Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2011 Kia optima has 190 NHTSA engine complaints and 1 engine-related recall.
190
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
17V224000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine ...
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2, 2026 | ENGINE | I was driving in the highway doing about 80mph passing a semi truck when all of a sudden my vehicle ... |
| Jun 20, 2025 | ENGINE | The Engine locked up while driving down the highway at 60mph. Not possible for inspection vehicle cu... |
| Feb 19, 2025 | ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an ... |
| Aug 30, 2024 | ENGINE | 2 weeks ago my 2011 Kia Optima's engine died while driving. I am the 2nd owner of the car and bought... |
| Jun 26, 2024 | ENGINE | Mi carro estaba bien ninguna luz de testigos prendidos de pronto iba por la carretera conduciendo se... |
| May 18, 2024 | ENGINE | We had someone hit our vehicle and our ins co totalled the vehicle instead of repairing it due to th... |
| Feb 24, 2024 | ENGINE | The contact called on behalf of an insurer who owned a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that whil... |
| Feb 14, 2024 | ENGINE | Known recall since Sept 2023, but Kia has not provided any dealerships with parts to repair (we have... |
| Jul 22, 2023 | ENGINE | I saw low battery due to fire risk or overheated cause of oil change. I don't know what's wrong with... |
| Jul 1, 2023 | ENGINE | Engine is knocking with check engine ligh on. Kia has a recall on my car for metal shaving in the en... |
| Jun 18, 2023 | ENGINE | Merging onto the highway & the car had rod kncok & went into limp mode very dangerous & a good thing... |
| Jun 14, 2023 | ENGINE | Could be the barons |
| Jan 1, 2023 | ENGINE | Blinking check engine light at 113000 miles on the car cuzs stalling while driving was worried about... |
| Dec 12, 2022 | ENGINE | Engine shakes and engine light flashes |
| Dec 4, 2022 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While driving our 2011 Kia Optima on I-185 at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly had unresponsive a... |
| Jun 22, 2022 | ENGINE | My 2011 Kia Optimas engine light started flashing and the car lost all power and had no RPMS over 10... |
| Mar 29, 2022 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V3... |
| Dec 20, 2021 | ENGINE | I as driving on the highway and all of a sudden the car would not accelerate. The engine light, oil... |
| Dec 11, 2021 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illum... |
| Nov 1, 2021 | ENGINE | [XXX] While driving my vehicle it looses power and becomes inoperable at any time and any speed. Th... |