2012 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 919 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 77 involved a fire. 34 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, roof and pillarsAug 1, 2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.
A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC245.
Campaign 22V560000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 1, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Campaign 18V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
415 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Sep 12, 2015
MY ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE A TRUCK ,I TOOK CAR TO KIA DEALER SHIP AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS IT WAS SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER LOOSING TENION AND IDELER PULLEY BEARING .SAID THEY FIXED THESE PROBLEMS BUT I'M STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM,AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR.BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE THE ONE I BOUGHT.
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 16, 2015
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. LUCKILY, I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN WITH ME, SO I WAS ABLE TO ENDURE THE RIDE HOME, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. AFTER RETURNING FROM MY OUT OF TOWN TRIP (FOR WHICH I HAD TO USE ANOTHER CAR), I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID ORIGINALLY THAT FIXING A BROKEN A/C WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEN HE RETURNED AND SAID A ROCK OR DEBRIS HAD PUT A HOLE IN MY CONDENSER, AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. INSTEAD, I WOULD NEED TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM OR PAY ALMOST $900. I EMPHASIZED THAT THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS SITTING STILL AT A SMALL INTERSECTION, NOT WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. HE CLAIMED THAT IT IS POSSIBLE IT COULD'VE HAPPENED EARLIER BUT WAS JUST THEN UNDER ENOUGH PRESSURE TO PUSH THROUGH THE HOLE. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF KIA OWNERS ONLINE WITH SUPPOSED "PUNCTURED COMPRESSORS" THAT COULDN'T SEE THE PUNCTURE OR COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHEN OR HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, AND MANY IN CARS OWNED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. KIA HAS BEEN RECEIVING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SINCE AT LEAST 2011 AND REFUSED TO COVER IT IN THE WARRANTY. THIS COULD BE PREVENTED WITH A CHEAP WIRE MESH TO PROTECT THE COMPRESSOR, BUT THEY HAVE INSTEAD CHOSEN TO GET PAID $800+ EACH TIME IT HAPPENS AND LEAVE CUSTOMERS VULNERABLE TO BEING STRANDED IN 100+ DEGREE HEAT WITH NO A/C DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 14, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO THE HOT SIDE AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT CLAMP ON THE RADIATOR WAS NOT PROPERLY FITTED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000.
Power train, Engine, Apr 9, 2015
THE WASTE GATE ACTUATOR ON KIA OPTIMA TURBO MODEL FAILED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE PART ONLINE AND KIA HAS NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THIS DEFECT. TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS $500. DO NOT PURCHASE A KIA UNTIL THEY HAVE ADDRESSED THIS GLARING DEFECT. I'VE HAD 8 CARS IN MY LIFE 7 HONDAS AND 1 KIA. THE KIA WAS A BIG MISTAKE. *TR
Engine, Dec 31, 2014
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES WHEN I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING UP A SMALL HILL AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE IN SPEED AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTED JUMPING AND THEN WOULD NOT KEEP THE SPEED I WAS AT. THE SPEED IN MY CAR KEPT DESCENDING. IT WASNT UNTIL I WAS GOING 30 MPH BEFORE I COULD GET OVER INTO THE SLOW LANE TO THEN GET IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED FROM WHERE IT BROKE DOWN IN BAILEYTON TN TO BRISTOL TN WHICH IS ABOUT A 50 MIN DRIVE AND WAS THEN TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE GIVING ME A LOANER CAR AND IT HADNT EVEN BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED CAR.. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO HELP. THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT TRADE MY CAR IN FOR A DIFFERENT CAR EVEN THO THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.... GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! *JS
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 30, 2014
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM GULF SHORES, AL TO ATLANTA, GA. I STOPPED AT A REST AREA. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR BACK UP THERE WAS KIND OF A BUZZING NOISE AS I ACCELERATED, BUT IT WOULD STOP ONCE I REACHED CRUISING SPEED. AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE REST AREA, MY GAS PEDAL JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR COASTED UNTIL IT LOST SPEED AND THEN JUST TURNED OFF. AFTER I WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD DIED AND I WOULD NEED TO HAVE A NEW ONE INSTALLED. *TR
Engine, Sep 26, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, A STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE STARTER AND ASSOCIATED FUSES WERE COMPLETELY BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Engine, Sep 23, 2014
DRIVING VEHICLE AT 35-40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPED. THERE WAS HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. SMOKE DISSIPATED AFTER 15 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN TURNERSVILLE NJ. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP ON 9/23 AND WAS TOLD STARTER AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 9, 2014
I NOTICED ON MONDAY THAT THE CAR SEEMED TO BE STRUGGLING WITH ACCELERATION. IT SEEMED TO BE SLOW AND SLUGGISH. I DROVE THE CAR HOME NOT EXCEEDING 40 MPH. NEXT MORNING WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD IS LIT UP WITH AN INDICATION OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION. I ONLY HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR A MILE SO I CONTINUED ON TO WORK BUT I HAD NO POWER AT ALL. THE CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT UP A SMALL HILL AND I HAD NO SPEED ON LEVEL GROUND. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT BUT THE NEXT QUESTION IS HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST? WOW I HAVE ONLY OWNED CAMRY'S FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS AND THOUGHT I WOULD TRY A KIA. THEY LOOK NICE. NOT SURE I WILL KEEP THIS VEHICLE MUCH LONGER. *TR
Engine, Jul 9, 2013
I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE WHEN MY KIA JUST LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SIDE STREET AND CALLED MY DEALER. THEY RECOMMENDED TURNING THE MOTOR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, WHICH DID FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT RECURRED, BUT IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 11, 2012
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. A HOSE HAS TO BE REPLACED ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 8, 2012
WAS SITTING AT LIGHT AND WENT TO TAKE OFF CAR FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAD A LOUD ROUGH GRINDING NOISE, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ONE. BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, COOLANT, ETC AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE WORKING. I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD START UP BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR, IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAD JUST HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM 1 WEEK AGO WHERE ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE GAUGES WEREN'T WORKING AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE FUSE PANEL BOX BUT THAT APPARENTLY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT IT'S A COMPUTER OR ENGINE ISSUE. *TR
Engine, Jun 27, 2012, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB, CAUSING THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES TO DEFLATE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ACTUATOR WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 970.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 6, 2012
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. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED A BAD COIL AND SOME BAD WIRE IN THE SPARK PLUG, BUT THEY ARE NOT CONFIDENT ON WHAT THE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM WAS EVEN AFTER SPEAKING WITH KIA TECHNICIANS. YET THEY HAVE ASKED ME TO TAKE THE CAR AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MINOR PROBLEM AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THIS PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE MAJOR INJURY OR BODILY HARM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE TESTING SO I HAVE ASKED KIA FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE (CAR ONLY HAD 200 MILES ON IT WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED) BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, Dec 8, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR DETACHED FROM THE HOUSING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER AND IMMEDIATELY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED A ROCK STRUCK THE MIRROR WHICH CAUSED THE DETACHMENT AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE FOR THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,653. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.