This is an online automotive information provider of a detailed information on complaints, defects and recalls for Kia OPTIMA 2012 engine. Our users can find data on mass market car models from most popular brands. The service allows to compare and analyze statistics for reported problems, complaints, recalls for various manufacturers. We hope our site will help with selecting of a reliable and safe car. By using this tool, you will be able to get records with description of safety issues for vehicles, equipment, tires and child restraints. These issues include safety recalls for your Kia OPTIMA 2012 engine and complaints other owners have filed.

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2012 Kia OPTIMA Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects

Issue ID	1325886
Internal NHTSA #	10915661
Manufacurer	Kia Motors America
Brand	KIA
Model	OPTIMA
Model Year	2012
File date	11/10/16
Component	ENGINE
Product type code	VEHICLE
Description of the problem	I was driving home from work at a speed of 45 mph when i heard some knocking. As i slowed to an intersection the noise stopped until i accelerated once again. Got back up to 40-45 mph and all the engine lights came on and the car stalled. I was able to coast to the side of the road i was on during rush hour. Not real safe! At which point the car started smoking and smelling like an electrical fire. I opened the hood and white smoke was pouring out. The vehicle was then towed to kia dealership and the service department was already closed. I called in the morning and asked about the electrical smell. He said is most likely a blown motor.??? He didn't look at the vehicle yet and told me it's a blown rod in the motor?? Later that day i stopped into the kia dealership to see if it was looked at yet. They told me it won't be looked at until tomorrow. He did say that he went out to see if it would start and said it didn't turn over and he can guarantee it's the blown rod. That's without a mechanic looking at it. Kia knows these engines are crap and is choosing to give people the run around. I am the original owner of the car and he first couldn't find me in the computer. That was the first thing i showed him when i walked in the door was my copy from the dealership. All of a sudden he found me in the system. He also said since i service the car's oil myself i have to provide all the records when i purchased oil and filters otherwise the 100k warranty would be void. We don't keep the receipts of all that for 4 years! It's factory defect just like the hyundai sonata's. This is obviously a known issue and it's sad that kia is putting the blame on the customers instead of taking responsibility for a factory defect. No car with 74k miles on it with proper maintenance should have the engine just blow! My 2005 suburban with 150k runs great! Thanks, jeff
Vehicle Mileage at Failure	74668
Number of Occurences
Source of the issue	NHTSA WEB SITE
City and State	MOKENA, IL
VIN pattern	5XXGN4A7XCGXXXXXX
Was vehicle invloved in a crash?	N
Was vehicle involved in a fire?	N
Was incedent reported to police?	N
Was medical attention required?	N
Was part original equipment?
No. of injured persons
No. of fatalities
Date of purchase	29/06/24
Was original owner?	N
Anti-lock brakes	N
Cruise control	N
Number of cylinders
Drive train type
Transmission type
Vehicle speed	45
DoT tire identifier
Tire size
Location of tire code
Type of tire failure code
Was defective tire repaired?
Date of manufacture
Type of child seat code
Type of restraint
Dealer's name
Dealer's telephone number
Dealer's city
Dealer's state code
Dealer's ZIP code

What is Recall?
A recall is when a product is removed from the market or a correction is made to the product because it is either defective or potentially harmful.
What is Failure?
Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. Product failure ranges from failure to sell the product to fracture of the product, in the worst cases leading to personal injury, the province of forensic engineering.
What is Defect?
Non-conformance of a car component with the specified requirements, or non-fulfillment of user expectations, including the safety aspects.

Last decoded VIN:

VF38UAHWTGL006767 5TDZA22C96S413452 PM2B200S003400696 1GTN1TECXEZ337043 JM1GJ1W55G1469478 WBAJA5C54KWW38934 W1K3G1CB4PL006734 VF1RFE00152645009 TMBJM6NJ9FZ028574 WF0PXXGCHPLC85726 WBA1C11000E943974 LGWEF4A54MH961785

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2012 Kia OPTIMA Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects, Recalls and Failures

2012 Kia OPTIMA Engine Problems, Complaints and Defects

What is Recall?

What is Failure?

What is Defect?