2011 Kia Optima Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 41about this part
- Share
- 7%of 594 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 102,226miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 41 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2011 Kia Optima, 7% of the 594 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 102,226 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving my car on a highway at traffic time when I noticed a small gas odor my brakes got really hard after that I pulled to the emergency lane and when I pull the handle to open my hood smoke and flames immediately came out, the car its trash now police took it to impound because of the fluids the car was leaking and safety issues.”
NHTSA complaint #11413542, filed 2021-04, 180,000 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“So one of the Kia dealers in the state of maine replaced the motor in our 2011 Optima, ever since then our air conditioning system has not been working. I've had it tested and recharged. Still no acc. I have diagnosed no power to the AC pump. Also the headlights have new bulbs in low beam and are dim..??”
NHTSA complaint #11330295, filed 2020-06, 145,000 miles“Saturday, may 5, 2018, we were driving east on I-85 in greensboro, nc when we heard what sounded like a gunshot, and then glass was raining down on us when the sunroof exploded. The sunroof had been open the entire day. It was overcast and mid 80's with low humidity. We had the sunroof tilted open and the sunshade pulled back.”
NHTSA complaint #11092053, filed 2018-05, 110,000 miles“While driving my car it started to act sluggish so I pulled over and minutes after getting out of the car it started on fire. The fire department was called the fire was extinguished, but not before the car was a total loss”
NHTSA complaint #11165647, filed 2019-01, 180,000 milesOther or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 18 | 12% |
| 2019 | 43 | 20% |
| 2018 | 39 | 17% |
| 2017 | 33 | 13% |
| 2016 | 123 | 16% |
| 2015 | 140 | 14% |
| 2014 | 90 | 15% |
| 2013 | 189 | 14% |
| 2012 | 88 | 10% |
| 2011 | 41 | 7% |
| 2010 | 5 | 7% |
| 2009 | 3 | 3% |
| 2008 | 9 | 6% |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% |
| 2006 | 9 | 6% |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% |
| 2004 | 12 | 5% |
| 2003 | 7 | 5% |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% |
| 2001 | 4 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2011 Kia Optima
256 complaintsSteering
100 complaintsExterior lighting
88 complaintsElectrical system
63 complaintsBrakes
47 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