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: steering
188 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Jul 14, 2018
PROBLEMS START IN 2012 ENGINE RECALL IN 2017 WAS REPLACE,STEERING RECALL IN 2018 STEERING COUPLING WAS REPLACE HOW EVER MY RACK AND PINION WAS AFFECTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. WE CALL THEM IN 2012 REGARDING THE STEERING WHEEL WITCH THEY DIDN'T FIX AT THAT TIME WHICH CAUSED RACK AND PINION TO WEAR OUT. WE WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALER SHIPS REGARDING THIS CAR AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THIS CAR IS STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS AND WE WANT THE MANUFACTURE TO EITHER GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK OR FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS CAR IS A HAZARD TO OUR FAMILY, IF SOMETHING IST DONE SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IN THIS CAR!!! . THIS CAR STOP ON US IN TRAFFIC SOMEONE COULD OF GOTTEN HURT ,AAA HAD TO PULL THIS CAR TO THE SELMA DEALER SHIP AT THAT TIME. ON THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL SIDE TO SIDE THAT'S DANGEROUS. FROM 2012 UNTIL NOW THIS CAR IS STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THIS LEMON.WHY DON'T SOMEONE HELP THESE CONSUMERS OUT HERE WITH THESE PROBLEM ON THE KIA. I NEED HELP AS ASAP. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
Steering, Jun 18, 2018
THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2018
MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP AT A HIGH SPEED.
Steering, May 3, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY(60MPH AND ABOVE) STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO STICK AROUND 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. HAVE HAD THE FLEX COUPLER REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. I STARTED TO NOTICE THIS SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE INCREASING IN FREQUENCY.
Steering, May 1, 2018
THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER IT IS MOVED, SHAKEN OR TURNED. IT MAKES THE SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS BOTH MOVING AND STATIONARY AND IT OCCURS WHILE ON ALL ROAD TYPES, AT ALL SPEEDS.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 9, 2018
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE IN MOTION ( 60-80 MPH ). RIDE IS SMOOTH UNTIL TIRES ROLL OVER IMPERFECTION IN ROAD. STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT-END BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. SHAKING STOPS WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT AND BEGINS AGAIN ONCE VEHICLE HAS STRAIGHTENED OUT.
Steering, Jan 26, 2018
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, INTERMITTENTLY , THE STEERING WILL GET STUCK IN THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND, REPEATABLY HAPPENS ONCE IT STARTS HAPPENING, UNTIL OFF HIGHWAY. STEERING CAN BE FINE FOR MONTHS, AND THEN ISSUE CAN COME BACK. THEN WHEN DEALER INSPECTS IT, ISSUE IS GONE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE AND SERIOUS ISSUE, EVEN A SPLIT SECOND OF REDUCED RESPONSE TIME CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. DEALER SAID THEY PERFORMED THE STEERING LOGIC IMPROVEMENT UPDATE, BUT ISSUE STILL HAPPENS ON OCCASION.
Steering, Jan 25, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SLIPPING. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND CALLED GEWEKE KIA (1234 SUNSWEET BLVD, YUBA CITY, CA 95991). THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. *TT *TR
Steering, Dec 27, 2017
SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN MAY OF 2016, IT HAS MADE A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. AS TIME HAS GONE ON THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER. I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF VIDEOS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT IS SUGGESTED FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Steering, Dec 16, 2017
WHEN EVER I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING IT SEEMS LIKE THE STEERING COUPLER ON THIS CARS GO BAD WITHIN TIME. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN MOTION OR NOT.
Steering, Nov 4, 2017
CLICKING IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING TURNS.GETTING WORSE EACH TIME. WHEN IN MOTION OR NOT.CLICKING IS ALWAYS THERE. STARTED A WEEK AGO.
Steering, Nov 1, 2017
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SLIGHTLY AND GOING EITHER WAY IT MAKES THIS SMALL SLIPPING OR CLUNKING NOISE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF THE STEERING. HAPPENS IN MOTION WHEN TURNING EVEN SLIGHTLY AND EITHER DIRECTION AND WHEN IT IS STATIONARY. CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, FREEWAY, BACKING UP, GOING FORWARD AND TURNING. AND IT HAS HAPPENED NOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 - 3 MONTHS. I AM TOLD BY INTERNET THAT IT MAY BE FLEX COUPLING IN STEERING. I AM NOT MECHANIC. STILL HAPPENING. ON-GOING.
