Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2011 Kia Optima has 24 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 0 powertrain-related recalls.
24
Complaints
0
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2024 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | I could not brake and almost caused a car accident. Brakes gave out, no gas, it smelled like it was ... |
| Jan 9, 2024 | POWER TRAIN | While driving on the road, I came to a stop at an intersection. While waiting for the green light th... |
| Aug 18, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT... |
| Jan 15, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION IS SOMETIME SHIFTING ABRUPTLY, & ALSO SLOW TO UP SHIFT GEARS. |
| Dec 28, 2019 | POWER TRAIN | RECENTLY WHEN I HIT ABOUT 103,000 MILES MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA 2.0 TURBO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING ST... |
| Aug 21, 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | WHILE ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AT AROUND BETWEEN 1 AND 2 OCLOCK PM I WAS STOPPED... |
| Sep 10, 2018 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ENGINE AND IGNITION REPLACED DUE TO BEARING WEAR RECALL. TRANSMISSION REPLAC... |
| May 31, 2017 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | BEGINNING IN SPRING 2017 MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX TURBO (I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW, ONLY OWNER) BEGAN STUTT... |
| May 19, 2017 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | MY KIA WAS MAKING A WHISTLING NOISE ON AND OFF FOR AWHILE THEN MY OIL LIGHT WOULD FLICKER SO I FIGUR... |
| Sep 25, 2016 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2016, I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA TO CHURCH WITH MY 2 CHILDREN. AFTER COMING U... |
| Apr 15, 2016 | POWER TRAIN | SHORTLY AFTER TEST DRIVING AND BUYING A USED 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTE... |
| Mar 25, 2016 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING. AT FIRST IT ONLY D... |
| Feb 22, 2016 | POWER TRAIN | MY KIA OPTIMA (2011) HAD STARTED A TICKING ENGINE NOISE AT AROUND 90K MARK AND NOW IT'S ESCALATED TO... |
| May 4, 2014 | POWER TRAIN | ON 5-4-14 I WAS DRIVING FROM WISCONSIN WHEN WE DECIDED TO STOP AT WAL-MART, WHILE WE WERE WAITING F... |
| May 10, 2013 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | SUDDEN ACCELERATION! HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO AND AGAIN ON MAY 10TH. GOING SLOWLY TOWARD... |
| Aug 31, 2012 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ALOUD BOOM SOUND WITH A JERK OF ... |
| Jul 4, 2012 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBIT... |
| Jun 27, 2012 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THIS IS UPDATE TO ODI #10453907. OPTIMA HYBRID STILL EXPERIENCING POWER LOSS PROBLEMS. LATEST IS AT ... |
| Jun 4, 2012 | POWER TRAIN | SOMETIME AROUND JUNE 4, ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH, IT FELT LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING. THERE WAS A VI... |
| Jan 22, 2012 | POWER TRAIN | I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX, WITH THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAD A STRANGE INCIDENT WHICH I WOULD LIK... |