2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 3%of 109 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 25,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the body and structure of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, 3% of the 109 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 25,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, 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.
“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“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“While driving the vehicle on the highway upon acceleration the rpms spiked and there was a clicking noise. After releasing the accelerator there was a loud noise like a broken muffler then the car lost power. Pulling to the shoulder the car began to smoke and shortly after stopping the vehicle caught fire from somewhere under the hood which spread to the entire front of the vehicle which then became engulfed in flames before a fire crew could extinguish.”
NHTSA complaint #11115017, filed 2018-07, 60,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10109817Feb 28, 2017TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109874Dec 6, 2016TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109877Dec 5, 2016Questions and answers for voluntary service campaign sc141 ? Underbody ? Additional anti-corrosion treatment
- 10109876Dec 5, 2016SERVICE MANAGER MEMO: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - Attention: All Kia Service Managers - Kia Motors America, Inc. will be conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign, as a preventative…
- 10109875Dec 5, 2016DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - Attention: All Kia Dealer Principals - Kia Motors America, Inc. will be conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign, as a…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 8% |
| 2012 | 3 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid
72 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsFuel system
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 28, 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