2012 Kia Optima Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 4%of 920 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 72,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2012 Kia Optima, 4% of the 920 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 72,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Car will not start up. When turning key I hear clicking noise from under the god from fuse box and thinking it's starter relay but I replaced it and still nothing eventually by keep trying turning key to start for 18 minutes it starts up finally. No clue what it could be. Maybe starter solenoid”
NHTSA complaint #11394657, filed 2021-02, 178,000 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“Takata recall, I was driving my vehicle and when I went to speed up the engine seized, causing me to pull over in the break down lane on the highway and turn the vehicle off completely and when I tried to turn the vehicle back on it would not fully turn back on, all the lights in the vehicle started flickering, I tried jumping my car and it did not work I had to get it towed to the nearest Kia dealer”
NHTSA complaint #11202726, filed 2019-04, 136,000 miles“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“My Kia Optima ABS system will randomly make a crunch sound when I step on the brakes, and I lose some engine power immediately after to the point that my car will not accelerate past 40 MPH. It has happened several times on busy highways where I have to fear causing a major accident. Kia dealer cannot figure out the issue, they had my car for a day and repaired the steering column and sent me home, only for the problem to occur again the following week.”
NHTSA complaint #11010881, filed 2017-07, 77,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10089987Apr 24, 2015Pitstop: smart pedal feature - the smart pedal is an integral part of the engine management system (ems) functionality which monitors and prevents the simultaneous activation…
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | 4% |
| 2019 | 10 | 5% |
| 2018 | 10 | 4% |
| 2017 | 13 | 5% |
| 2016 | 29 | 4% |
| 2015 | 36 | 4% |
| 2014 | 21 | 4% |
| 2013 | 39 | 3% |
| 2012 | 40 | 4% |
| 2011 | 19 | 3% |
| 2010 | 6 | 8% |
| 2009 | 11 | 9% |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% |
| 2007 | 5 | 3% |
| 2006 | 7 | 5% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% |
| 2002 | 2 | 2% |
| 2001 | 7 | 5% |
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 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 30, 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