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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 593

Of the 2011 reports, 23 involved a crash and 33 involved a fire. 19 people were injured and 1 person died.

Primary concernEngine256 reports · 43% of complaints
Owner complaints593Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine256
  2. Steering100
  3. Exterior lighting88
  4. Electrical system63
  5. Service brakes47
  6. Other or unspecified39
  7. Air bags31
  8. Power train25

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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: engine

261 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Engine, Mar 27, 2021

    DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR KIND OF SPUTTERED AND SHUT OFF...NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS...REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER TO NO AVAIL

  2. Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 16, 2021

    THE ENGINE SEIZED. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS RECALL. KIA HAS HAD TIS VEHICLE FOR A MONTH AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE APPROVAL FOR THE CURRENT RECALL. IT WAS IN MOTION DRIVING AT 30 MILES PER HOUR SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND NEVER TURNED ON AGAIN.IT WAS 300 DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY. A CITY STREET. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE DEALERSHIP SEIZED THE ENGINE AND QUOTED US 6500.00 TO FIX THE ENTIRE CAR. REPLACE THE ENGINE.

  3. Engine, Mar 10, 2021

    CODE SHOWING IS P1326 - KSDS - ROD BEARING WEAR. ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND VEHICLE HAS WENT INTO LIMP MODE/LOSS OF POWER.

  4. Engine, Mar 10, 2021

    I DID A OIL CHANGE ON THE CAR AFTER THAT THE OIL JUST KEPT LEAKING. I HAD TO PUT 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN EVERY WEEK. THEN ON MY WAY HOME FROM TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO HER APPOINTMENT THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI BEHIND ME WHICH ALMOST HIT ME. I DON'T DIVE IT ANYMORE I GOT ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE OF IT.

  5. Engine, Feb 5, 2021

    CAR STARTED TO KNOCK SHUT OFF CALLED TOW TRUCK.CHECKED CODE SAID KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED STILL KNOCKS CHANGED OIL AGAIN AFTER TWO MONTHS AND FOUND PIECES OF MEDAL IN OIL THAT LOOKS LIKE BASS AND METAL I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON ROAD RT.322 IN NO

  6. Steering, Engine, Jan 18, 2021

    I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR ON THURSDAY JANUARY 14, 2021THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND TURN IT OFF AND ONE TURNED BACK ON I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD TOLD ME IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM IN A VERY RUDE WAY. SO I ASKED THEM CAN I HAVE THE OWNERS NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME AND IF I KEEP ASKING THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THE POLICE ON ME. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR THE CAR ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME THEY IF THE PART IS COVERED BUT I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT IS ON RECALL.

  7. Engine, Jan 10, 2021

    I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STALLED ON ME. IT WON'T TURN OVER OR ANYTHING. IT STILL HAS ALMOST 1500 MILES ON UNTIL THE NEXT OIL CHANGE AND THE OIL PLUG IS ON AND TIGHT. WHEN I CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS NOT READING ANYTHING ON THE DIP STICK. THE HAS NOT BEEN ANY OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR STREET IN MY TOWN GOING STRAIGHT

  8. Engine, Jan 8, 2021

    I WAS DRIVING FORWARD, IN MOTION, MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY BECAME CONCERNED, SLOWED DOWN, AND STUCK TO THE RIGHT LANE. THEN, 15 MINUTES AFTER FIRST HEARING THIS LOUD NOISE, I COULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE AS THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THEN I HEARD A SMALL CRASH/EXPLOSION, SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE HOOD, IT BEGAN TO SMELL TERRIBLE AND I WAS TRULY SCARED FOR MY LIFE IN TRYING TO STOP THE CAR ON THE CURB, UNABLE TO SEE WHERE I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE AND UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BY GEICO. MY CAR HAS ONLY 88K MILES AND I HAVE HAD IT SINCE 2014'THIS IS UTTERLY ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE AN ENGINE BLOW OUT SO SUDDENLY, AT SO LITTLE MILEAGE, AND PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN INVESTIGATING THIS.

