2011 Kia Optima Airbags Problems

About six months ago, I lost the heated steering wheel functionality in my steering wheel, then from there, I slowly lost functionality like cruise control, and the most recent now my airbag and horn do not work. If you press on the horn, it is silent, and the airbag light has been illuminated consistently for the last couple of months. I had this issue diagnosed and it came up with the codes of B1346. And B1481. After some research, these issues are the result of a bad clock, spring and cause the airbag and horn not to work. Additionally, this issue is known to this model the 2011 Kia Optima, and has been recalled in most production cases of this vehicle, but my vehicle is not included. I received a quote for $876 from a dealership to get this corrected, but it should be included in the recall.

NHTSA ID

11749934

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

The airbag warning light on the dashboard stays on continuously and will not go off.

NHTSA ID

11656490

Incident

Apr 20, 2025

There's something going on at the Kia dealership in Wake Forest (Westgate). Per the current recall notice, the lights came on that were highlighted in the notice ( ”MIL” , ABS warning light) so I had my car towed into the dealership. They claimed my car had a bad battery and the problems were not due to the recall situation. I took my car out of there and straight to auto zone, about 200 feet from the dealership. My battery tested fine. Not only this, the lights (check engine, and others) were no longer illuminated and the radio was mysteriously working again. I'm not sure what they did to my car, but they charged me over $200 for a diagnosis. Not only this, they cited several other issues with the vehicle that I nor my master mechanic were aware of. They had my car for several days without so much as a phone call. In addition, while I was waiting for the keys to my car (which took 15 minutes to obtain), I overheard the other gentleman inform a kia owner via phone that her car was not covered under the warranty because she had over 150K miles on the car. I'm so disgusted. This is what happens every time we have to take a car into a dealership. They're full of baloney.

NHTSA ID

11571620

Incident

Feb 12, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V363000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The contact was then informed that the VIN was also included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). Upon inspecting the vehicle, the dealer informed the contact that there was bearing wear and the vehicle would remain at their location for two months for the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11458875

Incident

Mar 29, 2022

The safety of myself and other are put at risk being that my airbag light is on which means it is defective.

NHTSA ID

11432355

Incident

Aug 23, 2021

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS WILL FLASH, MY LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF WHEN ON AUTO, MY RADIO IS TURNING ON AND OFF BY ITSELF AND IS DOING SOME WEIRD THINGS

NHTSA ID

11365822

Incident

Jun 4, 2020

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ON MY DASHBOARD REMAINS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE APRIL 2018 WHEN THE FRONT END (JUST RIGHT OF CENTER) WAS IMPACTED. HAVE BEEN TO KIA PERFORMANCE CENTER IN MOOSIC PA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO REGARDING THIS MATTER. ALSO, MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT ERTLEY MOTORWORLD AND THEY TOO STATED THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ID

11353623

Incident

Apr 28, 2018

HI MY CAR HAS LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES.. I TOOK MANY TIMES TO KIA DEALER IN JERSEY CITY MY CAR DOOR GETS UNLOCKED WHILE IT'S IN DRIVING MODE WHICH MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE I TOLD SO MANY TIMES TO THE DEALERS TO FIX IT THEY DO SOME TEMPORARY THINGS IN MY CAR AND THEY LIVE ME BUT AGAIN AFTER SOME DAYS THAT PROBLEM IS ARISING AGAIN... I AM FED UP WITH THIS SITUATION AS I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR...

NHTSA ID

11300423

Incident

Jan 3, 2020

Mileage

137,000 mi

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 ID

11297448

Incident

Dec 25, 2019

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, ANOTHER VEHICLE REVERSED INTO THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NECK INJURY, AND CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY TO THE LEFT EYE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF BEDFORD (LOCATED AT 18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146, (440) 735-4000) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BUMPER AND STATED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR CRASH PARTS, BUT NOT FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11290089

Incident

Jun 23, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

I HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT ON 1 OCT 2018. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 18 OCT 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA CONCERNING THIS MATTER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY WILL NOT RESPOND TO ME.

