10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 19
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 1
Average Mileage:
96,392 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Kia Optima engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 12)

problem #236

Jun 142023

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Could be the barons

- West Warwick, RI, USA

problem #235

Sep 252023

Optima

  • 5,500 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the brakes were making an abnormal noise. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The windshield was fogging up. The engine warning light was illuminated and turned on and off. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 5,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #234

Feb 272024

Optima

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up after not being drive for a while. The check engine warning was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed with an unknown result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #233

Feb 142024

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Known recall since Sept 2023, but Kia has not provided any dealerships with parts to repair (we have tried multiple dealerships within a 2 hour radius). Only recommendation is to "Park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until you have the recall performed" which is an unacceptable option for 6 months. Now check engine light is on and still no indication as to when it can be fixed. Kia is not offering a loaner or rental until issue resolved.

- Harrisburg, NC, USA

problem #232

Dec 232023

Optima

  • miles
Check engine has failed. Glow relay stuck on or knock sensor or engine warranty. I don't know. Kia service will find out what's wrong with my car.

- Tecumseh, NE, USA

problem #231

Jul 222023

Optima

  • miles
My car won-??t crank. Starter is not working. Ask if warranty or recall. Let-??s see if they accept warranty for starter replacement. My car towed to Kia of Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska where the car parked there right now. Please contact Kia at Lincoln and I better hope warranty are accepted and diagnostic are free too. Thank you!

- Tecumseh, NE, USA

problem #230

Jul 222023

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I saw low battery due to fire risk or overheated cause of oil change. I don't know what's wrong with my car. Engine knocking bad if warranty coverage accepts. I hope safety recalls will be approved. Please help me!

- Tecumseh, NE, USA

problem #229

Jun 182023

Optima

  • miles
Merging onto the highway & the car had rod kncok & went into limp mode very dangerous & a good thing we weren't hit by traffic. This is the SECOND engine kia has installed after allegedly "FIXING" thier issues the first time!!

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #228

Jan 012023

Optima

  • miles
Blinking check engine light at 113000 miles on the car cuzs stalling while driving was worried about an engine fire I did read about on same model.

- Mcdonald , PA, USA

problem #227

Dec 162022

Optima

  • miles
As I would drive the vehicle a rattling noise would occur when every time I accelerate from stopping at a traffic light. Then the engine light appeared on the dash board. When I went to have the engine light checked the results came back about an oil gasket. I then got an oil change soon after. The rattling noise and the same acceleration problem still occurred. Soon after it gotten worst to the point couldn-€™t go faster then 10 mph and then the car kept shutting off.

- South Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #226

Dec 122022

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine shakes and engine light flashes

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #225

Dec 042022

Optima

  • miles
While driving our 2011 Kia Optima on I-185 at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly had unresponsive accelerator and had decrease in power. Gauges were all normal range, no warning or indicator lights illuminated. I pulled over to the highway shoulder to clear traffic and placed car in park. Immediately light gray, then black smoke poured out from the hood. My wife and I evacuated the Kia just before the front of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The engine had been replaced in Sept 2021 due to a previous recall, and up to this incident the Kia performed within normal parameters.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #224

Aug 092022

Optima

  • miles
I was driving out of town and when I went to accelerate and the engine had seized, the brakes had locked up and I lost power steering which almost resulted in an accident. On the dash was showing the engine, oil, and esc light, which were not on the dash before and there was nothing wrong or weird going on with the car prior to the first incident to even indicate that something was wrong. Had to get the car towed home then realized there had been a recall on the engine. Contacted the kia manufacturer and they had towed it to a kia dealership where they replaced the engine. Waited 2 Months to get my car back, the dealership let me leave with the ABS and Eps light on the dash, and couldn't give me a reason why the lights were still on. I had it for 3 days, it drove okay and now it no longer drives nor does it start. I was stranded because the car wouldnt start again giving the same issues as before the recall repair was done, with only accessories turning on. On the dash it only shows Engine, Oil, Eps and battery light. Found the Serpentine belt already coming apart and misplaced, found strips of the belt laying in the bottom of the hood. Also had found out the entire engine block ROCKS BACK AND FORTH while car is in motion. If I had driven the car any longer the belt would have completely snapped and would most likely result in an injury or worse. With the Engine movement that is also going to cause other damages to the car and more safety hazards. I have not even known about the engine recall on this car until after everything happened and when the car was purchased no one had notified me in anyway about the recall. Now they refuse to cover towing costs back to the dealership because the "5 year warranty had expired" When this in no way is my fault. Second incident was Oct. 17th 2022.