  9. Engine, Dec 30, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.

  10. Suspension, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 7, 2020

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  11. Engine, Nov 30, 2020

    WHILE OPERATING AT 65+ MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE MY KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING MY CAR TO HAVE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. I HAD TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THIS. THIS ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 97300 MILES, WHICH WOULD STILL BE UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, HAD I BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER. A LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC TYPES OF CARS I LEARNED THAT THE REGULAR, NON-HYBRID, KIA OPTIMA HAD RECALLS FOR ENGINE FAILURES SO I CALLED KIA CORPORATE TO SEE IF I HAD COVERAGE. KIA CORPORATE INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WOULD POSSIBLY BE COVERED IF A SPECIFIC PART FAILED (ROD BEARINGS). IF THIS WAS TRUE THEN I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH A CLAIMS PROCESS TO GET WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR MY CAR. BECAUSE OF THIS I DECIDED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FEW DAYS AT A DEALERSHIP I WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED (WITHOUT DETERMINING WHY/ WHAT PART FAILED), BUT THE STORY CHANGED. KIA THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ZERO CHANCE THAT MY CAR WOULD BE COVERED EVEN IF THE SPECIFIC PART HAD FAILED ( WHICH WE DIDN'T KNOW). I CALLED CORPORATE AGAIN UPON HEARING THIS NEWS AND SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO LOOKED AT THE TRANSCRIPT/SUMMARY FOR MY INITIAL CALL AND TOLD ME THAT WHAT I WAS INITIALLY TOLD DIDN'T HAPPEN. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS LYING TO THEM AND THAT WHAT I WAS TOLD IN MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH CORPORATE DIDN'T HAPPEN. KIA QUOTED ME A NEW ENGINE FOR 10000+ DOLLARS (THOUSANDS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH) AND BILLED NEARLY 200 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LIKELY TOOK MERE MINUTES. ULTIMATELY I DECIDED TO HAVE ANOTHER MECHANIC PUT IN A REFURBISHED ENGINE FOR ABOUT HALF THE PRICE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DECEPTION THAT KIA PUT ME THROUGH WAS WRONG AND THAT IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A WELL-CARED FOR CAR TO SUDDENLY DIE WITHOUT WARNING.

  12. Suspension, Power train, Engine, Nov 5, 2020

    18V363 17220 IT HAS MADE A LOUD CLANKING/KNOCKING NOISE. IT STALLED THEN COMPLETLY DIED ONCE I GOT OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND WOULDNT CRANK AGAIN. IT USES AN AWFUL LOT OF OIL. UPON FIRST OIL CHANGE IT HAD SHARDS OF METAL IN IT. THE PLACE I GOT THE VEHICLE FROM SAYS THEY PUT NEW MOTOR IN IT AMONG OTHER THINGS BUT I HAVENT SEEN IN CHANGE IN THINGS OTHER THAN IT DOESNT SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE IDLING.

  13. Engine, Oct 6, 2020, crash

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (GLASSMAN KIA 28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 (888) 451-0949) AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN LIMP MODE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY REPROGRAMMED ENGINE WITH A CODE FOR A RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED. THE CONTACT TRIED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO THE CURVE AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT LEFT THE CRASH SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND GAVE THE CONTACT A CLAIM NUMBER BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.*DT *TR

