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Kia OptimaModel year report

2012 Kia Optima Problems

Compared with other Kia Optima years

More complaints than typical for this model

100/100 4.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2009, 2010

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
920filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
80,000miles, 640 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Kia Optima (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Kia Optima most often describe engine problems: sudden stalling or loss of power while driving, loud knocking or rattling, and engines that had to be replaced, frequently with reports of excess oil use and white smoke. Many of these complaints come in around 70,000 to 130,000 miles. A smaller but steady share of owners describe steering that seizes or vibrates, transmission and shifter problems, and smoke, burning smells or fires near the brake hydraulic unit.

  1. Engine

    Engine stalls, knocks or seizes

    • 368 complaints (40%)
    • median 89,489 mi at 7.0 yrs old (292 state mileage)
    • 38 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 19 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2026

    Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at highway or city speeds, sometimes with a rattling or knocking noise beforehand and the check engine light on. Several say a shop or dealer diagnosed the engine as not repairable and needing replacement, and some mention previous engine work under a recall campaign. Others describe an inability to accelerate past 25 to 35 mph, or the vehicle dropping into limp mode. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 130,000 miles, though a few owners cite lower mileage.

    Recall 17V2240005 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the engine was replaced or inspected under the engine recall, and request records. Check the oil level and look for a knocking noise on a cold start and during a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While passing another car on a highway my car stopped accelerating. I pulled over and it won't start cuz it is seized up. Lucky for me I could make it to a off ramp. Towed it and the repair shop said it was the bearings that are bad and I need a whole new engine and I have less than 50000 miles on the car😤”

    NHTSA complaint #11338584, filed 2020-07, 50,000 miles

    “I was driving and heard some knocking and smelled an exhaust like smell, after getting off the highway and stopping at a stop light, the car would not accelerate pass 25 MPH when pressing on the gas pedal and would stutter & hesitate. I stopped for a diagnosis at the closest car shop. After their evaluation they thought it could be the transmission but since they were a oil change & tire shop they could not help. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11316816, filed 2020-03, 94,699 miles
  2. Brakes

    Smoke or burning smell from under the hood

    • 154 complaints (17%)
    • median 101,500 mi at 7.5 yrs old (104 state mileage)
    • 71 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2026

    Several owners describe smoke or a burning odor coming from the engine compartment or front of the vehicle while parked or shortly after starting, and some mention a fire. Many of these complaints reference the brake hydraulic control unit recall, noting the repair part was not yet available at the time of the report. Mostly reported between about 84,000 and 150,000 miles, often while parked or just after startup.

    Recall 23V652000

    What to check: Ask whether the brake hydraulic control unit recall was completed and confirm with a dealer using the VIN; watch for a burning smell or smoke after short drives.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V560000 (STRUCTURE) and 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated while the vehicle was parked at the residential driveway and starting the vehicle, smoke started emitting from under the hood. The contact opened the hood and discovered smoke primarily emitting from the front passenger side of the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11647487, filed 2025-03, 145,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 55 -60 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact became aware of smoke emitting from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11634952, filed 2025-01, 150,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Excess oil use and white smoke from exhaust

    • 194 complaints (21%)
    • median 100,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (145 state mileage)
    • 50 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $4,300 (median of 7 quotes)
    • filed 2012–2026

    Owners report the oil level dropping quickly between changes with no visible leak, and a cloud of white or gray smoke on acceleration after the car has sat. Some say a dealer confirmed the engine was burning oil, and a few describe repeated oil top-ups and burned smells while driving. Often reported between about 60,000 and 155,000 miles, including on vehicles with a replacement engine.

    Recall 18V9070004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the dipstick before and after a test drive and look for smoke at startup; ask whether an oil consumption test or the published service bulletin work was done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 3 months old and I'm very concerned about our safety because the vehicle suddenly runs out of oil and it start smelling like burned and it starts to smoke a lot of white smoke. When I check the oil compartment it seems like the oil evaporates or get consumed but it doesn't leak. This has happened few times while driving the car on a city street.”

    NHTSA complaint #11399657, filed 2021-03, 153,000 miles

    “I was driving to work one morning just got on the freeway and my Kia Optima with 107k miles decided to shut off out of knowhere. I decided to check the oil and noticed it was pretty much empty when it shouldnt have been. I check it regularly and keep it in good shape also had it changed a month or so back. I had it towed to my mechanic because it would not start at all. It took them 2 weeks and various test including a compression test and installing new spark plugs. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11383424, filed 2020-12, 107,940 miles
  4. Steering

    Steering binds, seizes or vibrates

    Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the steering wheel becoming stiff or locking while turning, sometimes with the power steering warning light on, and in some cases a dealer replaced steering column parts after a repeat visit. Other complaints mention vibration through the wheel at speed or after a related repair. Reported from about 50,000 to 120,000 miles, sometimes at parking-lot speeds.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while stationary and at low speed and listen or feel for binding; ask whether the steering column motor or gear service bulletin was applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was in the parent pick up line to pick up my daughter and I placed my shift in park however my car continued to drive forward and shift gear was stuck. Steering wheel became stiff and I kept foot on brake to slowing maneuver car to a parking spot. Once in parking spot car would not turn off and even though car was in park on the shift gear the drive mode was illuminated. The car finally turned off for a few seconds and than restarted by itself and repeated to do so. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11398744, filed 2021-03, 52,313 miles

    “On feb18 2020 head lights again stopped working new bulbs were put in oem replacements light go off when ever they want this is extremely dangerous if your a rural roads interior light stay on or go off on there own but mostly it's the head light that work when they want to this issue happens when driving and when stationary Kia has to do something to repair the problem this isn't a wear and tear people's this is subpar craftsmanship on a safety issue and I'm afraid someone will die. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11310012, filed 2020-02, 93,000 miles
  5. Transmission and drivetrain

    Gear shifter stuck or won't engage park

    Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners report the shifter not matching the gear shown, the car staying in drive after being shifted to park, or the lever refusing to move without the shift lock release. Some describe harsh downshifts or delayed engagement, and dealers in some cases said the transmission needed replacement. Reported between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles.

    What to check: On a test drive, shift through every gear slowly including park and reverse, and check that the displayed gear matches the lever and the car starts normally.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Transmission has a hard pull when it down shifts from third gear to second gear and a harder pull on first gear this is a automatic transmission. In regular gears going in drive would actually do fine I noticed a week later when I was out driving for about an hour that the car would not go past second gear so I pulled off the road and had my car towed. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11386509, filed 2021-01, 168,000 miles

    “Transmission issues: between 2nd and 3rd gear. Would lag then jerk the car with some torque once it caught 3rd gear. Had to get 2 replacement transmissions because of this issue. Also engine seizer issue, my engine started to seize when I was going 45 miles an hour with alot of traffic behind me. Then all of a sudden it started making loud thunking noices then a very loud grinding noise and then I was stuck on a road not being able to get above 22 miles and hour, there was no shoulder to pull over. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11355013, filed 2020-09, 107,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a high share of engine complaints, so service records for engine replacement or recall work and an oil consumption check matter more than usual on a used example. Also confirm that the open recalls for the engine, brake hydraulic unit and air bag control unit were performed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 920 consumer complaints for the 2012 Kia Optima. 640 of the complaints include a mileage, and 28% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 25 involved a crash, 77 a fire, 34 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 241 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 12 Kia Optima model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (31), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (28), Engine cooling (20), Suspension (18), Electronic stability control (11), Seats (8), Wheels (8), Tires (7), Seat belts (5), Equipment (3), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Forward collision avoidance (1), Interior lighting (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “As I was driving on the highway approximately 65 MPH the engine began to stall not allowing any power while pushing on the gas pedal. The service manager at Kia explained to me that they found a pin in the engine that was supposed to be r removed but never was causing this to cause major damage to my engine and head gasket.”

NHTSA complaint #11317732, filed 2020-03, 122,000 miles

Steering: “While driving on the highway I have noticed that the steering wheel sticks when I am trying to keep the car going straight in my lane. It's tricky to move the steering wheel while driving especially at high speed. The steering wheel doesn't move freely to perform short steering corrections. You don't noticed this in the turn but on straight road driving”

NHTSA complaint #11191131, filed 2019-03, 56,628 miles

Electrical system: “I was parked in the parking lot at a grocery and folded my side view mirrors up and back down and now the motor in the passenger side view mirror will not stop running. The motor runs day and night and the mirror no longer folds like it's supposed to. I see that I am not the only one that has had the issue with the side view mirrors”

NHTSA complaint #11399491, filed 2021-03, 151,300 miles

Brakes: “On april 5th 2017, my Kia Optima started to make a horrible sound. I was on hwy 26 headed into portland or. Going through the tunnel, as I was going into the tunnel the horrible knocking noise started. There was cars in front of me and cars behind me. This was at 4:30 am.. All the lights on the dash came on, I had no brakes, no steering and no way to accelerate. Drifted to the side and had it towed.”

NHTSA complaint #10971918, filed 2017-04, 110,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

28% of the 640 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 46,000 and 118,000 miles.

11%0–106%10–2511%25–5017%50–7518%75–10028%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (640 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 80,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’12’14’16’18134’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Kia Optima. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Optima · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 5555 · 9.6% risk

Neighbouring years: 2011: same overall rating; 2013: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Kia Optima version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Optima FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic223326$2,600
Optima FWD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic243427$2,500
Optima FWD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed manual243427$2,500

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Kia Optima → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 241 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 241 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Optima

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202015160,000052923 · FewerRising
201921230,224152950 · TypicalRising
201823345,325252849 · TypicalRising
201725754,000352948 · TypicalRising
201676068,000552898 · MoreRising
20151,01080,0004526100 · MoreStable
201459171,6887526100 · MoreStable
20131,38783,4509527100 · MoreStable
201292080,0005527100 · MoreFalling
201159490,000552796 · MoreFalling
20107570,5001—250 · FewerFalling
200911664,0001—2520 · FewerFalling
200814461,5003—2541 · TypicalFalling
200716775,5002—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200615561,8942—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200514476,0000—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200422582,5001—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200314184,2002—22Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200210785,0003—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200114381,5003—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All Kia Optima model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Optima?

Owners of the 2012 Kia Optima most often describe engine problems: sudden stalling or loss of power while driving, loud knocking or rattling, and engines that had to be replaced, frequently with reports of excess oil use and white smoke. The issues reported most often: Engine stalls, knocks or seizes; Smoke or burning smell from under the hood; Excess oil use and white smoke from exhaust.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Kia Optima have?

NHTSA recorded 920 consumer complaints for the 2012 Kia Optima as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Kia Optima is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 398 complaints (43% of the total), followed by steering with 188.

Has the 2012 Kia Optima been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2012 Kia Optima do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2012 Kia Optima 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Kia Optima get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Kia Optima (Optima, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 24 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Kia Optima reported?

Among the 640 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 46,000 and 118,000 miles; 28% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.