What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Optima?

Owners name the engine group most often with 281 complaints, then steering with 102 and exterior lighting with 88.

Does the 2011 Kia Optima have recalls?

Yes. The count is in the by-year facts, and each recall is listed in the Recalls section of this page.

What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Kia Optima?

See the fuel economy section of this page, which is built from EPA data.

Is the 2011 Kia Optima reliable?

Owners filed 628 complaints with NHTSA. The engine group leads with 281. These reports are unverified and not adjusted for sales.

2011 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 628 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Kia Optima^[1]. The engine group is named most often, with 281 complaints^[2].

628owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[3]

26–36MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

These are the complaint groups owners name most often, biggest first.

Engine. 281 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the car hesitating or stumbling when pulling away from a stop, trouble starting, and sudden surges of speed.
Steering. 102 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a car that drifts to one side and needs a hand on the wheel to stay straight, even after repeated alignment visits to the dealer.
Exterior Lighting. 88 complaints^[7]. Owners describe tail lights and dash lighting going dark, dim headlights, and a headlight control that is easy to turn by accident.
Electrical System. 69 complaints^[8]. Owners describe key fobs that cannot be reprogrammed, remote start that fails, and a car that will not start even with a healthy battery.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 Optima is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module (23V652), September 2023. About 1,730,192 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[9]
Engine (20V750), December 2020. About 294,756 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[10]
Engine (18V907), December 2018. About 71,653 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[11]
Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module (18V363), June 2018. About 507,587 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended.^[12]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine (17V224), March 2017. About 618,160 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch (13V114), April 2013. About 980,377 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Optima, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[15]	23 / 33 / 27	$2,500
Optima, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[16]	24 / 34 / 27	$2,500
Optima, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[17]	22 / 33 / 26	$2,600
Optima Hybrid, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	34 / 38 / 36	$1,850

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD^[5]	5	5	5	5	9.6%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2011 Kia Optima with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[18]	274 hp
2011 Kia Optima with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[19]	166 to 200 hp

How 2011 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Optima model year. The 2011 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2001	143	3
2002	107	3
2003	141	2
2004	225	1
2005	144	0
2006	155	2
2007	167	2
2008	144	3
2009	116	1
2010	75	1
2011	628	6
2012	1,029	6
2013	1,441	10
2014	621	7
2015	1,021	4
2016	763	5
2017	306	4
2018	243	3
2019	213	1
2020	153	0

NHTSA's counts for the Optima show 628 complaints and 6 recalls for 2011^[3]. Among the 20 model years listed, 15 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 4 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2010 (75) and the most are for 2013 (1,441)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2011 Optima?

The 2011 Kia Optima has 628 owner complaints on file^[1]. The engine group stands out with 281 of them^[2], and it also carries the most fire reports among the groups listed^[2]^[6]^[7]^[8]. Steering, lighting and electrical complaints follow^[6]^[7]^[8]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales^[1]. Recalls exist for this year, so check the Recalls section on this page^[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Optima?: Owners name the engine group most often with 281 complaints^[2], then steering with 102^[6] and exterior lighting with 88^[7].
Does the 2011 Kia Optima have recalls?: Yes. The count is in the by-year facts^[3], and each recall is listed in the Recalls section of this page.
What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Kia Optima?: See the fuel economy section of this page, which is built from EPA data.
Is the 2011 Kia Optima reliable?: Owners filed 628 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. The engine group leads with 281^[2]. These reports are unverified and not adjusted for sales.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Kia Optima

2011 this page
2012 1,029 complaints, 6 recalls
2013 1,441 complaints, 10 recalls
2014 621 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 1,021 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 763 complaints, 5 recalls
2017 306 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 243 complaints, 3 recalls
2019 213 complaints, 1 recall
2020 153 complaints, 0 recalls

Compare all model years of the Kia Optima

Other Kia models from 2011

2011 Kia Soul 194 complaints, 3 recalls

All Kia models

Similar cars from 2011: midsize cars

2011 Buick Regal 280 complaints, 4 recalls
2011 Cadillac CTS 108 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Chevrolet Cruze 732 complaints, 7 recalls
2011 Chevrolet Malibu 978 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 Ford Fusion 2,926 complaints, 7 recalls
2011 Lexus ES 199 complaints, 3 recalls

All midsize cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 628 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Kia Optima (25 mention a crash, 35 a fire, 20 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
281 complaints name the engine component group (6 crashes, 24 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 100,255). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Kia Optima model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Optima Hybrid, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 34 city / 38 highway / 36 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
102 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 71,500). NHTSA vehicle records
88 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 83,837). NHTSA vehicle records
69 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 10 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 84,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V652, filed September 25, 2023: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit / Module . NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V750, filed December 2, 2020: Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V907, filed December 19, 2018: Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V363, filed June 1, 2018: Air Bags › Air Bag / Restraint Control Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V224, filed March 31, 2017: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
Recall 13V114, filed April 1, 2013: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Optima, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 33 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Optima, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 34 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Optima, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 33 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Kia Optima with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 274 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Kia Optima with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 166 to 200 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2011 Kia Optima: problems, recalls and fuel economy