2011 Kia Optima Engine

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon entering an interstate highway at 65 MPH, the vehicle ceased with the battery and oil warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. As the vehicle shut-off, the contact was able to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway. After the vehicle failed to start up after multiple attempts, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the recall for the failure had expired and referred her to a Kia dealer for inspection. Upon investigation, the contact linked her failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle remained in possession of the independent mechanic unrepaired. The failure mileage was 116,000.

CAR STARTED TO KNOCK SHUT OFF CALLED TOW TRUCK.CHECKED CODE SAID KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED STILL KNOCKS CHANGED OIL AGAIN AFTER TWO MONTHS AND FOUND PIECES OF MEDAL IN OIL THAT LOOKS LIKE BASS AND METAL I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON ROAD RT.322 IN NO

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING ENGINE SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE DISCREPANCIES CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSPECTION FEE. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL LEAK HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERT OGDEN MISSION KIA (2307 E EXPRESSWAY 83, MISSION, TX 78572) WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAULT WITH THE ENGINE. THE RECALL CLASSIFICATION WAS THEN REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KNOCKING GREW LOUDER, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL UPON ACCELERATION, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST HIM SINCE THE RECALL WAS ALREADY SERVICED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

On May 28th I was on my way home and out of nowhere my steering wheel locked up and the car died while in motion. A week later we notified Kia about it and they had me tow my car so they could find out what was going on with my vehicle. We waited 12 days to find out was wrong with it and they told us the engine was seized and we had just found out that they had a recall for seized engines. After finding that out we tried to get the vehicle fixed through them and they told us that they could not fix it because it doesn’t no longer have an warranty and that they sent out an report about the recall on my car. We never received any information about a recall and we bought the vehicle March 2020. We have been making phone calls to Kia and they denied to fixing my vehicle.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR KIND OF SPUTTERED AND SHUT OFF...NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS...REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER TO NO AVAIL

ON JANUARY 4TH 2021 MY CAR STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR IN MY CITY AND THEY INFORMED ME MY ENGINE HAD A RECALL ON IT. THE AUTO SHOP THEN INFORMS ME THEY DON'T WORK ON ENGINES SEND IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP SHIP I DID THAT. NOW THE KIA DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE WAS NO RECALL DIDN'T EXPLAIN MUCH SAY YOU JUST NEEDED AN BATTERY AND THE FRONT O2 SEN-OR REPLACED I PAID THE $450 THE CAR WAS UP AND RUNNING I DIDN'T THINK NOTHING ELSE WOULD GO WRONG. MARCH 19 2021 MY CAR STOPS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING GET IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR IN MY CITY THEY SAY I HAVE A BAD ENGINE THAT WAS ALL THE HELP THEY COULD GIVE ME. NOW MAY 3 2021 MY CAR IS CURRENTLY DOWN IT'S NOT IN THE AUTO SHOP AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THE AUTO REPAIR SHOPS WAS SAYING IS THIS WOULD COST ME $4500.IN JANUARY I WAS INFORMED I HAD A RECALL ON MY ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.

WHILE OPERATING AT 65+ MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE MY KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING MY CAR TO HAVE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. I HAD TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THIS. THIS ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 97300 MILES, WHICH WOULD STILL BE UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, HAD I BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER. A LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC TYPES OF CARS I LEARNED THAT THE REGULAR, NON-HYBRID, KIA OPTIMA HAD RECALLS FOR ENGINE FAILURES SO I CALLED KIA CORPORATE TO SEE IF I HAD COVERAGE. KIA CORPORATE INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WOULD POSSIBLY BE COVERED IF A SPECIFIC PART FAILED (ROD BEARINGS). IF THIS WAS TRUE THEN I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH A CLAIMS PROCESS TO GET WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR MY CAR. BECAUSE OF THIS I DECIDED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FEW DAYS AT A DEALERSHIP I WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED (WITHOUT DETERMINING WHY/ WHAT PART FAILED), BUT THE STORY CHANGED. KIA THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ZERO CHANCE THAT MY CAR WOULD BE COVERED EVEN IF THE SPECIFIC PART HAD FAILED ( WHICH WE DIDN'T KNOW). I CALLED CORPORATE AGAIN UPON HEARING THIS NEWS AND SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO LOOKED AT THE TRANSCRIPT/SUMMARY FOR MY INITIAL CALL AND TOLD ME THAT WHAT I WAS INITIALLY TOLD DIDN'T HAPPEN. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS LYING TO THEM AND THAT WHAT I WAS TOLD IN MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH CORPORATE DIDN'T HAPPEN. KIA QUOTED ME A NEW ENGINE FOR 10000+ DOLLARS (THOUSANDS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH) AND BILLED NEARLY 200 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LIKELY TOOK MERE MINUTES. ULTIMATELY I DECIDED TO HAVE ANOTHER MECHANIC PUT IN A REFURBISHED ENGINE FOR ABOUT HALF THE PRICE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DECEPTION THAT KIA PUT ME THROUGH WAS WRONG AND THAT IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A WELL-CARED FOR CAR TO SUDDENLY DIE WITHOUT WARNING.

WAS DRIVING TO WORK. DROVE THROUGH THE FRONT GATE ENTRANCE TO MY STATION WHEN AN AWFUL METALLIC KNOCKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED ALL THE WAY HOME THAT DAY. 80+ MILES. TURNS OUT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. TOOK IT TO A KIA DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM BEING A FAILURE TO A CRANK BEARING.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELLING STRAIGHT IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT, THEN IT STALLED AGAIN. THEN I RESTARTED IT ONE MORE TIME. THEN IT MADE A GRINDING CLUNKING SOUND LIKE SOMETHING SNAPPED AND WAS GETTING WHIPPED AROUND BY THE MOVING PARTS. THEN IT HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AS THE CAR NO LONGER WAS RUNNING.

MY CAR JUST DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD A AAA TECHNICIAN COME OUT FOR A TOW. HE INSPECTED MY ENGINE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A LOW AMOUNT OF OIL AND METAL SHAVINGS. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A AUTO SHOP THEY DETERMINED MY ENGINE FROZED AND INFORMED ME I NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. THEY ALSO FOUND METAL SHAVINGS

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN OREGON, MY CAR STALLED AND MADE WEIRD SOUNDS OUT OF NOWHERE. ON A BROAD CURVE, MY CAR SLOWED DOWN QUICKLY AND LUCKILY THERE WEREN'T ANY CARS BEHIND ME. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FAIL. I TRIED TO PULL OVER SAFELY TO THE NARROW SHOULDER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN FOR A LITTLE BIT. I TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE ROCKS IN A BLENDER. I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF MY HYBRID AND HAS NO HISTORY OF OTHER ISSUES AND IT ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4 L THETA II ENGINE FROM MY CAR'S YEAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE), HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

I REPORTED MY KIA WITH AN ENGINE FAILURE PROBLEM A FEW WEEKS AGO. GOT A CALL FROM KIA TODAY AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL BY NHTSA IS FOR 2 AND 2.4 L OPTIMA , KIA IS CLAIMING IT IS FOR A SPECIFIC TYPE OF ENGINE. I SHOULD PAY 6200 AND SUBMIT FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT. MINE IS AN MPI AND IT IS EXCLUDED. HOW CAN YOU EXCLUDE MY ENGINE? WHY WOULD MY ENGINE FAIL FOR NO VIABLE REASON AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN? MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM ASKING FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND NOT A PHONE INVESTIGATION. . MY CAR IS A 2.4L I4 MPI HYBRID ELECTRIC DOHC. AN ENGINE FAILS FOR A REASON. KIA HAS HAD DEBRIS ISSUES WITH ENGINES AND IF MINE IS THE FIRST THEN SO BE IT. PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THE CAR TO ASCERTAIN THIS WAS NOT A LEMON ENGINE FROM THE GET GO. THIS BRUSH OFF BY KIA IS UNACCEPTABLE. *JS

CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE STARTS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. PARKED CAR AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATES ENGINE INTERNAL FAILURE AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A CAR THAT'S ONLY SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP. LAST 360 POINT INSPECTION WAS NOVEMBER 2019. LAST DEALERSHIP VISIT MAY 2020. RECALL STATES 2-LITER AND 2.4 LITER FOUR CYLINDER ENGINES. KIA STATES ITS FOR GDI NOT MPI. YOUR REPORT DID NOT SPECIFY. PLEASE ASSIST. THANK YOU. *TR

CAR STARTS SMOKING AND MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING A DAY BEFORE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. CAR TOWED TO DEALER 6/23/2020- RODS IN ENGINE WENT BAD, ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 360 POINT INSPECTION NOVEMBER 2019. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT USED AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASE. IT IS FRUSTRATING THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY 2020 DID NOT DETECT A PROBLEM AND I AM NOW AT THIS POINT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CONTINUOUSLY AND WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR FOR THIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ISSUE. WHAT'S THE POINT OF USING A DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE YOUR CAR? *TR

THE MOTOR SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING. NO LIGHTS CAME ON. CHECKED OIL THAT HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. WE HAVE BEEN DOING REGULAR OIL CHANGES ON THE VEHICLE. IT WILL NO LONGER RUN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (GLASSMAN KIA 28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 (888) 451-0949) AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN LIMP MODE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY REPROGRAMMED ENGINE WITH A CODE FOR A RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED. THE CONTACT TRIED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO THE CURVE AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT LEFT THE CRASH SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND GAVE THE CONTACT A CLAIM NUMBER BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.*DT *TR

ENGINE KNOCKING WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH, THERE IS A RECALL ON ENGINES ON THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA AND THIS CAR ONLY HAS 75K MILES AND IS REGULARLY SERVICED.

THE THETA 2.4GDI ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA MAY 2019, AFTER A TOTAL ENGINE SEIZURE THAT LEFT ME STRANDED AT AN INTERSECTION IN ALBUQUERQUE NM. IT HAS STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PATTERN OF MALFUNCTIONING IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS, SPORADICALLY, FIRST WHILE DRIVING AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, PRONOUNCED MALFUNCTIONING. I AM DUMBFOUNDED THAT KIA STATES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEOS OF THE NOISES FOR THEIR REVIEW!! THEY THEMSELVES WRITE IN ARTICLES THAT THEY PREFER TO REPAIR BEFORE TOTAL ENGINE SEIZURE. HOWEVER, I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO PITRE KIA, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS ORIGINALLY REPLACED AND NOW THEY SAY THE ENGINE WARRANTY WAS 12 MONTHS, EVEN THOUGH THEIR LITERATURE STATES DIFFERENTLY. WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW THAT ADVISE, THEY COMPLETELY SWITCH TO TOTAL RUDENESS AND GO AS FAR AS LAUGHING AT YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN OVER THE VEHICLE THAT YOU PAID FOR AND WHICH ULTIMATELY PAYS THEIR SALARY!! I JUST WANT TO HAVE FAITH IN MY VEHICLE THAT IT WILL NOT LEAVE ME STRANDED. I AM RESTRICTED, AT THIS TIME, FROM GOING OUT OF TOWN. I DO NOT TRUST MY VEHICLE TO TAKE ME ANYWHERE, MUCH LESS MAKE THE NECESSARY TRIPS TO SANTA FE (56 MILES AWAY) DUE TO THE FEAR OF GETTING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, I AM A 64 YEARS OLD DISABLED FEMALE AND THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED A RELIABLE VEHICLE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IS THE FARTHEST FROM THE TRUTH. NOW THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AND SUPERVISORS ARE IN TOTAL DENIAL OF THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND THEN PROCEED TO BE RUDE! THEY CAN LIE ALL THEY WANT, BUT THEY DO KNOW OF THE LAWSUITS OVER THEIR FAULTY ENGINES!! THEY ARE JUST BEING TOLD BY THE GREEDY CORPORATE HEADS NOT TO COMPLY WITH REPAIRS.

CAR DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. NO CRANK, NO START. MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE ENGINE SEIZED THE VEHICLE NEVER STARTED AGAIN, NOT DIAGNOSED YET CONSEQUENCE VEHICLE MUST BE TOWED AT OWNERS EXPENSE THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A PARKING LOT , TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SEIZED. NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED AND WAS ADVISED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.

DRIVING IN HEAVIER THAN NORMAL TRAFFIC ABOUT 45 MPH. STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE LESS THAN HALF A MILE BEFORE THE ENGINE CUT OFF AGAIN. I COMPLETELY LOST POWER, BUT WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR (SUCCESSFULLY!) AND DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT BEFORE TRAVELING THE REMAINING 20 MINUTES HOME. CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED UPON ARRIVING HOME. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND NOTHING WAS CORRECTED. BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION. CAR HAS OCCASIONALLY BEEN HESITATING WHILE STARTING OR WHILE IDLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS SINCE THAT EVENT.

WAS DRIVING DOWN AND SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY CUTS OFF. FOUND OUT THE ENGINE LOCKED EVEN THOUGH I GET THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE.