What 590 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Optima

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT USED A TOWEL AND A BOTTLE OF WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, BUT ARRIVED AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (COURTESY KIA OF BRANDON, 9205 E ADAMO, TAMPA, FL 33619) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR AN EVALUATION PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 12673181 WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11115903

WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. PROCEEDED TO GO ON GREEN AND ON A MAIN BUSY ROAD MY CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AND ALL MY LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY VEHICLE. AS I PULLED OVER ONTO A SIDE STREET MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMELL LIKE IT WAS BURNING. MY CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP.. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON A NEW ENGINE AND WE HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 2 MONTHS NOW. GETTING VERY AGGRAVATED AS NOBODY CAN TELL ME WHEN MY CAR WILL BE DONE. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING ME THEY CANT FIND AN ENGINE FOR IT. WHICH I FIND A LITTLE RIDICULOUS. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL ME SOMETHING OR PAY ME BLUE BOOK VALUE FOR MY CAR AND KEEP IT. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT AS THIS A RECALL ON MY CAR THAT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ALL OVER WITH THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11113611

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,018.

NHTSA ODI 11112227

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (DORAL KIA, 10155 NW 12TH ST, DORAL, FL 33172, (305) 520-5592)AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500.

NHTSA ODI 11105344

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO ENGINE OIL. THE ENGINE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX) WHERE IT PASSED AN INITIAL ENGINE INSPECTION PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED AND OIL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FURTHER EVALUATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED, WHICH REQUIRED THEM TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FOLLOW THE DEALER'S TESTING PROCEDURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11105145

VEHICLE ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN

NHTSA ODI 11104852

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR. THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11104883

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT CALLED CERAME KIA (11655 NEW HALLS FERRY RD, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63033) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11103004

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11102543

WITHOUT ANY WARNING LAMPS OR EXTRANEOUS SOUNDS OR ENGINE NOISE, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND STOPPED. IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE, OIL AND BATTERY LAMPS ILLUMINATED, AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A SAFE PARKING LOT AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. AAA WAS CALLED AND TOLD TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEIR DIAGNOSIS CONCURRED WITH MINE...THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND WAS NOT REPAIRABLE EXCEPT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11099406

I WAS DRIVING IN HIGHWAY IN JULY 2017. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DRIFTING AND SLIPPERY. IT WAS ABOUT 84,000 MILES IN IT. SO, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN KIA DEALER. THEY SHOWED ME WORN OUT STEERING COUPLING. I ASKED THEM TO CHANGE STEERING COUPLING ONLY BUT THEY CHANGED WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND CHARGED ME $1,402. HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT KIA EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE IN 2016. I AM NOT SURE WHY THEY CHARGED ME FOR STEERING ISSUE. I COMPLAINED KIA MOTORS AMERICA AND SENT ALL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE INCLUDING THE BILLS. THEY DID NOT RESPOND ANY LETTER YET. I LIKE TO HAVE MY MONEY BACK. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I FOUND IN MAY 2018 WAS FAST ENGINE OIL BURN OUT. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN HIGHWAY AND ENGINE OIL WARNING SIGN WAS BLINKING. SO, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED ENGINE OIL LEVEL. IT WAS ALMOST GONE AND SO DARK. THE DEALER JUST CHANGED ENGINE OIL A FEW MONTHS AGO AND LESS THAN 3,000 MILES DRIVEN AFTER THAT. I FILLED UP 3 QUARTS OF BLENDED ENGINE OIL AND CHECKED EVERY OTHER DAY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, IT LOOKS THE LEVEL OF ENGINE OIL WAS WAY LOWER (ABOUT 1 AND HALF QUARTS WERE GONE). I CALLED THE DEALER THAT THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY ENGINE OIL BURNING ISSUE NOT ENGINE FAILURE. THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT COVER BY RECALLS. I CHECKED LOTS OF COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE ISSUE FROM THE INTERNET. BASED ON THAT IN MANY CASES THE ENGINE OIL BURN OUT ISSUE HAPPENED BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE. I STRONGLY THINK THAT KIA SHOULD INSTALL NEW ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALLS BECAUSE I REALLY CONCERN ABOUT ME AND FAMILY'S SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI 11099327

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDIITON, THE CHECK ENGINE, TIRE PRESSURE, OIL, AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHIL SMITH KIA (4250 N FEDERAL HWY, LIGHTHOUSE POINT, FL 33062, (954) 545-7200) WHERE A GDS TEST WAS DONE, BUT THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,454.

NHTSA ODI 11096495

MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 HAS BEEN HAVING MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS BUT THE DEALERS ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND THEY KEEP ON MAKING THINGS UP THEY SAID THEY DRAIN OIL TO CHECK FOR METAL PARTICLES IN THE OIL.N THEY SAID THEY DID THE SC147 RECALL I WENT TO GO PICK UP MY CAR. I CHECKED THE MOTOR OIL IT WAS DARK N DIRTY MEANING THEY NEVER DRAINED THE OIL AFER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAD PAST THE TEST .THEY SAID THEY CAN HEAR THE KNOCKING NOISE BUT N ORDER FOR THEM TO ASSIST ME FURTHER I WOULD HAVE TO AUTHORISE FOR THEM TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE.IBUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET IF ITS NOT THE ENGINE SOMETHING REGARDING THE RECALL ENGINE FAILER PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11093599

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11091198

THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 AND I NEVER RECEIEVED ANYTHING IN THE MAIL TO SERVICE IT. THE ENGINE SHAKES A LOT WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11089293

IN MARCH OF 2017, KIA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THERE ENGINES IN THE OPTIMA FOR THE YEAR I OWN. WE STILL HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM KIA ABOUT BRINGING OUR KIA OPTIMA IN FOR THIS RECALL. OUR VIN SHOWS THAT OUR CAR IS PART OF THIS RECALL. A YEAR LATER WE STILL HAVEN'T HEARD FROM KIA. OUR CAR IS NOW STARTING TO STALL WHEN WE SIT AT RED LIGHTS. WE WOULD LIKE FOR KIA TO FINALLY REACH OUT TO US TO REMEDY THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 11083503

MOTOR OIL KEEPS DISAPPEARING; I CHANGE THE OIL ON SCHEDULE AND 2-3 WEEKS AFTER IT IS DRY. I'M AFRAID OF ENGINE FAILURE OR LOCK UP DUE TO THIS. RAISING THE HOOD DOES NOT SHOW ANY OIL SPLATTER. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; LNTERIOR LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT OR GO COMPLETELY DIM.

