2012 Buick Lacrosse vs 2012 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Buick Lacrosse | 2012 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 205 | 919 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,827 | 241 |
| Investigations | 2 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 77 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 56,000 mi | 82,120 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Lacrosse | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 46 | 398 |
| Steering | 24 | 188 |
| Electrical System | 61 | 122 |
| Power Train | 24 | 54 |
| Service Brakes | 16 | 52 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 40 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 48 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 8 | 42 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 39 | 110 |
| Check engine light | 17 | 73 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 49 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 22 |
| Steering problems | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 74 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 32 |
2012 Buick Lacrosse
2012 Kia Optima
Compare all Buick Lacrosse vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.