Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2012 Kia Optima has 47 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 0 powertrain-related recalls.
47
Complaints
0
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The failure involves the component covered under the active safety recall campaign. The affected par... |
| Dec 1, 2025 | POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE | Subject: RECALL VIOLATION: Kia on the Boulevard (Philadelphia) - Refused Remedy, Charged $199, Retur... |
| Apr 30, 2024 | POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE,ENGINE | Power train and engine failure and causing my Kia to catch on fire at 11:30 coming back home from wo... |
| Jul 12, 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the veh... |
| Jul 19, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shif... |
| Jul 13, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, he heard an abnormal... |
| Apr 26, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The shifter cable came off during the car was on motion in my driveway..and unable to put it in PARK... |
| Mar 31, 2022 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 2012 Kia Optima Engine oil lights flickers on slowing .. I have checked the oil and the Filter they... |
| Oct 13, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Every time i stop at a light my car starts to shake and vibrate. Now the check engine is on and my c... |
| Oct 11, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | My engine failed. Dick Withams here in Waterloo, IA was paid by Kia to replace engine for free due t... |
| Aug 2, 2021 | POWER TRAIN | My wife had been complaining that while driving 2011 optima hybrid at highway speeds the car would s... |
| May 7, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | THA CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WOULD NOT START ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND COULD NOT STEER G... |
| Mar 27, 2021 | POWER TRAIN | KIA OPTIMA EX 2012 WITH 57000 MILES TRANSMISSION IS STUCK ON R (REVERSE) AND IT DOESN'T RELEASE EVE... |
| Mar 5, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID ON THE FARTHEST LEFT LANE OF THE FREEWAY, A WARNING MESSAGE ... |
| Mar 1, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHI... |
| Jan 3, 2021 | POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD PULL WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS FROM THIRD GEAR TO SECOND GEAR AND A HARDER PULL ON... |
| Oct 14, 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITH LOW POWER AT 50 MPH WITH ALL LIGHTS WORKING. COMPUTER HAS CAR SHUT DOWN AND ... |
| Oct 13, 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | CAR WILL NOT GET OUT OF IMMOBILIZATION PHASE, WITH EITHER KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK TO USE PUSH TO STA... |
| Oct 2, 2020 | POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS | MY GEAR SHIFT IS STUCK IN DRIVE I CAN NOT PUT IT IN PARK IF I TURN MY CAR OFF IT WON'T CRANK BACK UP... |
| Jul 27, 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | TRANSMISSION ISSUES: BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. WOULD LAG THEN JERK THE CAR WITH SOME TORQUE ONCE IT ... |