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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2012 Kia Optima Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
54about this part
Share
6%of 920 total for the year
Median mileage
78,992miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 54 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Kia Optima, 6% of the 920 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,992 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“Tha car shut down in the middle of the road would not start all lights came on and could not steer gave the car gas on gas pedal nor could I brake to get out of the road. Has been towed to demontrond Kia to see if under warranty for repairs almost lost my life on highway”

NHTSA complaint #11415662, filed 2021-05, 99,075 miles

“April 2018 was driving heard loud nose from engine, hybrid system came on , hybrid system warning turn off engine. Engine locked up.towed home.pulled oil pan. Brass bearings bottom of pan.crankshaft and piston rod bearnig were in pieces. Had engine rebuilt. May 2018. Filled 2 complaints then. Only 73,000 miles.company's getting away for insufficient engines. Tried to sell car. But not going to give away.I don't want it. I think I deserve compensation.”

NHTSA complaint #11389086, filed 2021-01, 73,948 miles

“I have a knocking sound in my steering wheel. The noise happens when I turn the wheel back and forth. Also, I have noticed an odd grinding/slipping sensation in the front left wheel when I accelerate on a right turn from different elevations. Pulling out of a parking lot on a decline while accelerating to the right to enter traffic is a good example. 73,000 miles currently but I've noticed the grind/slip a lower mileage.”

NHTSA complaint #10853458, filed 2016-04, 73,000 miles

“Car engine died and lost power on highway putting me at risk of getting into an accident. I had to pull over on shoulder quickly and then blew out a tire a I ran over a unavoidable object on the side of the road.”

NHTSA complaint #11277377, filed 2019-10, 121,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20202718%
2019178%
2018198%
2017218%
20167410%
2015495%
2014203%
2013645%
2012546%
2011254%
20102432%
20093328%
20081813%
2007138%
2006149%
200532%
200484%
200386%
200266%
2001128%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia Optima

Engine
398 complaintsSteering
188 complaintsElectrical system
122 complaintsBrakes
88 complaintsOther or unknown
88 complaintsFuel system
54 complaintsAir bags
48 complaintsVehicle speed control
40 complaintsBody and structure
39 complaintsExterior lighting
31 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Optima

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