Vehicle Data Hub

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid electrical system problems

Owners reported electrical system problems in 21 complaints for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, 14% of the complaints on file. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
21 14% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
103,000 miles 19 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 0
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When electrical system problems show up

Electrical system complaints by mileage, 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 103,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 1 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 1 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 1 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 4 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 2 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 5 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 4 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 103,000 miles
Based on 19 complaints that include mileage. 16% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles1
20k to 40k miles1
40k to 60k miles1
60k to 80k miles4
80k to 100k miles2
100k to 120k miles5
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles4
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 19 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 103,000 miles, and 16% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

I was involved in a high speed, rear end collision in which I was traveling at approx 55MPH when another large vehicle changed lanes from right to left, right in front of me causing me to collide with them. The result was significant front end damage to my car and significant bodily injury to myself because of the failure of my brakes to adequately stop my car and the failure of the air bags to deploy resulting in my body and head rapidly flying forward into the steering wheel.

Reported at 98,000 miles, July 2018 CrashInjury

Takata recall I just recently purchased my hybrid in december. With it being winter, I of course did not use the air conditioning unit. Now as it is summer, I have used the AC. Each time I use the AC the motor starts making an extremely loud noise, and the AC at times stops working. With that, the temp gauge goes out of control. The vehicle may be stationary or in motion, and at any speed the motor will increase in noise.

Reported at 70,000 miles, May 2017

Other problems reported for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

Electrical system problems in other years

  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011

Electrical system problems across all Kia models