2012 Buick Regal 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 Buick Regal | 2012 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 92 | 919 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,748 | 241 |
| Investigations | 2 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 77 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–24 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 65,000 mi | 82,120 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Regal | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 21 | 398 |
| Steering | 1 | 188 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 122 |
| Exterior Lighting | 33 | 31 |
| Power Train | 7 | 54 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 52 |
| Air Bags | 0 | 48 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 40 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 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 Buick Regal
2012 Kia Optima
Compare all Buick Regal 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.