2011 Kia Optima Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 1%of 594 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 72,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2011 Kia Optima, 1% of the 594 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 72,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Bought the car january of 2018.28 days of having the vehicle and I got a flat tire and come to find out my strut was never properly installed and thats what popped my tire.dan obrien tried to deny having a warranty to fix the car saying it was my fault.it was covered under warranty. I had to buy the new tire. When the recall for the engine came out,I took my car right in. They passed it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11219262, filed 2019-06, 101,700 miles“Kia Optima 2011 took a turn for the worst on july 2 2018, my Kia Optima caused me to plummet into traffic after my brake didn't perform l. That's car had been taken to Kia for all service need and car still perform poorly. Have to restart my car multiple time just for it to act right. Car stops one me in the middle of the street one day. I have a 3 old and that day she could have been with me. I lost my license and my money I invested for a safe car for me and my child.”
NHTSA complaint #11326474, filed 2020-05, 130,600 miles“My electronic stability control light came on after pressing the brake on a wet street while my vehicle was in motion. The next day I went to get a oil change and noticed that my tail lights did not work when I pressed the brakes. My tail lights work but the tail lights did not. I changed the bulbs and the problem still persisted. I also changed the brake light pedal switch but that did not fix the problem. My turn signal lights fail to work all the time.”
NHTSA complaint #11267314, filed 2019-10, 164,000 miles“We bought our car last year , 5 months after we got the car , when I was driving it the vehicle dynamic control (vdc) light turn on and the car shaking very bad and we can not handle the car right and the brake its not working well, its very very scary. The only thing that we can do we turn the vdc light off, its gonna be ok for couple days , and again it happens. …”
NHTSA complaint #10494746, filed 2013-01, 9,000 miles“On april 25th, 2013, I drove from the atlanta area to shannon, ga. Near adairsville, ga. I stopped a the gate put the car in park, set the brake. Before I could get out the car surged forward smashing the gate. I hit the brake, backed it up, put it in park, set the brake and again before I could get out it surged forward. This time when I backed up put it in park I turned off the motor. Jumping forward in my story, I called Kia and found out the car was on recall. I looked it up on the internet only to see the notices would not be sent out until may 2013. Kia. …”
NHTSA complaint #10510837, filed 2013-05, 28,500 milesElectronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% |
| 2016 | 9 | 1% |
| 2015 | 10 | 1% |
| 2014 | 6 | 1% |
| 2013 | 19 | 1% |
| 2012 | 11 | 1% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 9 | 8% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2011 Kia Optima
256 complaintsSteering
100 complaintsExterior lighting
88 complaintsElectrical system
63 complaintsBrakes
47 complaintsOther or unknown
41 complaintsAir bags
31 complaintsFuel system
26 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsBody and structure
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
19 complaintsSuspension
18 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology