2012 Kia Optima Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 2%of 920 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 132,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2012 Kia Optima, 2% of the 920 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 132,000 miles. 4 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Strong smell of exhaust inside passenger area of car. Smell by 4 of 5 passengers. Car was a rental, so I do not know the VIN ore even the model year. With < 10,000 total vehicle miles, it may have been a 2012. I did find this note online regarding a similar problem wtih hyundai sonata, that may or not be related. ( fyi-my 2011 sonata smells like exhaust inside the cab of the car unless I keep the button pushed for inside air circulation . I called the dealer and as it turns out, this is a common problem with this model. …”
NHTSA complaint #10487991, filed 2012-12, 9,600 miles“I was stopped at a stoplight on a small street when a very loud hissing noise started coming from my air conditioner vents. As I accelerated through the intersection, the hissing noise got quieter, but as I stopped at the next intersection, it got louder. By the time I pulled into a nearby parking lot and stopped, my air conditioner was no longer blowing cold. The heat index is currently well over 100 degrees here, so driving home with no air could be very dangerous to many, especially if we had taken the car out of town, as we were intending to do just a few days later. …”
NHTSA complaint #10734651, filed 2015-07, 41,400 miles“I was driving the vehicle on city streets with the check engine light on, when all of a sudden during a turn in an intersection the engine shut off. The car stopped in the middle of the intersection and I could not restart the engine though the vehicle had power. I had to exit the vehicle and manually push it to safety through the intersection and to the curb on the other side. I was safe during this incident only because it was a small intersection with little traffic. If the problem had occurred in a major intersection or on the freeway, then my safety could have been in serious jeopardy. …”
NHTSA complaint #10442732, filed 2012-01, 200 miles“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, there was a rattling and knocking sound coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet informed of the failure. The contacted stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced excessive oil consumption, and the spark plugs were replaced. The failure mileage was 183,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11770112, filed 2026-10, 183,000 miles“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the engine was knocking at startup. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); and the VIN was included in the recall; however, the manufacturer declined to honor the recall because the original owner of the vehicle had failed to respond to the recall notification. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had declined to honor the recall due to the previous owner not having the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11718777, filed 2026-02, 189,369 milesRelated recalls
- 17V224000Mar 31, 2017Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine…Covers: Kia Optima 2011–2014, Sportage 2011–2013, Sorento 2012–2014
Related service bulletins
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- 10219692Sep 13, 2022TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: BEARING CLEARANCE TESTER (BCT) PROCEDURES - This bulletin provides information regarding test procedure of the Bearing Clearance Tester (BCT) Special…
- 10210431Apr 20, 2022PITSTOP: INJECTOR HARNESS ROUTING FOR PI1802Y/Z AND PI1803Y/Z ENGINE REPLACEMENTS - This bulletin provides information to address a no-start or hard start with poor running…
- 10209438Mar 1, 2022TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of…
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- 10205866Dec 23, 2021PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1803Y/Z) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections…
- 10205426Dec 21, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of…
- 10203695Nov 4, 2021This bulletin provides information regarding test procedure of the Bearing Clearance Tester (BCT) Special Service Tool (SST). The SST comes pre-calibrated from the supplier…
- 10203659Nov 4, 2021PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI1803Y/Z) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections…
- 10201615Sep 23, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2002Y/Z) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 | 5% |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2018 | 14 | 6% |
| 2017 | 8 | 3% |
| 2016 | 24 | 3% |
| 2015 | 31 | 3% |
| 2014 | 16 | 3% |
| 2013 | 42 | 3% |
| 2012 | 20 | 2% |
| 2011 | 8 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% |
| 2006 | 9 | 6% |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% |
| 2004 | 11 | 5% |
| 2003 | 7 | 5% |
| 2002 | 7 | 7% |
| 2001 | 24 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2012 Kia Optima
398 complaintsSteering
188 complaintsElectrical system
122 complaintsBrakes
88 complaintsOther or unknown
88 complaintsFuel system
54 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
54 complaintsAir bags
48 complaintsVehicle speed control
40 complaintsBody and structure
39 complaintsExterior lighting
31 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Optima
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology