2012 Hyundai Elantra vs 2012 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Hyundai Elantra | 2012 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 652 | 919 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 119 | 241 |
| Investigations | 4 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 47 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 77 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 32 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 64,235 mi | 82,120 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 139 | 398 |
| Steering | 88 | 188 |
| Electrical System | 126 | 122 |
| Air Bags | 124 | 48 |
| Service Brakes | 59 | 52 |
| Power Train | 40 | 54 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 40 | 35 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 40 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 77 | 19 |
| Won’t start | 50 | 14 |
| Stalling | 34 | 110 |
| Clunking / rattling | 29 | 74 |
| Check engine light | 14 | 73 |
| Hesitation / surging | 14 | 22 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 32 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
2012 Hyundai Elantra
2012 Kia Optima
Compare all Hyundai Elantra 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.