2011 Kia Optima Hybrid Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50-60 MPH, there was smoke coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the engine was cleaned and the spark plugs were replaced; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot and park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer and failed to restart. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be serviced because it was out of warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and to Kia Campaign Number: SC200. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.

NHTSA ID

11596463

Incident

Jun 25, 2022

Mileage

131,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the message "Stop Vehicle" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle had stalled and shut off on several occasions. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 30,000.

NHTSA ID

11584874

Incident

Apr 24, 2022

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY ACTIVE AIR FLAPP SYSTEM IS DEFAULTING AND TRANSMISSION GOING OUT. NOT TO MENTION THE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING

NHTSA ID

11204091

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE, CAR KEPT STALLING SO BOUGHT A 300 DOLLAR BATTERY. WELL THE CAR STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, TOOK IT TO THE KIA SERVICE CENTER JUST TO TELL ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE ON THESE VEHICLES SO WHATS TAKING LONG TO RECALL THESE ENGINE MISHAPS. CALLED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS INFORMED WITH NO HELP WHATSOEVER. SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE COME OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE NEGLECTED ENGINE FAILURES AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.

NHTSA ID

11203947

Incident

Apr 21, 2019

Mileage

91,000 mi

TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER IN CAMP SPRINGS, MARYLAND TO HAVE AN ANALYSIS DONE AND TO INSTALL A NEW AIR BAG RECALL FROM DMV. ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS TO CHECK MY FLUIDS AND TO SEE WHY MY CAR HESITATES AND MAKES A CLANKING NOISE AFTER DRIVING A PERIOD OF TIME. NOW, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. JUST WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN FOR A FEW HOURS STRAIGHT. ONE OF THE DEALERS SERVICE REP REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNING OIL. AFTER READING THE REPORT, I WOULD CONSTANTLY CHECK THE OIL. WHEN I FIRST NOTICE THE CLACKING NOISE, I WOULD CHECK THE OIL. THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN THE CAR, HOWEVER, MY COOLANT CONTAINER WAS LOW. PURCHASED COOLANT FOR THE VEHICLE. A MONTH LATER, THE CONTAINER WAS ALMOST EMPTY AGAIN. APPARENTLY, THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. NOW I HAVE AN ENGINE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11196419

Incident

Apr 13, 2019

Mileage

148,000 mi

ECU MALFUNCTION CAUSING MISFIRE IN CYLINDER ONE RESULTING IN IGNITION COIL MELTING AND AND CAUSING ELECTRICAL FIRE IN ENGINE BAY WHILE IN MOTION ON LOCAL STREET. VEHICLE IS NOW INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ID

11195506

Incident

Feb 24, 2019

Mileage

99,700 mi

OUR CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING A CLACKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING THAT WOULD WORSEN WITH ACCELERATION. WITHIN 1-2 DRIVES, IT QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO BE QUITE LOUD AND CONSTANT, SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD AND WOULD NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. WE ARE JUST OUTSIDE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012 (YES, THE YEAR AFTER THE MODEL DATE, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PRICE BREAK IN BUYING OLD STOCK), SO IT IS STILL A FAIRLY YOUNG ENGINE TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS OTHER NON-HYBRID KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS FROM THE SAME YEAR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOTHING ON THE HYBRID VEHICLES, DESPITE THAT WE WERE ALSO TOLD THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11191408

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

126,000 mi

ENGINE MISFIRE IN CYLINDER # 1. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE, CHECK ENGINE (P0301) ILLUMINATED. IGNITION COIL WAS MELTED NOW CAR DOES NOT START. ENGINE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED ON A SHORT TRIP TO THE STORE LIMPED THE CAR BACK HOME. KIA REFUSES TO RECALL THIS OPTIMA ENGINE BECAUSE ITS A HYBRID ALTHOUGH IT HAS FAILED AND HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MULTIPLE SAME YEAR KIA OPTIMAS DUE TO METAL DEPOSITS IN THE ENGINE FROM FACTORY.

