2012 Kia Optima problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (298) · Steering (165) · Vehicle Speed Control (40)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Optima model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
640 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2023-09-25 · campaign 23V652000 · 1,730,192 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: 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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body:roof And Pillars 2022-08-01 · campaign 22V560000 · 257,998 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Engine 2018-12-19 · campaign 18V907000 · 71,653 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2018-06-01 · campaign 18V363000 · 507,587 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2017-03-31 · campaign 17V224000 · 618,160 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (241)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-08 · CS2312_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Structure:body 2026-02-19 · TSB_CS2312_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin prov
Structure:body 2025-12-18 · TSB_CS2312 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: customer satisfaction: theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector and decal installation (cs2312) - this bulletin provides information to install a theft deterrent ignition cylinder protector on certain 2010-2022my kia vehicles outlined on page 19, which may not have bee
Structure:body 2025-12-17 · CS2312_OWNR · Other
customer satisfaction campaign: owner notification (cs2312) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting customer satisfaction campaign. a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made available to owners of eligible kia model vehicles free
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid ty
Engine 2025-04-03 · TSB_ENG222_R8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: excessive oil consumption nu/gamma/theta/kappa engines - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repair
Showing the 6 most recent of 241 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-09 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 183,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 kia optima. the contact stated that while driving approximately 75 mph, there was a rattling and knocking sound coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was later towed to the residence. the cause of the failure was not yet determined. the local dealer was notified of the failure. the manufacturer was n…”
2026-07-29 · Engine“the dealer is refusing to replace the engine under the previously completed safety recall campaign sc147 (nhtsa campaign 17v224000). the engine is currently exhibiting clear signs of connecting rod bearing failure—the exact mechanical hazard sc147 was issued to address. the dealership inspected the vehicle, confirmed internal engine failure, and ve…”
2026-07-29 · Steering“steering flexible coupling was a recall over 10 years ago, it was replaced. the steering wheel “sticks” and it’s catching again and they will not do anything. i’m not happy that this is an ongoing problem and can be dangerous if it sticks at the wrong time!…”
2026-07-22 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“entire vehicle got burned while driving on the highway, the car is available at the impound shop for inspection. i was driving the car on the highway during the hours of rush hour when the car started burning, there were many drivers around on the other lanes. the ny fire department battalion and the nypd responded to the scene and we have reports…”
2026-06-30 · Engine“engine faílúre on june 26, 2026.dies while moving. engine died while turning from my side street onto busy street and traffic.i could've been struck in the rear had i not pulled out far enough in advance for the traffic to move around me. this is a second engine failure for my kia. the engine was replaced in december 2023/ january 2024. incident #1…”
2026-06-09 · Unknown Or Other“i had a engine replacement under pi1803 they gave me the vechile back w active abs light exuast leak and damaged click spring refused ti look at till i paid dx fee this all appeared the day i went to pick uo vechicle …”
2026-06-05 · Unknown Or Other“i had a engine replaced 1600 miles ago delarsship advised it was ok to drive gave me a vechicle back with abs light tracation control light on along with a exuast leak…”
2026-06-03 · Wheels“i bought this car february 2026 when i drove it on the freeway they car felt wiggly not the axle is broke and the wheel bearings stop the car from going …”
2026-05-29 · Unknown Or Other“the clock spring keeps failing which is causing the air bag light to remain on; the horn to not work; various functions of the dashboard; and steering wheel heat. …”
2026-05-07 · Steering“the horn stops working, steering heat stop working, control functions and air bag warning. i changed the clock spring and it fixed all those issues the first time but within 6 months all those issues happened again. is there something more wrong?…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.