2012 Kia Optima vs 2012 Nissan Maxima
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 Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 919 | 107 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 241 | 115 |
| Investigations | 7 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 77 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–36 | 22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 82,120 mi | 55,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 398 | 11 |
| Steering | 188 | 10 |
| Electrical System | 122 | 20 |
| Air Bags | 48 | 27 |
| Power Train | 54 | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 52 | 2 |
| Structure | 39 | 6 |
| 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 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 19 | 8 |
| Won’t start | 14 | 0 |
2012 Kia Optima
2012 Nissan Maxima
Compare all Kia Optima vs Nissan Maxima 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.