Recalled components: brakes, body structure, engine, fuel system, and 2 more. Most-described problem: engine failure or replacement (183 complaints, 18%). Most-reported area: engine (470 complaints, 46%; median mileage when it happened: 99,200).
One of the Optima years to avoid
The 2012 drew 112 owner complaints in its first three years, against 53 for a typical Optima year: 2.1 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2012 and 2013. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles.
NHTSA listings: OPTIMA, OPTIMA HYBRID. Kia campaign SC284.
The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.
Risk: A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC245.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles.
An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles.
The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Components: Engine; Fuel system: delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Kia campaign SC172.
In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Risk: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles.
NHTSA listings: OPTIMA, OPTIMA HYBRID. Kia campaign SC165.
Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Risk: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Kia campaign SC147.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 4 investigations that name the 2012 Kia Optima, not counting audit queries; all 4 are closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA HYBRID. Component: Air bags (air bag/restraint control module). This investigation names 46 models.
Engine fires
Engineering analysis EA21003Closed Feb 5, 2024 (opened Dec 22, 2021)
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires… NHTSA's full summary
Preliminary evaluation PE19004Closed Dec 22, 2021 (opened Mar 29, 2019)
During this Preliminary Evaluation (PE), the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) assessed the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of non-crash vehicle fires caused by both engine failures… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA ties this investigation to recall 20V-750, listed above.
NHTSA listings: OPTIMA, OPTIMA HYBRID. Components: Electrical system; Engine and cooling; Engine; Exterior lighting; Unknown or other.
Scope and timeliness
Recall query RQ17003Closed Dec 22, 2021 (opened May 18, 2017)
NHTSA opened Recall Query (RQ) 17-003 to investigate the timeliness and scope of Kia’s Theta II GDI engine recall (Recall No. 17V-224), and Kia’s compliance with reporting requirements.
NHTSA ties this investigation to recall 17V-224, listed above.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Component: Engine.
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. A recall query is a review of whether a recall covered the right vehicles or whether its fix works. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 1,028 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Optima. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement183 · 18%
Median 93,700 miles at failure, from 144 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off155 · 15%
Median 108,000 miles at failure, from 126 reports with mileage
Smoke or a burning smell108 · 11%
Median 100,000 miles at failure, from 86 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode96 · 9%
Median 90,000 miles at failure, from 73 reports with mileage
Check engine light90 · 9%
Median 110,500 miles at failure, from 72 reports with mileage
Won't start50 · 5%
Median 98,200 miles at failure, from 44 reports with mileage
Shaking, shuddering or vibration48 · 5%
Median 84,000 miles at failure, from 37 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration46 · 4%
Median 93,700 miles at failure, from 40 reports with mileage
Median 99,200 miles at failure, from 359 reports with mileage
Steering197 · 19%
Median 55,000 miles at failure, from 139 reports with mileage
Electrical system142 · 14%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 91 reports with mileage
Brakes99 · 10%
Median 77,000 miles at failure, from 53 reports with mileage
Powertrain64 · 6%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 51 reports with mileage
Air bags52 · 5%
Median 84,000 miles at failure, from 33 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system45 · 4%
Median 79,500 miles at failure, from 32 reports with mileage
Unknown or other95 · 9%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 52 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Kia Optima recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2012 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2013 Optima drew the most (148) and the 2012 drew 112.
Owner complaints
2012: 1,028 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Complaints
2010
75
2011
627
2012
1,028
2013
1,438
2014
617
2015
1,021
2016
760
2017
305
2018
243
2019
211
2020
148
Safety recalls
2012: 6 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Recalls
2010
1
2011
6
2012
6
2013
10
2014
7
2015
4
2016
5
2017
4
2018
3
2019
1
2020
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 1,028 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Kia Optima, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (183), stalling or shutting off (155), and smoke or a burning smell (108). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2012 Kia Optima safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2012 Kia Optima earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2012 Kia Optima?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2012 Kia Optima, not counting audit queries. It lists 4 closed ones; the most recent closed on Sep 19, 2024.
How do I check if my Optima has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: OPTIMA, OPTIMA HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.