2011 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 593 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 23 involved a crash and 33 involved a fire. 19 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 1, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Campaign 18V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jun 21, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Jan 21, 2016
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
Air bags, Apr 7, 2013
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BACK IN NOVEMBER . ACCORDING TO THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK. I CONTACTED 2 KIA DEALERS IN THE TAMPA FL AREA (BACK IN NOVEMBER) AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I GUESS THEY MUST BE TOO BUSY OR DON'T LIKE DOING WARRANTY WORK. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THIS CAR IS A POS. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Oct 23, 2012, crash
I WAS SITTING IN A TURN LANE, TO TURN LEFT. THERE WERE TWO LANES TO MY RIGHT FOR TRAFFIC. I WAS WAITING FOR A CAR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAPPENED TO LOOK IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY TAKEN UP BY THIS RED OBJECT, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A CAR. IMMEDIATELY I FELT A TERRIBLE SHOCK AND MY CAR WAS LIFTED UP IN THE REAR AND THE FRONT END POINTED AT THE ROAD. THIS CAR DROVE ME APPROXIMATELY 40 YDS. UP THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY...NONE OF THEM AND THERE WAS $12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. I STILL HAVE LOWER BACK PAIN AND SEVERE CRAMPS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF NECK AND HEAD. OF COURSE THE DRIVER WAS DUI, NO LICENSE, NO INSURANCE AND LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. ON 10/22/12 MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN HOME FROM FLORIDA TO TN. SHE TURNED ON A STREET HEADING UP A HILL TOWARD OUR HOME. SHE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN AN OLDER GREY TRUCK COMING DOWN THE HILL CROWDED HER OFF THE ROAD. SHE SWERVED TO HER RIGHT AND HIT A 700 LB. MAILBOX(CEMENT & BRICKS) THIS ACCIDENT TORE THE RIDE SIDE FRONT END BACK BY 4 FEET, ALSO BUCKLING THE HOOD AND POPPING RIVETS IN THE MOTOR. THE AIR BAGS AGAIN FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S AIR BAGS. SHE BLOODIED HER NOSE AND HAD A GASH IN HER RIGHT WRIST. THERE4 IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE OF HAVING AIR BAGS WHEN THEY DON'T DO AS THEY SUPPOSED TO. THIS MUST BE EXPLORED AND THE REASON FOUND! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Air bags, Feb 28, 2012, crash
I WAS STOPPED, 2ND IN POSITION, AT A STOP LIGHT. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A NISSAN SENTRA DOING APPROXIMATELY 50 TP 55 MPH. MY CAR WAS HIT IN THE REAR, PUSHING THE FRONT INTO A DUALLY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS WONDERING WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT LEFT BUMPER WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AS THE LEFT REAR BUMPER. IN ALL, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Air bags, Feb 21, 2012, crash
I WAS TRAVELING 55MPH BEHIND A VEHICLE WHO SUDDENLY SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THERE WAS A CAR STOPPED IN THE LEFT HAND LANE, UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME I STRUCK THE BLACK JEEP LIBERTY IN THE REAR BUMPER MORE TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE WITH THE THE PASSENGER FRONT BUMPER OF MY CAR. ( KIA OPTIMA) MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I DID STRIKE MY HEAD, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF I HIT IT ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE GLASS TOP. MY CONCERN IS MY SEATBELT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY ALLOWING ME TO STRIKE MY HEAD. AND AGAIN THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR