Most common 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid problems
Share of the 109 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Optima Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Optima Hybrid years: 2018, 2015, 2017. Years to avoid: 2012. Compare all years →
2012 Kia Optima Hybrid recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Engine
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. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
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. 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.
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 7 possible defects involving the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid:
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
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 and failures of other vehicle systems/components in model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima, MY 2011-2014 Kia Sorento and MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with Theta II, Gamma, Nu and Lambda II engines…
Engine Fires
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 (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Electrical overstress
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. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
Non-crash Vehicle Fires
In a letter dated June 11, 2018, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a safety defect investigation into non-collision related fires on model year (MY) 2011-2014 Kia Optima and Sorento, and Hyundai Sonata and Santa Fe vehicles. In a letter dated July 24, 2018, CAS requested that MY 2010-2015 Kia Soul vehicles be added to the petition.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando.
What 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid owners say
Engine & cooling all 73 →
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The vehicle had previously been serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, causing the wheels to seize and the vehicle came to a complete stop in a ditch. The passenger's side fender was damaged from the failure. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact to tow the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with bearing damage to the bottom of the engine. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced however, the extended warranty only covered the top of the engine and not the bottom of the engine, where the failure had occurred. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. …
The contact's wife owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle shuddered, and there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced; however, due to the mileage on the vehicle, the repair was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Electrical system all 20 →
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while attempting to drive uphill and on gravel with the Electric Drive Mode activated, the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact pressed the button to deactivate the Electric Drive Mode, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact released the accelerator pedal until the vehicle responded as needed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and a recall repair appointment was scheduled with the dealer. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway at 5 MPH, the message "Emergency - Pull Over - System Failure Warning" was displayed. The contact pulled back into the driveway and parked the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while idling or while driving, the message "Hybrid Warning System - Check Brake - Stop Driving Immediately" was intermittently displayed. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, causing the braking distance to become extended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be diagnosed because the message was no longer displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while attempting to drive uphill and on gravel with the Electric Drive Mode activated, the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact pressed the button to deactivate the Electric Drive Mode, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact released the accelerator pedal until the vehicle responded as needed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and a recall repair appointment was scheduled with the dealer. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway at 5 MPH, the message "Emergency - Pull Over - System Failure Warning" was displayed. The contact pulled back into the driveway and parked the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that a message indicating that the Hybrid System failure was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle later, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while sitting on the rear seats, the rear seats were significantly hot because the hybrid battery was underneath the rear seats. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
2012 Kia Optima Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 34 / 38 / 36 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid a good car?
Based on 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Optima Hybrid rates avoid: 3.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Optima Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the Optima Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid?
The engine & cooling — 73 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (20) and brakes (12).
How many recalls does the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, the most recent from September 25, 2023 (control unit/module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Optima Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2015 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012. See the full Kia Optima Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 87,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.