Home · 2011 Kia Optima · Complaints

What 590 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Optima

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (590)Crash / fire / injury (55)Engine (253)Steering (100)Lights (88)Electrical system (61)Brakes (47)Airbags (31)Transmission & drivetrain (25)Fuel system (24)Body & structure (21)Speed control (19)

253 of 590 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 4 of 11

Jan 15, 2020Engine

WAS DRIVING DOWN AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY CUTS OFF. FOUND OUT THE ENGINE LOCKED EVEN THOUGH I GET THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11299635

Jan 6, 2020AirbagsEngine

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. 65.00 EMERGENCY BRAKE AND 125.00 FOR TEST. IT ALREADY HAD ONE. FUEL LEAK?

NHTSA ODI 11297448

Dec 29, 2019Engine

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR LOST POWER SO I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER A CAR ALMOST HIT ME FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TURNED MY CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11291835

Dec 18, 2019Engine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. MADE NO NOISES, JUST STOPPED. TECHNICIAN PULLED OIL PAN AND STATED THAT HUNKS OF METAL FELL OUT AROUND THE BEARINGS.

NHTSA ODI 11289815

Dec 4, 2019Engine

ENGINE SEIZED UP WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. I HEARD KNOCKING, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND OIL LIGHT WAS FLASHING PERIODICALLY DAYS BEFORE BUT NEVER STAYED ON SOLID. NO PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES AND ALL SERVICING KEPT UP TO DATE.

NHTSA ODI 11286787

Nov 3, 2019LightsEngine

HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM YOU CAN BARELY SEE USING LOW BEAM LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS ARE BARELY BRIGHTER THAN REGULAR BEAMS ON OTHER CARS. HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES AND IT HAS NEVER CHANGED THE PROBLEM. ENGINE SEIZED UP WITH NO WARNING OR MECHANICAL SIGNS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11277844

Oct 28, 2019Electrical systemEngine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11271491

Oct 16, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 40 MPH AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK BECAUSE SHE WAS CONSTANTLY ADDING OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY KIA (7849 MALL PKWY, LITHONIA, GA 30038, (678) 374-3820) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER, ENGINE AIR FILTER, AC REFRESHER, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11268834

Oct 4, 2019Engine

METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING

NHTSA ODI 11266199

Oct 2, 2019Engine

DRIVING TO WORK AND MY CAR WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. IT STARTED TO SPUTTER AND I WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER AND IT JUST SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11265533

Sep 26, 2019EngineFire

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

Sep 18, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING, A KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ODI 11256328

Sep 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

WHILE ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AT AROUND BETWEEN 1 AND 2 OCLOCK PM I WAS STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP AT GA HWY 225 IN SPRINGPLACE , AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE 4 WAY WHILE IN MOTION I HEAR AND FEEL A SUDDEN JOLT TO MY VEHICLE AND I SKID TO A STOP THANK GOD IT HAD JUST WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND DID NOT GAIN ANY SPEED. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND GLANCED UNDERNEATH THINKING THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING, INSTEAD I NOTICED THAT MY MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION WHERE NO LONGER CONNECTED TO MY VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE BUT THEY WHERE LAYING ALMOST ON THE GROUND. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR MY DAUGHTER. MY VEHICLE WAS ONE ON THE LIST THAT HAD A RECALL ON THE MOTOR THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR WAS INSTALLED AROUND MARCH OF 2017. IT HAS NOT SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE UNTIL THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11253260

Aug 25, 2019SteeringLightsEngine

THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON THEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE BATTERY DISCHARGE KEPT POPPING UP ON THE DISPLAY THEN WENT OUT. ABOUT 10 MINUTES FURTHER, I LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO GET TO BASE EVEN THOUGH I RAN A RED LIGHT AND STOP SIGN BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED SPURTTERING AND FEELING LIKE IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. ONCE I MANAGED TO GET TO A PARKING LOT, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BUT I STILL HAD DASH LIGHTS. ALL THE ERROR LIGHTS CAME ACROSS MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE BATTERY TO ADVANCE, THEY SAID IT WAS LOW. THEY CHARGED IT AND SAID IT NEEDED REPLACED. THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS STILL LIT SO I TOOK IT AND THEY CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR AND SAID IT WAS DEAD. I TOOK IT AND HAD IT REBUILT. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK OK.

