2012 Kia Optima Service and Repair Manual

Kia sold the 2012 Optima with three distinct four-cylinder powertrains, from a turbocharged 2.0L to a full hybrid, and this factory service and repair manual is keyed to that exact split: the procedures are the ones Kia published for your year, engine and trim rather than figures averaged across the range.

Engines covered

• 2.0L inline-four (122 cu in) — DOHC, turbocharged, gasoline
• 2.4L inline-four full hybrid — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
• 2.4L inline-four — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sedan

Trims covered

• EX
• Hybrid
• LX
• SX

Known issues on the 2012 Optima. Four recalls are on federal record for this model year. One covers the engine: the campaign cites machining errors during the engine manufacturing process, and bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash. A second covers fuel system hoses, lines and fittings on vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under that engine campaign, recall 17V-224, where a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. A third covers the hydraulic service brakes' antilock and traction control system, where an engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. The fourth concerns the body roof structure: the right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, and a plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury. Owners have filed 1,250 complaints for the year and Kia has issued 174 technical service bulletins.

Whether you are evaluating engine bearing noise, inspecting fuel lines after an engine replacement, or servicing the hybrid drive, this manual gives you the procedure Kia wrote for the 2012 Optima, with nothing approximated and nothing carried over from another year.