CarRecallWatchThe 2011 Kia Optima has 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 594 complaints with NHTSA, including 23 crashes, 33 fires, 19 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Engine (256 reports).
NHTSA rates it up to 5 stars overall for crash safety, depending on the version.
2011 Kia Optima recalls
Brake control module short can cause engine fire
The hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU), which runs the antilock brake and traction control system, may develop an electrical short.
Fuel Pipe Leak Can Cause Engine Fire
Certain Kia Optima, Sorento and Sportage vehicles that previously had an engine replaced under an earlier recall, warranty, or product improvement campaign may have a high pressure fuel pipe near the fuel pump that was damaged, misaligned or improperly tightened during that engine replacement.
Front Airbags May Fail to Deploy in a Crash
The air bag control unit in these Kia vehicles may short circuit during a crash.
Engine May Seize From Premature Bearing Wear, Raising Crash Risk
Machining errors during engine manufacturing can cause the engine's bearings to wear out prematurely.
Most common 2011 Kia Optima problems
Problem areas named in the 594 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine | 256 |
| Steering | 100 |
| Exterior Lighting | 89 |
| Electrical System | 63 |
| Unknown Or Other | 39 |
| Air Bags | 31 |
| Service Brakes | 26 |
| Power Train | 25 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 21 |
What owners report
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 als
I own a 2011 Kia Optima, VIN [XXX]. My vehicle was taken to Rockwall Kia on August 25, 2026, for completion of NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-652 / Kia SC284TF involving the HECU fuse. The dealership replaced the HECU multi-fuse and label kit. Before the recall repair, the vehicle was operating normally. The same day I picked the vehicle up after the recall repair, the vehicle began dying while I was driving. I also noticed a burning smell. I returned the vehicle to Rockwall Kia. Their August 31, 2026 repair order documents my complaint and states that the vehicle would die while driving and that this problem âDID NOT BEGIN UNTIL AFTER RECALL COMPLETED.â The repair order instructs the technic
I was having trouble with my left driver tire. 2 mechanics went to test drive the car to see what the problem was. As they were driving, the car died. They got it started but it ran horrible back to the garage. When they pulled in the driveway of the garage, the car started on fire. It was an engine fire but undetermined what exactly was the cause. The vehicle was looked over by the insurance claims adjustor. I am not sure if sluggish driving had anything to do with the fire. The car is totaled.
The vehicle's engine had previously been replaced once under Kia's Theta II engine recall/warranty program approximately five years prior to this incident. On the date of failure, the replacement engine catastrophically failed while the vehicle was in operation, resulting in the engine developing a hole in the engine block and becoming inoperable. Prior to the failure, the vehicle exhibited a "check engine" warning and symptoms consistent with connecting rod bearing failure. Diagnostic trouble codes P1326 and P0303 were present upon inspection at an authorized Kia dealership. The failure occurred at approximately 198,000 miles. This is the second engine failure on this vehicle, both consist
About six months ago, I lost the heated steering wheel functionality in my steering wheel, then from there, I slowly lost functionality like cruise control, and the most recent now my airbag and horn do not work. If you press on the horn, it is silent, and the airbag light has been illuminated consistently for the last couple of months. I had this issue diagnosed and it came up with the codes of B1346. And B1481. After some research, these issues are the result of a bad clock, spring and cause the airbag and horn not to work. Additionally, this issue is known to this model the 2011 Kia Optima, and has been recalled in most production cases of this vehicle, but my vehicle is not included. I
2011 Kia Optima safety rating
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ 5-star | 5 | 5 | 5 (9.6% rollover risk) |
2011 Kia Optima questions
Does the 2011 Kia Optima have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2011 Kia Optima: Brake control module short can cause engine fire; Fuel Pipe Leak Can Cause Engine Fire; Front Airbags May Fail to Deploy in a Crash; Engine May Seize From Premature Bearing Wear, Raising Crash Risk; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Optima?
Based on 594 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine (256), Steering (100), Exterior Lighting (89).
How safe is the 2011 Kia Optima?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings program gives the 2011 Kia Optima up to 5 out of 5 stars overall; ratings vary by version, see the table above.
How do I check if a recall on my 2011 Kia Optima has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.