2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 18%of 109 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 101,250miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, 18% of the 109 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 101,250 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The electric motor hydraulic pump needed to be replaced I was told it wasnt a recall however im seeing several of the same complaints. While driving about 55 MPH my check engine light came on message appeared telling me to stop do not drive cant drive safely. Now my vehicle is making a loud knocking noise I have no acceleration power and I have no oil leaks but my car is burning up oil.”
NHTSA complaint #11104828, filed 2018-06, 110,000 miles“Takata recall I just recently purchased my hybrid in december. With it being winter, I of course did not use the air conditioning unit. Now as it is summer, I have used the AC. Each time I use the AC the motor starts making an extremely loud noise, and the AC at times stops working. With that, the temp gauge goes out of control. The vehicle may be stationary or in motion, and at any speed the motor will increase in noise.”
NHTSA complaint #10994124, filed 2017-06, 70,000 miles“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“I was driving at 45 miles per hour in all sudden my car shuts off and says hybrid safety issue check break. The car shut off on me and my brake went right to the floor and I could not stop. So I ran into a field thank god that was right there and I had my four year old kids in the car. I turn the car back on and everything went back to normal started driving it did it again and my brake went right to the floor and said the same thing. I have saw four other complaints about this. …”
NHTSA complaint #11100567, filed 2018-06, 140,000 miles“The hybrid system broke down at 85k. Was replaced by Kia after threatening legal action. At 103k. We never missed maintenance or a oil change. The engine through a rod on a 5 lane interstate doing 65mph, blowing and destroying the engine. Putting my family of 5 at serious risk. Kia wants 4500k or 8000k to replace the faulty engine. Optima engines were recalled for this exact reason. The Optima Hybrid engines were not recalled despite suffering the same failures as normal optima engines. Joining the class action.”
NHTSA complaint #11197287, filed 2019-04, 103,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11036628Aug 28, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin…
- 10238225Jun 26, 2023TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR - ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin…
- 10210264Apr 7, 2022TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY ORDERING AND RETURN PROCEDURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10200535Aug 19, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY ORDERING AND RETURN PROCEDURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10183333Nov 25, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 10183332Nov 4, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 10176918Jun 3, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR - ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin provides information regarding partial repair of the Air Conditioning (A/C) compressor…
- 10162046Jun 14, 2019TSB: TF/TF-HEV HEADLAMP INSPECTION AND/OR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and/or replace the headlamp assembly on some 2011-2013 MY Optima (TF…
- 10162051Jun 11, 2019wty014_OWNR: This document is the Owner Notification Letter advising the customers of the Warranty Extension on the Headlamp Assembly on the 2011-2013 MY Optima and Optima HEV…
- 10162053Jun 7, 2019WTY014_QA: This document is the Question and Answer guide for the warranty extension on the Headlamp Assembly for the 2011-2013 MY Optima and Optima HEV vehicles.
Electrical system: other model years
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid
72 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsExterior 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 29, 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