2011 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
593 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 421 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 256 of 593 complaints (43.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 104 | 17.5% |
| Braking behavior | 77 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 70 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 53 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 256 |
| Steering | 99 |
| Exterior Lighting | 82 |
| Electrical System | 63 |
| Unknown Or Other | 39 |
| Air Bags | 31 |
| Service Brakes | 26 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 23 |
Engine: 256; Steering: 99; Exterior Lighting: 82; Electrical System: 63; Unknown Or Other: 39; Air Bags: 31; Service Brakes: 26; Fuel/Propulsion System: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 62 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 58 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 103 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 127 |
| 150,000 and above | 44 |
Under 25,000: 62; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 58; 75,000 to 99,999: 103; 100,000 to 149,999: 127; 150,000 and above: 44
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (127). 172 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 32 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 39 |
| 2016 | 79 |
| 2017 | 78 |
| 2018 | 65 |
| 2019 | 78 |
| 2020 | 52 |
| 2021 | 33 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 42 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2011: 32; 2012: 22; 2013: 14; 2014: 10; 2015: 39; 2016: 79; 2017: 78; 2018: 65; 2019: 78; 2020: 52; 2021: 33; 2022: 14; 2023: 16; 2024: 42; 2025: 8; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 104 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 77 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 70 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10384874 · 2011-03-01 (March 1, 2011)
SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. DEALER DECLARED THAT IT WAS FIXED. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE PULL TO THE LEFT PERSISTED AS IT HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. ANOTHER ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED. THE GENERAL MANAGER PROMISED THIS WOULD HAPPEN, AND ALSO PROMISED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. 74 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386363 · 2011-03-03 (March 3, 2011)
PURCHASED A NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA SX WITH PREMIUM TOURING PACKAGE. THE CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. SEEMS TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE THE FASTER YOU GO. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD I WILL BE IN THE NEXT LANE IN A SECOND OR TWO UPON LETTING GO OF THE STEERING REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD CROWN I AM ON. I ALSO NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL DOES SHIFT LEFT DURING THIS AND IS OFF CENTER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393812 · 2011-03-31 (March 31, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MANUAL BRAKE SHOULD ALWAYS BE APPLIED IN A MANUAL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 626.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10413514 · 2011-07-19 (July 19, 2011)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,036 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437363 · 2011-11-27 (November 27, 2011)
KIA OPTIMA LX 2011 WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT 4 MILES IN ODOMETER. PROBLEM 1 LESS THAN A MONTH: STEERING VEERING TO THE LEFT AN RIGHT. HAD TO STEER THIS CAR TO TRACK STRAIGHT. THE DEALER PERFORMED MINOR ALIGNMENT IN OCTOBER. CAR CONTINUES TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT. TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECH STATED THE FRONT END OFF BY 2 DEGREES AND STATED HE PERFORMED THE ADJUSTMENT. THE STEERING PROBLEM NOT FIXED. PROBLEM #2: CAR WAS PARKED WITH FUEL READING 42 MILES TO EMPTY. RETURNED TO START CAR. WILL NOT CRANK AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. TOWED THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10667508 · 2014-12-21 (December 21, 2014)
WE WERE IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA ON A TRANSITION RAMP FROM ONE FREEWAY TO ANOTHER DOING ABOUT 45 MPH. AS WE ROUNDED A TURN WE SAW 2 CARS AND A TOW TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE RAMP WE THEN HIT A PUDDLE (LAKE) THAT WENT ACROSS BOTH LANES OF THIS RAMP. THE WATER SLOWED US BY MAYBE 20 MPH WITH WATER SHOOTING ALL AROUND US. WE THEN SAW A TRUCK COMING DOWN A ON RAMP TO MERGE IN FRONT OF US HE HIT ANOTHER PUDDLE AND SPUN SIDEWAYS AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. WE PULLED UP NEXT TO HIM TO SEE IF HE WAS ALRIGHT AND MY CAR STALLED. WE COULD SMELL GAS I THOUGHT IT WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 52,347 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454024 · 2012-04-03 (April 3, 2012)
