2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 7%of 109 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, 7% of the 109 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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 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 engine shifts really hard and my car will shut down in the middle of the highway and today while driving several of my warning lights came on in the car and one advised me to stop the car and do not drive.”
NHTSA complaint #10944010, filed 2017-01, 80,000 miles“This vehicle is dangerous and extremely faulty. I have had to replace the transmission due to the car traveling at no more than 55 MPH. In addition, there was extreme knocking within the steering wheel in which the steering wheel had to be replaced as well. Then my car started drifting again with white smoke coming from under the hood and exhaust. Now Kia is saying that the engine is faulty and needs to be replaced. My car is not being serviced for a recall on the engine because it is a hybrid, yet non-hybrid Kia cars have a recall for it. This is the same thing. What a disservice! …”
NHTSA complaint #11130766, filed 2018-09, 100,000 miles“I was driving in a residential neighborhood and a lady pulled in front of me. I slammed on my brakes and swerved to the right so I would avoid hitting her. The next thing I knew I smacked into a pole. For the past year I have been trying to figure out how and why I had so much damage to my car when I was only going 25 MPH. I finally realized that this happened because I couldn't stop my car even when applying the brakes. The accident happened july 10, 2013 and one year later on the same day july 10, 2014 my brakes failed on my car while I was waiting for a gate to open. …”
NHTSA complaint #10638311, filed 2014-09, 21,988 miles“Vehicle was in motion at 35 MPH and suddenly lost acceleration, woul d not go faster then 15 MPH for about 1/2 mile then gave message hybrid system failure, please pull over and turn off vehicle. The dealership service department says they have replaced the engine with a used one, replaced the hyper-transmission? And the battery. Dealer has ignored requests for further information & itemization or invoice for the alleged repairs and the extended service contract originally only authorized $3851.50 for engine replacement. …”
NHTSA complaint #11032990, filed 2017-10, 65,099 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10197335Aug 1, 2015Optima Hybrid (TF HEV) With DTC B1695 - Lost Communication With E-Comp
Other or unknown: other model years
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid
72 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsSteering
9 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 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