2012 Dodge Avenger 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 Dodge Avenger | 2012 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 553 | 919 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 108 | 241 |
| Investigations | 1 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 77 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–24 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 82,120 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Avenger | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 86 | 398 |
| Electrical System | 108 | 122 |
| Steering | 19 | 188 |
| Air Bags | 109 | 48 |
| Visibility/wiper | 95 | 13 |
| Power Train | 31 | 54 |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 52 |
| Structure | 20 | 39 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 36 | 19 |
| Stalling | 32 | 110 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 73 |
| Loss of power | 11 | 49 |
| Won’t start | 8 | 14 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 22 |
| Clunking / rattling | 8 | 74 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 32 |
2012 Dodge Avenger
2012 Kia Optima
Compare all Dodge Avenger 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.