Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
While driving on the road, I came to a stop at an intersection. While waiting for the green light the engine stopped running. I tried starting the car by pressing the brake and the push start button and the car only clicked and did not start. I pushed the car off the road. After several attempts to start the car it wouldn't start and it started smoking it looked like it was coming from the starter location. It appears that the engine seized and it won't turn over.
My Kia Optima (2011) had started a ticking engine noise at around 90K mark and now it's escalated to a lower end was told by service departmenta t about 92K it was normal noise of camshaft and I only noticed it under loads and higher elevation on overpasses. I have been using mobil1,fully synthetic motor oils and a k&n oil filters. This last week I have noticed that it was getting louder.and from the engine compartment. I asked the Hyundai dealership that my wife's 2015 Hyundai santa fe sport was gettingi ts oil changed@ and yes with mobil1, and they told me about a recall on the motor plant in alabama that supplies the engines of both for those years models had an metallic fragments left un engine at manufacturer of engine and has issued a recall. …
On September 25, 2016, I was driving my 2011 Kia Optima to church with my 2 children. After coming up on a red light I stopped and then proceeded to go when the light turned green. I was able to get through the light and accelerate up a slight hill at about 35-40mph. After going over hill, I was not able to press the gas to keep going and my brakes ended up locking up so I had to get in far lane in order for the car to coast into a store parking lot. All the lights on the car came on and car literally just cut off. Thankfully it was not a lot of cars on the road to cause an accident. I contacted a tow company the next day to have it towed to a mechanic and said the car still wanted to turn over but something was blocking it from starting so I had it towed to a 2nd mechanic for diagnostics and it appears that the connecting rod is the issue. …
While on my way to pick up my daughter from school at around between 1 and 2 oclock pm I was stopped at a 4 way stop at ga hwy 225 in springplace , as I proceeded through the 4 way while in motion I hear and feel a sudden jolt to my vehicle and I skid to a stop thank god it had just went through the stop sign and did not gain any speed. I exited the vehicle and glanced underneath thinking that I had hit something, instead I noticed that my motor and transmission where no longer connected to my vehicle on the driver side but they where laying almost on the ground. I had to call a tow truck to have my car towed home and make arrangements for my daughter. My vehicle was one on the list that had a recall on the motor the replacement motor was installed around March of 2017. It has not showed any signs of trouble until this.
Recently when I hit about 103,000 miles my 2011 Kia Optima 2.0 turbo transmission has been acting strange. When driving for a little while and coming to a complete stop as I'm pulling off accelerating the car jerks make and won't accelerate past 40 MPH. After doing acouple research I was told it's the transmission temperature sensor. I. Believe this is a serious problem due to the fact as your pulling off after the complete stop it jerks so hard you jerk so hard with the car. Also if anybody is behind you and it does that sudden jurk it can cause an accident because the driver behind you isn't aware because it's not like your hitting the breaks. I also searched online that this model and year car has two open recalls for engine and transmission problems (unknown).
When putting the car in gear, it would jerk really hard like I had hit something. At first it only did it once or twice within a month so it was hard to duplicate. Recently it started getting consistent. It would jerk hard when putting it in gear or park. Also going down the road it shifted really had like something was slipping. It didn't matter if it was in the morning or afternoon. Twice this week, it did it each time I went somewhere. The shifts were sometimes shorter and more often. It felt like it was maybe slipping or needed fluid. I took it in and determined it was the transmission temperature sensor. They replaced trany temp sensor, code p0711. There was no code on the dash, they had to check it in the transmission. It worked.
Shortly after test driving and buying a used 2011 Kia Optima lx, we began experiencing an intermittent engine hesitation problem when accelerating at low speeds. It May not occur for many miles of slow-and-go traffic but, when it happens, it is shocking because the engine feels like it is going to completely die for up to 3 or 4 seconds. This can be very dangerous while turning onto a busy highway or crossing a high speed intersection.I this hesitation problem will occur at random regardless of whether the engine or the weather is cold or warm. We left this car at a Kia dealer for several days but they were unable to determine the cause of the engine hesitation problem. The engine has hesitated several times in the past month.
My Kia was making a whistling noise on and off for awhile then my oil light would flicker so I figured I need an oil change. Got my oil changed and then the car started make a knocking noise and would get worse with acceleration and would have a hard time accelerating. It would jolt and vibrate and make knocking and flapping noises. Turn on my road to go home and lost power. My car slowly came to a stop I could not accelerate at all. My engine, battery, oil, and EPS light came on. I tried starting it up and would come on for about 5 seconds make a lot of noise and the engine would turn off but my radio and windows still worked. My ac was on but not cooling. All the cabin lights work still but my brake are stiff.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the contact attempted to make a right turn and the vehicle shut-off without warning. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where he was informed that engine had seized. The contact then had the vehicle towed to jts Kia of rock hill (840 n anderson rd, rock hill, sc 29730) where the vehicle remained in their possession. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. The VIN was not available.
18V363 17220 it has made a loud clanking/knocking noise. It stalled then completly died once I got off the main highway and wouldnt crank again. It uses an awful lot of oil. Upon first oil change it had shards of metal in it. The place I got the vehicle from says they put new motor in it among other things but I havent seen in change in things other than it doesnt smoke under the hood while idling.
Transmission complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2011 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2011 Kia Optima, 4% of the model year's 594 complaints. The component named most often is driveline (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Kia Optima transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2011 Kia Optima, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Kia Optima transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 36,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
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.