What breaks most · 2011 to 2020 model years
Kia Optima Hybrid problems by year
Owners have filed 273 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Optima Hybrid across model years 2011 to 2020. One year stands out: 2012 for engine complaints. The quietest years are 2016, 2015 and 2017.
- Years to check closely: 2012
- Fewest complaints: 2016, 2015, 2017
- Complaints on file
- 2732011 to 2020, all trims
- Worst year
- 2012109 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 1414 fires · 7 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 80kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 12Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 2 | 3 | Engine (19) | |
| 109 | 5 | 3 | Engine (72) | |
| 54 | 1 | 2 | Electrical system (20) | |
| 31 | 5 | 0 | Engine (16) | |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (5) | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (2) | |
| 25 | 1 | 2 | Engine (15) | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | Engine (3) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (1) |
What fails on the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 66% |
72 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 18% |
20 | 2 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 9% |
10 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 8% |
9 | 1 | Shop steering parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Unknown or other | 7% |
8 | 1 | — |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 6% |
6 | 1 | Shop brakes parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 6% |
6 | 0 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 5% |
5 | 1 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
While driving my vehicle car suddenly shuts off in the highway. Big tryck was behind me. Gladly the truck wasnt going fast. Tried to push the button car turned over but didnt crank just made a sound and tge lights in dash board jumped. What is going on with my car. Driving on highway
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Kia Optima Hybrid years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2012 carries the most filings on the Kia Optima Hybrid. The 2012 alone has 109 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Kia Optima Hybrid problem?
On the 2012 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 72 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Kia Optima Hybrid problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Kia Optima Hybrid complaints that include mileage is about 80,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.