2011 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID has 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: when applying gas pedal to pull away from a dead stop--such as a stop sign or red light---car stumbles and hesitates. at times car will not even respond when gas pedal is pushed. push the gas pedal and nothing happens--then you push pedal a bit more and it jerks and shoots forward. not a comfortabl. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 2 crash reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

19 complaints

40%

• WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABL
• MY VEHICLE DON'T START EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START IT THE ELECTRICAL SIT MOVES BACK AND FORWARD, I HAVE TO TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME, I AM GETTING SO FRUSTRATED THAT A NEW CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SOMETHING ITS WRONG, NEXT MONTH I WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEN
• WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR HESITATED AND STOPPED UNTIL IT APPEARED TO SHIFT FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS POWER. I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A FREAK THING BUT THIS HESITATION HAS RECURRED A FEW TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

13%

• WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABL
• MY VEHICLE DON'T START EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START IT THE ELECTRICAL SIT MOVES BACK AND FORWARD, I HAVE TO TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME, I AM GETTING SO FRUSTRATED THAT A NEW CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SOMETHING ITS WRONG, NEXT MONTH I WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEN
• I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ROUGHLY 60-70MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN DECELERATING AND NOT RESPONDING WHEN THE ACCELERATION WAS PRESSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROADS. KIA IS UNABLE TO FIND ERROR CODES OR DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE EVEN AFTER PROVIDING THEM WITH VIDEO EVIDE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

11%

• WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY; AN AUDIBLE RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY; A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS 'CHECK BRAKE' AP
• WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY LOSING ACCELERATION.; A RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD THERE IS CONSISTENT BEEPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY. A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EX
• The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY; AN AUDIBLE RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY; A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS 'CHECK BRAKE' AP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

• WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABL
• WHEN DRIVING MY KIA, AS I APPROACH A STOP AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD - ALMOST AS IF A CAR IS HITTING US FROM BEHIND. IT IS FORCEFUL AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. NOW, AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT IS NO LONGER SAFE
• CAR STALLED ALL OF SUDDEN WITH SHUDDER ON ROUTE 7 IN VIRGINIA AND THEN IMMEDIATELY WAS YAKEN INTO PARKING LOT FOR SAFETY REASONS. IN TRYING TO PARK CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE CAR WAS ON FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THEN RANDOMLY STOPPED. AFTER ANOTHER TEN MINUTES CAR WOULD NOT START AND THEN RANDOM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

4 complaints

• WHILE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 - 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY A DEER HAD RAN ACROSS THE ROAD, IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION HEAD ON WITH THE DEER I TOOK AN EVASIVE MANEUVER AND UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH THE GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 - 50 MPH. IMPACTING THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE
• TAKATA RECALL--I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. AS THE IMPACT WAS PRETTY HARD, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER WAS JERKED FORWARD AND HIT HER FACE ON THE DASHBOARD.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SMITHTOWN KIA (7

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WHILE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 - 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY A DEER HAD RAN ACROSS THE ROAD, IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION HEAD ON WITH THE DEER I TOOK AN EVASIVE MANEUVER AND UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH THE GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 - 50 MPH. IMPACTING THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 47 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY; AN AUDIBLE RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY; A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS 'CHECK BRAKE' AP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL TO PULL AWAY FROM A DEAD STOP--SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT---CAR STUMBLES AND HESITATES. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED. PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS--THEN YOU PUSH PEDAL A BIT MORE AND IT JERKS AND SHOOTS FORWARD. NOT A COMFORTABL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)