What 590 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Optima Phev

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot, he noticed the vehicle started smoking heavily from under the hood, and shortly thereafter, the vehicle fully ignited into flames. The vehicle was occupied during the fire. The contact stated that he noticed smoke emerging from the driver-side section of the hood. Furthermore, the contact noted that the power door locks failed to unlock automatically, requiring him to manually unlock the door to exit the vehicle safely. The color of the smoke started off light and quickly turned black. The contact stated he noticed a burning electrical odor during the fire. The fire started at underneath the hood, and stayed in the engine bay. No property damage. The location of the fire was the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the local fire dept by water. A Fire Department report was not filed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled. No injuries occurred. The vehicle was towed to a independent auto shop. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage on the odometer was 219,000, but the vehicle had a previous engine replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11742198

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while driving at 60 MPH on the expressway. No warning lights illuminated. The contact had some wires replaced prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment or crash. The driver was able to pull over safely. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was called but there was no answer. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11732339

While driving the Kia on the highway (in the passing lane on Route 93, Boston, MA), the hood of the car flew open and shattered the windshield. Prior to getting into the vehicle, there was no notification, warning light/display, that alerted to the hood or anything else not being 'closed', no rattling of the hood either. The hood blocked my entire vision with the exception of a small area below, where I miraculous got over to the breakdown lane without causing any accident. When I got out of the car, the hood was bent and the second latch was loose. It did not hold its shape. Called the police and the insurance company, the car was deemed a total loss. This incident occurred on January 31, 2026 at 10:05AM. The conditions were dry and sunny. The state trooper said that this incident could have had serious safety consequences to the driver and others since no one expects a hood to fly open, block visibility...this highway is a busy road and could have impacted several other vehicles on the road. We no warning lamps/message- this was traumatic- this put the safety of the driver and the public at great risk.

NHTSA ODI 11717872

The contact called on behalf of an insurer who owned a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the client was on the highway driving at an undisclosed speed, he was flagged down to be told their vehicle was releasing smoke. The client noticed an open flame coming from the undercarriage and was able to veer the vehicle to the shoulder prior to ejecting himself from the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames. The client sustained minor injuries to their knee and finger while exiting the vehicle. No other injuries or passengers were reported. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was destroyed.  The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 192,910.

NHTSA ODI 11590651

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after his wife started the vehicle, she smelled a burning odor within the interior of the vehicle, prompting her to quickly exit. After a visual inspection of the exterior of the vehicle, the contact's wife observed flames emanating from the engine compartment. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the flames. A police and fire report was filed, with no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. No warning lights were illuminated; however, the contact stated that he observed an intermittent check engine light in the months prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the high-pressure fuel pump, and the vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics), and the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11556465

The contact's fiance owned a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her fiance was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's fiance went outside to push the vehicle from behind while the contact steered the vehicle to the side of the road. The contact's fiance then noticed there were flames coming from underneath the hood and pulled the contact out of the vehicle. The vehicle was then engulfed in flames. No injuries were sustained, and medical attention was not received. The police and fire department arrived on the scene, and the fire department extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard; however, the insurance company was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 222,000.

NHTSA ODI 11537254

The wheel fell off when I was driving the key axle completely broke the pipe off but I still don’t have it fixed I only had liability

NHTSA ODI 11515715

Blinking check engine light at 113000 miles on the car cuzs stalling while driving was worried about an engine fire I did read about on same model.

NHTSA ODI 11500620

While driving our 2011 Kia Optima on I-185 at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly had unresponsive accelerator and had decrease in power. Gauges were all normal range, no warning or indicator lights illuminated. I pulled over to the highway shoulder to clear traffic and placed car in park. Immediately light gray, then black smoke poured out from the hood. My wife and I evacuated the Kia just before the front of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The engine had been replaced in Sept 2021 due to a previous recall, and up to this incident the Kia performed within normal parameters.

