2011 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABLE SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC FROM A INTERSECTION. HAPPENS VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME. COLD OR WARMED UP--SAME PROBLEM--EXCEPT A LOT WORSE AT COLD START. ONCE ABOVE 30 MPG THINGS SMOOTH OUT--BUT THE BIG DANGER IS TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAF…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483749 at NHTSA ↗

MY VEHICLE DON'T START EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START IT THE ELECTRICAL SIT MOVES BACK AND FORWARD, I HAVE TO TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME, I AM GETTING SO FRUSTRATED THAT A NEW CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SOMETHING ITS WRONG, NEXT MONTH I WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEN WHAT I GOING TO DO? PLEASE SOME ONE NEED TO CHECK THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE ITS A NIGHTMARE FOR THE CITIZENS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO PAY FOR 4 YEARS A CAR THE I CANT EVEN RELIABLE ON, I AM A BUSY MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN AND THIS PROBLEM IT'…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486653 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ROUGHLY 60-70MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN DECELERATING AND NOT RESPONDING WHEN THE ACCELERATION WAS PRESSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROADS. KIA IS UNABLE TO FIND ERROR CODES OR DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE EVEN AFTER PROVIDING THEM WITH VIDEO EVIDENCE.THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE "COMPUTER GLITCHES" BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST SEVERE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509684 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATED AND STOPPED UNTIL IT APPEARED TO SHIFT FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS POWER. I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A FREAK THING BUT THIS HESITATION HAS RECURRED A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,101 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554028 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT DRIVER SEAT FEELS LIKE IT ROTATES/SLIDES UPPER RT CORNER ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE SIDE. THEN LOWER LT SIDE ABOUT THE SAME 3 INCHES FROM SIDE. 3 MONTHS FIGHTING KIA FOR WHAT I THINK IS A SAFETY REPAIR. STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I TEST DROVE ANOTHER HYBRID 5K LESS MILES, THAT DID NOT HAVE THE ISSUE. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THERE IS A DEAD ZONE THAT IS RANDOM TO REPRODUCE FOR THE DEALER IS TOUGH. IT OCCURS WHEN STOPPED, HIGHWAY SPEED, ETC. WHERE YOU PRESS THE PETAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS. THEN YOU HAVE FULL POWER BY THEN I…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555684 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 21 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605321 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 - 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY A DEER HAD RAN ACROSS THE ROAD, IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION HEAD ON WITH THE DEER I TOOK AN EVASIVE MANEUVER AND UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH THE GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 - 50 MPH. IMPACTING THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OCCURRED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND VEHICLE IS NOW CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES DUE TO DAMAGE AND AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 63,798 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876323 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY; AN AUDIBLE RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY; A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS 'CHECK BRAKE' APPEARS IN THE DRIVER'S DIGITAL DISPLAY; ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE INCREASES THE RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW RAPIDLY - NOT IDLE AS IF IT WERE NOT IN GEAR, BUT JUST AS IF THE DRIVER WAS BREAKING SUDDENLY. THE ONLY KNOWN METHOD OF CORRECTING TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 91,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10888077 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-06-01 (June 1, 2018)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.

Consequence: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.

Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.