NHTSA Complaint #11181796 — 2011 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE

Complaint Details

ODI Number	11181796
Vehicle	2011 KIA OPTIMA
Component	ENGINE
Date of Incident	February 3, 2019
Date Filed	February 22, 2019
Mileage	125,500 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	OH

Consumer Description

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 3:30 AM, OIL LIGHT FLICKERED OCCASIONALLY, VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, AND ENGINE EVENTUALLY STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD AAA TOW IT TO A TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SIEZED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME, PENDING DECISION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED BY A KIA DEALER UNDER THE SC147 ENGINE RECALL ON 9/22/2017 (16+ MONTHS EARLIER) AT ODOMETER 89,547 MILES AND EVIDENTLY PASSED THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE PER KIA'S TSB. I BELIEVE DEBRIS FROM THE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BLOCKED OIL LUBRICATION PASSAGEWAYS NOT ONLY TO THE ENGINE BEARINGS, BUT ALSO TO THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY KIA TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ENGINE IS OK OR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS 100% EFFECTIVE.

Related Complaints for the 2011 KIA OPTIMA

Other ENGINE Complaints

#11716837 — February 9, 2026 — I was driving in the highway doing about 80mph passing a semi truck when all of a sudden my vehicle went from 80 down...

#11696271 — October 29, 2025 — I was driving down the road with my 3 sons in the vehicle and all of a sudden the vehicle and engine seized completel...

#11682278 — August 21, 2025 — The Engine locked up while driving down the highway at 60mph. Not possible for inspection vehicle currently broke dow...

#11649717 — March 21, 2025 — The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling...

#11638574 — January 26, 2025 — Engine is knocking with check engine ligh on. Kia has a recall on my car for metal shaving in the engine during manuf...

Recent Complaints for the 2011 KIA OPTIMA

#11717872 — STRUCTURE:BODY — February 13, 2026 — While driving the Kia on the highway (in the passing lane on Route 93, Boston, MA), the hood of the car flew open and...

#11675773 — STRUCTURE:BODY — July 23, 2025 — Paint is peeling off in large pieces despite there being no damage. We have the pearl white color.

#11668296 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — June 21, 2025 — The car just keep doing weird stuff with the lights. It want go off all the time the key went work the cv joints are ...

#11668296 — SERVICE BRAKES — June 21, 2025 — The car just keep doing weird stuff with the lights. It want go off all the time the key went work the cv joints are ...

#11668296 — WHEELS — June 21, 2025 — The car just keep doing weird stuff with the lights. It want go off all the time the key went work the cv joints are ...