2011 Kia Optima engine problems
254 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2011 Kia Optima — 43% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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…”
filed Jul 23, 2026
“The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while driving at 60 MPH on the expressway. No warning lights illuminated. The contact had some wires replaced prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment or crash. The driver was able…”
filed Apr 20, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear…Campaign 17V224000 · Mar 31, 2017
Related service bulletins
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar…
TSB_ENG222_R8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 3, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar…
TSB_ENG222_R7 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 28, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1803Y/Z) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
PI1803YZ_TSB_R7 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 22, 2024
Engine problems in other Optima years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 92 | 67% |
| 2019 Optima | 86 | 42% |
| 2018 Optima | 129 | 56% |
| 2017 Optima | 161 | 64% |
| 2016 Optima | 423 | 56% |
| 2015 Optima | 618 | 62% |
| 2014 Optima | 280 | 48% |
| 2013 Optima | 610 | 44% |
| 2012 Optima | 398 | 43% |
| 2010 Optima | 9 | 12% |
| 2009 Optima | 14 | 12% |
| 2008 Optima | 18 | 13% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2011 Kia Optima
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.