Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
5XXGN4A73CG••••••2012 Kia OPTIMA
This build draws 1.9× more complaints than the average 2012 Kia OPTIMA build (21 vs 11).
21on this build
843on the model
75builds in total
5involved a fire
Most reportedEngine 10Service Brakes 5Hydraulic 4Electrical System 3
What owners of this build wrote
Service BrakesfireFeb 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while at a complete stop at the traffic light, she noticed that there was smoke coming from underneath the driver's side of the hood. Additionally, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The check engine warning light…
EnginefireFeb 2019
Driving home on highway about 70mph and engine just stopped. Vehicle was in drive, but coasting. Got to shoulder. Put car in park, engine would not turn over. Called tow, then noticed smoke coming from hood. Hung up, called 911 for possible fire. After hanging up with 911, smoke…
StructurefireSep 2018
I was driving my car in union nj on september 25 2018. I was on my way to pick up my next passenger doing uber. When I get to the stop light less than a mile away from the customer I start seen smoke coming from the hood of the car. I accelerate the car so I can look for a safe…
Fuel SystemfireMay 2014
While traveling from knoxville tn.we noticed the smell of gasoline while traveling on I-75.as we continued on the smell went away.we refueled in sweetwater tn. And continued on.at a redlight in madisonville we noticed the smell again.I pulled into a wendys parking lot and…
Unknown Or OtherJun 2021
When getting on oil change at myCarDoc they wrote the wrong mileage on my car so the CARFAX is off. My engine broke down randomly the other day on the highway and now I need a whole new engine..and to find out the mileage was off when getting maintenance done
Read all 21 complaints on this exact buildFull text, search by keyword, and the systems that fail most on cars built like yours.Unlock with Pro →
Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 75 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
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Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN 5XXGN4A73CG064555 · decoded Aug 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.