10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 16
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,578 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #107

Jul 052024

Optima

  • miles

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

Snow White Pearl Paint is peeling at numerous location Rear driver's side window button not working Siruis XM radio not working.Dealt with XM and stated it was a Kia antenna however Kia tells me its Sirius xm problem

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #106

Jun 132012

Optima

  • miles
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 50-60 MPH, the vehicle experienced excessive steering efforts, which required keeping both hands on the steering wheel to prevent the vehicle from drifting out of the lane. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving on one occasion, causing the passenger's side-view mirror to strike another vehicle, and the side-view mirror was damaged. There was no injury sustained. A Police report was filed, but the police report information was not available. Additionally, the contact stated that after the vehicle had been turned off for 10 minutes, the vehicle failed to restart and was jumpstarted. The contact stated that the failures recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with steering and electrical failures. The vehicle was not repaired and was sold. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

- Columbus, GA, USA

problem #105

Apr 122024

Optima

  • miles
I did not know about this recall and my dad was driving my car caught on fire and blew up now I do not have a car please help.

- Jasper, AL, USA

problem #104

Feb 132024

Optima

  • miles

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

Was driving on the road on the way back to work from lunch, started hitting the brakes at an upcoming stop light, and the car shut down. There was no lights indicating anything prior to the incident. I tried starting it again and it started smoking, I then opened the hood and all the smoke poured out. The engine bay smelled like something electrical melting or of some sort. I towed it to the dealership I work at and had my ex-kia technician coworkers look at it and said they've never seen anything like it, but did confirm the smell was electrical. OBD II reader was not reading anything at all. I was letting it sit for a while waiting for the recall to have some sort of remedy, but I've grown tired waiting so I decided to file a complaint. And I will reiterate again that NONE of the lights came on at all until my car decided to break down.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #103

Jan 262024

Optima

  • miles
While driving will will get -??hybrid system. Warning check brakes-??. Car will loose acceleration. After turning car off for five minutes, error goes away and car drives. Happens for no reason and has occurred 4 times in the last week

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #102

Jan 012023

Optima

  • miles
It has started burning oil, we have to continually check it. There are no leaks but oil burns too fast, we check it almost daily.

- Goldsboro, NC, USA

problem #101

Oct 102023

Optima

  • miles

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

When driving the vehicle the engine light is on & under the hood is smoking. It smells like burnt rubber or just burning something. This started happening right after the engine light came on. It-??s not safe to drive my vehicle at this point

- Avondale, LA, USA

problem #100

Dec 212023

Optima

  • miles
I received a safety call notice my car was still working fine I-??m waiting for the next notice according to this notice and my car breaks down still no notice said to call the number on it I did nothing, THE CAR STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF THE FREAKIN TRAFFIC ON A GREEN LIGHT ALL CARS GOING FAST BEEPING AT ME AND MY CAR WONT TURN ON ITS RAINING AND MY HUSBAND IS PASSENGER THANK GOD MY BABY WASNT W ME BUT WHAT IF SHE WAS, I expect Kia to answer and NOT CHARGE ME TO COME GET ME WHEN ITS THEIR FAULT THE CAR DOESNT WORK WHAT IF WE GOT HIT MY CHILD WOULD OF LOSTVHER PARENTS WE COULD OF REALLY BEEN HIRT SMOKE EVRYWHERE CAR STINKS LIKE ITS BURNING UP I REALLY THOUGH WE WHERE ABOUT TO EXPLODE THE WAY IT SMOKED UP AND SMELLED SO BAD CARS PASSING BY JUST THINKING YOU CANT GWT OFF AN HAVE TO STAY PUT UNTIL THEY STOP I COULD HAVE DIED

- Santa Ana , CA, USA

problem #99

Nov 292023

Optima

  • miles
Still no remedy for fve safety recall and my car continues to smoke leaving it unable to be driven.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #98

Dec 172023

Optima

  • miles
I contacted the Kia dealership in Wexford, PA on November 18 regarding the HECU safety recall and was told there is no fix available. The date of the notice was November 14, 2023 and I still haven't received an update from Kia. I haven't seen the MIL or ABS illuminated in my vehicle, but have experienced a slight burning smell over the past two days. My family's safety is paramount so I'm filing a formal complaint with the NHTSA. Kia America must address this issue and provide an immediate solution.

