2012 KIA Optima problems
Owners have filed 1,263 complaints about the 2012 KIA Optima with NHTSA. Engine accounts for 31.5% of them — the clear leader, ahead of steering at 14.9%.
Complaints1,263
Crashes37
Fires120
Injuries53
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine 31.5% · 398
Steering 14.9% · 188
Electrical system 9.7% · 123
Unknown or other 6.9% · 87
Power train 4.3% · 54
Service brakes 4.1% · 52
Air bags 3.8% · 48
Fuel/propulsion system 3.3% · 42
Severity
Of those complaints, 37 describe a crash, 120 describe a fire and 53 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 19 model years of the KIA Optima in this data, 2012 ranks 3rd by complaint volume — 2013 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 171 in the last three years against 256 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 80,000 miles.
In owners' own words
I was involved in a life threatening accident that caused my car to be totaled when the engine made a loud knocking noise and the engine seized while in motion on a busy highway at a speed of 65 mph without any sudden warning and my family in the car we had less than 1 minute to escape before another driver smashed into the car at 65 mph. The car stopped so fast there was no time to pull over to saftey or a soulder Engine · reported at 118,000 miles
New engine installed in 2018. New turbo installed in 2020. Started to loose oil daily. Checked it daily to add oil. The week before engine failure it had no power. Took to a mechanic who replaced the air filter and the sparkplugs. The next day, 10 miles form my house the oil light came on and then the engine light came on and died. I pulled over to the side of the highway. Diagnosis: Needs new engine and Turbo. Engine
I was traveling down e 470 in colorado with my grandchildren when my car suddenly ceased up and blew a rod going 70 mph. A car almost hit me from behind and luckily I was able to get over so I didn't cause any more damage to me my family or anyone else. My car had oil and had been change just recently. I am seeing that this is a problem with these cars. Just wanted to report that this has happened to me also. Engine · reported at 130,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…