10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,185 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Kia Optima brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

Dec 292023

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Carlisle, PA, USA

problem #9

Sep 252022

Optima

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Bethel, CT, USA

problem #8

Feb 232023

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-60 MPH with someone in the front passenger seat, she noticed smoke, and then fire coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately veered to the side of the road. Both the contact and her passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire extended significantly and the vehicle burned from the front end to the rear seats. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact could not confirm whether a fire department report and a police report were filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) that she related to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #7

Sep 252023

Optima

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #6

Dec 162022

Optima

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated after pulling up to her residence and exiting the vehicle, the contact observed that there was smoke coming from the passenger-??s side headlight. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the dealer could not determine the cause of the smoke. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #5

Dec 142023

Optima

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #4

Nov 272023

Optima

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, she noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the taillights remained illuminated while the vehicle was turned off. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Tarboro, NC, USA

problem #3

Nov 302023

Optima

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Conway, SC, USA

problem #2

Jun 172022

Optima

  • 116,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The contact stated that his wife was driving the vehicle at approximately 35 MPH when she was she flagged by another driver that her vehicle was emitting flames under the vehicle on the front driver's side near the wheel well. The contact stated his wife was not aware of any warning lights and pulled the vehicle over and stopped. The contact stated the fire department was on scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, the contact had no information on the diagnosis by the dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. The contact related the fire to the current NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the vehicle was recently returned to the dealer due to engine failures. VIN tool confirms parts not yet available.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #1

Nov 212023

Optima

  • 215,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, he noticed that there was smoke inside the cabin. The contact stated that while making a turn, a significant amount of smoke and heat was coming through the A/C vents, causing him to recline the seat. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled to the side of the road and shifted from drive (D) to reverse (R) until the vehicle stopped. The contact then parked and turned off the vehicle, grabbed his belongings, and immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle caught on fire, exploded, and collapsed as he was running away from the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire, and a fire department report was filed. There was no police report filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer sent a field inspector, who inspected the vehicle and determined that the failure occurred due to a damaged serpentine belt. However, the contact stated that an independent mechanic had replaced the serpentine belt 11 days prior to the incident. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, where it remained. The independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the serpentine belt was not damaged. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) that he related to the failure. The contact followed up with the manufacturer, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 215,500.

- Toledo, OH, USA

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