2012 Kia Optima vs 2012 Nissan Leaf
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Kia Optima | 2012 Nissan Leaf |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 919 | 57 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 241 | 129 |
| Investigations | 7 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 77 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–36 | 99 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 82,120 mi | 19,400 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Nissan Leaf |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 398 | 2 |
| Steering | 188 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 122 | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 52 | 22 |
| Air Bags | 48 | 11 |
| Power Train | 54 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 40 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 42 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 110 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 74 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 73 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 49 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 32 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 22 | 5 |
| Airbag warning light | 19 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 14 | 0 |
2012 Kia Optima
2012 Nissan Leaf
Compare all Kia Optima vs Nissan Leaf 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.