2011 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 594 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (256), Steering (100), Exterior Lighting (88).
Key takeaways
- 594 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 23 involve a crash, 33 a fire, 19 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 256 | 43% |
| Steering | 100 | 17% |
| Exterior Lighting | 88 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 63 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 47 | 8% |
| Unknown Or Other | 39 | 7% |
| Air Bags | 31 | 5% |
| Power Train | 25 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 23 | 4% |
| Hydraulic | 21 | 4% |
| Structure | 21 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-10-07
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while a family member was driving and exiting a parking lot, the vehicle turned off, causing the vehicle to lose power. The contact stated that there was a burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle with an audible clicking sound coming from the starter moto...
Electrical System,engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-07
I own a 2011 Kia Optima, VIN [XXX]. My vehicle was taken to Rockwall Kia on August 25, 2026, for completion of NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-652 / Kia SC284TF involving the HECU fuse. The dealership replaced the HECU multi-fuse and label kit. Before the recall repair, the vehicle was operating normally. The same day I picke...
Electrical System,engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-08-20
I was having trouble with my left driver tire. 2 mechanics went to test drive the car to see what the problem was. As they were driving, the car died. They got it started but it ran horrible back to the garage. When they pulled in the driveway of the garage, the car started on fire. It was an engine fire but undete...
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More for the 2011 Kia Optima
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.