NHTSA ODI 11246278

Aug 21, 2019Engine

LAST MONTH, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN MY ENGINE AND IT WAS BONE DRY. THIS WAS THE REASON FOR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY SAID THEY DO KNOW WHY BUT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE LAST TIME I RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE THEY PUT IN THE WRONG OIL. THEY ASSURED ME AND I MADE SURE THEY PUT IN THE CORRECT OIL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF. A MONTH LATER I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE JERKED AND IT WENT DOWN TO 40. THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND WAS STRUGGLING. I CHECKED IT IN THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AGAIN. BEING THAT I HAD NO OIL STAINS ON MY DRIVEWAY I WAS CONVINCED THAT IT WAS NOT LEAKING AND THE OIL WAS BURNING OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11245388

Aug 4, 2019Engine

AT APPROXIMATELY 97,000 MILES, MY CAR BEGAN TO BURN AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. BEING THAT MY CAR HAD A WARRANTY UP TO 100K MILES, I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE ISSUE TO KIA. THEY CONTINUOUSLY REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO EVALUATE THE OIL CONSUMPTION AT 1,000 MILE INCREMENTS. I REPORTED MY CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO THE PROCESS POSSIBLY EXTENDING BEYOND THE 100K MILE LIMITS OF MY WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE RECALL WOULD BE AN OPTION IF I EXCEEDED 100K MILES. UPON EXCEEDING 100K MILES, KIA REPORTED THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS THE PRODUCT OF "CHEAP OIL" AND KIA WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXCESSIVE OIL BURN. AFTER VERIFYING THAT MY MOST RECENT OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED BY KIA, I WAS TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NO LONGER A PROVISION OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11241598

Aug 3, 2019Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

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

Aug 1, 2019Speed controlEngineFuel system

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, OUT OF NOWHERE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND ENGINE SEIZED, CAR LOST ALL MOMENTUM, HAD NO "GET UP AND GO" PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL DID NOTHING, GOING UP HILL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL AUTO SHOP, THEY COULD HEAR SOME NOISE BUT WEREN'T SURE WHAT. PER INVOICE 7/26/19: CHECKED CODES: P0011 A CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ADVANCED, P00114 B CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER ADVANCED; P1326 ENGINE DAMAGE ALERT FOR DRIVER. ENGINE WAS NOISEY AND RAN VERY ROUGH, OIL LEVEL WAS LOW AND BLACK (WE SAW NOWHERE THAT IT WAS LEAKING OIL, NO SPOTS ANYWHERE). CHANGED OIL AND ADD LUCAS ENGINE STABILIZER, ENGINE QUIETED AND RUNS MUCH SMOOTHER. CLEAR CODES, TEST DRIVE, WATCH SCAN DATA. NO CODES, POSSIBLE EARLY STAGES OF ENGINE DAMAGE IF CODES RETURN INSPECT TIMING CHAIN AND CONTROL DEVICES. TOOK CAR HOME OVER THE WEEKEND DROVE LESS THAN 50 MILES, SUNDAY 7/28/19 AGAIN, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR HAD NO "GET UP AND GO" AND A VERY LOUD CLANKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. TOOK CAR TO SHOP ASAP. PER INVOICE 7/31/19: CHECK CEL LIGHT AND LOSS OF POWER, CHECK FLUIDS, ENGINE HAS INTERNAL NOISE/DAMAGE; COMPUTER DATASCAN, CHECK CODES, DIAG, P1326; ENGINE DAMAGE ALERT FOR DRIVER, RECOMMEND FURTHER DIAG EVAL, INSPECT LOWER END AND TIMING CHAIN. AUTO SHOP CONTACTED LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THEY WARRANT ENGINES WITH THESE CONDITIONS. THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WAITING TO BE REPAIRED ALREADY, SUGGESTED CALLING A DEALER OUT OF TOWN FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI 11241077

Jul 27, 2019Engine

OIL IS DISAPPEARING NO LEAKS!! WHEN DRIVING THE CAR GETS A VIBRATION THEN YOU BETTER CHECK THE OIL . EVERYTIME AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK WE ARE ADDING AT LLEADT 3 OR 4 QUARTS OF OIL. SEEMS TO BE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON HERE SAME PROBLEM WITH KIA. THIS CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE FOR US TO DRIVE HAVE AN APPT NEXT WEEK HOPE WE GET RESULTS

