2011 KIA Optima problems
Owners have filed 775 complaints about the 2011 KIA Optima with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 32.8% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of steering at 12.9%.
Complaints775
Crashes38
Fires48
Injuries29
Deaths2
What owners report breaking
Engine 32.8% · 254
Steering 12.9% · 100
Exterior lighting 11.5% · 89
Electrical system 7.9% · 61
Unknown or other 5.0% · 39
Air bags 4.0% · 31
Service brakes 3.4% · 26
Power train 3.2% · 25
Severity
Of those complaints, 38 describe a crash, 48 describe a fire, 29 report an injury and 2 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the KIA Optima in this data, 2011 sits 6th by complaint volume. 2013 draws the most.
Filing volume has held steady, 82 in the last three years against 88 in the three before.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 90,000 miles.
In owners' own words
I was driving on the highway travelling straight in traffic at about 50 mph when my car stalled. I was able to restart it, then it stalled again. Then I restarted it one more time. Then it made a grinding clunking sound like something snapped and was getting whipped around by the moving parts. Then it had no throttle response and I was forced to pull over into the breakdown lane as the car no longer was running. Engine · reported at 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 KIA Optima. While parking the vehicle, it stalled and smoke was seen under the hood. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was pushed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine seized and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired due to a possible future recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,255. Engine · reported at 100,255 miles
There is a defective part in the motor which causes the motor to fail and seize at any speed causing the driver to lose power steering and brakes. My wife was traveling home from work on the highway when without warning all lights came on the dash and my wife had trouble just getting to the side of the road and getting the vehicle to stop. There is a recall on the exact same motor which is in the hyundai sonata. Engine · reported at 133,858 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…