  14. Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 19, 2020

    MY CAR LOSES POWER WHEN I USE THE HORN. IT HAPPENS WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON AND IN TRAFFIC. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS FAULTY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WERE 3 ACTIVE RECALLS NEEDING TO BE FIXED. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED KIA SERVICE CENTER TO GET THE RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF AND ADDITONALLY, HAD THE A/C COMPRESSOR, STRUTS, AND A BELT REPLACED. I ALSO DESCRIBED THE ISSUE OF ENGINE POWER LOSS WHEN I USE THE HORN WITH SERVICE TECH AND ATTEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE. HOWEVER, MY CAR DIDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE IF THE TECHS TESTED IT THOROUGHLY DURING THE DAYS IT WAS BEING SERVICED. THE FINAL DETAILED BILL STATES THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I'M CURRENTLY SATISFIED WITH THE FIXED RECALLS, A/C, BELT, AND OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. I'M HIGHLY CONCERNED AND FRUSTRATED THAT I'M STILL EXPERIENCING ENGINE, ACCELERATION, RPM, AND A/C FAILURE WHENEVER I NEED TO USE MY HORN. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WHILE IN TRAFFIC, I HAD TO BLOW THE HORN BECAUSE A DISTRACTED DRIVER NEARLY SIDE SWIPED ME. AS A RESULT, MY CAR LOSS POWER. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT. I ENDED UP DOING AROUND 30MPH UNTIL I MADE IT TO A SAFE DESTINATION. I CALLED FOR HELP, BUT AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT WAS AS IF IT NEVER HAPPENED. I'M FURIOUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE DISTRACTED DRIVER PROCEEDED TO TAILGATE AND INTIMIDATE ME OUT OF ANGER. LASTLY, IT WAS NOT PROFESSIONAL OR CARING TO BE LAUGHED AT WHEN I VOICED THIS PROBLEM AT THE SERVICE CENTER. I NEED HELP AND ANSWERS BEFORE SOMETHING MORE TERRIBLE HAPPENS. THE NUMBER OF ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL COMPLAINTS ARE STARTLING. I'M HOPING THAT MY ISSUE WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND LOOKED INTO. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR.

  15. Engine, Sep 18, 2020

    I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELLING STRAIGHT IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT, THEN IT STALLED AGAIN. THEN I RESTARTED IT ONE MORE TIME. THEN IT MADE A GRINDING CLUNKING SOUND LIKE SOMETHING SNAPPED AND WAS GETTING WHIPPED AROUND BY THE MOVING PARTS. THEN IT HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AS THE CAR NO LONGER WAS RUNNING.

  16. Engine, Sep 16, 2020

    MY CAR JUST DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD A AAA TECHNICIAN COME OUT FOR A TOW. HE INSPECTED MY ENGINE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A LOW AMOUNT OF OIL AND METAL SHAVINGS. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A AUTO SHOP THEY DETERMINED MY ENGINE FROZED AND INFORMED ME I NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. THEY ALSO FOUND METAL SHAVINGS

  17. Engine, Sep 15, 2020

    WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN OREGON, MY CAR STALLED AND MADE WEIRD SOUNDS OUT OF NOWHERE. ON A BROAD CURVE, MY CAR SLOWED DOWN QUICKLY AND LUCKILY THERE WEREN'T ANY CARS BEHIND ME. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FAIL. I TRIED TO PULL OVER SAFELY TO THE NARROW SHOULDER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN FOR A LITTLE BIT. I TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE ROCKS IN A BLENDER. I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF MY HYBRID AND HAS NO HISTORY OF OTHER ISSUES AND IT ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4 L THETA II ENGINE FROM MY CAR'S YEAR.

  18. Engine, Aug 4, 2020

    ENGINE KNOCKING WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH, THERE IS A RECALL ON ENGINES ON THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA AND THIS CAR ONLY HAS 75K MILES AND IS REGULARLY SERVICED.

