The 2011 Kia Optima is reliable, affordable, efficient, and sorta fun to drive, but no car is without its issues, especially when it passes that 10-year mark. Kias are famously low-maintenance, just be on the lookout for slow turns and hesitant acceleration.
Key Points
- The 2011 Kia Optima‘s biggest problem is engine sputtering, stalling, and shutdown, which most likely stems from a high-pressure fuel pump leak that led to a 2018 recall.
- A leading complaint registered with the NHTSA: clicking sounds in the steering column. This usually points to a steering fluid leak, which might explain the other steering complaints about stiff turning.
- Premature wear in the engine bearings of some Optimas may lead to engine seizure. This issue led to a major recall in 2017.
- With a 2011 Optima, the biggest problems are uncommon, and the most common ones are relatively minor. Low maintenance costs, great fuel economy, and a fair sticker price make the car a great buy a decade since its launch.
2011 Kia Optima’s Recall for High-pressure Fuel Pipe May be Linked to Engine Stalls
The 2011 Kia Optima currently holds 500 complaints with the NHTSA. Of these, 219 are for engine problems, putting this category well in the lead.
The recurring pattern among these complaints: sputtering, stalling, and shutdown.
One driver reports that they were “driving down the road” when “my car kind of sputtered and shut off.” Another mentions, “I was driving down the road and all of a sudden it stalled on me. It won’t turn over or anything.” And another, “I was driving on the highway, traveling straight in traffic at about 50 mph, when my car stalled. I was able to restart it, then it stalled again.”
Many of the Optima’s engine complaints may have to do with a December 2018 recall for a potential leak in the high-pressure fuel pipe. The chief concern with this recall was the potential fire hazard, but with the high-pressure fuel pipe leaking, you’re also going to be dealing with an underpowered engine stalling out, shutting down, and failing to turn back over.
Don’t take that as a confirmation. These cars are a decade old now, so engine and transmission problems may just as likely owe to simple wear and tear. But in some instances, there may be a connection between the engine stalling and a leaky fuel pipe.
Steering Fluid in Some 2011 Optimas May Leak and Lead to Stiff Turning
The 2011 Kia Optima’s second most common complaint is in the steering department, with 96 total registered in this category.
There are quite a few different complaints here from the steering wheel being stiff to failing entirely, but the most common points to a clicking sound coming from the steering column. A clicking sound in the steering column usually has to do with low steering fluid, which would help to explain all of the other steering issues we’re seeing.
There have been no recalls issued for steering fluid leakage, and there are no investigations on the matter. Given that the car is a decade old and the incident rate is low, this can probably be chalked up to normal wear and tear. The steering column may simply be one of the first things to go out when you’ve put a couple hundred thousand miles on an Optima.
Unfortunately, 2011 Optimas are no longer covered under the automaker’s CPO warranty program, so the best you can do is test drive before you buy, keep a little money set aside for repairs should your steering fluid start leaking, and get it taken care of at the first sign of trouble.
2011 Kia Optima Premature Wear May Owe to Machining Errors at the Factory
Of the 2011 Kia Optima’s four recalls, the most significant would be the one issued in March of 2017 for potential engine seizure owing to bearing wear. This recall affected over 500,000 Kias, including 2011-2014 Optimas and a number of Sorentos and Sportages.
The issue had to do with “machining errors,” which means that it was essentially stamped right into affected cars at the factory, resulting in premature wear on the bearings within the engine.
Since these problems begin at a manufacturing level, it’s not so much a matter of if affected cars will suffer engine seizure, as when, so make sure to check your VIN to find out if it was already covered in the recall.
Don’t Let a Few Recalls Scare You Away from a Great Compact
Drivers looking for a reliable compact at a fair price could do a whole lot worse than the 2011 Kia Optima. The most common issues are relatively minor, and the more severe issues are relatively uncommon. Repair Pal estimates the average annual maintenance cost to run just over $500, which, combined with a fuel economy of 24/35 mpg city/highway, and a starting price under $8,000, makes the 2011 Optima a smart buy for anyone looking to save a few dollars.
Photos: Kia