HAD JUST FINISH BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, AFTER SURGERY, AND NEEDED TO STOP AT THE PHARMACY. AFTER PICKING UP A COUPLE OF PRESCRIPTIONS WE GOT IN THE CAR, AND TRY TO SWITCH THE CAR ON, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I COULD TELL THAT THE BATTERY HAD PLENTY OF POWER, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THE IGNITION WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE REST OF THE CAR. I EVEN PUT IT ON NEUTRAL TO SEE IF I WOULD START, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I KEEP ON TRYING FOR ALMOST HALF HOUR, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO CALL A TOW TRUCK I ATT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10454024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464256 · 2012-07-05 (July 5, 2012)
THE FIRST EPISODE WAS A DEAD BATTERY. THE CAR HAD 13 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SECOND INCIDENT, CAR WOULD NOT START, IGNITION ISSUE, BUT LATER STARTED (AFTER 1HR). TAKEN TO DEALER, SECONDARY TO IGNITION ISSUES. PROBLEM RESOLVED UNTIL TODAY. WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TRIED TWO DIFFERENT KEY FOBS AND STILL DID NOT START. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE. I WILL NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397675 · 2011-04-19 (April 19, 2011)
ON 4/11/11, WE WERE DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD GONE FOUR MILES FROM OUR HOUSE, WHEN WE THOUGHT WE HAD HIT A DEER! THE CAR MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND AND LURCHED VIOLENTLY, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, FRIGHTENING US BOTH. THE LURCHING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT IT MAY WELL HAVE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE CRASHED. WE THEN FOUND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT OF OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX. WE BOUGHT THE KIA NEW AT O'BRIEN AUTO PARK IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, ON 1/8/11. THE CAR HAD 3600 MILES ON IT AT THE TIM…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444824 · 2012-01-22 (January 22, 2012)
I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX, WITH THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAD A STRANGE INCIDENT WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT. AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO REV VERY HIGH. I PUT MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED IN TO NEUTRAL, BUT IT KEPT REVVING VERY HIGH, SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT STILL REVVED VERY HIGH-- ROARING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AGAIN AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. STARTED IT AGAIN 5 SECONDS LATER AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE ROARED REVVING VERY HIGH. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10859776 · 2016-04-15 (April 15, 2016)
ON APRIL 10, 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON 270W IN STL DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALLED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTACT AAA TO COME TOW MY VEHICLE AS IT WOULD RESTART BUT THEN DIE AGAIN WITHIN 1 MINUTE. UPON TAKING TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THE MECHANICE DETERMINED THROUGH A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND A NEW ONE WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL COST TO FIX THIS ISSUE WAS $964 WHICH I FELT WAS ROBBERY. MY VEHICLE HAS 76K MILES ON IT AND HAS ALL R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10859776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001331 · 2017-06-26 (June 26, 2017)
01/19/2017 KIA OPTIMA SX 2011, ENGINE KNOCKING, LOSS OF POWER. TOWED TO ORLANDO KIA WEST (OKW). 03/03/2017, OKW COMPLETED REBUILD OF 2.0T THETA II ENGINE WITH $4000.00 SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY PROVIDED BY KIA MOTORS AMERICA. DIAGNOSIS WAS, DEFECTIVE CONNECTING ROD #3 BEARING. 05/26/2017, ENGINE LOST POWER/FUNCTION. OKW DIAGNOSED AS CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE. 06/01/2017, REPLACED #3 FUEL INJECTOR, $600.00. OKW STATED ENGINE STILL NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED. DIAGNOSED TURBOCHARGER SEAL FAILURE. REPLACED TURBOCHARGER $2810.00. ENGINE STILL NOT OPERATING A…
Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001331 at NHTSA ↗