NHTSA ODI 11081177

THIS HAPPENED TWICE.THE FIRST TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO AUSTIN TX ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH.THE WE HAD THE CAR TOED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER HE CHECKED THE MOTOR WE WERE INFORMED THE MOTOR SEIZED UP.I PURCHASED A USED MOTOR AT A JUNK YARD WITH 22,000 MILES AND THE MECHANIC INSTALLED IT. DEC.26 2017 WE SPENT CHRISTMAS IN AUSTIN TX AND WAS ON OUR WAY BACK ON I10 AROUND SEALY TX THE MOTOR SHUT OFF.I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR UP AGAIN.I FOUND A KIA DEALER IN KATY TEXAS AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR THERE, IT WAS ABOUT 8 MILES AWAY HOWEVER WE DIDN'T MAKE IT.I STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE DRIVING REALLY SLOW 55-60MPH AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THEN SMOKE THE MOTOR LOCKED UP.THE CAR IS AT THE KIA DEALER BUT I AM STILL WAITING FOR AN AUTHORIZATION TO GET HE ENGINE REPLACED,

NHTSA ODI 11057900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESET AND WAS TOWED TO RICART KIA (4255 S HAMILTON RD #210, GROVEPORT, OH 43125 (614) 836-6503) WHERE THE DIAGNOSES WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ODI 11048595

MY CAR CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET CAUSING A ACCIDENT

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BEGINNING IN SPRING 2017 MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX TURBO (I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW, ONLY OWNER) BEGAN STUTTERING WHILE IN MOTION (AS IF SOMEONE WERE PUMPING THE BRAKES). THE CAR STALLS AND DIES AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS AND NEEDS RESTARTED. IT ALSO STALLS AND DIES WHILE IN MOTION, MOST DISTURBING IN HIGH SPEED, HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS AND AT 70 MPH HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WILL BE TRAVELING ON HIGH SPEED INTERSTATES AND THE CAR JUST DIES AND I HAVE TO HOPE I HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO SAFELY GET OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT USUALLY GOES ON AND OFF AT LEAST FOUR TIMES IN BETWEEN EACH SERVICE ATTEMPT. IT HAS BEEN ANALYZED AND GIVEN ATTEMPTED REPAIRS BY A KIA DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES SINCE LATE MAY 2017 (SEE ATTACHED RECORDS), BUT THE STALLING AND STUTTERING PROBLEMS PERSIST. I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM ITS LAST SERVICE ON 10/18/17 AND THE SAME PROBLEMS BEGAN MANIFESTING AGAIN. THIS IS NOW THE FIFTH TIME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS (UNKNOWN) AND IT SEEMS KIA'S SERVICE HELP LINE FOR MECHANIC ASSISTANCE DOES NOT EITHER. THE MOST RECENT TIME THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, KIA SENT OUT A NATIONAL SERVICE SPECIALIST TO INVESTIGATE THE CAR, TO NO AVAIL. 1) 5/31/17 - REPLACED MAP SENSOR (I PAID $600 AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM) 2) 6/30/17 - TESTED GROUNDS AND REPLACED CONNECTIONS 3) 7/25/17 - REPLACED TURBO AND INTERCOOLER SYSTEM 4) 10/12/17 - REPLACED ENGINE COMPUTER 5) UNKNOWN - STILL PROBLEMATIC - ASKING FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FROM KIA THE CAR HAS 91,410 MILES AND IS STILL COVERED UNDER THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STALLS AND DIES OUT IN HIGH SPEED, HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS AND ON FREEWAYS WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH. KIA OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 11039679

STARTED HEARING MY ENGINE KNOCKING THE NIGHT BEFORE. KNOCKING STILL EVIDENT, FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY 2 ENGINE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY! VEHICLE HAD TO SIT ABANDONED OVERNIGHT UNTIL A TOW COULD BE ARRANGED, WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLING AN OUT-OF-STATE MOVE!

NHTSA ODI 11033215

ENGINE LIGHT ON. KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. CAR WON'T START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ENGINE "RATTLES" AT ACCELERATION AND STALLED TODAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING GOING ABOUT 60 MPH.

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VEHICLE IN MOTION ON FLORIDA I-10E DOING ABOUT 70 MPH. CAR STARTED MAKING A TICKING SOUND AND GAS PEDDLE STARTED PULSATING. TRIED TO MAKE IT TO NEAREST EXIT 112 BUT NOISE KEPT GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER AND THEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. WHITE SMOKE APPEARED, ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS CAME ON, AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO SIDE OF ROAD AND CALLED FOR TOW.

NHTSA ODI 11024596

I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. ALL ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND TRIED TO RESTART. NOTHING. NO SMOKE, NO CLICKING. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FINE. I HAD THE OPTIMA TOWED TO THE CLOSEST MECHANIC, WHEN TRIED TO TURN THE CRANK AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. OIL WAS FULL, NO OVER HEATING WARNING. I STILL OWE ON THIS CAR.

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