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: engine
261 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Engine, Nov 14, 2016
CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON CITY STREET WHEN SMOKE APPEARED OUT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFE SPOT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM.FLASHLIGHT SHOWED A LARGE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND INSPECTED. ALL OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS WERE SUBMITTED AS PER DEALERSHIP REQUEST. DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED CLAIM TO KIA HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF ENGINE WOULD BE COVERED, I. E.,REPLACED. NEXT DAY ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS APPROVED AT NO COST TO ME. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER A MONTH, THERE ARE OTHER KIA CARS AT THIS DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND STILL NO REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I SPOKE TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN SO. CALIFORNIA AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND THE MESSAGE THAT THE ENGINE IS ON BACK-ORDER. NO ETA CAN BE PROVIDED AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A BACKLOG OF CARS WITH THIS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO END IN SIGHT. ANY ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR OFFICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Engine, Nov 9, 2016
AT APPROXIMATELY 118,000 MILES, THE CONNECTING ROD AND ENGINE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON RHODE ISLAND STATE ROUTE 114 IN EAST PROVIDENCE, RI. THE ENGINE SEIZED COMPLETELY AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I THEN REQUIRED A TOW TRUCK. THANKFULLY IT WAS 1AM AND NO CARS ON THE ROAD. NOBODY WAS HURT. BALD HILL KIA IN WARWICK, RI NOW HAS MY CAR, BUT NO ETA ON WHEN IT WILL BE READY. THEY TELL ME THAT THERE ARE TWO OTHER OPTIMAS WAITING FOR ENGINES AHEAD OF MINE. THIS IS 100% UNACCEPTABLE. I SPENT $26,000 ON THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH AND KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY THEY EXTENDED ON THE ENGINE IN A TIMELY FASHION. WHILE THEY HAVE OFFERED A LOANER CAR FOR NOW, THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE IN WRITING THAT THE LOANER WILL BE OF NO COST TO ME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH THE OPTION OF HOPE AND WAIT THAT KIA DOES THE RIGHT THING, OR TAKE MATTERS IN TO MY OWN HANDS BY CONTACTING NHTSA AND CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE.
Steering, Engine, Nov 6, 2016
THERE'S A TICKING IN MY MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTING UP N LAST ABOUT 5-10 MINS AFTERWARDS AND ALSO A CLANKING AND POPPING SOUNDS IN STEERING EVEN WORSE WHEN HITTING A HOLE OR GOING ACROSS INTERSECTIONS OR RAILROAD CROSSINGS STEERING SLIPS SOME GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS
Engine, Nov 4, 2016
DRIVING DOWN ROAD 55 MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF HAD TOWED TO DEALER. ENGINE SEIZED FROM FAULTY CONNECTING ROD REPLACEMENT ENGINE 2 MONTH BACK ORDER. *TR
Engine, Oct 24, 2016
THERE IS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSES THE MOTOR TO FAIL AND SEIZE AT ANY SPEED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN WITHOUT WARNING ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND MY WIFE HAD TROUBLE JUST GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GETTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE EXACT SAME MOTOR WHICH IS IN THE HYUNDAI SONATA.
