What breaks most · 2011 to 2017 model years
Kia Optima Hybrid problems by year
Owners have filed 187 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Optima Hybrid across model years 2011 to 2017. Three years stand out: 2012 for engine complaints, 2013 for electrical system complaints and 2011 for engine complaints. The quietest years are 2015 and 2014.
- Years to check closely: 2012, 2013, 2011
- Fewest complaints: 2015, 2014
- Complaints on file
- 1872011 to 2017, all trims
- Worst year
- 201287 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 1312 fires · 6 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 72kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 10Across 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 2 | 3 | Engine (17) | |
| 87 | 5 | 3 | Engine (57) | |
| 30 | 1 | 2 | Electrical system (15) | |
| 23 | 5 | 0 | Engine (11) | |
| 11 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (5) | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (1) | |
| 6 | 0 | 2 | Engine (5) |
What fails on the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 66% |
57 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 17% |
15 | 2 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 10% |
9 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 10% |
9 | 1 | Shop steering parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Unknown or other | 7% |
6 | 1 | — |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 6% |
5 | 1 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 6% |
5 | 1 | Shop brakes parts for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid |
| Air bags | 5% |
4 | 2 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
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.
-
Hello my kia engine seized on the highway i get routine oil changed and maintenance done that i could prove on my car the 2012 kia optima non hybrid has this recall on the engine . Kia did not include the hybrid engines but my hybrid engine is the same engine in the recall as the non hybrids
-
Vehicle would't start the engine randomly. Kia dealer wasnt able to find the issue since i brought my vehicle in and it was running at that time. Randomly shows hybrid system is not properly working.
-
Ecu malfunction causing misfire in cylinder one resulting in ignition coil melting and and causing electrical fire in engine bay while in motion on local street. Vehicle is now inoperable.
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 30, 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, 2013, 2011 carry the most filings on the Kia Optima Hybrid. The 2012 alone has 87 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 57 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 72,000 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.