NHTSA Complaint #11327058 — 2012 KIA OPTIMA
ENGINE issue reported to NHTSA
Complaint Details
| ODI Number | 11327058 |
| Vehicle | 2012 KIA OPTIMA |
| Component | ENGINE |
| Date of Incident | |
| Date Filed | |
| Mileage | 97,000 miles |
| Crash | No |
| Fire | No |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Vehicle Towed | No |
| State | ID |
Consumer Description
KIA REPLACED A BLOWN ENGINE IN 2017 ON RECALL. FROM THE BEGINNING I NOTICED IT FELT DIFFERENT. IT GOES THROUGH OIL , BUT DOESN'T LEAK ANYWHERE. WHEN I TAKE OFF AFTER ITS SAT FOR A WHILE A BIG CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS ("BURNING OIL IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER") . THE ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 40000 MILES ON IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE BLEW UP, I ALMOST CAUSED A GIANT ACCIDENT! NOW THE CAR IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT WORTHLESS AS WELL. I HAVE KEPT ALL DOCUMENTS ON THE CAR, OIL CHANGES, PARTS & REPAIRS, RECALLS, ETC. *TR
Related Complaints for the 2012 KIA OPTIMA
Other ENGINE Complaints
#11717968
•I’m not sure what failed, the car was parked. And yes it’s available for inspection. •I had just parked the car com...
#11717790
The car seized operating, shut down with zero warnings. It has been a reliable car and maintained. We towed to a mech...
#11708758
On or around October 17th 2025 I purchased a 2019 Kia OPT un aware that the vehicle had recall problems. Once I reali...
#11703721
Subject: RECALL VIOLATION: Kia on the Boulevard (Philadelphia) - Refused Remedy, Charged $199, Returned Unsafe Vehicl...
#11701499
To: Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington...
Recent Complaints for the 2012 KIA OPTIMA
#11718777
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the engine was knocking at startup. The contact reference...
#11717968
SERVICE BRAKES
•I’m not sure what failed, the car was parked. And yes it’s available for inspection. •I had just parked the car com...
#11717968
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
•I’m not sure what failed, the car was parked. And yes it’s available for inspection. •I had just parked the car com...
#11716303
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the buttons on the...
#11714024
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted i...