2011 Kia Optima Problems

The vehicle's engine had previously been replaced once under Kia's Theta II engine recall/warranty program approximately five years prior to this incident. On the date of failure, the replacement engine catastrophically failed while the vehicle was in operation, resulting in the engine developing a hole in the engine block and becoming inoperable. Prior to the failure, the vehicle exhibited a "check engine" warning and symptoms consistent with connecting rod bearing failure. Diagnostic trouble codes P1326 and P0303 were present upon inspection at an authorized Kia dealership. The failure occurred at approximately 198,000 miles. This is the second engine failure on this vehicle, both consistent with the known Theta II engine defect involving premature bearing wear and connecting rod failure that has been the subject of prior NHTSA recalls and a related class action settlement. The failure created a risk of sudden loss of engine power while driving, which can pose a safety hazard in traffic. The vehicle was inspected by the authorized Kia dealership, which confirmed the hole in the engine block and the diagnostic codes noted above. The engine and related repair estimate are available for inspection upon request. A warranty claim for repair coverage was submitted and denied by the manufacturer, citing insufficient maintenance documentation, despite this being the vehicle's second occurrence of the same underlying defect.

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.

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was a notchy feel in the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was linked to TSB Number: CHA060. The mechanic determined that the steering coupler needed to be replaced. The mechanic ordered the part for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under TSB Number: CHA060; due to the mileage on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

1- Steering wheel. Yes 2- Not sure if something was going to happen while driving whether da or night or long distance traveling 3- I spoke with the service center a while back and didn't have a good time to bring it by. 4- No No just loud shaking from the steering wheel. It's been going on for at least a month

I have replaced the headlights in my 2011 Kia Optima multiple times but no matter what without the brights on, the road is not at all illuminated making it impossible to see at night. When you look at the car head on the lights look as if they would be incredibly bright, but I believe due to faulty reflective lining on the interior of the headlight housing, even though the bulb may shine brightly, it does not get reflected properly onto the surface of the road causing serious safety concerns.

After getting HECU recall done , it has caused issues with the HECU module to where the brake lights no longer work and the ESC light comes on the cluster panel. Up on reading the code C2130, it says Brake lamp relay error. Mind you that my car was in working order before this recall was even done. This a huge safety issue not having your brake lights work. I can get rear-ended and i have kids in the car. This has been a issue since July when i got the recall done and KIA has yet to find a fix for this matter.

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot, he noticed the vehicle started smoking heavily from under the hood, and shortly thereafter, the vehicle fully ignited into flames. The vehicle was occupied during the fire. The contact stated that he noticed smoke emerging from the driver-side section of the hood. Furthermore, the contact noted that the power door locks failed to unlock automatically, requiring him to manually unlock the door to exit the vehicle safely. The color of the smoke started off light and quickly turned black. The contact stated he noticed a burning electrical odor during the fire. The fire started at underneath the hood, and stayed in the engine bay. No property damage. The location of the fire was the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the local fire dept by water. A Fire Department report was not filed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled. No injuries occurred. The vehicle was towed to a independent auto shop. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage on the odometer was 219,000, but the vehicle had a previous engine replacement.

The car just keep doing weird stuff with the lights. It want go off all the time the key went work the cv joints are popping. Have to trigger the battery sometimes to start up

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer advised the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired due to a lack of maintenance records. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The car just keep doing weird stuff with the lights. It want go off all the time the key went work the cv joints are popping. Have to trigger the battery sometimes to start up

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.

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

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.

Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) experienced an electrical short circuit and engine hardly running.

As I would drive the vehicle a rattling noise would occur when every time I accelerate from stopping at a traffic light. Then the engine light appeared on the dash board. When I went to have the engine light checked the results came back about an oil gasket. I then got an oil change soon after. The rattling noise and the same acceleration problem still occurred. Soon after it gotten worst to the point couldn’t go faster then 10 mph and then the car kept shutting off.

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.

I could not brake and almost caused a car accident. Brakes gave out, no gas, it smelled like it was going to catch on fire.

While driving on the road, I came to a stop at an intersection. While waiting for the green light the engine stopped running. I tried starting the car by pressing the brake and the push start button and the car only clicked and did not start. I pushed the car off the road. After several attempts to start the car it wouldn't start and it started smoking it looked like it was coming from the starter location. It appears that the engine seized and it won't turn over.

While driving the Kia on the highway (in the passing lane on Route 93, Boston, MA), the hood of the car flew open and shattered the windshield. Prior to getting into the vehicle, there was no notification, warning light/display, that alerted to the hood or anything else not being 'closed', no rattling of the hood either. The hood blocked my entire vision with the exception of a small area below, where I miraculous got over to the breakdown lane without causing any accident. When I got out of the car, the hood was bent and the second latch was loose. It did not hold its shape. Called the police and the insurance company, the car was deemed a total loss. This incident occurred on January 31, 2026 at 10:05AM. The conditions were dry and sunny. The state trooper said that this incident could have had serious safety consequences to the driver and others since no one expects a hood to fly open, block visibility...this highway is a busy road and could have impacted several other vehicles on the road. We no warning lamps/message- this was traumatic- this put the safety of the driver and the public at great risk.

Paint is peeling off in large pieces despite there being no damage. We have the pearl white color.

