2012 KIA OPTIMA Complaints

View complaints related to 2012 KIA OPTIMA. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 980 complaints submitted for the 2012 KIA OPTIMA. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - STATEN ISLAND, NY

    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

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - Indian Head, MD

    The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke started to enter the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated a bystander yelled at her telling her that the vehicle was on fire, and the contact exited the vehicle. The vehicle then exploded. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report and a fire department report were filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, and then it was towed to a Kia dealer. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by Kia. The contact was relating the failure to an NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) letter she received. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - Columbus, GA

    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.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - Eagle Mountain, UT

    I started the car up no lights on, started fine, no warning symptoms like loss of power, no oil consumption nothing! Started an hour and a half drive to visit family and I started hearing a weird sound almost like plastic was flapping around on the bottom. Turned down the music and it was only making this weird sound every 5-10 seconds. Pulled off of the road shut the car off and checked under the hood, the oil everything seemed fine. Started it up and heard the sound again and suddenly became worse and came to the conclusion it’s a rod knock. Had to get off the busy road so continues for maybe 1 mile and every dash light came on shut it off waited for a trailer, once we got it on the trailer the lights were gone. The dealership near me is saying they can’t do anything due to a recall update not being done but I had a newly programmed ECU that was put in in March of 2023 and I was some research and i found a few things stating the ECU would be completely up to date but kia is fighting me on it. I have also been update to date on maintenance records. Since its been at the dealership I’ve asked for the other 2 recalls that are open on it to be done while I figure out what to do with it and they bypass me asking everytime.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - Wilton, CA

    my snow white pearl paint is peeling on several sections of the car. I obtained quotes from 2 body shops and its recommended to repaint the entire car. peeling started in 2018 and has continued to become worse every day.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - Lithonia, GA

    I was driving down the highway on my way to work and all of a sudden I lost power. The car was still on but it wouldn't go very fast and started smoking. Then a knocking noise started. I had to get it towed home. Car is not running. KIA refuses to take responsibility even though there is a known issue with this vehicle.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID
    - Denver, CO

    The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated the engine was previously replaced under an unstated NHTSA recall. The contact stated that five months after the repair, the malfunction indicator warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the replaced engine was defective and affected the high hybrid battery. 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 manufacturer was contacted and offered to replace the engine and the high hybrid battery; however, the vehicle remained at the local dealer because parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was unknown.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - Van Nuys, CA

    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. Parts distribution disconnect.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA
    - Nashville , TN

    Kia sent out a safety recall notice (23V652). The letter clearly states the remedy is now available for my vehicle; that an engine compartment fire while parked or driving is the primary risk of the default; and that the recall service will take approximately 1-2 hours. I called two dealerships. Both said Kia won't send them the parts until an inspection has occurred - potentially resulting in requiring two different appointments prior to this safety recall being addressed - contrary to the verbatim language in the safety recall. I called Kia's customer service line and they confirmed that although the letter is written as described above, they won't provide parts to service centers until an inspection has been performed. I filed a complaint with them but know it won't matter unless someone with more authority gets involved. Considering this is a genuine life-safety issue - with the risk being a fire to the engine compartment - and the language in the recall notice - that the remedy is now available and the service will take 1-2 hours (no implication of multiple visits/appointments) - I think this is absolutely unacceptable. Someone needs to ensure Kia prioritizes human lives above cost when it comes to safety recalls.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID
    - Las Vegas, NV

    The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. 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 contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the check engine warning light illuminated with the “Hybrid - No Driving Mode” message displayed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage unavailable. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE