed on the windshield wipers is extremely slow compared to other cars we tested this on & I feel this is a major safety concern. I pulled up google reviews on this issue & there are a lot of people complaining about the speed not being fast enough.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SMOKING AFTER FUSE CHANGED NOT WORKING CAUSING BURNING SMELL FROM WHEEL REPORTED AT 75000 MILES AT 115000 DAY OUT OF WARRANTY..IF MY AIRBAG OR CAR CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THIS ISSUE I AM COMING FOR KIA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS JAMMED IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. PRESTIGE AUTO SALES (N8890 WI-57, BRILLION, WI) DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,620.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026