2012 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 922 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (399), Steering (188), Electrical System (123).
Key takeaways
- 922 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 25 involve a crash, 78 a fire, 34 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 399 | 43% |
| Steering | 188 | 20% |
| Electrical System | 123 | 13% |
| Service Brakes | 88 | 10% |
| Unknown Or Other | 87 | 9% |
| Power Train | 54 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 48 | 5% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 42 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 4% |
| Structure | 39 | 4% |
| Hydraulic | 35 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 31 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2012 Kia Optima
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-11-03
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon turning the ignition to the on position without starting the vehicle, the engine started overheating with smoke coming from underneath the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, H...
Electrical System,engine - filed 2026-11-01
My 2012 Kia Optima Caught on fire while parked I would like to open up a vehicle fire investigation and check recall SC284 against my vin [XXX] I remember having a abs light on months ago and Kia issue safety calls on 2010-2019 Kia vehicle INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C...
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-10-09
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, there was a rattling and knocking sound coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the f...
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More for the 2012 Kia Optima
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.