10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,061 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Kia Optima body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2012 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

May 152013

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My first year of buying my KIA brand new, I started having small chips in the paint. It started near the sides of window frame and hood first. I was baffled that the paint was already chipping but related it to highway driving and assumes it was rock chips. Then about the third year of owning the car, a big chunk came off the roof. One big chuck right at the front and also near the back drivers door. Now those spots are becoming more and more visible as the paint is starting to come off in chunks. It is not completely off the car yet but you can see where it is bubbled and separating from the metal

- Crystal , MO, USA

problem #22

Sep 272022

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle was broken into and stolen-€¦steering wheel column damage, wheel locked, wreck-€¦usb cord used to crank car..police report filed #2209013764ME

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #21

Jul 052018

Optima

  • miles
Delamination of the white pearl paint.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #20

Aug 012017

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Several areas on my vehicle the paint is chipping in large chunks. The paint is not fading but coming off. I enquired to the dealership about this years ago but they said it was not in warranty for that anymore. The only reason im enquiring about it now is because I see many vehicles (kia optima in pearl white) on the road with the similar issue as me.

- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA

problem #19

Mar 022021

Optima

  • miles
A few months ago the paint on my car begin to bubble, chip, and peel away. The paint color is Snow white and I have been informed of and read a lot about de-lamination occurring in the pearl and snow white paint of some Kia models. The car has not been involved any accidents and is in great condition aside from the unknown cause of the paint chipping.

- San Jacinto, CA, USA

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problem #18

Jul 092021

Optima

  • miles
While driving at the speed limit on July 9th 2021 my kia optima started smoking within a minute of us pulling over the front of the car was on fire

- Hermitage, TN, USA

problem #17

Dec 272019

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was merging back onto the freeway after I had a panic attack due to being over a bridge with all these cars and the car behind me proceeds to aggressively try to cut me off from getting over and hit the back of my car causing damage.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #16

Oct 292019

Optima

  • 112,400 miles
Hello I am not sure if this is the correct place to seek information or file an compliant about what I think is a defect in Kia motors paint on this models that was painted with white. While driving I seen paint start to fly off my hood of car. My car is kept inside so this should not be happening. I contacted Kia motors and rep stated they are aware of issue but cant paint all cars with flaking or peeling paint. I asked if their is a known issue or problem with model and year why would you not offer some type of reimburse/ assistance or recall to correct. She stated to hold and came back to say her boss said the company would go broke. After the conversation phone hung up. I have called left message with live person that say they would call back and no one has. In looking for the number to contact Kia motors. I ran across a forum that other have contacted Kia motor about same issue. Can/will you help with this. The problem /issue is with Kia motors white pearl paint on 2011-2016 cars and trucks. They all are peeling inf=G flaking in the saime area. Top back trunk, driver side back quarter and hood. The link if you would look into is (1) https://Kia-motors.pissedconsumer.com/2013-Kia-Optima-sx-paint-chipping-and-flaking-off-201802151190418/2.html (2)https://Kia-motors.pissedconsumer.com/2013-Kia-Optima-sx-paint-chipping-and-flaking-off-201802151190418/3.html (3)(4)https://3dbodyworks.com/Pennsylvania-can-fix-peeling-snow-white-pearl-Hyundai-Chevrolet-Toyota-Kia/ (5)https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/Kia-motors-bad-paint-C644680.html thank you for your time

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #15

Apr 092019

Optima

  • 101,000 miles
On 4/9/19, my vehicle caught fire while I was driving it from my work on way to simi valley first Kia dealership. I was on 118 freeway westbound in slow lane in chatsworth, ca. Onto freeway shoulder to call aaa when a stranger pulled up ahead of me, got out of his car, ran towards me shouting to me to get out, the car was on fire beneath level of the windows so I couldnt see the fire.. I got out, it blew up, & was totalled. No collision occurred. My witness saved my life. He took a video.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #14

Feb 122019

Optima

  • miles
Side mirror stopped working driver side. The motor from power fold mirror keeps running non stop making the grinding noise and also causing the battery to drain.

- Farmers Branch, TX, USA

problem #13

Sep 252018

Optima

  • 43,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving my car in union NJ on September 25 2018. I was on my way to pick up my next passenger doing uber. When I get to the stop light less than a mile away from the customer I start seen smoke coming from the hood of the car. I accelerate the car so I can look for a safe spot to get out and inspect the vehicle. I took a right into the school parking lot and when I came out the vehicle the car was on fire! there was a police officer minutes within the car catching on fire and called the firefighters. Police called back up and another patrol officer came. Firefighters came in about 5 minutes and turned the fire off. The vehicle in totaled, everything in the engine bay burned. The police called a towing company and seton towing Inc came and took the car.

