2012 BMW 550I 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.
| Metric | 2012 BMW 550I | 2012 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 35 | 919 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 388 | 241 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 77 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17–18 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 59,287 mi | 82,120 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 550I | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 398 |
| Steering | 2 | 188 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 122 |
| Power Train | 4 | 54 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 | 42 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 52 |
| Air Bags | 0 | 48 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 40 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 10 | 110 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 74 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 73 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 49 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 32 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 22 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 19 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 14 |
2012 BMW 550I
2012 Kia Optima
Compare all BMW 550I 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.