Engine, Oct 21, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 17, 2016
2 ISSUES WITH 2011 KIA OPTIMA @ 101,987 MILES. QUICK BURNING OF OIL (CAUSING OIL TO BURN UP AND HAVING CAR OWNER DEAL WITH TOPPING OFF OIL LEVELS) AND GRADUAL "TICKING" SOUND FROM ENGINE THAT RESULTS IN ENGINE SHUTDOWN AS CAR IS IN MOTION PROB #1: MY KIA BURNING THRU OIL AT HIGH TEMP-I PERFORMED EACH AND EVERY OIL CHANGE PAYING OVER $70 FOR TOP QUALITY OIL. ISSUE WITH OIL GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. I HAD TO BUY MY OIL IN BETWEEN CHANGES TO KEEP ADDING OIL TO ENGINE, MADE MISTAKE IN BLAMING OIL CHANGE COMPANIES, WASTED TIME AND MONEY IN HAVING OIL CHANGED SOONER THEN 3,000 MILES. OIL CAN HENRY STATED THAT THEY BELIEVED KIA ENGINE RAN ON HIGH TEMP WHICH WAS BURNING OIL 2X FASTER THEN ANY CAR. PROBLEM #2: "TICKING" SOUND FROM ENGINE, THAT GRADUALLY FOR LOUDER, FINALLY CAUSED ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN (CHARACTERISTICS ARE DECEIVING CAR OWNER ASSUMES BATTERY ISSUES/ KIA MECHANICS BLAME BAD BATTERY) THIS IS NOT THE CASE! I HAVE AAA WITNESS MY CAR ISSUES, AND CAR STILL HAD ISSUES AFTER NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, WHICH KIA MECHANICS STILL BLAMED BATTERY. CAR SHUTDOWN IS NOT BATTERY SINCE ALL INSIDE LIGHTS, RADIO ETC STILL FUNCTION AND WHEN CAR DIED DURING DRIVING IT STILL ALLOWED ME TO "COAST" HOME AT 3 MPH. THE DAY MY CAR DIED, THERE WAS ALREADY A NEW BATTERY IN CAR. I CAME OUT TO LEAVE FOR DOC APPOINTMENT, CAR LIGHTS CAME ON/RADIO ON BUT ENGINE BARELY START, IF IT DID START CAR ENGINE DIED, IT WAS AS IF ENGINE BARELY STARTED AND COULDN'T MAINTAIN ITSELF. I MISSED A URGENT APPOINTMENT(IAM DISABLED). CALLED AAA, THEY CONFIRMED BATTERY AT 100%. WE TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, AAA GUYS SAID HORRIBLE NOISE FROM ENGINE, AFTER 20 TRIES I WAS BARELY ABLE TO REVIVE IT ENOUGH TO TEST DRIVE. DROVE AROUND MY BLOCK DOWN THE STREET AND AFTER 10 MIN CAR DIED, BUT NOT COMPLETELY. ALTHOUGH I COULDN'T ACCELERATE, CAR "DRIFTED" AT 2-3 MPH. I TURNED ON ER LIGHTS, COASTED HOME IN 1 HOUR. *TR
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 17, 2016
VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, NO POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO DRIFT ACROSS THE SLOW LANE TO THE SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART. A CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY THEY WERE NOT REAR-ENDED. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME WHILE ACCELERATING AND PROMPTED WITH CLICKING NOISES UNDER THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE AT 120,400 MILES.
Engine, Oct 7, 2016
STARTED CAR AFTER WORK AND IT SUDDENLY STARTED KNOCKING. TRIED TO "BABY" THE CAR HOME, MADE IT 3 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WORK AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. THE RESULT OF A PISTON SLAPPING A SPARK PLUG AND PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. SHOULD FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY OF THESE CARS HAVING "WEAK CONNECTING RODS" BUT SHOULD BE A RECALL INSTEAD.
Power train, Engine, Oct 5, 2016
ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2016, I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA TO CHURCH WITH MY 2 CHILDREN. AFTER COMING UP ON A RED LIGHT I STOPPED AND THEN PROCEEDED TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE LIGHT AND ACCELERATE UP A SLIGHT HILL AT ABOUT 35-40MPH. AFTER GOING OVER HILL, I WAS NOT ABLE TO PRESS THE GAS TO KEEP GOING AND MY BRAKES ENDED UP LOCKING UP SO I HAD TO GET IN FAR LANE IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO COAST INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR CAME ON AND CAR LITERALLY JUST CUT OFF. THANKFULLY IT WAS NOT A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROAD TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED A TOW COMPANY THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND SAID THE CAR STILL WANTED TO TURN OVER BUT SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING IT FROM STARTING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A 2ND MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND IT APPEARS THAT THE CONNECTING ROD IS THE ISSUE. I'VE MAINTAINED THE CAR WITH THE SAME MECHANIC FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND I HAVE A LITTLE OF 140K MILES. I'VE TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID I COULD HAVE THE CAR TOWED THERE AND THEY WOULD PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR ABOUT $99 AN HOUR AND IF THE ENGINE WAS THE ISSUE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 120K MILES AND THAT I MUST HAVE ALL MY PAPERWORK FOR MAINTENANCE FROM THE MECHANIC I USED.
