2012 Kia Optima vs 2013 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 Kia Optima | 2013 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 919 | 1,381 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 241 | 235 |
| Investigations | 7 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 48 |
| Fire reports | 77 | 114 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–36 | 26–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 82,120 mi | 87,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 398 | 612 |
| Steering | 188 | 213 |
| Electrical System | 122 | 146 |
| Structure | 39 | 127 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 42 | 92 |
| Power Train | 54 | 64 |
| Service Brakes | 52 | 59 |
| Air Bags | 48 | 60 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 110 | 169 |
| Clunking / rattling | 74 | 87 |
| Check engine light | 73 | 108 |
| Loss of power | 49 | 54 |
| Vibration / shaking | 32 | 54 |
| Hesitation / surging | 22 | 24 |
| Airbag warning light | 19 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 14 | 0 |
2012 Kia Optima
2013 Kia Optima
Compare all Kia Optima 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.