Worst 2011 Kia Optima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
ENGINE
STEERING
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Kia Optima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 252 | 6 | 20 | 115,835 mi | |
| STEERING | 99 | — | — | 64,866 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 81 | — | 2 | 82,343 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 60 | 1 | 6 | 119,361 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 38 | — | 6 | 155,046 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 30 | 10 | — | 92,842 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 26 | 5 | — | 59,181 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 23 | — | — | 72,185 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 21 | 1 | 3 | 98,532 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 21 | — | 1 | 85,090 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 18 | 3 | 5 | 68,529 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 18 | 5 | 1 | 76,387 mi | |
| SUSPENSION | 17 | 2 | — | 50,271 mi | |
| WHEELS | 9 | 1 | — | 25,325 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 7 | 2 | — | 73,029 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 7 | — | 1 | 86,831 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 | — | — | 131,250 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 4 | — | — | 70,808 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 | — | — | 28,874 mi | |
| VISIBILITY | 3 | — | — | 15,268 mi | |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 3 | — | — | 109,013 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 | 1 | — | 45,012 mi | |
| SEATS | 2 | — | — | 80 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 2 | — | — | 3,125 mi | |
| TIRES | 2 | — | — | 17,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION | 1 | — | — | 68,500 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:SEALS/GASKETS | 1 | — | — | 11,000 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 | — | — | 69,000 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 | — | — | 38,703 mi | |
| FIRERELATED | 1 | — | 1 | 222,000 mi |
Recalls for 2011 Kia Optima
7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,709,814 vehicles.
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.
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.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
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.
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Other Kia Optima Years
Wider context: See the full Kia Optima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2011 Kia Optima
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