2012 Cadillac CTS vs 2012 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Cadillac CTS | 2012 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 65 | 919 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,553 | 241 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 77 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–21 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 47,000 mi | 82,120 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Cadillac CTS | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 398 |
| Steering | 4 | 188 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 122 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 52 |
| Power Train | 4 | 54 |
| Air Bags | 6 | 48 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 40 |
| Structure | 5 | 39 |
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 Cadillac CTS
2012 Kia Optima
Compare all Cadillac CTS 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.