Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2011 vs 2012 KIA OPTIMA

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 179 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 67.6% more reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table

Component	2011 share	2012 share	Share change
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	13.7%	2.6%	▼ 11.1 pts smaller share
STEERING	14.3%	17.0%	▲ 2.7 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES	4.8%	6.5%	▲ 1.6 pts larger share
ENGINE	35.1%	36.7%	▲ 1.6 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM	2.4%	3.9%	▲ 1.5 pts larger share
AIR BAGS	3.5%	2.3%	▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN	3.7%	4.6%	▲ 0.9 pts larger share
VISIBILITY	1.6%	2.2%	▲ 0.5 pts larger share
SUSPENSION	1.8%	1.4%	▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
TIRES	not reported	0.3%	▲ 0.3 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS	0.3%	0.5%	▲ 0.2 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	3.1%	2.9%	▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE	2.3%	2.2%	▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
WHEELS	0.8%	0.9%	▲ 0.1 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	5.3%	5.4%	▲ 0.1 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	0.2%	0.1%	▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	15.1%	19.0%	▲ 3.9 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

2011 6

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2012 6

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, and STRUCTURE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21