What 590 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Optima

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AT 40MPH WHEN I SAW LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I PULLED OVER TO GET MY TWO KIDS AND MYSELF OUT OF THE CAR SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I THEN CALLED 911 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME PUT THE FLAMES OUT WHEN THEY FINALLY DID THE WHOLE CAR WAS BURNT TO A CRISP

NHTSA ODI 11166761

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH SO I PULLED OVER AND MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR IT STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT NOT BEFORE THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

NHTSA ODI 11165647

THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A NON-COLLISION/SPONTANEOUS FIRE. THERE WHERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF CAR DEFECTS. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON A CITY ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEKALB COUNTY GA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND TOOK A REPORT. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT MOTOR INSTALLED BY KIA WITH A WARRANTY. THE NEW MOTOR HAD APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11154184

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI 11150291

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BURST INTO FLAMES. MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT WITH A TREE.

NHTSA ODI 11129096

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

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

NHTSA ODI 11048146

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AIRPORT KIA NAPLES (3325 WESTVIEW DR, NAPLES, FL 34104) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERABLE AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT CALLED AIRPORT KIA NAPLES AT (239) 732-8910 AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. WHILE DRIVING BACK TO THE DEALER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP AFTER FOUR DAYS. WHILE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO BLOW HEAT, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE EXHAUST, AND THE KNOCKING NOISE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE AIR CONDITIONER AS A COURTESY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, OPENED AN INVESTIGATION, AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12451212. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,958.

NHTSA ODI 11015777

CAR CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE BAY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HAS BEEN ENTIRELY BURNED OUT IN 5 MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11012450

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BEGAN TO SKID OFF THE ROAD. ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD, HE FOUND THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11001902

TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH (HAD JUST TURNED ONTO ROAD)WHEN ENGINE SEEMED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL (HARD) AND DID NOT SLOW CAR AT ALL. CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKE AND ALSO PUMPED BUT NOTHING SLOWED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH SAW TRUCK WELL AHEAD OF ME STOPPED, I COULD DO NOTHING TO STOP OR EVEN SLOW DOWN. I WRECKED INTO BACK OF TRUCK STOPPED AHEAD OF ME WAITING TO TURN. APPROX 8000.00 DAMAGE TO MY CAR MOSTLY DUE TO TRUCK HAVING A SIZABLE TRAILER HITCH ON BACK THAT BUSTED THROUGH A LOT OF FRONT END PLASTIC, COOLING SYSTEM, ETC AND BUCKLED HOOD. NO INJURIES BUT IF WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. OFFICER UPON ARRIVAL ALSO NOTICED THATBRAKES SEEMED TO FAIL AND NOTED IT ON HIS POLICE REPORT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND INTERNET SOURCES INDICATING THAT SOME 2011 KIAS HAD IN FACT HAS A TSNB ISSUED FOR UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A BULLETIN AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SERVICES PERFORMED AT KIA DEALERSHIP. ALSO, HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES AT DEALER AND DELAER INSPECTION NEVER INDICATED ANY PROBLEMS. I HAV EALSO FOUND DOCUMENTATION ONLINE THAT SAYS IF YOU HAVE AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELLERATION, PRESSING THE BRAKE HARD IS THE FIRST STEP TO DO, BUT ONCE YOU LET OFF THE BRAKE, YOU TOTALLY LOSE BRAKE PRESSURE. WHO POSSIBLE WOULD KNOW THAT ? THIS ACCIDENT IS TOTALLY THE RESULT OF A SYSTEM FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE AND I AM ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN PERSUING MY DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10823248

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. LUCKILY, I SAFELY MADE IT TO THE FAR SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY ONLY TO FIND THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE STARTER IS ALSO FRIED. I HAVE SEEN FOUR COMPLAINTS SO FAR OF 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND AM SURE I WILL FIND MORE. THAT SEEMS LIKE TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE THAT IT HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY WITH THESE MODELS AND THERE ISN'T ANY SORT OF RECALL. NO BREAKS AT 70 MPH IS PRETTY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY ATTORNEY AND HOPE THIS MANUFACTURER WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.

NHTSA ODI 10789435

LEFT A STOP LIGHT AND CAR HESITATED SO I GAVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS. THEN THERE WAS LOUD METAL TO METAL NOISE FROM ENGINE AND AN EXPLOSION WITH WHITE SMOKE. ABLE TO GET INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE HOOD TO A SMALL FIRE. FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN BACK OF ENGINE AND CRACKED THE FRONT. IN THE OIL PAN WAS THE ATTACHMENT ARM FROM THE CRANK IN MANY PIECES. THERE IS A RECALL WITH HYUNDAI BUT KIA SAYS IT IS NOT RELATED TO THIS ENGINE WHEN THERE IS AN ARTICLE STATING THE ENGINE DID GET PLACED IN THE KIA OPTIMA. I HAD JUST UNDER 100K MILES AND AN OIL CHANGE JUST 2 WEEKS PRIOR DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE. THIS WAS DONE AT A KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT CHANGED THE OIL AT $70 DOLLARS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? SEE PICTURE OF PARTS ATTACHED.

NHTSA ODI 10787041

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH AT NIGHT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE/FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,500.

NHTSA ODI 10645013