Used 2012 Kia Optima Consumer Reviews
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Replaced trans at 18k
sassy1866, 10/17/2013
2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love this car but at 18k miles I've had to have the transmission replaced already. As soon as I pay the car off I'm getting rid of it. It's fun to drive and looks great inside and out. But to have a major part of the replaced so soon is unacceptable. I had high hopes for Kia but it seems they have a long way to go in reliability.
A good buy with a few flaws
upacrk1, 03/14/2013
updated 03/16/2018
2012 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought a new 2012 Kia Optima LX in Snow White Pearl back in May 2012. Originally I had an issue with the driver's seat not being very comfortable. (I didn't notice this in the short test drive.) In the 9 months I've owned it, my butt seems to have gotten used to it. The acceleration is great! So good that if the roads are slick, I have to put it in ECO mode so the tires don't slip. This may also says something about the OEM Nexen tires. I haven't been driving much so far- only 4700 miles. (Try to walk/bike as much as I can). MPG per tank is 22-27 with an avg 24.5 . As expected, mileage is lower in the cold winter months. No long trips yet - can't wait to see what I'll get then! Update - almost four years out (16500 miles), the car still looks great! While they might work for most owners, the light beige colored seats are a little too light for my liking. I should have gotten the darker gray/black. Passenger seat is built a little too low and does not adjust up/down. Seat risers are available online. 2016 models now have up/down adjustment. Road noise is noticeable; could use more insulation. Driver's leg room is good and seems to be getting worse on newer similar sized cars. Heater/AC work great! Sport shift feature is fun. Music generally comes from a USB stick. Voice command software/hardware is finicky. Dash layout is good; controls very functional. Although it's been decades since I've had a flat, I was uncomfortable with the no spare/compressed air can-sealer setup. I purchased a new OEM spare tire kit online for $181. The default no spare setup leaves a lot of wasted space in the spare wheel well. Easy access to this space would have been a sensible thing to design. The sensitive electronic steering takes some getting used to and requires more attention at highway speeds. Update 2 - I finally got in a short road trip in (220 miles) and got 35 MPG! Wow! And the electronic steering issue - that's now been fixed with a software update. It's much better now. And just one last comment - a rattle that was driving me nuts (and sounded like it was coming from behind the glove box) turned out to a pair of sunglasses in the overhead eyeglass holder. The Nexen tires still leave something to be desired. Update 3 - Now September 2017 with 25K miles. I have replaced the original Nexen tires with General Altimax RT43 tires. The ride is much nicer. Dry grip is greatly improved. Waiting for some good rain and (down the road) snow to see how they work. Based on a lot of research, I expect the Generals will do well. It really pained me to replace the OEM tires so soon! :-( Engine has been replaced due to failing recall SC174. Based on not too many miles, it appears the mileage may have improved a bit after the engine replacement. Update 4 - Now March 2018 with 26700 miles. Shortly after the engine was replaced, the right front wheel bearing and axle needed to be replaced (maybe because the driveshaft nut was tightened too much during the engine swap; our area was experiencing a mechanics' strike at the time but repair work was still being done) when the suspension was found to be way too loose. Battery replaced. Finally went to a full synthetic oil change. Engine is a little quieter now. General tires have proven to be good in snow/rain.
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2012 Kia Optima for sale near you
3 of 8 listings
- EX SedanMSRP: $8,991189 mi away
- Hybrid SedanMSRP: N/A18 mi away
- EX SedanMSRP: $4,500180 mi away
See all 8 listings
Fuel Pump
slh2, 03/09/2015
2012 Kia Optima LX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Not too bad of a car other than road noise is pretty loud. It sounds like air leaking in the windows but they say there is nothing wrong with the windows. My fuel pump went out and it was $700 to fix (not covered under the warranty). The tires that come on the car are terrible in rain. I have had to use Synthetic oil since my 2nd oil change because it was low on oil. I am really not happy with this car. I have 80,000 miles on it now and I drive 100 highway miles a day. It doesnt seem like it is going to last as long as my 2003 Toyota Highland that has 299,000 miles on it and never replace the first think except tires, brakes and spark plugs. The toyota was an excellent vehicle!!!!
Terrible - Upset
Brandon, 12/07/2015
2012 Kia Optima SX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Kia Optima SX in October of 2014 with 42,000 miles. Now...November of 2015, I hit 63,000 miles and the engine just blew on the expressway. No Kia warranty as it expired, relying on a 3rd party warranty group. I provided the warranty company with all my service, oil change and maint records. It's taking a while to get updates. Future Kia buyers, ensure you do ample research and read owner reviews. I will never buy Kia again due to the fact that my model was very well maintained with Kia service dept and general car owner maintenance duties. I have friends who own Kia model between 2012-2014 and they to have had engine blew... One model Being Kia Soul. Very disappointed.
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Worst decision for a first time car buyer
Ashli, 11/13/2015
2012 Kia Optima Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid 6A)
6 of 12 people found this review helpful
I'm do disappointed with colonial Kia I bought a used 2012 Kia Optima lx at 25,000 miles I've had to replace tires twice since I bought it last year really had in rain and snow. Just recently for state inspection had to buy a whole new set of tires! Then tonight I actually made it home thank god but my car now will not start! I've poured a lot of money into this car this is my first car that I bought and it has been a horrible experience my Jetta vw that was given to me from my mom lasted longer than this :(
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- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value