2012 Kia Optima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1242 complaints
1242
Total Complaints
80,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
37
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

45,398 25th Percentile
80,000 Median Mileage
114,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
393
STEERING
182
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
119
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
83
POWER TRAIN
52
SERVICE BRAKES
51
AIR BAGS
44
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
42
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
40
STRUCTURE:BODY
34

Severity Assessment

37
Crashes
118
Fires
53
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THERE IS NO SPARE TIRE AND ONLY A INFLATION KIT. A BLOWOUT OF THE SIDEWALL CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITH THIS KIT. COULD BE STRANDED AND HARM DONE TO THE OWNER. HOW COULD IT BE LEGAL AND SAFE TO ALLOW MANUFACTURERS TO NOT INCLUDE A SPARE TIRE??? *TR"
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR DETACHED FROM THE HOUSING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER AND IMMEDIATELY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND TH..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR DETACHED FROM THE HOUSING. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER AND IMMEDIATELY THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND TH..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28