2012 Kia Forte 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 Kia Forte | 2012 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 289 | 919 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 71 | 241 |
| Investigations | 4 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 21 | 77 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–29 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 83,000 mi | 82,120 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Forte | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 160 | 398 |
| Steering | 9 | 188 |
| Electrical System | 32 | 122 |
| Air Bags | 36 | 48 |
| Service Brakes | 30 | 52 |
| Power Train | 11 | 54 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 35 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 34 | 74 |
| Stalling | 28 | 110 |
| Check engine light | 23 | 73 |
| Loss of power | 9 | 49 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 22 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 32 |
| Airbag warning light | 7 | 19 |
2012 Kia Forte
2012 Kia Optima
Compare all Kia Forte 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.