10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,520 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2013 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Oct 012019

Optima

  • miles

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

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIM. I have changed the bulbs and you can not see out of this vehicle at night. I have checked to see if there is a recall or something. A lot of people have issue with this year make and model of this vehicle. The other problem I am having is the paint peeling with the Snow white color of my vehicle. Large spots of paint is coming off and missing. this vehicle is kept under the carport. Yet, large spots of paint comes off.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #29

Jul 102019

Optima

  • miles
The hid headlights. Specifically low beams go dim.They are so dim you can not drive safely at night. Change the bulbs and still the same issue.My understanding the reflector housing on the projector gets worn out and does reduce the light output of low beams. This is a driving hazard at night.this issue affecting the sx and sxl models with hid projector headlights.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #28

Mar 162023

Optima

  • miles
The center console power supply is faulty, does not charge or hold usb port. The white paint on my car began to chip in large amounts.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #27

May 201989

Optima

  • miles

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

Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.

- Hoopa, CA, USA

problem #26

Mar 272019

Optima

  • miles
The reflectors on the low beam headlights have degraded to the point it has failed Virginia state inspection. The safety of myself and others is impacted by reduced nighttime visibility. Distance of vision at night is reduced to only as much distance as the parking lights provide. The dealer has inspected and rejected the vehicle from passing Virginia State inspection and is now not lawfully allowed to be driven. There were no warning lamps to indicate a failure.

- North Chesterfield, VA, USA

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problem #25

Feb 062023

Optima

  • miles
Headlights are dangerously dim. Won-??t pass inspection and I-??ve changed bulbs multiple times

- Brighton, MA, USA

problem #24

Jan 202021

Optima

  • miles

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

I have been having electrical/lighting issues for about a year. It initially started with the inside lights intermittently flashing when opening the door or attempting to use the interior lights; however sometimes the automatic interior lights did not come on at all when set to automatically turn on when a door opened, but now the lights don-??t come on at all when opening the door. I have also had some headlight and dashboard lights going on and off while driving. I have experienced this on at least 3 occasions since last June or July. I have done some of my own testing by switching the lights to different functions, on and off, etc. Because it has only happened 3 times I-??m not sure exactly what the issue is and scared that at some point, they won-??t work at all. This is very concerning and obviously a safety issue. In addition, just recently my interior speaker system began having issues when using the hands free call option. With every call I make or take while using the hands free option, the call goes in and out constantly and consistently. It doesn-??t happen to those on the other end of the line. It does this every time for about the past month. The speakers work fine when listening to the radio. My phone works perfectly through the regular calling option or on the speaker option but that is not ideal while driving. As new issues continue to pop up, increase, progressively get worse, I-??m concerned there could be other current or future electrical problems in the engine or in regular safe functioning of the car leading to melting, fire, or a malfunction while driving, causing catastrophic results.

- Meridian, ID, USA

problem #23

Sep 292022

Optima

  • miles
The chrome finish on the inside of the low beam headlight reflectors has disintegrated resulting in very dim, almost unusable headlight light output. The dealer states while the manufacturer has a tsp and warranty extension (WTY014) on Korean-built Optimas for this MY it does not apply to American-built Optimas - despite the headlight being manufactured in Korea on the US models and it having the exact same issue. This extension should apply to all Optimas during the covered MY that have this issue.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #22

Oct 082021

Optima

  • miles
The vehicle-??s headlights have been extremely dimmed for years and my wife has just -??dealt with it-??. We-??ve had all the bulbs replaced and the issue persisted. Given recent medical conditions paired with this technical oversight, this could lead to severe injury or death if not resolved. Let me also add that the headlights no longer turn on as of this morning and Kia refuses to acknowledge or claim responsibility for this because -??the issue stems from identical vehicles manufactured in South Korea and not Georgia-?? -?? even though the symptoms very identically line up to TSB Number: WTY014.

- Winder, GA, USA

problem #21

Aug 032022

Optima

  • miles
The issue is with the front turn signal harness. After, changing the right side turn signal bulb twice I brought my Kia to West Hills Kia in Bremerton, WA-??The technician informed me that the front turn signal harness was not the correct harness for this type of vehicle. The service person at West Hills suggested that I contact Kia Corporation. I had emailed Vice President Mr. Shamit Choksey, Kia corporation for the above issue.

- Silverdale, WA, USA

problem #20

Jul 192022

Optima

  • miles

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

I own a 2013 Kia Optima. The low-beam headlight was not providing proper illumination while driving at night, making it difficult to see the roadway. Took the vehicle to the local dealer, the mechanic was able to see the failure, but stated that my car was made in the US. So the Recall that is out for dimming headlights from cars made in South Korea does not apply to my car. Stated it would cost $720 per headlight assembly plus labor. The car was not repaired. The manufacturer should cover cars made in the US also if the ones in South Korea have the same problem and are being fixed.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

problem #19

Apr 202022

Optima

  • miles
My paint has been chipping really bad. Also I had a few recalls taken care of at modesto Kia once I got my vehicle back and drove it back home (about an hour and a half away) I started smelling something burning, I looked under the hood and couldn't find anything wrong so then a few days later I smelled the same thing but this time I heard a loud pop I got out and noticed my fog light had shattered, and the housing is completely burned. So now my fog lights won't work and I have to make sure the fog lights are turned off because I don't want there to be power going to the loose wires, the head lights get extremely hot to the touch the fog light got so hot it burned a hole through the bumper. Then about two weeks ago the airbag light turned on and it won't turn off, I did some research and found out that when the air bag light is on there is a huge chance the airbags won't deploy. I have a baby so I really hope that isn't the case, because if a hair on his head gets harmed because of Kia I will be suing.

- Tuolumne , CA, USA

problem #18

Feb 012020

Optima

  • 20,000 miles
When I start the car the rear break lights flicker rapidly when I press the breaks the 3rd break light won't light up at all, so the only two break light stop working, it causes the anti traction control warning light and the auto-hold warning lights to come on.

- Berwick, ME, USA

problem #17

Jan 252019

Optima

  • miles
Low beam headlights extremely low completely unusable at night tried replacing headlight bulb same issue.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #16

May 102020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 84,000 miles
On May 10, 2020 @7:32 am I was driving home from work and came to a stop light when the light turned green my car stalled and all the lights on the dashboard turned on. I pulled over and started the back up and made it home. The next day I drove about 10 miles and the car seemed fine but as I get to the stop light the car started making a grinding sound like metal and I couldn't accelerate so I pulled over and the car died in a residential area. The next morning I call aaa and had car towed back to my home. The next day aaa came out again and checked my battery, starter, and system something and they were all working good. I called steve schmitt Kia on halls ferry road and asked was there another recall on my car for the engine, the lady paused and then said "we don't have the parts yet, " she then said hold on and came back and said "we don't have any recalls on this car. On October the 1, 2019 I took my car to Kia for a recall on my motor and looking at the receipt they replaced element air filter, adjusted alignment four wheels, mount and balance 2 tires, replaced cabin air filter plus a oil change which I paid for. My car has been sitting since May 13, 2020. I frequently go out and check it and it starts and I hear a knocking sound.( engine fail)

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #15

Feb 062020

Optima

  • 172,000 miles
Driving down the road, at night, my fog lights start going on and off. I never realized how much they actually help. Car isn't under warranty so Kia will not replace. Google search shows lots of people with the same problem. Found out it could be the lcm - $80. For what looks like a [xxx] plug in. Really? come on Kia. Additionally, I was informed of a headlight recall. Called rick case Kia, again, terrible service/customer service. They dismissed me, just kept saying "there's no recall for this vehicle." Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Monroe, GA, USA

problem #14

Feb 152019

Optima

  • miles
Headlights are constantly getting dimmer, can only see about 2 feet in front of the car when driving in the rain, fog and at night. I have changed the bulbs several times thinking this was the problem but clearing it is not. There is a problem and I fear driving at night and in fog and rain for fear of safety. This needs to be recalled for the safety of the driver and the public. This all started about a year ago. I thought maybe it was my vision but my husband and son both and a mechanic have confirmed the something is clearly wrong this the lighting system in the car.

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #13

Feb 012017

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
My bake tail light keep moisture and holds water when it rains, which has caused me to replace bake light often. The seals on the lights aren't air tight. Is there a recall on this.

- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA

problem #12

May 202019

Optima

  • miles
Passenger headlight keeps burning out.

- Cape Girardeau, MO, USA

problem #11

Apr 042019

Optima

  • 99,000 miles
Oil is completely empty before 1000 miles after an oil change. Have switched to synthetic oil and used additives. Nothing has helped and I am adding at least 6-8 quarts for 3000 miles. Also the headlights are horrible. I can not see 10 feet pass my front end at night. This is extremely dangerous and new bulbs do not help. It is a known problem, but Kia could care less. Not only can I not see but I'm driving a death trap that will most likely catch fire like thousands of the 2013 have already. How do these car companies get away with this?

- Seabrook, TX, USA

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