NHTSA ID

11182680

Incident

Feb 24, 2019

Mileage

99,500 mi

THE ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED WHAT OTHER KIA ENGINES HAVE. ENGINE OIL WAS EITHER BLOCKED OR RAPIDLY BURNT UP, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPIN A ROD BEARING, THUS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. LUCKILY I STOPPED DRIVING IMMEDIATELY, PREVENTING A FIRE; AS HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER KIA VEHICLES. SADLY, KIA IS REFUSING TO WARRANTY OR RECALL THE HYBRID ENGINES, EVEN THOUGH MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11128768

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

112,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD CYCLICAL KNOCKING SOUND. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER WHOSE REPORTED DIAGNOSIS WAS "CHARACTERISTIC OF ROD BEARING FAILURE" AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. INFORMED BY LOCAL DEALER THAT KIA HAD DECLINED THE CLAIM TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND THAT THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO TAKE IT UP WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. AFTER MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS (INCLUDING A 2 WEEK TIME LAPSE DURING WHICH THEY WOULD TAKE OUT CALLS BUT NOT NOTIFY US OF DECISIONS MADE UNLESS WE CALLED THEM), WE WERE FINALLY INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH ALL OTHER 2011 KIA OPTIMAS HAD BEEN RECALLED UP TO 125,000 MILES, FOR "ROD BEARING FAILURE" AND THUS HAD THEIR ENGINES REPLACED, OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA WAS NOT COVERED FOR ROD BEARING FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS A HYBRID. THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY WITH REPLACING THE ENGINE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMAS. THE LOCAL DEALER OFFERED A USED ENGINE FOR THE WHOPPING PRICE OF $5474.17 WITH NO WARRANTY OR TO REBUILD THE ENGINE WITH PARTS THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER FROM KOREA FOR A WHOPPING TOTAL OF $5710.75. THE LATTER OPTION WOULD INCLUDE A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT WOULD REQUIRE A LENGTHY WAIT ON THE PARTS TO ARRIVE FROM KOREA. EVIDENTLY, KIA DOES NOT KEEP NEEDED PARTS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES WHICH SOUNDS SKETCHY AT BEST. AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION AND AGONY, WE WILL SELL THE CAR FOR SCRAPS. WE CANNOT RISK SPENDING ALMOST $6000 ON A CAR AND COOPERATION THAT WE NOW HAVE VERY LITTLE FAITH IN. WE WILL NEVER OWN A KIA AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11119469

Incident

Jul 20, 2018

Mileage

104,253 mi

DRIVING ON RAMP TO I10 IN CHANDLER AZ , SUDDENLY I'VE LOST POWER ON THE CAR, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON OR ANY SOUND HEARD .I COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LINE AND TRY TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. AAA TOW THE CAR TO KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE IS SEIZED. ONLY 64000 MILES . NO WARNING LIGHTS ON , NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON .

NHTSA ID

11094133

Incident

Apr 30, 2018

Mileage

64,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROWLEY KIA (223 BROAD ST, BRISTOL, CT) WHERE THE ENGINE WAS DEEMED DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.

NHTSA ID

11075073

Incident

Feb 10, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

CAR STALLED ALL OF SUDDEN WITH SHUDDER ON ROUTE 7 IN VIRGINIA AND THEN IMMEDIATELY WAS YAKEN INTO PARKING LOT FOR SAFETY REASONS. IN TRYING TO PARK CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE CAR WAS ON FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THEN RANDOMLY STOPPED. AFTER ANOTHER TEN MINUTES CAR WOULD NOT START AND THEN RANDOMLY STARTED. CAR WAS ASAP DRIVEN WITH ENGINE SHUDDER BACK TO HOME DRIVIEWAY AND PARKED FOR SAFETY. CAR NOW AGAIN WOULD NIT SHUT DOWN AND KEPT RUNNING. ON BITH TIMES WHILE CAR REFUSED TO SHUT DOWN THE GAUGE SHOWED CEHCK ENGINE EPS LIGHT AND INDICATED THAT CAR NEEDS TK BE PUT IN PARK MODE EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS JN PARK MODE. GEARBOX WOULD NOT SHIFT AND CAR DID NOT RECOGNIZE LOWER GEAR MODES AS IT KEPT SAYING CAR IS NOT IN P. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THEY WERE CLOSED DUE TO WEEKEND. WILL NOW NEED TO TOW THE CAR AS IT WILL NOT START SINCE PREVIOUS INABILITY TO SHUTOFF PROBABLY HAS KILLED BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

11061074

Incident

Jan 6, 2018

Mileage

66,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND THEN THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS FORCED TO SWITCH LANES AND GET OFF THE NEAREST EXIT.

