9.6

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
108,100 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace the engine (3 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
2012 Kia Optima engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #5

Apr 202020

Optima GDI

  • CVT transmission
  • 178,000 miles

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

So I bought a used 2012 kia optima, i was driving home. When all a sudden I lost power and the check engine light was blinking. When i read the code it was po1326. Apparently it has to due with engine failure, from bearing wear.

- shrives, Preston, US

problem #4

May 142017

Optima LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles

This my SECOND engine failure in 5 years. With KIA now recalling these engines I have had a hell of a time getting any help from Kia and am considering a lawsuit. My car is at a dealership in Kansas while I live in Texas. It's going on 3 weeks now and I have got no help from Kia even tho they said they would take car of everything. I started a claim with consumer affair department and have been switched to 5 different case workers all giving lip service but no one is actually doing anything. Can't get a call back, having to call them everyday! Anyone else have 3 ENGINES in their brand new car within 5 years???

- Ada H., Irving, TX, US

problem #3

Dec 052015

Optima EX Turbo 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,500 miles

I was driving on the interstate and the engine died. Pulled over and had people try and give me a jump but the engine would not turn over. Had car towed to Kia and was told the engine locked up. I change my own oil every 5,000 miles and do all scheduled maintenance. This is a problem that should never happen!!! Very disappointed in my car. I used to tell everyone how great a deal Kia was and how I had no problems, but I can no longer do that with such a serious problem.

- Cody K., Lafayette, LA, US

problem #2

Dec 012014

Optima ES GDI 4.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,883 miles

i recently purchased a 2012 KIA Optima ES GDI in November 2014, weeks before thanksgiving. Not even 2 weeks after purchasing the vehicle my oil light came on. I have a video on my phone of my fiance checking the oil levels in the car and it was COMPLETELY 100% out of oil! Not even 1 drop of fluid on the stick after 3 dips! So I go to Walmart and have the filter and the oil changed.

Then, not even 1 week later, my car starts jumping and jerking back and forth like it wasn't catching gear or something. I reported it to the dealership and actually drove back to Bristol where I bought the car to have them look at it. They then had a "certified technician" if you will, ride in the car with me for 5 minutes, then dealership determined there was nothing wrong with my car. Mind you, I told them it jerked randomly and not all the time. I left the dealership that day and about 1 week later I was driving to Johnson City, TN to Sevierville, TN and not even halfway to my destination I was on the interstate and my check engine light came on. My car started to DECELERATE ON THE INTERSTATE surrounded by semi trucks and other traffic. I was in the fast lane and the car kept descending in speed! My car was down to 30 mph before I was able to get into the slow lane to get into the emergency lane to stop the car... The car started smoking out of the back like it was a huge diesel truck!!

SO I called BILL GATTON OF BRISTOL TN where I purchased the vehicle and they had a tow truck to come pick my car up but refused to give me a loaner car.... remember this was right now at a month after purchase!!! They were such pricks about helping me, they didn't care at all if I had no car... So they had my car for a little over a week and said they put it on their machine, no codes showed up and there's nothing they could do for it.. They then sent my car to an actual KIA dealership where they then did the same thing.. They CLAIM they put my car on a machine and detected no problem. Well, they said they drove my car about 80 miles, is what the paperwork I got back said when actually my car had almost 800 more miles then it did when I dropped the car off....

This is the first big thing I have EVER bought for myself and it was been a very, very, awful NIGHTMARE!! Today is DECEMBER 31, 2014 and I called the dealership and asked, since my car is in perfect condition, like they suggested. Then I wanted to know the steps to trade in this car for another. Well I was told they can't trade my car.. then was hung up on! I would really like to get a bunch of people with the same issue with the 2012 KIA Optima and get something done about this. No one seems to want to help and they claim there is nothing wrong with the car, but I beg to differ... I have videos of my car not having any oil in it with the date attached. I have a video of my check engine light being on with date attached, but yet I'm still told my engine light NEVER came on!!

- Shanae R., Johnson City, TN, US

problem #1

Dec 132014

Optima EX 2.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

Purchased the car 18 months ago. New used. Bought extended warranty. Kia is trying to stick it on me. I was due an oil change but I just had one 6 weeks ago. I have been told no oil was in the car (not true) confirmed by Kia mechanic. Now they are trying to say it may be something with the starter that caused the engine to lock. They don't want to honor the warranty because the engine is dead. I was driving on the freeway when the car lost power. No sensors for the check engine, oil, or temperature gauge lights came on. Ever. They are trying to find any reason to say I caused the problem to avoid having to honor their warranty. They want me to get all the records for maintenance on the car. How much maintenance should a car that's only 2 years old need..??? I bought the warranty just encase something went wrong. Now that it has... Kia doesn't' t want to stand behind their own product. I'm still waiting for them to fix the car but they continue to give me the run around.!!!!!

- candiland, Corona, CA, US

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