- Wexford, PA, USA

problem #97

Dec 052023

Optima

  • miles

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

Vehicle is under recall 23V652 for HECU short circuit issue. Vehicle was running fine, driven to local mechanic for routine oil change and inspection. MIL was on with P0445 indicating a short circuit on Purge control valve. Mechanic replaced Purge control valve which did not reset maintenance light. Mechanic investigated and found evidence of a thermal event (fire) within the wiring harness near the computer. Mechanic contacted me and I notified him of Interim Recall notice. Vehicle was towed to local Kia dealer where they will not honor recall as there is no current solution. They said they can not prove the incident was HECU without replacing wiring harness which I must pay for.

- Huntingdon Valley, PA, USA

problem #96

Aug 212019

Optima

  • miles
The transmission automatic, shifter somehow disconnected from transmission, while driving, once it happened, stepping in gas pedal only revved engine, on highway in traffic, glided to to side of highway, and brakes did work, no transmission, dealer later stated and have dealer report, the piece that engages the trans to the shifter was defective and broke or fell off during vehicle operation, put a new 1 on, and then I could use gears again, regardless when it happened, any driver lost all power to stay, go or keep w, traffic, only attempt could be to safely get off highway.

- Kenneth City, FL, USA

problem #95

Nov 272023

Optima

  • 130,000 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 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 #94

Nov 252023

Optima

  • miles
My car started losing its lights one by one. I lost the front right light first, then yhe right back side light, and now the brakes lights. I replaced all the bulbs and still does not work. Then my car just cut off while driving with no notification. I towed it in to Mavis. They checked and said the battery was not keeping charge. I paid to replace the battery, belt and alternator. Four days later my check engine light, battery indicator, airbag indicator, door indicator came on and still is on.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #93

Jul 292023

Optima

  • miles
While driving down the highway the cars Hybrid warning system came on causing the car to lose all breaks and lose power. The component of the vehicle that failed is the HECU. Kia already did a recall for this but did not include the hybrids for the recall. This is very unsafe losing all breaking power, driving 65 mph down the highway with my children in the car! There was absolutely no warning, no check engine lights nothing. I had it towed to the dealership and upon them driving it, it also cut completely out and did it to the person at the dealership. This is going to cause someone to lose their life and when you call Kia, it-??s the same run around that your year wasn-??t included in the recall yet there was a whole lawsuit about this.

- Snellville , GA, USA

problem #92

May 142023

Optima

  • miles
2012 Kia Optima EX with 67000 miles driver-side seatbelt dash warning goes off even it is buckled securely while driving.

- Farmers Branch, TX, USA

problem #91

May 172021

Optima

  • miles
the engine failed at 152000. it had a recall.so i took it in at 91000 and complained of the rod nock.and was told they checked the rod bearing clearance.and found nothing.i again took the car in again at around 111000 miles and complained of the rod nock again.and again was told they see no problem now im with out a car

- Auburn, IN, USA

problem #90

Mar 212023

Optima

  • miles
Here I explain the problem better, when the car is at a low speed, such as when parking, the gasoline engine starts and it starts to rev up to 6k RPM and after that it brakes and hits hard, this would be dangerous on the highway and another problem is that when accelerating it has a delay of 1-3 seconds, and I want to report this problem to see if there is any solution

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #89

Mar 152023

Optima

  • miles
My airbag light is on and I have no power to my steering wheel controls including my horn.

- Altamonte Springs, FL, USA

problem #88

May 252022

Optima 4-cyl

  • miles
I was driving down the highway going 75 mph and all of a sudden my car tells me pull over safely do not drive and it shut down while I'm driving. It never turned back on. It started smoking and you could see orange light coming through the vents. I was stuck on a [XXX] bridge for 4 hours and I missed court that day. I called Kia and they came to pick up my car. They said it was free because my car has been recalled but ever since they've had it, they stop answering my phone calls and emails and now they are trying to charge me 5000 to get my car back and fixed. Before any of this happened, I noticed an oil leak at the gas station but was unsure whether it came from my car or not. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Gastonia, NC, USA

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