3.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,007 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 Hybrid engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Kia Optima Hybrid Owner Comments

problem #3

Jul 152019

Optima Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 98,000 miles

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

While driving (in forward motion), without any pressure being applied to either the brake or parking brake, the vehicle begins to slow itself rapidly losing acceleration.; a rumble can be heard there is consistent beeping noise and the vehicle begins to vibrate slightly. A yellow triangle with an exclamation point and the words check brake appears in the drivers display; attempts to accelerate increases the rpms but the vehicle continues to slow rapidly. Not idle as if it were not in gear, but just as if the driver was breaking suddenly. The only known method of correcting this is to turn the vehicle off and restart it. However, this stops working as a solution after a few days and the problem persists. When the vehicle restarts you can feel the brake pedal release. This has occurred randomly at least 20 times in the past before until eventually it could not be driven at all. At speeds ranging from 25 mph on neighborhood streets to 70 mph on busy freeways. I sincerely fear that if not corrected it will lead to a (potentially fatal) vehicle collision. I also took the vehicle to a near-by Kia dealer service department in ca. After months the car was returned and it continued to have the same issue within a days. They were unable to diagnose or duplicate the malfunction as also. I have video of this as well. This needs to immediately be corrected and the technicians need to know what the problem is and how to fix it rather than experimenting on owners vehicles for months or weeks to then return it without resolution. Why should I or any other Kia owner bear the burden of these unnecessary costs, inconvenience, and extremely unsafe conditions. Kia needs to respond I am sure others have experienced this same issue and should come forward immediately for the safety and well being of all.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #2

Sep 012011

Optima Hybrid 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima hybrid. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated and suddenly accelerated. The dealer could not diagnose the cause of the failure. The failure occurred at various low speeds. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 21. Updated 8/11/14

- Payson, AZ, USA

problem #1

Mar 042013

Optima Hybrid 4-cyl

  • 19,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway at roughly 60-70mph when the car suddenly began decelerating and not responding when the acceleration was pressed. This has happened 3 times since I have been on the roads. Kia is unable to find error codes or diagnose the issue even after providing them with video evidence.there have been multiple "computer glitches" but this has been the most severe.

- El Segundo, CA, USA

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