2012 Kia Optima Other / unspecified Problems

I bought this car February 2026 when I drove it on the freeway they car felt wiggly not the axle is broke and the wheel bearings stop the car from going

NHTSA ID

11741928

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

Dear NHTSA, I am submitting a formal complaint regarding my 2012 Kia Optima, which experienced an engine fire directly related to the defects identified in Kia Safety Recalls SC147, SC200, and SC201. On XXX, my vehicle’s engine failed and caught fire. This is the exact condition covered by the above recalls, which state that affected engines may seize, stall, or ignite. I have been in contact with both a Kia dealership and Kia Consumer Affairs for close to a month without any resolution. The dealership has confirmed that my car requires a complete engine replacement, but Kia has refused to address the recall issue, claiming that other unrelated recalls were not performed. When I previously contacted dealerships to schedule recall repairs, I was told that parts were not available, which prevented me from completing them. In addition to the engine failure, the fire also caused my starter to fail. I was forced to purchase a replacement starter out of pocket, which has added to my financial hardship. I believe I am owed compensation for this expense, as it was a direct result of the safety defect. This situation has caused me severe financial strain, as I relied on my vehicle for work and currently have no income due to its inoperability. Kia has not provided a timeline for repairs, towing coverage, or written confirmation that they remain obligated to remedy this federally mandated safety defect. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Kia’s refusal to fulfill its recall obligations and intervene to ensure that my vehicle is repaired or replaced in compliance with federal recall requirements. My vehicle details are as follows: •Year/Make/Model: 2012 Kia Optima •VIN: XXXX •Recalls involved: SC147, SC200, SC201 •Incident: Engine fire, vehicle no longer drivable; starter also failed due to fire Please advise on next steps. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely, XXXX XXXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11692397

Incident

Aug 7, 2025

I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR SLIGHTLY TURN THE WHEEL . I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND IT'S SAYING IT IS A CLUSTER NOT SURE WAT THAT IS I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL BECAUSE THAT CAN CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOOSE IT'S DIRECTIONS AND I COULD EITHER CAUSE AND ACCIDENT OR BE PART OF ONE

NHTSA ID

10926013

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

I HAVE A KNOCKING SOUND IN MY STEERING WHEEL. THE NOISE HAPPENS WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, I HAVE NOTICED AN ODD GRINDING/SLIPPING SENSATION IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN I ACCELERATE ON A RIGHT TURN FROM DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS. PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ON A "DECLINE" WHILE ACCELERATING TO THE RIGHT TO ENTER TRAFFIC IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. 73,000 MILES CURRENTLY BUT I'VE NOTICED THE GRIND/SLIP A LOWER MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID

10853458

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

73,000 mi

JUST BOUGHT MY CAR THIS YEAR WITH 26350 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT GOT TO 30000 NEEDED NEW TIRES. THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY TURN IT OFF. THEN WHEN I DRIVE IT AND IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. IT HAS BROKE DOWN ON THE ROAD FOUR TIMES. TWICE I CALLED ROAD SIDE HELP THE OTHER TWO TIMES SOMEONE HAS HELPED ME. IT RUNS HOT BECAUSE IT IS BUBBLING IF I DRIVE FOR MORE THEN A HOUR. BOUGHT THE CAR FROM POWER OF BOWSER

NHTSA ID

10781027

Incident

Sep 18, 2015

Mileage

31,000 mi

AT 20000 MILES MY FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK , THE WEIRD PUT THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL TO TURN RIGHT THEY WOULD COME ON FOR A SHORT TIME, REPLACED BULBS NOTHING THEY DON'T WORK. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AND THE TIRES, TIRE BRAND ARE JUNK, POORLY MADE THEY WERE BEYOND THE LIMIT FOR SAFTY, THEN AT 40000 MILES BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, NOW AT 78000 MILES THE STRUTS ARE MAKING A HORRIBLE CLANKING AND THE AC IS BLOWING HOT AIR EVEN AFTER 2 CANS OF THE STUFF THE MECHANIC SAID TO ADD. I TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK 36 MILES ONE WAY DAILY HENSE THE MILAGE BUT THE HIGH WAY IS SMOOTH AS WELL. VERY DISAPPOINTED KIA OWNER, WHEN CALLED TO ASK ABOUT THE FOG LIGHTS WAS TOLD YOUR PROBLEM SO IM SURE THE STRUTS WILL BE AND THE AC WILL ALSO BE MY PROBLEM . SADLY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BACK UP THERE PRODUCT

