2012 Kia Optima drivetrain & axles problems
53 complaints about drivetrain & axles have been filed for the 2012 Kia Optima, which is 4% of all its NHTSA complaints.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 53 4% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 79,000 miles 42 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When drivetrain & axles problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 42 drivetrain & axles complaints that report mileage, the median is about 79,000 miles, and 33% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 1 fire.
What owners wrote
Power train and engine failure and causing my Kia to catch on fire at 11:30 coming back home from work. I was Driving home and smell smoke and car was shaking and when I stopped at the highway to open and look fire was on while driving and I had to call 911 and stop the fire. I had some fire extinguisher in the car I stopped the fire and towed the car and I replaced engine and powered train For over $9000 between repairs and labor and transmission and engine
My kia optima ABS system will randomly make a crunch sound when I step on the brakes, and I lose some engine power immediately after to the point that my car will not accelerate past 40 MPH. It has happened several times on busy highways where I have to fear causing a major accident. Kia dealer cannot figure out the issue, they had my car for a day and repaired the steering column and sent me home, only for the problem to occur again the following week.
Other problems reported for the 2012 Kia Optima
- Engine 417 complaints
- Steering 188 complaints
- Electrical system 123 complaints
- Brakes 88 complaints
- Fuel system 54 complaints
- Air bags 48 complaints
- Cruise control 40 complaints
- Body & structure 39 complaints