10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,202 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2011 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

May 022020

Optima

  • miles

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

I was on a curvy back road doing about 45mph applying the breaks not to stop but only to break my speed down some in order to go around the curve. While doing so my steering wheel locks up, it feel as if my tires are sliding & it feels like my breaks could be locked up as well. The next day I was getting off of the interstate on a ramp and again applied my brakes to break my speed down and the exact same thing happen. My wheel locked up, felt as if my brakes were locked up as well & my tires may have slid. I'm not noticing of my car is shutting off because when it is happening I'm too focused on the road & not losing control. But I am noticing that my radio is booting up. Which it only does this when I start up my engine.

- Brooksville, FL, USA

problem #17

Dec 252019

Optima

  • 114,000 miles
I have a theta II turbocharged engine 6 speed manual and I was driving down the street taking my son to work. All of a sudden my car started making a loud knocking noise and wouldn't go past 2nd gear. We called a tow truck had it sent to mechanic they did a diagnostic test and 2 P codes came back from crankshaft and controls and seized engine. So I had it towed into weston Kia dealership. Plus I had just bought this car in April. The dealership ship called me saying they were going to replace my engine and wiring and computer and sensor chip. Also my passenger air bag light has been blinking off 3 days after I bought it and still is. My emergency brake doesn't work and rolled while it was pulled up in neutral and hit my daughter as she was running around the front of the car to the passenger side right in her knee cap. I got my car back from weston and it didn't feel right. Someone put 380miles on my car it had a 1/2tank of gas and my clutch and clutch pedal and gear shift was way shorter and 1/4 inch off in shifter box. I was on the freeway driving 60 mph with my kids and we were leaving my parents house from xmas. All of a sudden I almost list control of the car my clutch pedal fell to the floor. I got us to safety almost avoiding a huge wreck and had it towed to my house. Called dealership and told them and had noticed on invoice their technicians had tightened up by bolts and flywheel. Well I go outside and theirs fluid all over the pavement under the car but none on inside. They paid for a tow truck and by the way since replacing the new engine I went from 34 miles to the gallon to 20 and passenger air bag still illuminated off. My defrost isnt working now and my engine light blinked 3xs. They want me to pay 1500 for new clutch.their tech adjusted my flywheel bolts and clutch cable. $65 emergency brake and $125 for test. It already had one. Fuel leak?

- Troutdale, OR, USA

problem #16

Oct 272019

Optima

  • miles
I was on I 95 yesterday in the evening heading home and all of sudden my car went to shaking in the engine light was blinking on and off I pulled over to the side of the road to stop the car as I pulled over on the side of the road I sat in the car while the car was still running part in the car cut off by itself end it all the sudden started making a knocking sound once I turn the car back on.

- Rockledge, FL, USA

problem #15

Aug 082019

Optima

  • 44,136 miles

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

My trunk lid opens my it's self. I find it open in the morning & sometimes during the day.

- Hicksville, NY, USA

problem #14

Aug 012018

Optima

  • 96,453 miles
I was driving on the street at 40mph when I saw light smoke coming from under the hood I pulled over to get my two kids and myself out of the car shortly after we got out of the car flames started coming from under the hood I then called 911 for the fire department to come put the flames out when they finally did the whole car was burnt to a crisp

- Cerritos, CA, USA

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problem #13

Dec 252018

Optima

  • 180,000 miles
While driving my car it started to act sluggish so I pulled over and minutes after getting out of the car it started on fire. The fire department was called the fire was extinguished, but not before the car was a total loss

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #12

Sep 032018

Optima

  • miles

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

Car stalled out while in motion. Car began leaking oil and would not restart.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #11

May 052018

Optima

  • 110,000 miles
Saturday, May 5, 2018, we were driving East on I-85 in greensboro, nc when we heard what sounded like a gunshot, and then glass was raining down on us when the sunroof exploded. The sunroof had been open the entire day. It was overcast and mid 80's with low humidity. We had the sunroof tilted open and the sunshade pulled back.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #10

Mar 232018

Optima

  • miles
Motor oil keeps disappearing; I change the oil on schedule and 2-3 weeks after it is dry. I'm afraid of engine failure or lock up due to this. Raising the hood does not show any oil splatter. Electrical problems; lnterior lights keep going out or go completely dim.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #9

Jun 182017

Optima

  • 108,000 miles
It's loud knocking noises inside the engine.

- Baxley, GA, USA

problem #8

Jul 302017

Optima

  • 56,000 miles

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

Car caught fire from the engine bay while driving on highway and has been entirely burned out in 5 minutes.

- Schaumburg, IL, USA

problem #7

Jun 012017

Optima

  • 999,000 miles
Was waiting for red light and car just stopped running it started but sounded terrible. Parked for awhile and has been fine since.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #6

Jan 012016

Optima

  • 40,000 miles
Back up camera intermittently not showing picture when in reverse. This happens about half of the time and has been reported on the Kia forms for many years. It appears that the camera is the issue and needs to be replaced. This should be covered under warranty since it is a safety issue.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #5

Oct 012016

Optima

  • 12,100 miles
Vehicle stalls while driving or shuts down while sitting at red light.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #4

Nov 242015

Optima

  • 90,000 miles
My family was on hwy 75 returning from thanksgiving vacay when we discovered that the airbag light was on. After placing a call to Kia, I discovered that apparently airbags aren't covered by the 130,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Now the ignition has an issue. Often times, I have to hit my key in the ignition in order to be able to turn the key. I am wondering if the ignition issue and the airbag issue are relateable and need to see if covered by warranty. There are 90,000 miles on this car and I have had it for less than a year. We purchased it used from drivetime. Thanks

- Kennesaw, GA, USA

problem #3

Jul 202015

Optima

  • 70,000 miles
My 2011 Kia Optima panoramic sunroof exploded like a bomb went off above my head while I was traveling at normal highway speed on a beautiful clear day. Once I got pulled over onto the shoulder I observed a bowling ball sized hole blasted outward in the center of the front panel of the sunroof. Nothing hit it. Everything was normal. Boom. Luckily the sun shade was closed at the time, otherwise the shattered glass would have rained down upon me at the time of the big bang, and I probably would have lost control.

- Youngstown, FL, USA

problem #2

Oct 132011

Optima 4-cyl

  • miles
Defective key fobs. They cannot be reprogrammed and you become stranded with no way of starting the auto. Dealership has tried four times to reprogram the key fob without success. There is no way to start or operate the car with the mechanical key. Can become a dangerous situation if you are in an isolated area!

- Davenport, FL, USA

problem #1

Mar 012011

Optima

  • miles
Car pulls to left 100% of the time. Car has been inspected by Kia service and meets all factory specs. This appears to be a design flaw. Kia requires all 2011 Optima's to be realigned prior to being sold. Customer service rep. Said that one of her tec. Reps. Drives a 2011 Optima and it also pulls left.

- Pawleys Island, SC, USA

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