2012 KIA Optima Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2012 KIA Optima, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 78,993 miles.
- 54power train complaints
- 78,993median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 42 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 54 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire.
KIA Optima power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 27 | 18% | — |
| 2019 Optima | 17 | 8% | 19,600 |
| 2018 Optima | 18 | 8% | 26,475 |
| 2017 Optima | 21 | 8% | 36,500 |
| 2016 Optima | 74 | 10% | 50,000 |
| 2015 Optima | 49 | 5% | 82,794 |
| 2014 Optima | 20 | 3% | 93,242 |
| 2013 Optima | 64 | 5% | 64,837 |
| 2012 Optima | 54 | 6% | 78,993 |
| 2011 Optima | 25 | 4% | 36,000 |
| 2010 Optima | 24 | 32% | 73,000 |
| 2009 Optima | 33 | 28% | 62,000 |
| 2008 Optima | 18 | 13% | 130,000 |
| 2007 Optima | 13 | 8% | 72,000 |
| 2006 Optima | 14 | 9% | 61,100 |
| 2005 Optima | 3 | 2% | 34,000 |
| 2004 Optima | 8 | 4% | 22,100 |
| 2003 Optima | 8 | 6% | 33,000 |
| 2002 Optima | 6 | 6% | 86,020 |
| 2001 Optima | 12 | 8% | 11,750 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 2012 KIA Optima. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Sudden engine failure while driving with no warning. Vehicle began jerking, shaking, and losing power. RPMs dropped unexpectedly and the engine stalled intermittently. Multiple misfire codes were present (cylinders 1, 3, and 4), and the engine was found to have low or no compression in cylinder 1…
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park; however, the message to shift to park was displayed. In addition, the contact stated that there was a delay while shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
The failure involves the component covered under the active safety recall campaign. The affected part/system is still installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request by the manufacturer, dealership, or NHTSA. Recall number : 23V6552 While driving in traffic, the vehicle…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 KIA Optimas have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 54 owner complaints about power train for the 2012 KIA Optima (6% of the 920 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 KIA Optima power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 78,993 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
Other 2012 KIA Optima problems
- Engine problems (398)
- Steering problems (188)
- Electrical System problems (122)
- Service Brakes problems (52)
See all 2012 KIA Optima problems or power train problems across all Optima years.