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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)

4 of 590 complaints match · Fuel system · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Dec 6, 2022EngineFuel systemFire

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

Apr 23, 2021Body & structureFuel systemFire

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

Apr 1, 2019EngineFuel systemCrash

LEAKING OIL , STRUTS MAKING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11193211

Aug 2, 2017EngineFuel systemFire3 injuries

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

NHTSA ODI 11012450

Working with the data? Download all 590 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

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 →