NHTSA ODI 11235326

Jul 16, 2019Engine

I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY, ACCELERATING TO GET UP TO THE SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. I NOTICED THE CAR WASN'T ACCELERATING LIKE NORMAL AND A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE FAILED. THE BATTERY AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TRIED STARTING MY CAR. IT WOULD START, BUT WOULD DIE AGAIN EVERY TIME I GOT TO ABOUT 20 MPH. I GOT IT INTO A GARAGE, WHERE THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT BUT THE NEXT DAY, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES AS I WAS DRIVING. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS NEARLY EMPTY. I LOOKED TO SEE HOW MANY MILES IT HAD BEEN SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS ABOUT 1,500 MILES. IN ALL THE TIMES I'VE HAD MY OIL CHANGED, NO ONE HAS EVER TOLD ME THE OIL WAS LOW. THERE WERE NO OIL DRIPS ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. IT SEEMS TO BE BURNING THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. WHEN I ADDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL, STEAM WAS COMING OUT OF THE OPENING EVEN THOUGH I ONLY DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE.

NHTSA ODI 11232459

Jun 29, 2019Engine

THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND STARTED TO SHAKE AND CHECK ENGINE STARTED FLICKER AND HEARD RATTLING. THE CAR THEN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND JERKING. I'VE READ ABOUT SEVERAL RECALLS INVOVLING 2011-2015 KIA'S HAVING ENGINE RECALLS BUT MY VIN HAS NOT HAD A RECALL FOR MY CAR, WHICH I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE MY IMPRESSION OF KIA IS RELIABLE UP TO THIS POINT. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MY MAINTENANCE SUCH AS REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND PERFORMING DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO ENSURE MY VEHICLE IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND SAFELY. I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND MAKE A RECALL FOR MY ENGINE FAULTY, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT 6K TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11228387

Jun 13, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUSSMAN KIA (1940 JENKINTOWN RD, JENKINTOWN, PA 19046) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES). THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE WAS ALRIGHT IN JANUARY OF 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 11219692

Jun 13, 2019Engine

THE COOLANT SENSOR IN MY CAR IS READING THAT MY COOLANT IS -38 DEGREES. MY TRANSMISSION ALSO SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD TO WHERE YOU ARE JERKED EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN SHIFTING TO AND FROM PARK AND WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11219779

Jun 11, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel system

BOUGHT THE CAR JANUARY OF 2018.28 DAYS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE AND I GOT A FLAT TIRE AND COME TO FIND OUT MY STRUT WAS NEVER PROPERLY INSTALLED AND THATS WHAT POPPED MY TIRE.DAN OBRIEN TRIED TO DENY HAVING A WARRANTY TO FIX THE CAR SAYING IT WAS MY FAULT.IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO BUY THE NEW TIRE. WHEN THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINE CAME OUT,I TOOK MY CAR RIGHT IN. THEY PASSED IT. IN SEPTEMBER WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MY DAUGHTERS 2 MONTH APPOINTMENT THE CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER AND MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & CAR WOULD NOT START DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT.ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP THEY REPLACED THE LONG BLOCK UNDER THE SC147 RECALL 11/30/18 RECALL SC165, ECU UPGRADE. ON 2/11/19 I HAD THE INSPECTION FOR RECALL SC172 CAR PASSED.3/21/19 NO WARNING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED.P1326 ENGINE CODE CAR WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE,DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT. ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED,GOT TOWED.3/26/19 KIA TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL,IT WAS MY KNOCK SENSOR. THEY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.5/22/19 FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD,KIA WOULDNT COVER,SAME SIDE STRUT ISSUE OCCURED ON.6/6/19 I WENT TO ACCELERATE ON BYPASS AND LOST ALL ENGINE CONTROL,I WAS ABLE TO COAST. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.PUT IN PARK, OIL LIGHT,BATTERY & EPS CAME ON & OFF. TURNED CAR OFF & ON.CAR WOULD DRIVE BUT WITH HESITATION AND LITTLE POWER.6/8/19 I WENT TO ACCELERATE ON BYPASS AND CAR LOST POWER. 6+ CARS BEHIND ME ,MY CAR BLOCKED THE ROAD.RESTARTED CAR,WENT TO TAKE OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE JOLT AND I COULDNT GET OUT OF THE WAY,I HAD TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE I WAS BLOCKED.STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, BRAKES LOST POWER & I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD RAIL.DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT. 6/10/19 KIA TOLD ME IT WAS MY THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NOT COVERED. BOUGHT CAR WITH OVER 79K,NOW AROUND 101K.IM SCARED FOR MY DAUGHTERS LIFE & MINE IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE AT ANYTIME WITH ALL THE SYMPTOMS.

NHTSA ODI 11219262

Jun 5, 2019EngineFire

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

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Kia Optima verdict →