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	1667907
Internal NHTSA #	11329432
Manufacurer	Kia Motors America
Brand	KIA
Model	OPTIMA
Model Year	2012
File date	16/06/20
Component	ENGINE
Product type code	VEHICLE
Description of the problem	6/17/20 i was driving my 2012 kia optima ex (2. 4l gas direct injection 4-cyl engine) and had just stopped at an intersection for a red light. Once the light turned green, i accelerated to continue driving to my destination. Shortly after leaving the intersection, my vehicle suddenly and without any warning made a clunk sound, the lights on the dash flashed and the engine died. I wasn't sure what happened so i quickly put the car in neutral and coasted until i reached a safe place to pull over and park the vehicle. I tried restarting it but it just made a click sound and would not start. After attempting to start the vehicle a couple more times there was a little smoke that came from under the hood / engine compartment. It kind of smelled like something was burning. I thought it might've been some sort of electrical problem so i called a tow truck and had the vehicle towed to an automotive electric shop for them to take a look at it the next day. They looked at the vehicle this morning and told me that the engine was seized up and that the engine was bone dry of oil. I don't understand how this is even possible when i never received any check engine light, check oil light, no oil leaks on the motor, no oil leaks in my driveway or anything. How does a vehicle that is serviced regularly all of a sudden seize up without any warning what so ever? I have done some research online that indicates kia has issued a recall for certain 2011-2014 kia optima vehicles. However, when i look up the specific vin number for my vehicle it says i don't have any current recalls. I purchased this car brand new from a kia dealer and definitely would not have purchased it had i known that the motor would seize up only 8 years later. I expect an engine from kia to last longer than 8 years. I am thankful that i wasn't traveling at a higher rate of speed when this happened. Sad kia customer.
Vehicle Mileage at Failure	108000
Number of Occurences	1
Source of the issue	NHTSA WEB SITE
City and State	SIOUX CITY, IA
VIN pattern	5XXGN4A73CGXXXXXX
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	4
Drive train type	FWD
Transmission type
Vehicle speed	35
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:

WBAKX6C5XBC197126 WF0LXXGCBLDR01341 KNDJP3A51H7451694 8AP17216NC2238865 9BWCH6CH0PP032349 WAUAFAFLXFN007850 1GTEC14W82Z321204 U5YHB816ABL190500 JTEEW41A082013572 WBAKM21020CY72733 WAUZZZ8PX4A008686 WVGAV7AX8CW528859

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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?