repaired · 2025 Q4
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2011 Kia OptimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 594 owner complaints about the 2011 Kia Optima, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-652 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Kia Optima has problems
594 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
256Engine27 crash/fire/injury
100Steering
88Exterior lighting2 crash/fire/injury
63Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
31Air bags
26Service brakes
25Power train
23Fuel/propulsion system
21Structure
10918 other systems15 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 256 | 27 |
| Steering | 100 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 88 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 63 | 9 |
| Air bags | 31 | 10 |
| Service brakes | 26 | 5 |
| Power train | 25 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 23 | 5 |
| Structure | 21 | 8 |
| 18 other systems | 109 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2011 Kia Optima recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2018 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Brake lights: switch
Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
101kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 199 engine complaints. 46% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles91under 100k miles108100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
21 owners mentioned a cost$2,810median
Middle half: $700 – $4,500
Steering
9 owners mentioned a cost$400median
Middle half: $332 – $1,000
Exterior lighting
8 owners mentioned a cost$950median
Middle half: $700 – $1,050
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Optima year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Optima median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Kia Optima safety ratings
2011 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Kia Optima, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 18V-907
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 20V-518
- Scope and TimelinessLed to recall 19V-101
In owners' words
What Optima owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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.…
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…
The vehicle's engine had previously been replaced once under Kia's Theta II engine recall/warranty program approximately five years prior to this incident. On the date of failure, the replacement engine catastrophically failed while the vehicle was in operation, resulting in the engine developing a…
Own a 2011 Optima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.