Home · 2012 Kia Optima · Complaints

What 916 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (916)Crash / fire / injury (106)Engine (397)Steering (187)Electrical system (122)Brakes (87)Fuel system (54)Transmission & drivetrain (54)Airbags (48)Speed control (40)Body & structure (39)Lights (31)

60 of 916 complaints match · Engine · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Jun 24, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN HE SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE ON THE OIL CAP. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED HE SAW A GASOLINE LEAK ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED GRAND KIA LOCATED AT 1950 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, (720) 943-1144, WERE NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ODI 11222309

Apr 3, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AS SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11193535

Mar 4, 2019EngineFire

DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 70MPH AND ENGINE JUST STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT COASTING. GOT TO SHOULDER. PUT CAR IN PARK, ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CALLED TOW, THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. HUNG UP, CALLED 911 FOR POSSIBLE FIRE. AFTER HANGING UP WITH 911, SMOKE BEGAN COMING THROUGH VENTS. GOT OUT OF CAR, SAW SOME FLAMES THROUGH GRILL, CALLED 911 BACK AND TOLD WAS DEFINITELY ON FIRE AND WITH MINS ENTIRE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11183965

Feb 11, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN A PATCH OF SNOW. WHEN THE CONTACT BEGAN MOVING THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH TO FREE THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11176183

Jan 22, 2019Body & structureEngineFire

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN UNION NJ ON SEPTEMBER 25 2018. I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY NEXT PASSENGER DOING UBER. WHEN I GET TO THE STOP LIGHT LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM THE CUSTOMER I START SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I ACCELERATE THE CAR SO I CAN LOOK FOR A SAFE SPOT TO GET OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I TOOK A RIGHT INTO THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE VEHICLE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE! THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER MINUTES WITHIN THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE AND CALLED THE FIREFIGHTERS. POLICE CALLED BACK UP AND ANOTHER PATROL OFFICER CAME. FIREFIGHTERS CAME IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND TURNED THE FIRE OFF. THE VEHICLE IN TOTALED, EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE BAY BURNED. THE POLICE CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND SETON TOWING INC CAME AND TOOK THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11171483

Jan 7, 2019EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED INVESTIGATION NUMBER: DP18003. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11164861

Jan 6, 2019EngineFire

I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE ENGINE RECALL THE DEALER SAID IT PASSED NO NEED TO FIX. A MONTH LATER I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR GAUGES WENT CRAZY AND ENGINE SEIZED. I SAW SMOKE AND POPPED THE HOOD. I THAN SAW A FIRE IGNITE INSIDE THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS BURNT UP. I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH KIA VEHICLES STARTING ON FIRE FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ODI 11165465

Dec 18, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11162215

Dec 12, 2018EngineFuel systemFire

ON DECEMBER 9, 2018, I ATTENDED MY SON'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT ON A COLD SUNDAY AFTERNOON (APPROX. 30 DEGREES). DURING HALF-TIME I DECIDED TO SIT IN MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA TO WARM UP. AFTER 10 MINUTES OR SO, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE THE SMELL OF A BURNING ENGINE. I THEN NOTICED GREYISH BLACKISH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT MY CAR OFF AND BARELY EXITED THE VEHICLE IN TIME. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL AND HOOD WAS ON FIRE. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES, MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I GOT A BRAND NEW ENGINE (SO THEY SAY) INSTALLED BY KIA JUST 8 MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS BAD AND PART OF A RECALL. THEY ORDERED THE ENGINE AND HAD IT INSTALLED IN A MATTER OF DAYS. ONCE AGAIN THIS WAS JUST 8 MONTHS AGO!! I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGES, WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME. KIA NEEDS TO GIVE ME AND THE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND HOW THEY PLAN TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION! THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT IN MY CAR IN 30 DEGREE TEMPERATURES FOR HOURS IF I WANTED WITHOUT IT GOING INTO FLAMES. I AM PLEADING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE REVIEW ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW

NHTSA ODI 11160978

Dec 12, 2018EngineFire

ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2018, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE KIA OPTIMA 2012 FROM SAN ANTONIO TO HOUSTON ON I-10 E. AT 4:15 PM CST, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND MULTIPLE OTHER LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON IN THE DISPLAY AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP BEFORE EXIT 591 (SCHERTZ). SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE RIGHT-SIDE CURB OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING AND IT STOPPED COMPLETELY. SHE TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR A FEW TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START, AND SHE QUICKLY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT HOOD SO SHE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN CALLED 911 AS THE SMOKE GOT WORSE AND A FEW NEARBY DRIVERS HELPED HER QUICKLY GET AS MUCH OF HER STUFF FROM THE CAR AS POSSIBLE. THEN THEY ALL MOVED ACROSS TO A SAFE PLACE AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE (BY 4:25 PM). SEE PICTURES ATTACHED. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND BLOCKED THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER A WHILE THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED. IT TOOK SOME TIME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AS THEY WERE WAITING UNTIL THE HALF TANK OF GAS COMPLETELY BURNED. I HAD A FEW RECALL LETTERS FROM KIA, SO I HAD TAKEN THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 30TH TO THE DEALERSHIP IN CONROE (COWBOY KIA) AND THEY TOOK CARE OF ALL THE RECALLS ' A TOTAL OF 3 ITEMS INCLUDING THE ACU WIRING EXTENSION INSTALLATION. THE DEALER ALSO DID A MULTI-POINT FREE INSPECTION AND REPORTED EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CAR HAD AROUND 54,000 MILES. I ALSO HAD AN OIL CHANGE RECENTLY ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2018.

NHTSA ODI 11161031

Nov 28, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11154618

Oct 15, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TAKEN TO KIA OF GREENVILLE (2424 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 516-2700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, FLAMES WERE DETECTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW LOT AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. *TT VIN IS INVAILD *JB

NHTSA ODI 11140474

Oct 4, 2018Body & structureEngineFire

DRIVING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ON THE HIGHWAY. NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE THEN VISUALLY SAW SMOKE. BEGAN TO PULL OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN TO BILLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE BRAKES WERE NOT OPERATIONAL. ROLLED TO A STOP AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED WITHIN A MINUTE.

NHTSA ODI 11133307

Oct 2, 2018Electrical systemEngineFire

MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF WITH SEVERAL FLASHING LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING BUT A SLIGHT TICK. I RETURNED TO THE CAR WITH JUMPER CABLES TO SEE IF IT WAS THE BATTERY AND BEFORE I TRIED THE JUMPER CABLES I TRIED ONE MORE TIME TO START AND THE ENGINEER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER OR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING.

NHTSA ODI 11132956

Oct 1, 2018EngineCrashFire1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SUPERIOR KIA, 260 W. MITCHELL AVE, CINCINNATI, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD BOOMING NOISE WAS HEARD AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11132429

Sep 14, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DURING THE FAILURE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, REMOVED THE OIL CAP, AND NOTICED SMOKE. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AS SMOKE ESCAPED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

NHTSA ODI 11129587

Aug 24, 2018Electrical systemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALUE KIA (6915 ESSINGTON AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153, 215-937-1000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,630.

NHTSA ODI 11122146

Jul 19, 2018Electrical systemEngineFire

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 W. CAR SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE OCTOBER 20, 2017. PASSENGER SAW SMOKE FROM FRONT SEAT. DRIVER PULLED-OVER. WE GOT OUT OF CAR. SAW FIRE UNDERNEATH. MOVED AWAY, CAR GRADUALLY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FILED REPORT IN CONNECTICUT. INCIDENT NUMBER 17-0000359 SANDY HOOK FD FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED. 61,852 MILES

NHTSA ODI 11112486

Jul 17, 2018EngineFire

I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK (12 MILES), PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (VEHICLE TURNED OFF, NOT RUNNING) AND WALKED INSIDE. I SAT DOWN AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES I HEARD A LOUD POP, I LOOKED OUTSIDE TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE CAR HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND AND HAD MELTED ALL OF THE SIDING OFF OF THE FRONT OF MY GARAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11112053

