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Air bagsPart report

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Air bags Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
4%of 109 total for the year
Median mileage
61,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, 4% of the 109 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was involved in a high speed, rear end collision in which I was traveling at approx 55mph when another large vehicle changed lanes from right to left, right in front of me causing me to collide with them. The result was significant front end damage to my car and significant bodily injury to myself because of the failure of my brakes to adequately stop my car and the failure of the air bags to deploy resulting in my body and head rapidly flying forward into the steering wheel.”

NHTSA complaint #11185463, filed 2019-03, 98,000 miles

“On 11/3, my wife was in accident in our optima, wherein she was t-boned. She was driving approximately 30mph, when another driver drove through a stop sign and, presumably, accelerated into the middle of the driver side of our car. None of the airbags deployed, and we're convinced that one should have. After speaking to the body shop, they tell me that the sensors are designed to deploy only when the car is hit just the right way. …”

NHTSA complaint #10555839, filed 2013-12, 25,000 miles

“Takara recall, I had to replace the contact assembly clock after air bag sign would not turn off, certain cars were recalled due to this problem , I believe it should be looked into additional years as well since the problem is still on going”

NHTSA complaint #11118431, filed 2018-08

“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v363000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”

NHTSA complaint #11123523, filed 2018-08

Related recalls

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201714%
2014310%
201312%
201244%
2011412%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

Engine
72 complaints
Electrical system
20 complaints
Brakes
12 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
10 complaints
Steering
9 complaints
Other or unknown
8 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Fuel system
3 complaints
Body and structure
3 complaints
Engine cooling
2 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Exterior lighting
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology