2012 Kia Optima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 11/01/2026

399Engine complaints

43.3%Of all 921 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE399 · 43.3%

STEERING186 · 20.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM122 · 13.2%

Unspecified / other87 · 9.4%

POWER TRAIN53 · 5.8%

Share of the 921 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Kia Optima overview page.

What owners report

“THE WASTE GATE ACTUATOR ON KIA OPTIMA TURBO MODEL FAILED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE PART ONLINE AND KIA HAS NOT ADDRESS…”NHTSA complaint 10704659 — filed 04/09/2015

“I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES WHEN I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING UP A SMALL HILL AND…”NHTSA complaint 10669274 — filed 12/31/2014

“DRIVING VEHICLE AT 35-40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPED. THERE WAS HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED OF AN ELECTRICAL…”NHTSA complaint 10638362 — filed 09/23/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Kia Optima have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Kia Optima: 399 of 921 complaints on file (43.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Optima have in total?

921 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 11/01/2026. Across all categories, 25 involved a crash, 78 involved a fire, 34 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 11/01/2026.