Jun 13, 2018EngineFire

WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AT A SPEED OF 45MPH WE LOST ENGINE POWER AND BRAKES. UPON THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPING, BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES BEGIN TO SPREAD FROM THE ENGINE. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY AN OFF DUTY DEPUTY THAT HE WAS GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN HE SAW US WITH A FIRE UNDERNEATH OUR VEHICLE WHILE STILL MOVING. THE VEHICLE ULTIMATELY WENT UP IN FLAMES ALONG WITH EVERYTHING WE HAD INSIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11101703

Mar 28, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING, AS IF A PART HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING FLAMES.. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE PART THAT SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STAFFORD KIA OF FREDERICKSBURG (5204 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, 22408, 540-891-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE PART THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,046.

NHTSA ODI 11081758

Feb 8, 2018Electrical systemSpeed controlEngineFire

'TAKATA RECALL' I'M CURRENTLY BUYING A KIA OPTIMA 2012 AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND HAD MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE AT KIA OF ORANGE. THEN I DID FULL SERVICE WHICH I PAYED 600$ OR SO AND AFTER THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS, I WENT TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE AND MY BOYFRIEND GOT OFF TO GET TOOLS FROM THE HOUSE IT TOOK HIM TEN MINUTES TO COME BACK. THE CAR WAS ON AND I WAS WINDOWS UP AND AC ON WHEN HE CAME OUT HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE FRONT LEFT LIGHT. IT GOT ON FIRE AND WE WERE SCARE FOR OUR LIFE'S AND WE MANAGE TO RUN AROUND AND FIND ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP WE HAD WATER AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ELECTRICAL SO IT WAS MELTING PLASTIC UNTIL WE MANAGE TO FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE I WAS CALLING 911 WE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. SECOND OF ALL WE FIX IT INSURANCE COVER. WE CALL KIA THEY TOLD US OUR INSURANCE HAD TO PAY IT. SO WE DID NEXT I TOOK IT TO GET MAINTENANCE UPDATE AND OIL CHANGE, WE TOOK FOR A DRIVE TO CHINO HILLS CALIFORNIA AND THEN THE CAR TURN OFF BY IT SELF ON THE FREEWAY I WAS 65 SPEED LIMIT AND MY STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I COULD OF LOST MY LIFE. I MANAGE TO MOVE IT SLOWLY TO THE SIDE AND IT WAS ON FIRE WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD SOMETHING WAS BURNING AGAIN. A SHERIFF HELP US TURN IT OFF WITH HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE ENGINE HAD BLEW UP A WROT BLEW MAYBE BECAUSE OF NO OIL OR IDK I'M NOT MECHANIC THAT'S WHY I TAKE IT TO KIA. I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB RIGHT AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T WANNA COVER IT, NOW I'M CARELESS AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER TO FEED AND I NEED HELP TO GET THIS OUT THERE IF ANYBODY HAS THE SAME ISSUE PLEASE MAKE THIS GO VIRAL. HIGHWAY 91 EAST

NHTSA ODI 11071675

Jan 30, 2018EngineCrash1 injury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE TOTALED WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE IN MOTION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY SUDDEN WARNING AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WE HAD LESS THAN 1 MINUTE TO ESCAPE BEFORE ANOTHER DRIVER SMASHED INTO THE CAR AT 65 MPH. THE CAR STOPPED SO FAST THERE WAS NO TIME TO PULL OVER TO SAFTEY OR A SOULDER

NHTSA ODI 11065788

Dec 7, 2017EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE WAS SUDDENLY PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE DISCOVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (DIFEO KIA IN LAKEWOOD, NJ) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11052937

Oct 27, 2017Electrical systemEngineVisibility & wipersFire

THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS ALS RESULTED IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE DEFROSTERS AND RADIO TO MALFUNCTION

NHTSA ODI 11040562

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Working with the data? Download all 916 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Kia Optima verdict →