2011 Kia Optima Electrical System

Recall for HECU fuse. Dealer made appointment to fix the cancelled saying fix was no longer available by Kia. Kia should not have said there is a remedy available when there is not.

HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (HECU) can start a fire, I was informed not to park the car in a garage or near other cars, also it can also catch fire while driving the car!! I was notified months ago of this problem !! I called a KIA dealer that got me no where !! KIA recall #SC284TF

car could catch on fire ,recall for 5 months not repaired yet!!!!

Defect discovered by KIA September 2023 Affected owners not notified until November 2023 As of March 1, 2024, no updates. After six months, if no "fuse" is available, entire HECU should be replaced. Vehicle's exterior has significantly deteriorated since being required to park outside. Additionally, seriousness of fire hazard restricts use of car.

Went to dealer under warranty because of check charging system (hybrid) 2011 Kia Optima They said they did an update It did not help it has been constantly doing the same thing I loose power I have to pull over and start the engine The check engine light stays on This is dangerous because I am driving down the street and it goes into the safe mode I have no power I need help Kia said they will not do anything the dealer is an idiot told me I needed a transmission Please help me

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER FATHER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S FATHER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MADE ABNORMAL NOISES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR HOME DUE TO VEHICLE NOT RESTARTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REQUESTED THAT THE CONTACT PAY FOR A TOW TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED; THE CONTACT REFUSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,362.

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/SHORTAGE IN 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE IN MOTION, DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNLOCKS, INTERIOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF AND DOOR/DOORS OPEN LIGHT COMES ON.

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MELTED WIRING HARNESS THAT'S IS CONNECTED TO STARTER. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY, BY JULY THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. WITHIN 2-3 OF THE MOTOR BEING REPAIRED, THE STARTED FAILED. THE STARTER WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS

THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 200 MILES AND WOULD NOT START SO A NEW BATTERY WAS PURCHASED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IT STALLED, LOST POWER AND HAD TO BE PULLED OVER. WHEN STOPPING FOR GAS THE CAR ONLY STARTED AFTER IT WAS JUMPED. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE BATTERY IS BRAND NEW, THE ALTERNATOR WAS TEST AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION. WHEN THE CAR STALLS THE LOST OF POWER STEERING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE LINE OF TRAVEL. THIS VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN BY A YOUNG ADULT THAT COULD BE IN DANGER IF THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN

MY HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT ****SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS IMPOSSIBLE*** FOR ME AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT'S TOO DARK TO SEE! I'VE HAD NEW LIGHT BULBS INSTALLED, ONLY TO NO AVAIL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 80K MILES. I SPOKE TO KIA'S REGIONAL REP ONLY TO FIND THAT HE HAS A POMPOUS ATTITUDE AND NO REGARD FOR CONSUMER SAFETY. HE TOLD ME THAT DESPITE SAFETY CONCERNS, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED AT 40K MILES AND KIA "CAN'T" DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OF COURSE THEY CAN, BUT HE ASSURED ME THEY WONT. I ADVISED HIM THAT ACCORDING TO THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS AT 75K+ MILES, MEANING THAT THEIR WARRANTY WOULD NEVER COVER IT ANYHOW. IT'S A CATCH 22 AND KIA APPARENTLY KNOWS THIS, ACCORDING TO THE REP. HIS SUPERVISOR, JULIE MILLER, IS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT ME WITHIN 48 HOURS. I HOPE SHE HAS MORE COMPASSION FOR HUMAN LIFE THAN HER EMPLOYEE. THIS IS MY 3RD KIA VEHICLE, AND HOPEFULLY NOT MY LAST, SINCE THEIR VEHICLES AND SERVICE HAVE BEEN GREAT UP UNTIL NOW. KIA, RECALL THIS DEFECT BEFORE PEOPLE DIE.

