RoadVitals

2011 Kia Optima Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Mar 5, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 591 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Kia Optima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesEngineVisibility
Filed Mar 5, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID
11575468
Incident
Sep 25, 2023
Mileage
5,500 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 3, 2021

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

NHTSA ID
11406166
Incident
Mar 1, 2021
Mileage
177,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 14, 2020

FRONT OF SUNROOF GLASS PANEL SHATTERED VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID
11349275
Incident
Aug 14, 2020
Mileage
150,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE SUN ROOF GLASS WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED KINGDOM KIA AT (573) 426-3100 (LOCATED AT 2600 N BISHOP AVE, ROLLA, MO 65401) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11133171
Incident
Sep 24, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 3, 2017

DRIVING ON FREEWAY NEAR NORTH BEND WA. STATE WITH WIFE AND 2 GRANDKIDS IN CAR WHEN PANARAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. LARGE BLAST FROM NOWHERE AND NOBODY IN FRONT OF ME. IT SHOCKED US AND ALMOST MADE US WRECK. KIA OF AMERICA WAS HORIBLE TO WORK WITH AND TOOK NO RESPONSABILITY FOR THEIR DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10970045
Incident
Feb 20, 2017
Mileage
40 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 1, 2017

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY ON RAMP THE FRONT HALF OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF AND INTERIOR SCREEN WERE BOTH CLOSED AT THE TIME. THE REMAINING GLASS WAS PUSHED UPWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10938980
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
76,700 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 4, 2015

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN I HEARD A BIG POP AND REALIZED MY SUNROOF BUSTED OPEN. IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT HOT OUTSIDE AND NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10692031
Incident
Mar 4, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 27, 2013

MOONROOF ON OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX MODEL EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH DECEMBER 25TH 2013 - EVENING. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 36 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. INCIDENT ALSO CAUSED BODY AND PAINT DAMAGE TO OUR TRUNK AS WELL AS PEPPERED VEHICLES BEHIND US WITH GLASS FRAGMENTS. UPON REVIEWING MULTIPLE FORUMS ON LINE IT APPEARS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT FOR KIA/HYUNDAI AS I LEARNED MULTIPLE MODELS MADE BY THIS DUO HAVE ALSO SUFFERED SIMILAR SCENARIO'S. I'M SURE NHTSA IS QUITE AWARE THAT THE HYUNDAI VELOSETER HAS RECALLED SEVERAL THOUSAND VEHICLES MFG. FOR THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE AND WE'RE COINCIDENTALLY MADE DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME OUR VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557506
Incident
Dec 25, 2013
Mileage
22,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 23, 2012

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX ON A RESIDENTIAL AREA. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND. AT THE TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED THERE WERE NO CARS OR SEMIS NEAR MY VEHICLE. AFTER MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I RECOVERED FROM THE INITIAL SHOCK, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY VEHICLE AND I NOTICE THE BACK WINDOW SUNROOF HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE CLOSE BY THE SHARK TALE AND WAS STILL SHATTERING. AT THAT POINT, I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE AND HAD TO DRIVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. ONCE I DROPPED HER OFF I DROPPED OFF MY VEHICLE AND A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE AND BORROWED A VEHICLE, SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFELY TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10472025
Incident
Aug 17, 2012
Mileage
36,531 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 6, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A ROCK STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BOTTOM CORNER AND SHATTERED THE GLASS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MOLDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT SECURE. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,535 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,537.

NHTSA ID
10446828
Incident
Feb 4, 2012
Mileage
8,535 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 15, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH WHEN REVERSING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

NHTSA ID
10413085
Incident
Mar 1, 2011

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .