2011 Kia Optima: engine stalls while driving

Filed Sep 7, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · TX

I own a 2011 Kia Optima, VIN [XXX]. My vehicle was taken to Rockwall Kia on August 25, 2026, for completion of the federal safety agency Safety Recall 23V‑652 / Kia SC284TF involving the HECU fuse. The dealership replaced the HECU multi-fuse and label kit. Before the recall repair, the vehicle was operating normally. The same day I picked the vehicle up after the recall repair, the vehicle began dying while I was driving. I also noticed a burning smell. I returned the vehicle to Rockwall Kia. Their August 31, 2026 repair order documents my complaint and states that the vehicle would die while driving and that this problem “DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL AFTER RECALL COMPLETED.” The repair order instructs the technician to inspect whether the recall was completed properly and diagnose the concern. I am concerned because the HECU recall involves an electrical short/overcurrent condition and Kia's recall documentation specifically identifies burning/melting smell and smoke as warning symptoms. I am requesting that the federal safety agency document this complaint and review whether the post-recall stalling and burning smell could be related to the HECU recall repair or indicate a continuing safety problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 10, 2024 · Engine · WI

2 weeks ago my 2011 Kia Optima's engine died while driving. I am the 2nd owner of the car and bought it in summer of 2022 (not 2020). Before buying the car private sale, I sought my mechanics advice who told me Kia engines had issues going back to 2011. Before buying, my brother called the closest Kia dealership to confirm the owner was telling the truth that he had taken the car in for all safety recalls. Kia told my brother the engine and vehicle belonging to the VIN he provided were good to go and that the engine recalls were done. After my car died, I had it towed to my mechanic and was told the engine was bad. I called Russ Darrow Kia and informed them of the situation. I don't recall who I spoke with, but I asked about the recalls and any red flags that would void any warranties on the engine. I was told there were none and I should have the car towed to have them do an engine inspection. On September 7th, I called Kia because I had not heard anything about my car. I was told an inspection was done but the warranty was voided because a recall for NOX sensor had not been done. I called Kia consumer and spoke with a supervisor who just read a template of the Federal Lawsuit and how due to the voided warranty, Kia would not replace my engine. I explained how I had called prior to buying the car and confirmed the engine was up to date with any recalls and I had not received any recall notices for the NOX sensor nor any others pertaining to the engine. I only ever received a recall notice about the anti theft software. The supervisor was extremely insensitive toward me and told me there were numerous recalls and that whomever I called at Kia would have never told me the car was good to go. I would've taken it in if I knew about the recall, or any other. They are refusing to replace the engine. Kia is charging me $190 for their diagnosis and a quote on a replacement engine. The car was well maintained with prompt oil changes. I feel like I'm being scammed.

Filed Jan 7, 2023 · Engine · PA · crash

Blinking check engine light at 113000 miles on the car cuzs stalling while driving was worried about an engine fire I did read about on same model.

Filed Dec 20, 2021 · Engine · TX

I as driving on the highway and all of a sudden the car would not accelerate. The engine light, oil light, air bag lights etc. all turned on. The speed quickly dropped but I was able to to move into the safety lane. The card finally stalled and would would not start. I tried turning it back on, but the engine would not crank. The lights, radio, AC would still turn on, but the engine would not start. I have maintained it's scheduled maintenance and I was under miles until it's next oil change considering I had just changed it a month ago. I took it to get checked and was advised there was no oil and the engine was seized. I never received a warning the oil pressure was low. My car is over the 10 years and/or 100,000 k warranty as it was purchased 8/2011.

Filed Nov 27, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · FL

On NOV. 26TH 2021, I was driving my car and upon trying to accelorate, my car felt as if it was about to stall out. I pressed the gas and I barely moved. My engine light went on immediately and it's constantly flashing now. The cars RPM's do not go past 1-1/2 RPM's. I can not pick up speed like before, like I should. My car now hesitates and I'm scared to drive it. I feel that it's dangerous cause I can not keep up with traffic. I found a RECALL letter that I have from July 12, 2017 in which I took it to the dealer at that time I received it. I alo found 2 other recall letters ( see pics ataached). I guess at that time when they checked it nothing was wrong BUT now I am having an issue and I feel it could be related. The recall number is: 17V224 follow up letter of one of the recalls. The recalls prior to that does not have a # on it: it states: ENGINE CONNECTING ROD on of the recalls. I'm hearing some knocking but it just happened and I havent driven it since Nov. 26th. a.m.The code that comes up as P1362, knocking sensor and can be a number of other things. And everything I read says the KNOCK sensor detects vibrations indicating an onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. and can severly damage the engine. I'm very concerned and I feel that this recall back in 2017 is now happening to my car. I have uploaded the recall I have in my possession. According to William Garcia( Billy ) the service guy I always usually worked with at Gunther Kia, all of my recalls were checked and soem weere fixed. These particualr ones he said were done and or checked but nothing was repaired as you'll see in my history of service on recalls with them.

Filed Aug 12, 2021 · Engine · 120,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and had seized. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Apr 20, 2021 · Engine · 60,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia optima. The contact previously received notification the federal safety agency 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.

Filed Jan 10, 2021 · Engine · 152,138 miles · WY

I was driving down the road and all of a sudden it stalled on me. It won't turn over or anything. It still has almost 1500 miles on until the next oil change and the oil plug is on and tight. When I checked the oil it was not reading anything on the dip stick. The has not been any oil leaking on the ground. I was driving on a major street in my town going straight

Filed Nov 5, 2020 · Engine, Suspension · 79,000 miles · AL

18v363 17220 it has made a loud clanking/knocking noise. It stalled then completly died once I got off the main highway and wouldnt crank again. It uses an awful lot of oil. Upon first oil change it had shards of metal in it. The place I got the vehicle from says they put new motor in it among other things but I havent seen in change in things other than it doesnt smoke under the hood while idling.

Filed Sep 18, 2020 · Engine · 80,000 miles · MA

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.

Filed Sep 15, 2020 · Engine · 89,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Jul 13, 2020 · Engine · 100,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia optima. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency 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.