10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 53
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,649 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 9 of 19)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #208

Jun 292019

Optima

  • 120,000 miles

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

Hi im from Canada but here except take our money governement do nothing, can you tell me why Kia Optima hybrid gas engine is not recall but non hybrid it is "?" make a quik research in goggle for engine seizure of Optima and sonata hybrid and in percentage of sale there is more engine broke in the hybrid. Is the same block engine and the issue is the same, conecting rod and cranckshaft seizure its the same parte number for all engine escept for the head. How much dead Kia Hyundai is waiting before to do something there is the same problem whit the theta engine but in recall nobody specified (hybrid so the stealer always defend herself by saying hybrid is non include in recall. How much accident do we need to do someting for this crappy engine. Mine do the same thing than the other at 60 mph I lost suddenly power and car stop in the middle of hiway its should not happen no mather the millage I dont understand why Kia Hyundai repair the non hybrid theta engine but not hybrid and ite the same engine block ecept for the fuel delevry system but the part who will broke is the conecting rod and its the same issue hybrid or not thank

- Saint Zenon, FL, USA

problem #207

Feb 132020

Optima

  • 60,000 miles
2012 Kia Optima hybrid stopped running. Mechanic informed me rod bearings had went bad causing metal shavings to get into engine oil damaging the engine beyond repair. New engine is needed with only 60,000 miles on car. 2012 Kia Optimas have been recalled for this specific reason but was told hybrid is not in recall. This is obviously the same issue and defect does not matter if it is a hybrid or not

- Milledgeville, GA, USA

problem #206

Feb 192020

Optima

  • 138,500 miles
Steering sticks and you have to forcefully pull the steering wheel in the other direction to unstick it. Oil is burning with no oil leaks, no leaks in other fluids, no explanation as to where it is going but it is burning through a quart of oil every 7 days.

- Dayton, NV, USA

problem #205

Feb 142020

Optima

  • 143,450 miles

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

On Feb.14,2020 I was driving on the freeway going 65mph when my car stalled luckily I was able to get to the right shoulder of the freeway I try to restart the car nothing happen didnt click over every light was on the dashboard I had it towed to my house and try to start it twice nothing clicked over I thought it was the battery bought a brand new battery $153 and still nothing it no clicking over no nothing I believe my engine failed

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #204

Feb 112020

Optima

  • 126,200 miles
I was driving on the road at 40mph when the engine just stopped. There was no noise and the vehicle lost control. I was able to avoid any serious body damage. All the electrical accessories would turn on but the engine stayed dead when I turned the car on. After leaving it over night parked on a residential street the next day same situation all electrical devices turned on but the engine wouldnt turn on. I had to get it towed to the dealer I bought it from in order for them to take a look at what could of gone wrong.

- Tujunga, CA, USA

problem #203

Feb 042020

Optima

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, approaching a stop light, the contact made a left turn and the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to safely guide the vehicle off of the roadway. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle with no success. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that failure was similar to the failure stated in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #202

Jan 292020

Optima 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 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 stated that when driving at 65 mph, the vehicle stalled intermittently and the engine and tire sensor lights illuminated while the failure occurred. The contact was able to move onto the road shoulder inspected under the hood and found smoke and within a moment the flames was under the hood and the vehicle was on fire. The contact stated that before the engine failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to doug smith Kia (495 w main street american fork, ut 84003 phone (801) 692-4390) to have NHTSA campaign number: 18V907000 (engine) performed. The contact also stated that a recall for under frame corrosion protection was also performed. The dealer checked the engine and was unable to see any problem with the engine and provided a free oil change, and replaced dip stick to the orange color. The California fire department extinguish the fire. The California state patrol department was also present a police report was not filed. The contact suffered smoke inhalation and scrapes from glass. The vehicle was towed to the contact home. The contact also stated that the air conditioning system did not work properly after recall was performed and caused the defrost system failed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. Consumer stated he lost everything in the car.

- Sun City, CA, USA

problem #201

Dec 302019

Optima

  • 122,000 miles
Driving approximately 60 mph on the highway and the engine seized giving me know acceleration. Vehicle was brought to the dealership and they found metal shavings in the engine that may have gotten loose very similar to the Kia Optimas that were recalled but the hybrid model was not recalled.

