7.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
65,800 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. a reliable service department that will listen (1 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Kia Optima:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

May 232018

Optima LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

Its aggravating when the car goes over the line when driving. Listening to the noise, it makes me uncomfortable.

- Donna M., Martinsburg, US

problem #2

Oct 282015

Optima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

My Kia Optima, was working fine till this morning when I was going out of my apartment complex to merge into the two way street, I was not able to turn left all of the sudden my steering wheel does not move right or left and it was in vertical position just like when you need to spin it all the way to one end.

my foot was on gas ready to merge and the steering did not move I was in middle of the street without going right or left, thankfully no other cars were close to me and I went straight forward to another parking area and then the steering start moving right and left.

I was terrified and I need help. I think this should be a recall issue for the Kia.

I called Kia dealer, they said it is rare but they heard about this issue!! they wont be able to see it till a week from now and they will charge me $100 just to check it up!!!

- Saba E., Columbus, OH, US

problem #1

Sep 102014

Optima 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,310 miles

We purchased our first Kia as a Certified Pre-Owned with 22000 miles. Within the first few days of purchase we noticed that when traveling for more than 20 miles, the steering wheel has a "catch" in it. By catch, I mean that when we try to correct our position in the lane, it feels like there is a snap in the steering. My way of describing it to the dealership is when you go to crack your knuckle, you can feel it is about to snap before it actually does. This is what our steering does.

You cannot keep the car in a straight line. Constantly having to correct steering. When letting go, the car drifts to the left. We first took the car into our dealership on October 7, less than 30 days of purchase. Explained to the technician what was happening with the car. When they returned the car to us, they informed us that nothing was wrong and charged us a $39.95 technician diagnostic fee. Mind you, the car is under warranty. I have put 6,000 miles on the car in the 2 months that we have owned it.

In the last month, the driver's side mirror has quit working, the door switch has failed and the dome lights flicker constantly. I took the car back into dealership in on 11/12 for the mirror, door and steering issue. They ordered parts for the mirror and door but still claim that nothing is wrong with the steering and that it performs as normal, like others on the lot. Even after a tech felt what the car was doing and told us that something was wrong with the Electronic Power Steering. I am FED UP with the Kia dealership. I love the car but I am beginning to worry that this is going to cause an accident and hurt my family or someone else.

- kcmonkmi, Cement City, MI, US