  19. Engine, Aug 4, 2020

    THE THETA 2.4GDI ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA MAY 2019, AFTER A TOTAL ENGINE SEIZURE THAT LEFT ME STRANDED AT AN INTERSECTION IN ALBUQUERQUE NM. IT HAS STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PATTERN OF MALFUNCTIONING IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS, SPORADICALLY, FIRST WHILE DRIVING AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, PRONOUNCED MALFUNCTIONING. I AM DUMBFOUNDED THAT KIA STATES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEOS OF THE NOISES FOR THEIR REVIEW!! THEY THEMSELVES WRITE IN ARTICLES THAT THEY PREFER TO REPAIR BEFORE TOTAL ENGINE SEIZURE. HOWEVER, I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO PITRE KIA, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS ORIGINALLY REPLACED AND NOW THEY SAY THE ENGINE WARRANTY WAS 12 MONTHS, EVEN THOUGH THEIR LITERATURE STATES DIFFERENTLY. WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW THAT ADVISE, THEY COMPLETELY SWITCH TO TOTAL RUDENESS AND GO AS FAR AS LAUGHING AT YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN OVER THE VEHICLE THAT YOU PAID FOR AND WHICH ULTIMATELY PAYS THEIR SALARY!! I JUST WANT TO HAVE FAITH IN MY VEHICLE THAT IT WILL NOT LEAVE ME STRANDED. I AM RESTRICTED, AT THIS TIME, FROM GOING OUT OF TOWN. I DO NOT TRUST MY VEHICLE TO TAKE ME ANYWHERE, MUCH LESS MAKE THE NECESSARY TRIPS TO SANTA FE (56 MILES AWAY) DUE TO THE FEAR OF GETTING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, I AM A 64 YEARS OLD DISABLED FEMALE AND THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED A RELIABLE VEHICLE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IS THE FARTHEST FROM THE TRUTH. NOW THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AND SUPERVISORS ARE IN TOTAL DENIAL OF THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND THEN PROCEED TO BE RUDE! THEY CAN LIE ALL THEY WANT, BUT THEY DO KNOW OF THE LAWSUITS OVER THEIR FAULTY ENGINES!! THEY ARE JUST BEING TOLD BY THE GREEDY CORPORATE HEADS NOT TO COMPLY WITH REPAIRS.

  20. Engine, Jul 13, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE), HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

  21. Engine, Jul 13, 2020

    I REPORTED MY KIA WITH AN ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM A FEW WEEKS AGO. GOT A CALL FROM KIA TODAY AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL BY NHTSA IS FOR 2 AND 2.4 L OPTIMA , KIA IS CLAIMING IT IS FOR A SPECIFIC TYPE OF ENGINE. I SHOULD PAY 6200 AND SUBMIT FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT. MINE IS AN MPI AND IT IS EXCLUDED. HOW CAN YOU EXCLUDE MY ENGINE? WHY WOULD MY ENGINE FAIL FOR NO VIABLE REASON AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN? MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM ASKING FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND NOT A PHONE INVESTIGATION. . MY CAR IS A 2.4L I4 MPI HYBRID ELECTRIC DOHC. AN ENGINE FAILS FOR A REASON. KIA HAS HAD DEBRIS ISSUES WITH ENGINES AND IF MINE IS THE FIRST THEN SO BE IT. PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THE CAR TO ASCERTAIN THIS WAS NOT A LEMON ENGINE FROM THE GET GO. THIS BRUSH OFF BY KIA IS UNACCEPTABLE. *JS

  22. Engine, Jun 25, 2020

    CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE STARTS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. PARKED CAR AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATES ENGINE INTERNAL FAILURE AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A CAR THAT'S ONLY SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP. LAST 360 POINT INSPECTION WAS NOVEMBER 2019. LAST DEALERSHIP VISIT MAY 2020. RECALL STATES 2-LITER AND 2.4 LITER FOUR CYLINDER ENGINES. KIA STATES ITS FOR GDI NOT MPI. YOUR REPORT DID NOT SPECIFY. PLEASE ASSIST. THANK YOU. *TR

  23. Engine, Jun 23, 2020

    CAR STARTS SMOKING AND MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING A DAY BEFORE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. CAR TOWED TO DEALER 6/23/2020- RODS IN ENGINE WENT BAD, ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 360 POINT INSPECTION NOVEMBER 2019. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASE. IT IS FRUSTRATING THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY 2020 DID NOT DETECT A PROBLEM AND I AM NOW AT THIS POINT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AND WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR FOR THIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUE. WHAT'S THE POINT OF USING A DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE YOUR CAR? *TR

  24. Steering, Engine, Jun 18, 2020

    STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING NOISE AND A PLAY. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. *TR

  25. Engine, Jun 15, 2020

    THE MOTOR SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING. NO LIGHTS CAME ON. CHECKED OIL THAT HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. WE HAVE BEEN DOING REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON THE VEHICLE. IT WILL NO LONGER RUN. *TR