- Valley Center, CA, USA

problem #200

Jan 202020

Optima

  • 120,000 miles
There are a few recalls on my car. An appointment was scheduled to go to greenway Kia in longwood, fl. However, upon arrival they tried to charge us for the diagnostics and stated that the recall is not valid without us paying for the diagnostics. Then they proceeded to advise us that the parts that we needed under the recall were not covered by the recall and that we would need to pay thousands of dollars to then mention that it would be easier for them and cheaper for us to just buy a new car. We decided to leave and try to do more research. I did call our mechanic he confirmed there were recalls for our vehicle. I then called another Kia dealer and they advised there were recalls on our car and that there would be no charge for the diagnostics and/ or repairing the car under recall.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #199

Jan 142020

Optima

  • 235,000 miles
I was driving my 2012 Kia Optima along highway 102 when it just stopped running pulled off the highway put it in park turn the key off try to restart the vehicle with no luck it would not start had it towed to an automotive shop and to our surprise they said that it was the motor due to the crankshaft boring and not being cleaned out properly we took very good care of this car had an oil change every 3000 miles from the dealers garage where we purchased it should be well-documented

- Wellston, OK, USA

problem #198

Nov 072019

Optima

  • 117,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima LX. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 mph. When the contact turned on the defrost there was a burning odor. The vehicle was then parked when the engine caught on fire. The contact called the fire department to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The dealer was not contacted. However the contact notified the manufacturer which they did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was at 117,000.

- Bennington, VT, USA

problem #197

Jan 062020

Optima

  • 106,000 miles
I was driving the car at about 45 mph, and suddenly the check engine light, battery, and the oil light all came on at once and my car stopped moving. Thought it was the battery or the starter at first but now I'm pretty sure its either the engine got locked up or the wires in the car just burnt up.

- Coats, NC, USA

problem #196

Dec 292019

Optima

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving 15 mph, the vehicle sezed without warning. When the contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, it failed to return to normal. The vehicle was towed to a family member's house. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Bolivar, TN, USA

problem #195

Dec 142019

Optima

  • 99,000 miles
I was on the interstate traveling at approx 70 mph changed lanes and when I went to accelerate the vehicle stalled lost power I coasted to the breakdown lane and attempted to start the vehicle. It would not start. I had aaa tow it to a hardings garage in fairfield. The technician said this morning the vehicle started but stalled as soon as he tried to move it. He told me that there was a Kia recall 17V224000 that applied to the engine so I got aaa to tow the vehicle to charlies Kia in augusta, me. They tell me that there is no recall on my VIN. Why would I have the same stalling as indicated in the recall if my VIN does not apply"?"

- Fairfield, ME, USA

problem #194

Nov 122019

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
Vehicle was in motion when check engine light came on, car was driveable but idling rough. Brought vehicle to shop for diagnosis. Engine had following codes show up once diagnosed. P0014 - B camshaft position - timing over-advanced or system performance. P0017 - crankshaft position - camshaft position correlation bank 1 sensor B. after diagnosis mechanic found faulty oil control valve, part actually had a piece of the screen had been dislodged leaving a circular hole. Other piece of screen was never found. Once replaced engine still had a code, stated cam shaft position sensor was faulty. Mechanic replaced that part and finally code cleared for engine.

- Rockledge, FL, USA

problem #193

Dec 052019

Optima

  • 2 miles
The car engine made a noise and the engine and starting smoke with fire and it completely stopped in rush hour traffic. The car shutdown in traffic and had to pushed out of the street to avoid me being hit.

- Riviera Beach, FL, USA

problem #192

Nov 282019

Optima

  • 30 miles
Engine locked up and shut down with no warnings

- Sanger, TX, USA

problem #191

Nov 282019

Optima

  • 125,000 miles
Driving down the highway and the vehicle stalled motor seized up but unstuck after cooling has bad knock now. Stuck on highway waiting to be towed.

- Sanger, TX, USA

problem #190

Nov 012019

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to demontrond Kia (14101 North freeway, houston, tx) where it was diagnosed that the engine bearings failed and damaged the engine. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer provided case number: 13418572, but did not assist. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine), although the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #189

Nov 202019

Optima

  • 147,000 miles
While waiting at a stop light my car completely shut off and wouldn't start again. Now the engine is seized up and won't turn on or anything. No lights or warning signs of anything happening. I was at a stop light waiting to turn left on a city street.

- Vandalia, OH, USA

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