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EnginePart report

2011 Kia Optima Engine Problems

Complaints
256about this part
Share
43%of 594 total for the year
Median mileage
101,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 256 complaints about the engine of the 2011 Kia Optima, 43% of the 594 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 101,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved and 22 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was driving down the road and all of a sudden it stalled on me. It won't turn over or anything. It still has almost 1500 miles on until the next oil change and the oil plug is on and tight. When I checked the oil it was not reading anything on the dip stick. The has not been any oil leaking on the ground. I was driving on a major street in my town going straight”

NHTSA complaint #11387431, filed 2021-01, 152,138 miles

“Was driving to work. Drove through the front gate entrance to my station when an awful metallic knocking noise could be heard in the engine compartment. Had to have the vehicle towed all the way home that day. 80+ miles. Turns out I need a new engine. Took it to a Kia dealer who diagnosed the problem being a failure to a crank bearing.”

NHTSA complaint #11317176, filed 2020-03, 99,469 miles

“I did a oil change on the car after that the oil just kept leaking. I had to put 2 to 3 quarts of oil in every week. Then on my way home from taking my daughter to her appointment the car shut down on me on the highway with a semi behind me which almost hit me. I don't dive it anymore I got another car because of it.”

NHTSA complaint #11400105, filed 2021-03, 130,000 miles

“I was driving on the street at 40mph when I saw light smoke coming from under the hood I pulled over to get my two kids and myself out of the car shortly after we got out of the car flames started coming from under the hood I then called 911 for the fire department to come put the flames out when they finally did the whole car was burnt to a crisp”

NHTSA complaint #11166761, filed 2019-01, 96,453 miles

“My car just died while I was driving. I had a aaa technician come out for a tow. He inspected my engine and found out there was a low amount of oil and metal shavings. After being towed to a auto shop they determined my engine frozed and informed me I need to purchase a new engine. They also found metal shavings”

NHTSA complaint #11355422, filed 2020-09, 145,500 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202010268%
20199243%
201813257%
201716564%
201642656%
201562362%
201428448%
201361444%
201239843%
201125643%
2010912%
20091412%
20081913%
20071610%
200675%
200431%
200321%
200244%
200121%

Other parts of the 2011 Kia Optima

Steering
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 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 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