NHTSA ID

11267907

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN A SPARK AND POP NOISE CAME FROM HIS STEERING WHEEL. ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SECONDARY FUNCTIONS OF THE STEERING WHEEL, INCLUDING THE HORN, AIR-BAG, CRUISE CONTROL, ETC. QUIT WORKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA AND THEY IMMEDIATELY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A CLOCK SPRING WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT, WHICH MAKES BE BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF MY 16 YEAR OLD SON HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, HE WOULD HAVE NOT HAD A FRONTAL AIRBAG. AND WITHOUT A HORN, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WARN ANOTHER VEHICLE APPROPRIATELY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11241584

Incident

Jul 31, 2019

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOAD CLUNKING NOISE. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND DID NOT RECEIVE EITHER RECALL LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

11217688

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNSET KIA OF BRADENTON (4770 14TH ST W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941) 752-1000) WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND PASSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN SPUTTERING PRIOR TO THE TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LACK OF OIL, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND METAL SHAVINGS WHILE CONDUCTING THE TEST AND THE CHECK OIL INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE ADDITIONAL RECALLS WERE DISCOVERED. THE UNKNOWN DEALER FOUND A DETERIORATED CLAMP THAT CAUSED THE HOSE TO BECOME LOOSE AND THE ENGINE TO JOLT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE DETERIORATED CLAMPS ON THE INVOICE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS GUSHING FUEL. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE INITIAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11163679

Incident

Feb 27, 2018

Mileage

86,000 mi

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11153889

Incident

Nov 29, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOONS KIA OF WOODBRIDGE (703-494-3333, LOCATED AT 14208 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191) AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11144984

Incident

Sep 2, 2018

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (EVERGREEN KIA, 9205 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60643, (800) 556-5223) WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT UPDATED 11/19/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11130261

Incident

May 16, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY AIRBAGS ON 8/15/2018 ON 8/16 I WAS REAR ENDED BY A BIG WORK TRUCK AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. 5 CARS INVOLVED. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID

11123102

Incident

Aug 16, 2018

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAWRENCE KIA (1225 E 23RD ST, LAWRENCE, KS 66046, 785-856-8700), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.

NHTSA ID

11119599

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

185,000 mi

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 ID

11103004

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, A DEER CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE DEALER (BLACKWELL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT KIA 4874 RIVERSIDE DR, DANVILLE, VA 24541(434) 792-8853) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT

NHTSA ID

11081552

Incident

Oct 10, 2017

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON NOW AND I'M WONDERING IF THATS A PROBLEM, I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT DEPLOYS.

NHTSA ID

11072699

Incident

Jan 23, 2018

THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM SENSOR MAT FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AS INDICATED BY A LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. FAILURE OF THIS SENSOR IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN, AS IT MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN OTHER KIA VEHICLES AROUND THE SAME MODEL YEAR, BUT THERE ISN'T A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11055863

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

CLOCK SPRING PROBLEM. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IF IT WAS A SORENTO IT WOULD BE COVERED, BUT SINCE IT IS AN OPTIMA IT IS NOT COVERED AND WOULD COST $390.00 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING, AS THIS IS THE DIAGNOSED PROBLEM. RESEARCH ONLINE REVEALS A RECALL IN 2012 OF PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR OPTIMAS FOR THE CLOCK SPRING. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IF THE REPAIR IS NOT DONE POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

11005463

Incident

Jul 15, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL AS SOON AS I TURN THE KEY THE AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWS UP, STEADY. IT IS ON ALL THE TIME, WHETHER I AM STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THE AIRBAGS EVEN WORK. THERE ARE ALSO ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS THE DOOR OFTEN UNLOCKS ON ITS OWN, ALARM GOES OFF ON IT'S OWN, LIGHTS FLASH INSIDE EVERY TIME I MAKE A TURN, LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE RADIO SPAZZES OUT

NHTSA ID

10979742

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi