10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 16
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,853 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Kia Optima electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 4 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #64

Dec 232020

Optima

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving the car after multiple changes and recharging of alternator after engine recall. Over the course of 3 months, the car has stopped in the middle of the road twice after displaying all dashboard lights and then shutting down. This is the second time, I am getting the electrical system on this car serviced.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #63

Jan 042021

Optima

  • 110,000 miles
2013 Kia Optima in August 2019 starting stalling out and wouldn't start. Then my engine starting knocking. My car would still start but would only go 20-30 mph while make knocking engine noises. Took my Kia Optima to the Kia dealership. They replaced the engine due to recall. But didn't replace the starter, after I got my car back my starter went out completely! my car won't start. Dec 2020 took my Kia to Kia dealership. They told me it was my starter. I have to pay $800 for starter replacement. I told them I had the extended warranty for the engine recall. Found out Kia replaced 5 out 7 starters when they replaced the engine due to recall. But they won't replace my starter because it's been over a year from the engine replacement. I told them my cars been parked the entire year 2020 due to covid and I thought I just needed a battery. I bought a battery but my car still would start. I know my starter was damaged due to my engine and oil leak due to recall & Kia should replace the starter under the engine warranty for the recall. My cars still at the dealership and I don't have $800 to fix the starter. My steering wheel was shaking and making noises, I paid Kia to fix it 2020 now I found there's a cuff link recall and Kia will reimburse me. I keep having trouble with 2013 Kia Optima! I will never buy a Kia again! buyer beware!

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #62

Dec 202020

Optima

  • 15 miles
I left work one night and started fine and was driving normal for about 10-15 miles then every single light came on the dash board then couldn't accelerate anymore! it dropped in like 15mph increments until it finally rolled to a stop! I cut the car off and ever since it cut off it hasn't cut back on since me and cousin looked and seen no obvious problems but think the motor locked up completely!

- Asheboro, NC, USA

problem #61

Aug 132020

Optima

  • 0 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

It started with the head lights going out then shortly after that was fixed the car would shudder start. The clock would show 000 as if the car was brand new and needed the time placed on the clock the same thing was happening to the speedometer. Then the car just wouldn't not start at all. The lights would come on it would also click but not turn over. We tried jumping the car that worked for a while but now the no start is staring to be consistent.

- Red Lion, PA, USA

problem #60

Nov 162020

Optima

  • 76,000 miles
I was coming of the freeway when all of a sudden my car just turned itself off. Luckily I was able to manage to pull over to the side quickly enough to avoid any collision. I tried to change the starter because I was told that was bad. It hasn't been able to start up again since it first stopped on me.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #59

Nov 132020

Optima

  • 70,000 miles
I was sitting in my car and it caught on fire under the hood, the fire department thinks it was something electrical. It was in park while I was dropping someone off who was getting out of my car

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #58

Aug 082020

Optima

  • 181,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Turner Kia diagnosis my vehicle of overheating condition revealed combustion gasses getting into coolant. Internal issue allowing combustion pressure to get into cooling system which is hampering cooling efficiency as well as causing areaction off coolant. When I drove the car half way on the highway it started to smoke after I just got it back from turner Kia after fixing what they said was the problem after that I took it back to turner Kia and they diagnosis it as needing a new engine.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #57

Sep 202020

Optima

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the horn was depressed and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. The contact contacted taylor Kia of lima located at 2100 N cable rd, lima, oh 45805, (567) 712-6604) who were unable to retrieve a diagnostic fault code for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

- Lima, OH, USA

problem #56

Sep 092020

Optima

  • miles
The motors on all my windows went out and my steering wheel wheel shakes and rattles really bad, it's concerning

- Benton, AR, USA

problem #55

Apr 272020

Optima

  • 102,000 miles
I was driving on a main road about 50 miles an hour when car lost ability to accelerate, lights and everything were still on. I was able to coast to a side street to pull over and park the car. I shut it off and then when I tried to restart it black smoke with an electrical type smell came from under the hood. Kia dealership said motor was seized and replaced it under a recall. Then they said it needed fuel pump and battery (which battery was only 6 months old), so I had both replaced. I drove for 2 days and had trouble starting the car so I took back to dealership. They said it needed a starter and an electrical assessment for a short, as starter began smoking with the vehicle not even running. Now they are saying it needs a new junction box/fuse box over $2900 and may have been related to other problems but not covered and I will have to pay. I have already paid $900+ dollars for fuel pump, I exchanged the battery where I originally bought it, and $493 for starter. I dont understand why the junction box would randomly fail or short and need replacement, unless it was part of the original black smoke electrical smell that happened when engine seized in the first place.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #54

Sep 122020

Optima

  • 84,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving a long distance on the highway and the vehicle slowed down on its own as all the warning lights flickered. The contact mentioned that he saw smoke and fire through the rear view mirror. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle. The contact stated it was difficult to exit the vehicle since all electrical functions failed. The entire front of the vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived and extinguished the flames. It was unknown if a police or fire report filed. The fire department informed the contact there was a electrical failure within the engine. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The dealer and manufacturer had not been contacted yet and contact was unaware if the vehicle had been declared totaled by his insurance. The failure mileage was 84,800.