- Glenwood, NJ, USA

problem #12

Oct 032018

Optima

  • 98,000 miles
Driving my 2012 Kia Optima on the highway. Noticed the smell of smoke then visually saw smoke. Began to pull over and flames began to billow from under the hood. The brakes were not operational. Rolled to a stop and exited the vehicle. Car was fully engulfed within a minute.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #11

Apr 302018

Optima

  • miles
I was driving down a residential street at 35mph and heard what sounded like a loud explosion. I literally thought a gun shot had been fired towards me and hit my vehicle. I tried looking around and nothing seemed to be shattered until I saw my arm bleeding slightly. And small shards of glass on the seat. I pulled the car over to the side of the road and the sun roof was completely shattered. I am able to tell that there was no impact from a rock or anything as the glass is blown outwards and not inward. I am not sure how the glass 'blew up' or shattered if not from any impact but this is very concerning as I do have small cuts on my arm from the glass coming through.

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #10

Sep 062017

Optima

  • 77,000 miles
My fiance was drivingdriving 55 down the I77 highway North getting ready to turn off the exit and she heard a loud bang. Next thing she knew she had glass all over her.the powered sunroof exploded!!!!the glass cut her hand in a few spot but thankfully she is ok and didnt wreck the vehicle and that our kids weren't in the car. My fiance called the police and said there was nothing they could do and my insurance has a 1000$$$ deductible.

- Brewster, OH, USA

problem #9

Jan 032016

Optima

  • 99,000 miles
Sunroof shattered while driving.

- Pasadena, TX, USA

problem #8

Mar 102016

Optima

  • 11,000 miles
We were on the wantagh pkwy as usual then we heard a loud explosion which sounded like the tired had blown. When arriving home we notice the sun roof had exploded and all the glass was inside of the roof. Thank god through our insurance it was fixed and replaced.....we hate to think that it would happen again. If it does Kia need to fix and replace it.

- Wantagh, NY, USA

problem #7

Jun 092016

Optima

  • 3,200 miles
I have sent in complaints on my Kia many of times and the one just came out about the latches, mine is not on the recall list. I have had the middle part of my glass crack the windshield that was and still under warranty and more but it seems I am being over looked on my car. I guess the only action to take is a class action lawsuit against Kia America. When you have the proof they still do not believe you.

- Tullahoma, TN, USA

problem #6

Sep 032015

Optima

  • 52,400 miles
Exiting hwy 71 East bound to woodward decreasing speed the vehicle in front of me had a car cut in front of her. I had a safe distance and slammed my brakes. My brakes did not grab as usual my car did not stop and I hit the vehicle in front of me. I truly believe my brake system failed. I will take my car into Kia when I get it back.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #5

Jul 122015

Optima

  • 61,900 miles
I was driving with my wife at approximately 70 mph on a flat, freshly paved highway with no overpasses or others cars nearby when all of a sudden an extremely loud crash (sounded like a gun shot) occurred right above our heads. All of a sudden the sunshade on the interior roof started flapping around wildly in the wind and hundreds of pieces of shattered glass started raining on my wife and my head and body. The sound and falling glass was so sudden and distracting that I nearly swerved off the road, but luckily was able to maintain control of the car. As my heart beat out of my chest, I quickly pulled over to the side of the highway to calm down and assess what had happened. Upon further inspection it looked like the sunroof had spontaneously exploded outward from the cabin. We have no logical explanation for why it occurred other than that it was a pre-existing manufacturing defect, which sounds consistent with other instances I have read online. Doing some additional research I found that there are apparently hundreds of cases of this occurring in Kia models and a class action lawsuit is being built. Despite all of these instances being reported I was never alerted by Kia that this was an issue or possibility. My car is in the shop now and Kia is investigating whether or not they will cover the repair costs (they better after all we went through). My wife and I both suffered several punctures/splinters on our head, arms, and legs from the tiny glass shards. My wife also received a gash/cut on her palm from a piece of glass. Kia needs to address this very serious issue before it happens to others who may not be as lucky as we were to walk away relatively uninjured.

- Mason, OH, USA

problem #4

Jun 182014

Optima

  • 9,987 miles
This started in June 2014 during the mid summer. The trunk would come open while just sitting there or come open while driving. So far no one has been hurt by it opening up while I have been driving but it could come open while I am driving and if I was to travel on the interstate at 70 mph and it was to open it could cause my back window to break or fly off and hit another car causing injuries. Last year during the night we had heavy rain the whole night and when I got up it was still raining hard and I noticed after going out the trunk was open wide. The mat in the trunk was soaking wet, back and front mats and inside where the tire goes had a little one 2 feet of water. I cannot give the dates for all of the time except 4 which was on 10-14-14 where Ford Kia had to remove the water and dry out parts. I was stuck with the bill in which I have the bill and in October 8, 17, 24 November 4,12,19,27. December $10,15.18 22, $24.31. January 2015 2, 8,15,17,18. I have contacted the dealership here about it and I was told there was nothing that could be done and I told them that the people that lived next door had a wireless key that they could open, turn on my lights inside and out and a couple that lived two doors down had a car and when they moved in that he could open his doors and such which would unlock my doors and turn on the lights and open the trunk and they said at the shop that the freq on my car cannot be changed. It seems that I got a car that many of the people can come and try their key and get inside and just push the button and take off. It happens during setting and driving so the speed I cannot state right.

- Tullahoma, TN, USA

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