2011 Kia Optima Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 31 airbag complaints for the 2011 Kia Optima, 5% of all complaints filed for the year, tied to 10 crashes and 8 injuries. A related recall (18V363000) covers a faulty airbag control unit that can short circuit and prevent deployment.
- Airbags complaints
- 31
- 5% of 593
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 8
- Median mileage
- 98,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy during frontal, rear-end, and side-impact crashes at highway speeds, including a collision at 55 mph.
- Owners report the airbag warning light stayed illuminated for extended periods, sometimes starting after a prior impact.
- Drivers who received the recall notice reported airbags still did not deploy in a subsequent crash.
- Some owners report head, neck, or back injuries after the airbags failed to activate on impact.
- One owner reported the vehicle shifted gears on its own and crashed with no airbag deployment.
When 2011 Kia Optima airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 21, 2012, latest Jul 13, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2011 Kia Optima
- NHTSA 18V363000Jun 1, 2018Airbags507,587 vehicles
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Airbags complaints by Optima model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the 2011 Kia Optima have an airbag recall?
- Yes. Recall 18V363000 covers 2011-2013 Kia Optima and related Kia models for an airbag control unit that may short circuit and fail to deploy the airbags in a crash.
- How many airbag complaints does the 2011 Kia Optima have?
- NHTSA lists 31 airbag complaints for the 2011 Optima, which is 5% of the 593 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Were there injuries linked to airbag failures?
- Yes, NHTSA records show 8 injuries and 10 crashes associated with airbag complaints for the 2011 Optima.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2011 Optima is 98,000 miles.