NHTSA ID

10722507

Incident

May 11, 2013

Mileage

20,000 mi

I HAVE NOTICED OVER TWENTY TIMES THAT THE TRUNK WOULD OPEN BY ITSELF. IT WOULD BE FOUND OPEN AFTER I GET TO MY CAR OR WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD JUST OPEN UP ON ITS OWN. LAST MONTH MY TRUNK, WAS SHUT, DOORS LOCKED, WE HAD A HEAVY RAIN THAT NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY I WENT OUT, AND THE TRUNK WAS OPEN UP ALL THE WAY. THE TRUNK FLAP WAS SOAKING WET AND UNDER IT, THERE WAS A FOOT OF WATER AND KIA DOES NOT GIVE YOU A TIRE WHEN YOU BUY A NEW ONE. IT COST ME $80.00 TO GET EVERYTHING DRIED OUT AND WATER REMOVED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUNK OPENING AND THE KIA DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING COULD BE, DONE WITH IT OR THE KEY THAT OPENS IT TOLD ME. KIA SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE FREQUENCY FOR THE KEYS AND THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE, WHICH HAVE DIFFERENT CARS THAT THEIR KEY WILL OPEN MY TRUNK DOORS AND EVEN TURN ON MY LIGHTS. THE TRUNK CAN BE SHUT AND YOU DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH AND IT WILL OPEN UP AND BLOCK YOUR VIEW AND IT COULD CAUSE A WRECK IF YOU ARE CHANGING LANES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653598

Incident

Oct 2, 2013

Mileage

7,589 mi

MAKING A CALL WITH MY BLUETOOTH EQUIPPED IN THE VEHICLE, LOOKED DOWN TO VERIFY CONNECTION, BY THE TIME I LOOKED UP I WAS A FOOT AWAY FROM A PARKED VEHICLE, I SWERVED AS TO THE LEFT AS MUCH AS I COULD BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, I SLAMMED INTO THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE, MY HOOD AND ENGINE WERE PRACTICALLY CRUSHED IN AND ALONG THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE, MY CAR CAME TO A HAULT BEFORE JUMPING OVER THE MEDIAN. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS GOING SPEED OF 50-60 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563701

Incident

Feb 8, 2014

Mileage

13,000 mi

AFTER 15,000 MILES TIRE DEVELOPED A HUGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW WITH ORIGINAL TIRES FROM DEALERSHIP(NEXEN).THESE TIRES SHOULD BE OUTLAWED. RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP, IT EXPLODED AND WAS SITTING ON THE RIM. I WAS VERY FORTUNE TO NOT BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURED. I CAN SEND PICTURE ALSO. I HAVE HAD TWO FLAT TIRES WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. NOT INCLUDING THE 2ND PAIR THAT THE BUBBLE DEVELOPED AT THE FRONT. THE NEXEN TIRES TREAD LIFE IS VERY SHORT TOO.. THEY SEEMED TO DRIVE BETTER IN SLIGHTLY WET CONDITIONS THAN DRY; ODD. :/ I RECEIVED NO COMPENSATION FROM THE KIA DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520179

Incident

Feb 15, 2013

Mileage

35,000 mi

GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK. AVIS PUTS RUBBER FLOOR MATS OVER CLOTH FLOOR MATS THAT HAVE HOOKS EMBEDDED IN TIME TO HOLD THE FACTORY FLOOR MATS IN PLACE. I DID NOT KNOW THEY HAD DID THIS. OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL HOURS OF DRIVING THE RUBBER FLOOR MAT SLID FORWARD UNDER THE GAS PEDAL RENDERING IT INOPERABLE; I COASTED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, PULLED THE RUBBER FLOORMAT BACK TOWARDS THE FRONT SEAT AND IT HAPPENED A 2ND TIME A FEW HOURS LATER WHERE I LOST COMPLETE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL SO I PUT THE RUBBER MATS IN THE TRUNK. I REPORTED THIS TO AVIS. AN AVIS REP SAYS THIS IS A STANDARD CORPORATE POLICY SO THEY CAN SAVE WEAR ON THE CLOTH RUG STYLE FLOOR MATS. I ASKED THEM TO REEXAMINE THEIR CORPORATE POLICY. I HOPE YOUR AGENCY CAN REVIEW THIS PRACTICE AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO AVIS. WITH ALL THE ISSUE SURROUNDING CAR ACCELERATOR PEDALS AND AFTER MARKET FLOOR MATS JAMMING THEM IT SEEMS THEY HAVE TAKEN LEAVE OF COMMON SENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479639

Incident

Oct 6, 2012

Mileage

12,187 mi

MY WIFE HAD A FLAT TIRE WHEN SHE HAD HELP TO GET IT CHANGED THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE SO THE PERSON LEFT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT DO ANY THING. THAT LEFT MY WIFE AND MY LITTLE GIRL ALONE ON A ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE FOR 4 HOURS UNTIL I COULD GET THERE AND PICK THEM UP . I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THEY DONT PUT SPARE TIRES IN THERE CARS ANY MORE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE THEM PUT THEM IN BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO BE STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF NO WHERE . WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NO BODY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SPARE IN THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA. IF I KNEW I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10458281

Incident

May 9, 2012

Mileage

7,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR PUMP AND A CAN OF FIX A FLAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT A SPARE TIRE DID NOT COME WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID

10454357

Incident

Feb 6, 2012

Mileage

1,000 mi