Engine, Oct 4, 2016
THE ENGINE TOTALLY LOCKED UP....WHILE DRIVING, IN MOTION, ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE TYPE HIGHWAY! VERY DANGEROUS! MANY KIA OWNERS APPEAR TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THE ENGINE IS FROZEN SOLID AND WILL NOT TURN OVER PER REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. THESE ENGINES ALSO ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO BUY FOR REPLACEMENT AND KIA HAS DISCONTINUED MAKING THEM AVAILABLE. THIS INDICATES LOUDLY THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Engine, Oct 1, 2016
SAME COMPLAINTS AS THE OTHERS, 85,000 MILES AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING HOME. NO CHECK ENGINE/LOW OIL LIGHT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE SHOP'S REPORT WAS THAT THE OIL WAS LOW AND DARK, COULD NOT CRANK ENGINE MANUALLY BY HAND, ENGINE HAS INTERNAL DAMAGE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED.. $4100 IF I CHOOSE TO PROCEED. WE BOUGHT IT USED, AND ARE SOL.
Engine, Sep 29, 2016
ON SEPT 24 2016 AROUND 10 PM, DRIVING HOME ENGINE LOCKS UP, CAR TURNS OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS HEADING AROUND A WIDE TURN AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AS IT DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. KIA DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ENGINE FAILURE WITH A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. KIA CONSUMER SUPPORT TODAY SEPT 29, 2016 SAID THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PRETTY WIDE SPREAD WITH MANY KIA MODELS AS WELL AS HYUNDAI MODELS. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A CLASS ACTION STARTING AGAINST KIA FOR NOT FOLLOW SUITE WITH HYUNDAI WHEN HYUNDAI MAKE OWNERS AWARE. SAME ENGINE FROM SAME PLANT. GOING TO KEEP CALLING KIA SUPPORT UNTIL I GET SOME HELP. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM KIA ABOUT A RECALL OR SERVICE NOTICE AS OTHER HAVE MADE NOTE OF RECEIVING.
Engine, Sep 28, 2016
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2016, OUT OF THE BLUE ON MAY 22, 2016 I HEARD A SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VERY NEXT MORNING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE I-15 SOUTH AT AROUND 7:00AM I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 55 MPH DUE TO TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CRANK THE WHEEL AND PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE OFF RAMP NEARBY WITHOUT HURTING ANYONE. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEARBY SHOP AND AFTER A 24HR EVALUATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE THE OIL COMPARTMENT AND BECAUSE OF THESE SHAVINGS IT CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. NOW MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDRIVEABLE SINCE MAY BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME $4,200 TO REPAIR.
Engine, Sep 16, 2016
I WAS TOLD BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MIDDLE LANE. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE MY CAR AND MY ENGINE WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO TOW MY CAR TO KIA. THE NEXT DAY KIA SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND I MUST PROVE THAT I KEPT MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. I HAVE NO CAR NOW AND I NEED TO GET TO WORK AND GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL.