- Sumter, SC, USA

problem #53

Jul 102020

Optima

  • 128,000 miles
When istart my vehicle, sometimes the radio does not come on, so I have to pull the fuse and place it back in. Also, I cannot excel past 40mph, otherwise it stalls. The dealership stated I needed a new engine. I was stranded in Wyoming, so I had to lease a new Kia. I still owe on my 2013 Optima, which is not drivable. I did not want a new vehicle. I'm very frustrated.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #52

Aug 242020

Optima

  • 110,000 miles
I was driving then the car shutoff almost causing an accident. It stated hybrid system warning do not drive. The car will not start and gets a few gauge lights.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #51

May 232020

Optima

  • 70 miles
So from the start I bought the car $5000 cash from a dealership who promised a 3 month warranty 3 weeks into having the car I decided to take a road trip for my graduation party from high school I'm about 2 hours out from my city going down the highway car just stops accelerating and flashing a engine light while I'm on a one way highway tractor trailers and cars are going 80mph behind meanwhile my car can't accelerate luckily I was able to pull over without losing my life so I call the dealership and he hangs up and says there's nothing he can do there's no warranty at all and I'm just in shock I'm stranded on the highway with no one near me that I know so I end up paying the tow truck $600 to go back to my city take the car to mechanic he says it's the knock sensor he ' fixed' it on the way home from picking it up from the mechanic I was driving on the highway again the car does the same exact thing but this time it was worse because cars was right behind me almost hit me and swerved and almost took there own life and my car just won't accelerate anymore and sounds horrible knocking sound while cars are coming straight behind me I pulled over eventually got it towed back to the mechanic after paying him he says he's still trying to fix it I honestly just want to be safe in my car that was supposed to get me to college now im out of a car and college funds due to fixing the car and can't even go due to lack of safety on vehicle it was very traumatizing and impacting on my life.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #50

Aug 132020

Optima

  • 160,000 miles
My car quits while driving. Warning lights flash often on dashboard even after

- West Memphis, AR, USA

problem #49

Aug 082020

Optima

  • 710,000 miles
I was riding down the road car just stopped after stopped try to crank again wouldn't crank when it did crank it had no power sputtered

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #48

Jun 232020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
While driving on the turnpike the car completely shut off. Prior to shutting off, the battery, oil and transmission icon appeared on the dashboard. Thankfully I was able to merge over into the side lane safely because the breaks along with the steering suddenly became difficult to control. After placing the car into park and removing the keys from the ignition, I attempted to restart it. It started, so I continued heading home. Approximately driving another 12 miles, the same thing happened again. The only difference this time was upon restarting it, a weird knocking noise came from underneath the hood, so I shut the car off. I waited about 5 minutes to restart it and it started right up, so I continued heading home. Today, once again while driving, the car shut off. Same knocking, and dashboard lights. After waiting about 5 minutes, I restarted it, only to continuously hear a loud knocking noise and a vibration coming from under the hood. While accelerating, it barely moved and the noises became louder along with the vibration.this time the car was incapable of being driven. I had to get it towed directly to a Kia dealership. Good thing my car was still covered with easy care or else I wouldn't have been to get it towed. I don't even know how I am going to be able to afford whatever needs repaired. I did receive a recall notice and will attach it below.

- Hazleton, PA, USA

problem #47

Nov 012019

Optima 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the door ajar warning light remained illuminated with the doors securely locked. The contact stated that the failure caused the battery to be drained. Sparks Nissan Kia (1100 auto mall dr, monroe, la 71203, (833)255-2570) was contacted by phone, and the contact was informed that the dealer was unable to offer the repair due to the body work that was required to fix the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- West Monroe, LA, USA

problem #46

Feb 082020

Optima

  • 0 miles
I was headed to work and found my self frustrated because it took so many times to try to turn on the car. So, I had to find someone to give me a boost to get the car started because I didn't have any luck starting the car. I brought my battery to get check, perfectly fine. I brought the car to Kia and they said perfectly fine. I'm still having this problem where my car starts when ever the car wants. I don't want to drive on the highway and it shuts off when it wants, it's going to cause and accident. I need a solution

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #45

Dec 032019

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
While I was driving the car stop running while in motion on a city street.

- Jackson, MS, USA

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