- The Dalles, OR, USA

problem #223

Jun 222022

Optima

  • miles
My 2011 Kia Optimas engine light started flashing and the car lost all power and had no RPMS over 1000-2000. I took it to the dealership where I was told it had a code P1326 and they replaced a knock sensor. The same day that I picked my car up from them I was going down the interstate and it shut completely off and wouldn-€™t crank. I had it towed back to the dealership where they said I would most likely need a new engine. A few days later they call and say the engine won-€™t be covered under the recall because of some hose they claim was leaking for the cooling system. They said it now had a blown head gasket which I-€™m not sure how because it never ran hot. This is absolutely ridiculous for customers to deal with so many delays and problems just to get the repairs on their vehicle that Kia has agreed to make. If my vehicle needed a knock sensor then obviously the damage to the motor is because of faulty manufacturing of parts and I shouldn-€™t have to pay for a new motor!

- Phenix City , AL, USA

problem #222

Nov 012021

Optima 4-cyl

  • miles
[XXX] While driving my vehicle it looses power and becomes inoperable at any time and any speed. The brake, engine and oil lights come on simultaneously and there is no longer power to the gas pedal. The vehicle then has to coast to safety off of the road. This is extremely hazardous and could potentially cause an accident. When applying the brakes during this time it makes a grinding sound as if the emergency brake has been engaged. My vehicle has been to the dealership and numerous of time but they say it-€™s not a problem. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bowie , MD, USA

problem #221

Dec 202021

Optima

  • miles
I as driving on the highway and all of a sudden the car would not accelerate. The engine light, oil light, air bag lights etc. all turned on. The speed quickly dropped but I was able to to move into the safety lane. The card finally stalled and would would not start. I tried turning it back on, but the engine would not crank. The lights, radio, AC would still turn on, but the engine would not start. I have maintained it's scheduled maintenance and I was under miles until it's next oil change considering I had just changed it a month ago. I took it to get checked and was advised there was no oil and the engine was seized. I never received a warning the oil pressure was low. My car is over the 10 years and/or 100,000 k warranty as it was purchased 8/2011.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #220

Dec 172021

Optima

  • miles
When accelerating in traffic car will completely shut off for about two seconds. This kicks off the traction control and power steering is lost. This did not start happening untill the engine was replaced in June 2021.

- Fountain, CO, USA

problem #219

Nov 262021

Optima

  • miles
On NOV. 26TH 2021, I was driving my car and upon trying to accelorate, my car felt as if it was about to stall out. I pressed the gas and I barely moved. My engine light went on immediately and it's constantly flashing now. The cars RPM's do not go past 1-1/2 RPM's. I can not pick up speed like before, like I should. My car now hesitates and I'm scared to drive it. I feel that it's dangerous cause I can not keep up with traffic. I found a RECALL letter that I have from July 12, 2017 in which I took it to the dealer at that time I received it. I alo found 2 other recall letters ( see pics ataached). I guess at that time when they checked it nothing was wrong BUT now I am having an issue and I feel it could be related. The recall number is: 17V224 follow up letter of one of the recalls. The recalls prior to that does not have a # on it: it states: ENGINE CONNECTING ROD on of the recalls. I'm hearing some knocking but it just happened and I havent driven it since Nov. 26th. a.m.The code that comes up as P1362, knocking sensor and can be a number of other things. And everything I read says the KNOCK sensor detects vibrations indicating an onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. and can severly damage the engine. I'm very concerned and I feel that this recall back in 2017 is now happening to my car. I have uploaded the recall I have in my possession. According to William Garcia( Billy ) the service guy I always usually worked with at Gunther Kia, all of my recalls were checked and soem weere fixed. These particualr ones he said were done and or checked but nothing was repaired as you'll see in my history of service on recalls with them.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #218

Sep 102021

Optima

  • miles
I pulled out from a parking lot into traffic and not less then 5 seconds later the car sputtered once and then completely shut off in the middle of traffic. I was able to coast into the bike lane but was in fear that I would be rear-ended and possibly might incur injuries or harm would be caused to others due to the the manner in which I had not control or could prevent an accident occurring. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and was diagnosed on with Engine Failure/Engine Lock Code P1326 w/ Internal Kia Code SC147. The vehicle will not move. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms that would indicate engine failure and risk of a possible accident.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #217

May 232021

Optima

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and had seized. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Jonesboro, AR, USA

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