Safety Score
66
Average
Recalls
1
Complaints
50
NCAP Stars
—
Recalls (1)
| Date | NHTSA ID | Component | Units | Completion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-08-01 | 22V560000 |
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 257,998 | — | Details |
Owner Complaints (showing up to 50)
| Date | Component | Crash | Injuries | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-12 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The car seized operating, shut down with zero warnings. It has been a reliable car and maintained. We towed to a mechan… |
| 2026-02-03 | ENGINE | No | 0 | •I’m not sure what failed, the car was parked. And yes it’s available for inspection. •I had just parked the car comin… |
| 2026-01-07 | SERVICE BRAKES | No | 0 | When the brake pedal is pressed on the brakes will grab. It snatches the car kinda hard. Also when you give the car gas… |
| 2025-12-10 | POWER TRAIN | No | 0 | The failure involves the component covered under the active safety recall campaign. The affected part/system is still i… |
| 2025-12-01 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Subject: RECALL VIOLATION: Kia on the Boulevard (Philadelphia) - Refused Remedy, Charged $199, Returned Unsafe Vehicle … |
| 2025-11-05 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | To: Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, … |
| 2025-10-19 | ENGINE | No | 0 | On or around October 17th 2025 I purchased a 2019 Kia OPT un aware that the vehicle had recall problems. Once I realize… |
| 2025-10-16 | AIR BAGS | Yes | 1 | The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that, while stopped and attempting to complete a left turn an S… |
| 2025-10-11 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | Driving car on the highway then the car started smoking and shut down completely. IT would not turn on or anything. It … |
| 2025-09-25 | SERVICE BRAKES | No | 0 | ABS system failing |
| 2025-09-19 | SERVICE BRAKES | No | 0 | While in park and driving the instrument panel will show, "Check Brake" and "Hybrid System Warning! Safely Stop and Do … |
| 2025-09-15 | ENGINE | No | 1 | Unknown but We were driving home from friant in motion when the car died and started smoking, no indication light were … |
| 2025-09-12 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Bearing wear resulted in the engine seizing. |
| 2025-08-25 | ENGINE | No | 0 | On August 25th around 7:00 PM, the vehicle suddenly caught fire while parked after a short test drive. The car had just… |
| 2025-08-11 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Driving home from an oil change. All of a sudden all power was lost. Luckily a wide spot in the road was right there. C… |
| 2025-08-07 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | Dear NHTSA, I am submitting a formal complaint regarding my 2012 Kia Optima, which experienced an engine fire directly … |
| 2025-07-10 | ENGINE | No | 0 | My 2012 Kia Optima experienced engine failure due to a dropped valve. The dealership (Kia of Des Moines) performed a bo… |
| 2025-06-26 | ENGINE | No | 0 | June 26th 2025 my Kia optima 2012 EX quit on interstate 65 in Alabama was towed to dealership 10 days later was request… |
| 2025-06-26 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | See attached document for complaint. |
| 2025-06-20 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Car simply started for me after work this past Thursday @4 pm I dove down the street and for about 5 mins and had to tu… |
| 2025-06-19 | ENGINE | No | 0 | I took my car to the KiaOfLynchburg dealership for get the recalls done and diagnostic test on my engine as it was knoc… |
| 2025-06-06 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | Car thought I was breaking when I was pressing the gas and I was merging into a left lane. I was able to turn on the c… |
| 2025-06-01 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | My steering wheel coupler has obviously gone bad and needs to be replaced. This was an issue with this year Kia Optima … |
| 2025-05-07 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked, with an abnormal… |
| 2025-04-30 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving on the highway at 65 MPH, th… |
| 2025-04-27 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Subject: Recall Denial Due to Salvage Title – 2012 Kia Optima (VIN:[XXX]) Dear NHTSA, I am submitting a complaint reg… |
| 2025-04-16 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving downhill at approximately 40-45 MPH, the vehicle s… |
| 2025-04-14 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | Doors unlock while driving |
| 2025-03-26 | STEERING | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abno… |
| 2025-03-23 | STRUCTURE:BODY | No | 0 | Rapid Delamination and paint peeling in the color of snow pearl white. The entire car is affected by this defect. Somew… |
| 2025-03-17 | ENGINE | No | 0 | I was driving home at night around 8pm. I was merging into the slow lane and my car completely lost power. A semi truck… |
| 2025-03-13 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost mot… |
| 2025-02-22 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | No | 1 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000(Service Brake… |
| 2025-01-25 | STEERING | No | 0 | MY VEHICLE HAS 75,583. I received a recall for 3 items and made an appointment and took the car in for the work. I noti… |
| 2025-01-23 | SERVICE BRAKES | No | 0 | The car instrument panel showed two messages "check brake " and also "hybrid system warning safely stop and do not driv… |
| 2025-01-05 | ENGINE | No | 0 | While driving 2012 Kia Optima GDI home from work, the power suddenly stopped without warning with the engine, oil, and … |
| 2024-12-27 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 55 -60 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive po… |
| 2024-12-19 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | I brought my Kia optima sx in at Kia Atlanta South dealership for a Hydraulic electronic control Unit recall to be serv… |
| 2024-12-05 | ENGINE | No | 0 | On the evening of December 5, 2024 my 2012 KIA OPTIMA's engine completely seized out of no where while traveling on a v… |
| 2024-11-28 | STEERING | No | 0 | The steering is making a clunking noise when backing up and going forward at low speed. There is a TSB by Kia about th… |
| 2024-11-18 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while at a stop light, smoke and flames were suddenly pres… |
| 2024-09-06 | AIR BAGS | Yes | 2 | The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign N… |
| 2024-08-07 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Driving on highway at about 60mph when the engine started knocking and the power decreased significantly. I pulled to t… |
| 2024-07-28 | ENGINE | No | 0 | Car went to limp mode and has code p1326. Car was towed to kia and waiting on determination of kia in korea to cover en… |
| 2024-07-24 | ENGINE | No | 0 | The engine caught fire and exploded after I parked it and exited the car and the recall repair was done on the engine J… |
| 2024-07-05 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | Snow White Pearl Paint is peeling at numerous location Rear driver's side window button not working Siruis XM radio n… |
| 2024-06-13 | SERVICE BRAKES | No | 0 | The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke started to en… |
| 2024-06-11 | VISIBILITY | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the front passenger's side window failed to roll up or down… |
| 2024-06-04 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair of … |
| 2024-05-22 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | No | 0 | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brak… |