10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 14
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,565 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2013 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 9)

problem #162

Jun 142024

Optima

  • miles

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

The oil feedline is gusting out oil but no where I could find a recall on this but I remember there was a recall. Could you send me the copy of the recall? Thank you.

- Orlando , FL, USA

problem #161

May 092024

Optima

  • miles
The paint on my car is peeling. It-??s pearl white.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #160

Apr 242024

Optima

  • miles
The Engine has seized up on me after leaving work on Wed April 24,2024. I have not owned this car not even 2 months. Purchased it through California Motors Direct. I have spoken with the general manager of the dealership and and he said the car has been serviced mulitple times as at Carson KIA. My car does not run at all at the time my car was seized up on me I was driving a with my baby in the car and all of a sudden my car stopped and has not been working since that day. The dealership where I purchased the car refuses to look at it stating it isn-??t there problem well there was safety recall and from what I have seen online they were not allowed to sell me a car that a big safety recall on it that has not yet been addressed. My problems first started April 24th, 2024. Recall #23V652000

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #159

Apr 092024

Optima

  • miles

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

The paint has been peeling for a starting last year. The recent rains caused a large chunk of paint to peel suddenly from the trunk. The car has the snow white pearl paint and is delaminating from the car.

- Dublin, CA, USA

problem #158

Mar 292024

Optima

  • miles
Burning smell occasionally no warning light...maybe HECU?

- Martinsburg , MO, USA

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problem #157

Mar 292024

Optima

  • miles
The vehicle is for sale at a dealership in Stafford Virginia at Pohanka Honda. How can this vehicle be for sale with a recall regarding a fire hazard. And then it states no remedy available.

- Stafford , VA, USA

problem #156

Sep 252023

Optima

  • miles

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

Manufacturer hasn't provided a remedy to recall notice issued in September 2023. For something that has a chance of catching on fire driving or Parked this should've been taken care of along time ago instead of risking peoples lives dragging this out.

- Mohawk, TN, USA

problem #155

Mar 132024

Optima

  • miles
This car is pearl white and the paint on this car bubbles up and starts peeling. It is missing paint off the hood, passenger side doors and driver side rear quarter panel.

- Center, TX, USA

problem #154

Mar 012024

Optima

  • miles
Electrical issue then engine leading to car going up in flames

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #153

Nov 142023

Optima

  • miles
We are afraid to drive this car and have lost use for over 4 months now. Received Safety Recall Notice dated Nov 14, 2023. We have made numerous calls to Doug Smith dealership in American Fork, Ut, and also to KIA Customer Care Center. No information is forthcoming to resolve the issue in getting our car repaired. It is necessary that we park in our garage, so we faithfully unhook the battery cable every single time after driving and parking to be assured that it is safe. This has been going on for 4 months now and is not a comfortable situation for myself and my elderly wife. We would like some answers with respect to a timely repair to make our car safe again.

- Mona, UT, USA

problem #152

Aug 122023

Optima

  • 160,000 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 at 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. There was smoke detected, and the vehicle burst into flames and exploded. There were no reported injuries, crashes, or air bag deployments. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The DOT was on the scene. Another motorist assisted the occupants with exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a police department tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #151

Jan 172024

Optima

  • miles
I bought my 2013 Kia optima ex from a private seller about half a year ago. I've had a few problems here and there that we're easily diagnosed and fixed. The radiator, alternator, starter, battery, serpentine belt, headlights, tail lights, licence plate light, tires, cabin air filter, and keyless start key fob have all been replaced. I just recently got my key fob(OEM) programmed by a licensed mechanic. The next day the car was perfectly fine. Ran smoothly and had no problems at all. I parked it and went to bed. Next day I get up early and start the car to warm up before I take my kids to the bus stop for school. It was between 5-7 minutes later and I went outside to the car and smelled an overwhelmingly strong plastic/chemical burning type smell coming from the car. I got in and saw that the air conditioning was on low and i turned it off, thinking the smell was because it was cold and the air needed to be off to stop the smell... I drove my son to the bus stop one block away and there was no dash light on but the smell was still there so I turned the car off and we got out of the car. After the bus got my son, I got in the car and could still smell the burning smell but tried to start it to take it home and the dash lights came on like normal then all turned off except the check engine light, oil light, battery light, key light, eps light. The car made one click noise under the hood and did not start or make any noises indicating an attempt to start. The key light the turned off but the oil, battery, engine lights remained. I turned the car back off and downloaded an app called justask to ask a mechanic about the problem and he said to call the master lube where I had gotten an oil change a few weeks prior and ask them what to do because of the oil light being on and the possibility that they overfilled it which could cause problems.i called. the oil was fine, no leaks, he has no idea why it isn't starting. So I call the mechanic. No idea what is wrong still....

- Carlsbad, NM, USA

problem #150

Sep 252023

Optima

  • miles
The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy the safety recall for my vehicle in a timely manner. There is an urgent safety recall (fire risk when parked). It is currently unsafe and unreliable to drive the car with this recall.

- Tiffin, OH, USA

problem #149

Jan 112023

Optima

  • miles
The car dealership i bought my kia from is fully aware of this safety recall, Should he have sold me the car with out telling me" Can I take this car back and get my money back"

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #148

Jul 022023

Optima

  • miles
In March 2023 car stopped in the middle of an intersection with no warning. -??Hybrid system warning-?? on dashboard lit up as well as all other lights. Dealer said repair was under warranty because of faulty spark plugs which were a safety recall. Prior to this all safety recalls were taken to dealer yet the problem still occurred. On July 2, 2023, the car stopped on the freeway. All lights lit up and the -??Hybrid system warning-?? came up. The car began to smoke. The car was towed to Kia dealer they said the water pump needed to be replaced. The water pump was replaced with a certified Kia part. The car still would not turn on. Kia replaced the battery and said the engine needed to be replaced for $9000. They said we were out of warranty (10 years by 2 months). This engine failure seems to be related to the safety recalls that Kia -??fixed.-?? I also have documentation that the warranty should be extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles but the delay refuse to make repairs under the warranty.

- La Habra, CA, USA

problem #147

Oct 012022

Optima

  • miles
Own a 2013 Kia Optima SXL with snow white paint. It is peeling horribly around the windshield pillars, and the roof. There are a few other smaller spots starting to chip away as well. This vehicle has been almost exclusivly garage kept. I have read this is a common issue experience by Kia owners with this paint specifically. Please investigate and issue a proper recall for these vehicle owners.

- Moore, OK, USA

problem #146

May 312023

Optima

  • miles
The car started doing big noises and problems for running correctly, so my mechanic found out this recall and told me to start the process but the dealer don't answer my requests.

- Los Angeles , CA, USA

problem #145

Sep 052023

Optima

  • miles
In past year replace Shock Absorbers in the rear($498), Thermostate/gasket($454), and now need code P0464 Fuel leverl Sensor circuit replaced($750)

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #144

Aug 042021

Optima

  • miles
My car paint as been chipping off. I see a lot of cars like mine in the street with the same isssue, specially Perales white kias. They look like junk cars. Paint was not good

- Madera , CA, USA

problem #143

Aug 212023

Optima

  • miles
I was turning into some parking spots so i could put my car in reverse and park closer to building i needed. I did not get a chance to putin reverse, the vehicle surged forward and was accelerating. My foot was not on the gas pedal. I was trying to brake. I turned steering wheel so I didn't hit brick building. I swiped the building and 2 vehiles on my right AND still did not stop right away. I kept on the brake and the plants, rocks, landscaping I think helped it to stop. I can get police report in few days.

- Festus, MO, USA

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