After getting HECU recall done , it has caused issues with the HECU module to where the brake lights no longer work and the ESC light comes on the cluster panel. Up on reading the code C2130, it says Brake lamp relay error. Mind you that my car was in working order before this recall was even done. This a huge safety issue not having your brake lights work. I can get rear-ended and i have kids in the car. This has been a issue since July when i got the recall done and KIA has yet to find a fix for this matter.

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The car just keep doing weird stuff with the lights. It want go off all the time the key went work the cv joints are popping. Have to trigger the battery sometimes to start up

1- Steering wheel. Yes 2- Not sure if something was going to happen while driving whether da or night or long distance traveling 3- I spoke with the service center a while back and didn't have a good time to bring it by. 4- No No just loud shaking from the steering wheel. It's been going on for at least a month

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the brakes were making an abnormal noise. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The windshield was fogging up. The engine warning light was illuminated and turned on and off. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 5,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT BULBS,BRAKE LIGHT BULBS AND FOG LIGHT BULBS LIKE 2 TO 3 TIMES A YEAR AND MY LIGHTS ON DIM IS TOO DARK AND NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY,FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ONE SIDE SHINE UP AND THE OTHER SHINE DOWN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT FIXTURE BECAUSE THE BULB GOT SO HOT IT MELTED INTO THE FIXTURE AROUND IT

WHINNING IN THE FRONT END, BRAKES ARE GRABBING AND AND THUMPING IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP. BRAKES GRAB AND SOMETIMES GOES TO THE FLOOR. AND PULLS TO THE LEFT.

RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL NOTICE REGARDING MY KIA OPTIMA TIRES, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13T009. YOKOHAMA TIRE CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN 7.50R16RY215 TIRES MANUFACTURED 01/01/2006 THROUGH 08/01/2011. *TR I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WITH TIRES MADE BY HANKOOK/KUMHO/NEXEN TIRES. ARE THESE PART OF A RECALL? THE DEALER FUCCILLO KIA, 404 NE PINE ISLAND, CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA, 33909 WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR SAYS HE IS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. ARE MY CAR TIRES PART OF A RECALL? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT AND HIS PASSENGERS SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

PURCHASED A NEW 2011 VEHICLE, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPT. AND ASK THAT THE ORDER SOME SEAT BELT EXTENDERS FOR ME. THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD AFTER 5 WEEKS I CALLED THE PARTS DEPT. HE TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOT COME IN YET. ANOTHER WEEK GOES BY THEN I GET A CALL FROM THE REGIONAL PARTS MANAGER STATING THEY DID NOT OFFER THEM. PERIOD NO AND IF OR BUTS NO. IN YOUR FMVSS 209 REQUIRE MANUFACTURES TO PROVIDE LONGER BELTS OR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS TO ACCOMMODATE EXTREMELY LARGE PEOPLE. I WAS 480 LBS DOWN TO 360 BUT I STILL NEED SOME. I EVEN ASKED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME. SENSE I AM ON SSI. THEY REFUSED BUT THEY DID TELL ME WHERE TO GO TO FIND THEM. SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, THE PART THAT THE SHOULDER BELT SNAPS IN TO THAT GOES IN THE LATCH, I AM A LARGE MAN AND HAVE EXTREME PAIN IN SHOULDERS AND ARMS. WITH BURCIDES AND AUTHORITIES, DEALER REFUSES TO SUPPLY EXTENDERS, ITS FUNNY EVERY OTHER VEHICLE DEALERS CARRY THEM. THEIR LINES OFFER THEM PLANES OFFER EXTENDERS. KIA DOSE NOT AND REFUSED TO HELP CONSUMERS WITH DISABILITIES. THE PARTS MANAGER EVEN SAID WHEN HE WORKED FOR MERCEDES THE CARRIED 6 INCH 8 INCH AND 12 INCH. EXTENDERS. I DO NOT HAVE THE 40.00 EACH I NEED TWO PASSANGERSIDE DRIVERS SIDE. NOTHING FOR THE BACK SEAT I CAN?T FIT THERE... THE PERSON THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO IS [XXX]CONSUMER S AFFAIRS ANALYST SOUTHERN REAGION. KIA MOTORS KAIS CASE # [XXX] HER DIRECT NO IS 1-800-225-3193 EXTENSION OR OPTION 4. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED... I NEED A 8 INCH. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AND THE CAR PULLS HEAVILY TO THE LEFT EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROADS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN SPECS BUT IT ACTS THE SAME. IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A COUPLE SECONDS YOU'RE ON THE SHOULDER. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE BOLTED DOWN IN ONE BOLT OUT OF FOUR. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE MISSING BOLTS BUT THIS MAKES ME REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY CONTROL AT KIA. WHAT ELSE MIGHT THEY MISSED? I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BEFORE NOTICING THIS. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

THE OWNERS MANUAL, SECTION 3, PAGE 8 DESCRIBES THE "FORWARD AND BACKWARD ADJUSTMENT" OF THE HEADRESTS IN THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE HEAD RESTS DO NOT ADJUST AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINS THIS AS A "TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR." THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HEAD REST IS DESIGNED SO THAT IT THRUSTS DRAMATICALLY FORWARD. IF THE SEAT IS SITTING UPRIGHT ONE MUST TILT ONES HEAD FORWARD TO ACCOMMODATE THE HEAD REST OR THE SEAT MUST BE LEANED BACKWARD SUCH THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS 5' 2" TALL CAN NOT SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,036.