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	1588927
Internal NHTSA #	11241604
Manufacurer	Kia Motors America
Brand	KIA
Model	OPTIMA
Model Year	2012
File date	06/07/19
Component	ENGINE
Product type code	VEHICLE
Description of the problem	While driving on the highway my 2012 kia optima hybrid slowed down to 45mph and engine started to make noises. This came with no mechanical warning, no "check engine soon" or other warning lights, and had been driving perfectly before it was parked. Checked oil and oil level was perfect. Called mechanic and he asked me to take a close look at oil. Oil had small shiny metal shavings on stick that transferred to fingers when rubbed. Had car towed over 30 miles to nearest kia dealership. Car was diagnosed with "engine failure" due to rod end bearings. I am the 2nd owner of this car the i bought from a master mechanic at a lexus dealership. We are very meticulous and take very good care of our vehicles. This is not a owner problem. Dealership wants $10,000 for a new motor, $4,000 for a used (although there are none currently b/c there is a shortage), or $6,000 to rebuild current motor. Service manager was "surprised" to hear about the metal flakes as they didn't see that during the diagnoses. Both kia dealer and kia corp are standing behind the no recall on hybrids. Said although the engine is the same, they were made in different factories, but could have shared the same parts. Service manager stated, "you have a lot of miles on this car"...... 146k....... I mean, if i can not trust to get 150k out of a kia why would i ever want to purchase one again??? I asked him to explain how this could happen and his response was, "it is a mechanical piece of equipment". Kia needs to stop putting blame on its owners and take responsibility of their faultily engines for the hybrids as they have on the non-hybrid models. There are too many other complains having the same results and stories for this to be an owner problem. It has been a month now, and no one is budging.
Vehicle Mileage at Failure	146000
Number of Occurences
Source of the issue	NHTSA WEB SITE
City and State	BAHAMA, NC
VIN pattern	KNAGM4AD0C5XXXXXX
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	60
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:

SDLEA17A82B001185 5FNYF48529B023707 ZAR93600000089436 WBA8E9G50GNT43637 1C4RJFCT6GC458633 JTB33LNG6X0020209 WVWZZZ3BZ4E226314 WBAFF01080L212955 VSSZZZKLZMR008798 WAUZZZ8E77A126438 Y6DSF84YE9B261747 ZAMRT57F0G1173328

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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?