USING OWNERS MANUAL PROCEDURE FOR STARTING THE ENGINE. VEHICLE IS PARKED, TRANSMISSION LEVER IN PARK POSITION. FOOT DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, PUSH BUTTON FOR STARTING ENGINE ON DASHBOARD IS DEPRESSED = NO ENGINE CRANK & NO START ! INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY FULLY ILLUMINATES & "IMMOBILIZER" ICON 'LIGHT' IS DISPLAYED ON PREVENTING ENGINE STARTING. KEY FOB IS PLACED ON THE DASH DURING ABOVE STARTING SEQUENCE...PLACING THE KEY FOB IN THE GLOVE-BOX OVERRIDE "BY-PASS" PORT ALSO WILL NOT START THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY "INTERMITTENT" PROBLEM & HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES IN RECENT 2 WEEKS STRANDING US AT SHOPPING MALLS & GAS STATIONS. THE OPTIMA HAS BEEN TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES & SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM OR HAVE THE DEFECT HAPPEN IN THEIR PRESENCE. I SEE MANY OWNERS HAVE POSTED VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.COM WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS WE ARE EXPERIENCING. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING & UNACCEPTABLE...ESPECIALLY WITH WINTER CONDITIONS ARRIVING IN 2 MONTHS ! PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP !

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE AND THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WITH THE PRESENCE OF SMOKE FROM THE STARTER WHEN THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

CAR WAS RUNNING AND SAT AT A RED LIGHT. WENT TO GO... MY RPMS SHOT DOWN TO 0, BATTERY AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. LIGHTS, WINDOWS, WIPERS..... THE CAR STILL WOULDNT TURN. THINK ITS THE ALTERNATOR. I THINK YOU SHOULD RECALL THEM AND GET THEM FIXED. THERES ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAULTY ALTERNATORS ON THESE OPTIMAS.

2011 KIA OPTIMA BATTERY DIED THE MAIN FUSE INDICATOR WASN'T WORKING. ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2016 AT ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 5AM ON RT97, I WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES FROM HOME ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR STALLED OUT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; I WAITED FOR 2 MINUTES I THEN PUSHED THE START BUTTON ON THE DASH BOARD THE CAR THEN STARTED. I THEN PUT IT IN GEAR AND STARTED DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN I WENT A QUARTER OF A MILE THE OPTIMA STALLED OUT AGAIN. AFTER WAITING 2 MINUTES AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR STARTED AGAIN I DECIDED TO TURN THE OPTIMA AROUND TO HEAD BACK TO MY HOME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME WITHOUT IT STALLING. I THEN CHANGED THE BATTERY OF THE KIA OPTIMA WITH A NEW FEDERATED BATTERY THE MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER WAS 144,540.0

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR JUST QUIT RUNNING. HAD TO PULL TO SHOULDER AND USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. CAR TOWED, FIRST REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THEN TOWED TO KIA DEALER WHO WOULDN'T REALLY COMMIT ON CAUSE. BLAMED SLUDGE ON MOTOR. HAVE SERVICE RECORDS. REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE GOT ABNORMALLY HOT. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

I WAS LEAVING WORK @ 5:45 PM AND GOT IN MY CAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE I CALLED KIA LEDGEN DEALERSHIP FOR HELP. THEY TOLD ME WHERE TO PUT THE AUX KEY STARTER INSIDE THE GLOVE BOX AREA. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. THEY TOLD ME A WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER TO GET A JUMP OR HAVE MY CAR TOWED. I FOUND A CO-WORKER WHO GAVE ME A JUMP AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. I PROCEEDED TO A FIRESTONE STATION AND GOT A NEW BATTER ($146.00). STARTED RIGHT UP AND HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE MALL TODAY (DEC 28) AND MY CAR WOULD NO START AGAIN. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET STRANDED OR NEEDED TO FIND A JUMP. AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED AND I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AFTER STATING THAT I READ ABOUT OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THEY DECIDED TO KEEP IT OVER NIGHT. ARE THERE OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT CAN LEAD ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED? *TR

THE FIRST EPISODE WAS A DEAD BATTERY. THE CAR HAD 13 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SECOND INCIDENT, CAR WOULD NOT START, IGNITION ISSUE, BUT LATER STARTED (AFTER 1HR). TAKEN TO DEALER, SECONDARY TO IGNITION ISSUES. PROBLEM RESOLVED UNTIL TODAY. WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TRIED TWO DIFFERENT KEY FOBS AND STILL DID NOT START. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE. I WILL NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR

HAD JUST FINISH BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, AFTER SURGERY, AND NEEDED TO STOP AT THE PHARMACY. AFTER PICKING UP A COUPLE OF PRESCRIPTIONS WE GOT IN THE CAR, AND TRY TO SWITCH THE CAR ON, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I COULD TELL THAT THE BATTERY HAD PLENTY OF POWER, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THE IGNITION WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE REST OF THE CAR. I EVEN PUT IT ON NEUTRAL TO SEE IF I WOULD START, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I KEEP ON TRYING FOR ALMOST HALF HOUR, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO CALL A TOW TRUCK I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN, AND IT FINALLY TURN AND STARTED. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH LESS THAN 20,000 THOUSAND MILES THAT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAIN REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE CAR FAIL TO START' THIS TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO, AND DROPPED AT THE KIA DEALER. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE TECHNICIAN THAT WAS WORKING ON IT, MENTION THAT AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS UNCOUNTED FROM THE TOW TRUCK, THEY TRY AND SWITCH THE CAR; NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. HE SAID THAT THEY SWITCH IT OFF AND ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHAT AM I TO DO? ALL I WANT IS FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING STRANDED. *TR

PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW KIA OPTIMA IN MAY 2011. FROM THE ONSET THE REMOTE START NEVER WORKED ON THE FIRST TRY, EVENTUALLY IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. IN AUG NOTICED THAT THE HORN WASN'T SOUNDING RIGHT, EVENTUALLY IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE HORN TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A BAD FUSE. 1 WEEK LATER HORN WAS OUT AGAIN. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD ORDER 2 NEW HORNS AS THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE. BOUGHT THE CAR IN TO HAVE HORNS INSTALLED THEY SAY "WE NEED TO ORDER A NEW MODULE FOR YOUR CAR" ALTHOUGH THE HORNS WERE WORKING, I FIGURED THE MODULE WAS THE REASON THE HORNS WENT BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. I CALL TO WEEKS LATER, THEY STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PARTS (STRANGE). I MENTION THAT NOW THE REMOTE START IS COMPLETELY OUT THEY SAY "WE KNOW, THAT IS WHY WE ORDERED THE MODULE" (WHY WASN'T THIS EXPLAINED TO ME??). OCT 2011 I SPEND YET ANOTHER SAT MORNING AT THE DEALER. AN HOUR AND A HALF IN THEY SAY WE CANT FIGURE THIS OUT WE NEED TO ORDER THE SCHEMATICS ON THIS CAR...YOU WILL NEED TO DROP THE CAR OFF NEXT WEEK. I LEAVE THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK, THEY CALL TO SAY THEY ARE ORDERING A WHOLE NEW REMOTE START SYSTEM. WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR THE REMOTE START IS STILL WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, THE ALARM IS GOING OFF AT RANDOM AND THE SUNROOF WILL NOT CLOSE. I RETURN THE CAR THE FOLLOWING WEEK THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE START, ALARM HASN'T SOUNDED AND THEY JUST NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE FOR THE ROOF. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEY DID BUT THEY DID SOME SORT OF REPAIR, NO PROB WITH EITHER SINCE THEN. TODAY DEC 12, 2011 I HAVE CALLED TO TELL THEM THAT THE HORNS ARE COMPLETELY OUT AGAIN, "THEY SAY BRING HER IN AND WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT HER". I HAVE NO DESIRE TO SPEND A DAY AT KIA DEALER ONCE A MONTH. IN FACT, I NO LONGER HAVE A DESIRE FOR KIA PERIOD. I AM CONTACTING BBB'S LEMON LAW ASSISTANCE TODAY. *TR

PURCHASE AS A NEW CAR ON JUNE 20,2011 FROM KIA DEALERSHIP. FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHIN FIRST MONTH. THE REMOTE START CONTINUALLY FAILED AT STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHEN PRESSING THE REMOTE START BUTTON THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE CAR ALARM WOULD SOUND OFF IMMEDIATELY. SECOND PROBLEM THAT OCCUR WITHIN FIRST MONTH IS THE GAS DOOR ON OUTSIDE WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN PRESSING THE GAS BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT REQUIRED YOU TO KEEP PRESSING GAS BUTTON REPEATEDLY BEFORE IT WOULD OPEN THE OUTSIDE DOOR TO PUMP GAS. THIRD PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE THIRD TO THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE PURCHASED VEHICLE IS THE SOUND TO THE CAR HORN FAILED. WHEN I WENT TO BLOW MY HORN, THERE WAS NO SOUND WHICH ALSO LEAD TO NO SOUND ON THE CAR TO INDICATE THAT I HAD LOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE CAR-LOCK. THE LOST SOUND TO THE HORN AND TO THE VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME AFTER RECENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *TR