Steering, Oct 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 12, 2017
ELECTRICAL RACK AND PINIONS RECALL. STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH
Steering, Suspension, Sep 12, 2017
I HAVE JUST RECENTLY STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WHEN I HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR A ROUGH ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE AND I CAN FEEL A SHAKING SORT OF. I CLICKED ON SUSPENSION BECAUSE OF HOW ROUGH IT FEELS RIDING RIGHT NOW AND I DONT KNOW IF IM JUST FEELING THE STEERING OR IF ITS AFFECTING THE WHOLE RIDE. IT HAS BEEN VERY COMFORTBALE SINCE BOUGHT NEW IN 2012.
Steering, Aug 29, 2017
LOUD CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH WAYS MAKING STEERING AND DRIVING VERY UNSTABLE.
Steering, Aug 17, 2017
WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND IF YOU HIT A BUMB ITS LOUDER. IF YOU BARELY TURN THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING YOU CAN HEAR IT MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMB IT INTENSIFIES THE SOUND AND AND MAKES YOU THINK SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 8, 2017
AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSISTENTLY ON WHICH MEANS IT WON'T DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL AREN'T WORKING, AND STEERING WHEEL HEATER ISN'T WORKING. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS CLOCKSPRING IS WORN OUT. PREVIOUS MODELS OF OPTIMAS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY A RECALL WAS MADE. HOPEFULLY THIS GETS RESOLVES BEFORE A WRECK HAPPENS AND INJURY IS CAUSED BY THIS AIRBAG DEFECT.
Steering, Jun 21, 2017
WHEN STREERING THE VEHICLE, IN MOTION OR STILL, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND. GOING OVER ANY BUMP IT RATTLES N SHAKES.
Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 27, 2017
ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD CLICKING NOISE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING HOME ON BUSY HIGHWAY TOOK CAR TO NEAREST AUTO SHOP OWNER STATES SOUNDS LIKE INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM ADVISED TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP HAD CAR TOWED ON 04/22/2017 TO DEALERSHIP. HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF A RECALL .CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH THEY CALLED AND STATED THAT CAR HAD INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEMS BUT STILL HAVE NOT STARTED ON REPAIRING THE CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH.
Steering, Apr 27, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A CLICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT WAS ALSO LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Apr 11, 2017
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.
Steering, Apr 11, 2017
AT 40,000 MILES THE STEERING BEGAN GETTING 'STICKY' OR 'STUCK' AT THE 12 OCLOCK POSITION. IT WAS PARTICULARLY NOTICABLE WHEN CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT GOT SO BAD THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO OVERCORRECT AND VEER LEFT AND RIGHT (MILDLY). THE DEALER REPLACED A PART CALLED THE FLEX COUPLER AND THE PROBLEM VANISHED. ONE YEAR LATER, AT 51,000 MILES THE CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AGAIN. NOW, HOWEVER, THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (BY A MONTH). THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND THAT WILL COST ME <> 1500 DOLLARS. IF MY EXPERIENCES ARE ANY INDICATION, I WILL BE REPLACING STEERING PARTS EVERY 10,000 MILES??? BAD STEERING IS VERY PRETTY UNSAFE GUYS. THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, Jan 17, 2017
COLUMN SHAKED AND RATTLED WHEN I WENT OVER BUMPS OR MADE TURNS, THE DEALER, CLASSIC KIA IN LEWISVILLE TX, CHARGED ME $689 TO REPAIR. PER MY INTERNET SEARCH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND TAKES APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES TO REPAIR AND THE PART COST A MAX OF $15
Steering, Power train, Other or unspecified, Nov 22, 2016
I TOOK CAR IN FOR THE CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. WHILE CAR WAS UP INAIR ON STANDS. THE REP STATED THEIR WAS A SMALL LEAK COMING FROM THE TURBO OIL FEED LINE. HOWEVER IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE ITS NOT THE TURBO. I TOLD THE IT IS IF ITS FEEDING THE OIL. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH ALL OF THEIR CARS AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE ISSUE. I TOLD THE REP THAT IF THE OIL CAUSES A BURNING SMELL IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE. I WAS TOLD THE MANAGER WOULD CALL ME BUT NOW THEY ARE NOT TAKING MY CALLS ABOUT REPLACING THE LINE TO THE TURBO.