Engine, Sep 16, 2016
I HAD DROVE THIS CAR FOR A YEAR WITH NO MINOR OR MAJOR PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER JUST REGULARLY PERFORMED MAINTENCE AND UP KEEP. NEVER ONCE SEEING A ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT. HOWEVER IN MARCH OF 2016 WITH NO WARNING OR ANYTHING MY CAR STARTED MAKING THIS HORRIBLE 'KNOCKING NOISE' WHICH WAS MINIMAL AT FIRST AND GREW LOUDER AS I ACCELERATED. AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THAT AND HAS NEVER GONE OFF. THIS IMMEDIATELY RAISED CONCERNS FOR ME BUT DID NOT NO THE CAUSE, I PULLED OVER TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND AFTER JUST 30 SECONDS OF HEARING MY CAR START THEN DIE WITH THE HORRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. HIS EXACT WORDS TO ME ARE 'SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT A ROD KNOCK'. AND HE CHECKED MY OIL TO SEE IF ANY WAS IN THE ENGINE WHICH IT WAS AND ASKED ME ABOUT VEHICLE HISTORY. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND THE 3 SEPARATE MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKE WITH SAYS THERE WOULD BE NO REASON FOR A 2011 THAT HAS 90K MILES TO HAVE AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. AT THE TIME I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA AND THEY SAY IT WON'T BE COVERED WHICH PUTS ME AT A LOST FOR WORDS AND HAVING ME TRY TO PREPARE TO BUY A ENGINE WHICH COST WILL EQUAL INTO THE $5,000 PRICE RANGE. THIS WAS NOT A REALISTIC OPTION FOR ME AND FORCED ME TO SEEK OTHER OPTIONS. AND COME TO FIND OUT HYUNDAI SHARES THE SAME ENGINE IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA AND THEY RECALLED THEIRS. BUT KIA IS CALLING THIS A MECHANISM DEFECT NOW, AND STILL FIGHTING CLAIMS. IT JUST BAFFLES ME IF HYUNDAI IS THE PARENT COMAPNY OF KIA AND THEY RE CALLED THE ENGINE, WHY IS KIA FIGHTING EVERYONE SO HARD ON THESE CLAIMS... I JUST DON'T BELIEVE ALL US OPTIMA OWNERS IN AMERICA DON'T T KNOW HOW TO GET OIL CHANGES, AND THATS WHAT KIA WANTS US TO BELIEVE.
Service brakes, Engine, Sep 12, 2016
THE ENGNE LOCKED UP AT 87K! I HAD NO OIL IN IT
Engine, Sep 12, 2016
FRIDAY SEPT 9TH I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT WALMART IN JACKSON OHIO, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES FROM MY HOME, AFTER THE OIL CHANGE I DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR FOR THE EVENING, I'M RETIRED SO I DON'T DRIVE VERY MUCH EVERYDAY, SO SATURDAY I WENT TO LEAVE TO GO TO THE STORE WHICH IS ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY AND WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR LEAVING THE STORE THE CAR STARTED AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL BANGING AROUND, I INSTANTLY THOUGHT THAT WALMART LEFT MY OIL CAP OFF OR SOMETHING SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED, CAP WAS ON AND THE OIL WAS GOOD AND TO THE FULL LINE, I STARTED THE CAR AND DRIVE IT HOME AND THE NOISE GOT TREMENDOUSLY WORSE, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 BETWEEN HOME AND THE STORE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO PAST 15 MPH, IT'S SITTING NOW AND IF I TRY TO START IT, IT WILL START BUT THE NOISE IS UNBELIEVABLE, NOT DRIVABLE, I'VE LOOKED UP THIS CAR AND MORE THEN 200 OF THE SAME COMPLAINANTS ARE ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME EXACT THING AND EVERYONE SAYS THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR TO A TUNE OF BETWEEN 5,000-7,000 DOLLARS, WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? WHY ISN'T KIA FIXING THESE ENGINES? I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND STILL OWE AT LEAST TWO YEARS ON THE CAR! I HEARD THE HYNDAI HAS THE SAME EXACT MOTOR AND THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR THE MOTOR DOING THIS??? CAR HAS 103,900 MILES AND I'VE ALWAYS KEPT MAINTENANCE UP AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES! TOO MANY OF THESE KIA OPTIMA SHAVE HAD BAD MOTORS AND THE PUBLIC IS SUFF RING AND GETTING PUT INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF IT, WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS TO GET KIA TO FINALLY FIX IT????
