Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact called on behalf of an insurer who owned a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the client was on the highway driving at an undisclosed speed, he was flagged down to be told their vehicle was releasing smoke. The client noticed an open flame coming from the undercarriage and was able to veer the vehicle to the shoulder prior to ejecting himself from the vehicle before it was engulfed in flames. The client sustained minor injuries to their knee and finger while exiting the vehicle. No other injuries or passengers were reported. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 192,910.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while driving at 60 MPH on the expressway. No warning lights illuminated. The contact had some wires replaced prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment or crash. The driver was able to pull over safely. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was called but there was no answer. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon entering an interstate highway at 65 MPH, the vehicle ceased with the battery and oil warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. As the vehicle shut-off, the contact was able to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway. After the vehicle failed to start up after multiple attempts, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the recall for the failure had expired and referred her to a Kia dealer for inspection. Upon investigation, the contact linked her failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle remained in possession of the independent mechanic unrepaired. The failure mileage was 116,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who noticed that the engine oil level was abnormally low, and that there were no visible signs of an oil leakage. The oil level was topped off; however, within 3 weeks the oil level was abnormally low again. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that an excessive oil consumption was not included in the engine replacement warranty extension. The contact was informed that a further diagnostic test was required. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,500.
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 motor. The vehicle was towed to a local authorized dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and Kia Warranty Bulletin 2017-09.R4 as the possible causes for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but refused to accept or authorize the recall repair because the vehicle had a salvage title. The authorized dealer also declined to service the vehicle due to the salvage title. The failure mileage was 77,500.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the brakes were making an abnormal noise. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The windshield was fogging up. The engine warning light was illuminated and turned on and off. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 5,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she smelled smoke in the interior of the vehicle. The air bag and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the knock sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,000.
While driving our 2011 Kia Optima on I-185 at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly had unresponsive accelerator and had decrease in power. Gauges were all normal range, no warning or indicator lights illuminated. I pulled over to the highway shoulder to clear traffic and placed car in park. Immediately light gray, then black smoke poured out from the hood. My wife and I evacuated the Kia just before the front of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The engine had been replaced in Sept 2021 due to a previous recall, and up to this incident the Kia performed within normal parameters.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with metal shavings in the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up after not being drive for a while. The check engine warning was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed with an unknown result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Related recalls
Engine
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.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
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 manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA investigations
Scope and Timeliness
NHTSA opened Recall Query (RQ) 17-003 to investigate the timeliness and scope of Kia?s Theta II GDI engine recall (Recall No. 17V-224), and Kia?s compliance with reporting requirements. On November 23, 2020, the Agency entered into a Consent Order with Kia to administratively resolve NHTSA?s assertions of violations of law in connection with RQ17-003.
Engine Fires
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
Engine complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2011 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 262 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2011 Kia Optima, 44% of the model year's 594 complaints. The component named most often is engine › oil/lubrication › seals/gaskets (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Kia Optima engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-907 (engine, Dec 19, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-224 (engine, Mar 31, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Kia Optima engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 22 fires and 5 injuries and 1 death to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.