Friday, August 7, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2012 Audi A6 vs 2012 Kia Optima

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2012 Audi A62012 Kia Optima
NHTSA complaints59919
Recall campaigns85
Service bulletins (TSBs)1,495241
Investigations07
Crash reports025
Fire reports077
NCAP overall rating5/5
EPA MPG (combined)2826–36
Median reported mileage69,000 mi82,120 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentAudi A6Kia Optima
Engine13398
Steering6188
Electrical System13122
Air Bags1448
Power Train854
Service Brakes352
Fuel/propulsion System942
Structure239

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling6110
Check engine light673
Clunking / rattling074
Loss of power049
Vibration / shaking032
Hesitation / surging022
Airbag warning light019
Won’t start014

Compare all Audi A6 vs Kia Optima years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.