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Sep 8, 2016
ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2016, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV SLIGHTLY WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. IT WAS 7:30AM WHEN THIS OCCURRED SO LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT MANY CARS ON THE ROAD YET. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS OFF, THE BREAKS WOULD NOT WORK WELL. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP BY CONTINUING TO HIT THE BREAKS AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BREAK AS WELL. KIA RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES EVERY 7,500 MILES, HOWEVER, I USUALLY HAVE MINE DONE EVERY 5,000. I HAD ZERO WARNING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 31, 2016, AND THE MECHANIC THAT PERFORMED THE CHANGE SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. THERE WAS ZERO SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST AND NO "KNOCKING" SOUND IN THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. ONCE THERE, WE TESTED THE BATTERY AND IT SEEMED A LITTLE LOW. MIND YOU THIS IS A NEW BATTERY PURCHASED FROM COSTCO ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. WE TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND AFTER TRYING TO START THE CAR A 3RD TIME, THE ENGINE STARTED SHOOTING OUT BLACK SMOKE AND HAD A FOUL SMELL TO IT. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER AUTHORIZING $280 TO OPEN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE SO THEY COULD TAKE PICTURES AND SEND IT TO KIA. . I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER 2011 KIA OWNERS EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR ISSUE AND WAS JUST TOLD BY A FRIEND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER 2011 OPTIMA AS WELL. LOOKS LIKE HYUNDAI HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE KIA AND HAD A RECALL. MY CAR HAD 101,500 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES) AND THE ONLY ISSUE I EVER HAD WAS TO REPLACE A CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ABOUT 6-MONTHS AGO.
Engine, Aug 16, 2016
2011 KIA OPTIMA. SERVICED AS REQUIRED. APPROX 120,000 MILES. ENGINE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISES AND SEIZED. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD METAL SHAVINGS WERE IN THE MOTOR AND NEED NEW MOTOR. AFTER INVESTIGATING ON LINE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MOTORS. ALSO, KIA MOTORS WERE BUILT IN THE SAME PLANT AS HUNDAI AND THOSE MOTORS AS WELL HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND WERE RECALLED! WHY HAS KIA NOT RECALLED THESE MOTORS KNOWING THERE IS AN ISSUE? OUR MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET A MOTOR FOR A DODGE AT HIS SHOP WITH NO ISSUE, BUT WHEN HE CALLED TO GET A MOTOR FOR THE KIA OPTIMA - NONE TO BE FOUND! CALLED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NONE EITHER, ALL ON BACK ORDER....WHY??? THIS IS VERY OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND I WISH THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE TO GET KIA TO RECALL THESE MOTORS AND MAKE IT RIGHT WITH THE BUYERS. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED MY NHTSA? MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN IT SEIZED IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY STREET IN THE CITY, AND AFTER READING OTHERS THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE! GIANT SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!!! SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST KIA, GUESS IT IS TIME TO JOIN IN ON THAT!
Engine, Aug 12, 2016
ENGINE IS BLOWN, THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS SNAPPED OFF AND PIECES ARE BANGING AROUND IN MY ENGINE
Engine, Aug 10, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE THEN THE CAR JUST DIED AND WHEN IT DID IT MADE A LOUD POP AND WOULDN'T START.
Engine, Aug 9, 2016
MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA HOME ONE EVENING AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WHATSOEVER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED UP. THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SLUDGE IN THE OIL. THE PRICE TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE 6,612.00$ I CONTACTED KIA CORP. AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE OIL. THE ENGINES HAVE A DEFECT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE QUITE A POOR HISTORY WITH THESE ENGINES. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY PERSONAL CERTIFIED MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED BUT THERE WAS NOT AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THEY ARE GOING TO PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE WITH LESS MILES FOR ABOUT 1,200.00$ LESS. NOT ONLY KIA WOULDN'T HELP ME OUT BUT THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE AN ABOVE AVERAGE COST. THE AVERAGE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS 4900.00$ SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP ALL WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE
Engine, Aug 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SOUND BECAME LOUDER WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. ...UPDATED 10/11/16 *BF