NHTSA ID

11051611

Incident

Nov 30, 2017

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN KIA DEALER IN IRVINE, CA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE TORN DOWN TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A ROD BEARING AND THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS FREE OF SLUDGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS THE THIRD OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO A PREVIOUS UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICH WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11016266

Incident

Jul 30, 2017

Mileage

67,000 mi

MY ENGINE DID EXACTLY AS THE RECALL ON THE NON-HYBRID ENGINES. LOST OIL PRESSURE, OIL INDICATOR CAME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS ENGINE SEIZED ON HIGHWAY DURING DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO INCLUDE MY CAR ENGINE IN RECALL BECAUSE OF HYBRID -EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A GAS ENGINE. KIA CORPORATE CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WERE WILLING TO "WORK SOMETHING OUT" WITH IT IF DEALERSHIP WILL CONTACT THEM. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO DO THIS YET. LIKELY LEGAL COUNSEL WILL HAVE TO BE CONTACTED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALSO COMMENTED DEFECTIVE PART LIKELY CAUSE. GOOD THING I DID NO HAVE CARDIAC ISSUE -HAD TO WAIT IN HEAT ON HIGHWAY DURING SUMMER MORNING FOR TOW TRUCK AFTER SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE IN TRAFFIC WHILE EXITING ON TO THE HIGHWAY. ALSO FORTUNATE THE CARS BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME CAUSING MORE DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY. STILL TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ID

11005850

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

149,158 mi

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATED AND STOPPED UNTIL IT APPEARED TO SHIFT FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS POWER. I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A FREAK THING BUT THIS HESITATION HAS RECURRED A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554028

Incident

Nov 6, 2013

Mileage

24,101 mi

MY VEHICLE DON'T START EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START IT THE ELECTRICAL SIT MOVES BACK AND FORWARD, I HAVE TO TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME, I AM GETTING SO FRUSTRATED THAT A NEW CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SOMETHING ITS WRONG, NEXT MONTH I WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEN WHAT I GOING TO DO? PLEASE SOME ONE NEED TO CHECK THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE ITS A NIGHTMARE FOR THE CITIZENS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO PAY FOR 4 YEARS A CAR THE I CANT EVEN RELIABLE ON, I AM A BUSY MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN AND THIS PROBLEM IT'S CAUSING ME STRESS AND ANXIETY. I PAY MONTHLY $600.00 DOLLARS FOR A "NEW CAR" SO I DON'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE FOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS LIKE WITH AN (OLD CAR) BUT INSTEAD THREE TIMES I HAD THE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 OPTIMA KIA. PLEASE HELP ME AND HELP ME GOD. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

NHTSA ID

10486653

Incident

Dec 1, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABLE SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC FROM A INTERSECTION. HAPPENS VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME. COLD OR WARMED UP--SAME PROBLEM--EXCEPT A LOT WORSE AT COLD START. ONCE ABOVE 30 MPG THINGS SMOOTH OUT--BUT THE BIG DANGER IS TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THEY DO A RE-FLASH OR WHATEVER--THEN TELL ME IT DRIVES NORMAL. NO FAULT WITH THE DEALER AT ALL--THEY HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT REALLY--BUT--CAN'T FIX THE HESITATION.BUT DRIVING NORMAL--THAT'S NOT TRUE. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS HYBRID SYSTEM--THERE IS A WEB PAGE THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM---EVERYONE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN'T EVEN ALLOW A FRIEND OR ONE OF MY KIDS DRIVE THIS CAR.IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE CARS GOING TO REACT---YOUR OPEN TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD A CAMRY HYBRID AND TWO PRIUS HYBRIDS--NO PROBLEMS. I KNOW HOW A HYBRID CAR SHOULD DRIVE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER MORTORISTS ON THE ROAD. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10483749

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

100 mi