NHTSA ODI 11496324

2011 Kia Optima caught on fire while driving. Car started smoking which was the only indication something was wrong then all the dashboard lights came on and brakes no longer worked. About half a block later I put the car in park and it slowed down enough for my 3 kids to jump out although the car was still moving. I was able to exit a few seconds later when it came to a full stop. Within minutes it had flames coming from under the hood that continued until the fire department was able to put it out. They said something electrical had caused the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11439426

My kia optima got on fire while I was driving it

NHTSA ODI 11429914

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A HIGHWAY AT TRAFFIC TIME WHEN I NOTICED A SMALL GAS ODOR MY BRAKES GOT REALLY HARD AFTER THAT I PULLED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WHEN I PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN MY HOOD SMOKE AND FLAMES IMMEDIATELY CAME OUT, THE CAR ITS TRASH NOW POLICE TOOK IT TO IMPOUND BECAUSE OF THE FLUIDS THE CAR WAS LEAKING AND SAFETY ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11413542

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

NHTSA ODI 11363075

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ON MY DASHBOARD REMAINS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE APRIL 2018 WHEN THE FRONT END (JUST RIGHT OF CENTER) WAS IMPACTED. HAVE BEEN TO KIA PERFORMANCE CENTER IN MOOSIC PA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO REGARDING THIS MATTER. ALSO, MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT ERTLEY MOTORWORLD AND THEY TOO STATED THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11353623

KIA OPTIMA 2011 TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST ON JULY 2 2018, MY KIA OPTIMA CAUSED ME TO PLUMMET INTO TRAFFIC AFTER MY BRAKE DIDN'T PERFORM L. THAT'S CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO KIA FOR ALL SERVICE NEED AND CAR STILL PERFORM POORLY. HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR MULTIPLE TIME JUST FOR IT TO ACT RIGHT. CAR STOPS ONE ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ONE DAY. I HAVE A 3 OLD AND THAT DAY SHE COULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME. I LOST MY LICENSE AND MY MONEY I INVESTED FOR A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY CHILD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326474

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, ANOTHER VEHICLE REVERSED INTO THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NECK INJURY, AND CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY TO THE LEFT EYE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF BEDFORD (LOCATED AT 18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146, (440) 735-4000) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BUMPER AND STATED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR CRASH PARTS, BUT NOT FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11290089

I HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT ON 1 OCT 2018. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 18 OCT 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA CONCERNING THIS MATTER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY WILL NOT RESPOND TO ME.

NHTSA ODI 11267907

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICER WHO FLAGGED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND INFORMED HIM TO PULL OVER BECAUSE FLAMES WERE PRESENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE AS IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,442.

NHTSA ODI 11258319

RIGHT LOW BEAM NEEDED CONSTANT CHANGING (1 EVERY 4-6 MONTHS). WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, I HAD CHANGED THE BULB, 2 WEEKS LATER, THE LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN. NOTICED A WHITE FILM ON INSIDE OF LIGHT ASSEMBLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THE WIRING CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR FOR THE LIGHT BULB. I PURCHASED A NEW ASSEMBLY, ONLY TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. FIRSTLY, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTING IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE IN THIS CAR TO BEGIN WITH, NOW I'M RUNNING OFF OF ONE LIGHT. AFTER LOOKING INTO COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THIS CAR. KIA IS A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY, YOU NEED TO STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND HAVE THE MINDSET OF PUTTING YOUR CUSTOMERS SAFETY AS A PRIORITY. I WORK AS A FIREFIGHTER/EMT AND I'D HATE TO ARRIVE ON SCENE OF SOMEONE THAT WAS KILLED DUE TO KIA'S FAULTY UNSAFE PRODUCT. ESPECIALLY OF ONE THAT COULD BE PREVENTED BY FIXING THESE PROBLEMS THAT YOU KNOW IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SHAME ON YOU KIA FOR PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI 11257248

ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC STREET AND WOULD NOT RESTART AND WITHIN MINUTES FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DESTROYED FRONT OF CAR AND DAMAGED INTERIOR

NHTSA ODI 11241543

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE ENGINE SEIZING BUT SHE WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT HER VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE RISK OF A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *BF *JB

NHTSA ODI 11218102

LEAKING OIL , STRUTS MAKING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11193211

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE LOWER CONTROL ARM INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD AND CV AXLE 2 TIME BECAUSE PARTS ARE CHEAP AND SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF FORCE SUCH AS HITTING A CURB CAUSES MASSIVE SUSPENSION DAMAGE. BOTH TIMES CAR WAS RUNNING UNBER 20 MILES AN HOUR AND HIT A CURB AND IT DESTROYED SUSPENSION. SECOND TIME TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL AND ENDED UP HITTING GUARD RAIL AND SAME THING DESTROYED SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ODI 11192681

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR. SECONDS LATER, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED AND FLAMES ROSE FROM THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,300.

NHTSA ODI 11190052

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S GRANDSON WAS DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED UNDER CASE NUMBER: 19-036086. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW FACILITY. THE CONTACT CALLED WEST PALM BEACH KIA (735 SOUTH MILITARY TRAIL, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33415, (561) 433-1511) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11176454