2012 Kia Optima Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 916 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
“VEHICLE HAD RANDOM ABNORMAL JERKING, BUCKING AND CLUNKING BY THE TRANSMISSION DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION, WHICH CAUSES ABNORMAL DECELERATION. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ISSUE WITH NORMAL…”NHTSA complaint 10564187 — filed 02/13/2014
“FIRST THING CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. SECOND OCCURRENCE PULLED OUT AND CAR LOST POWER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ROAD TURN…”NHTSA complaint 10494455 — filed 01/23/2013
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Kia Optima have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Kia Optima: 53 of 916 complaints on file (5.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2012 Kia Optima have in total?
916 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 25 involved a crash, 76 involved a fire, 34 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
