2013 Kia OPTIMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Kia OPTIMA has 1871 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 23.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (35% of all complaints), specifically: 2013 kia optima. consumer writes in regards to vehicle steering to the right *tgw the consumer also stated, sometimes the belt made a squeaky noise. he also noticed a slight hesitation when pulling off from a red light or stop sign. *jb the consumer also stated the vehicle did not come with a ke. ⚠️ 159 fire reports filed.

159 fire reports 41 crash reports 32 injuries

1871

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

23.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

650 complaints

35%

• 2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, SOMETIMES THE BELT MADE A SQUEAKY NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH A KE
• DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON A SLOW 35MPH ROADWAY AND NOTICED OPTIMA PULLS TOWARD THE CROWN (CENTER) OF THE ROAD (WHICH IS AGAINST SLOPE). DROVE VEHICLE ON 45MPH AND 60MPH ROADWAY AND SAME SITUATION. ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 3,400 MILES DUE TO PISTON #3 FAILING. BASED ON CURRENT ISSUES TO DATE
• REGARDING TO THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, VEH WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 3/15/2013 TO ADJUST THE ALIGNMENT UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT ISSUE STARTING AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 3,400 BY THE DEALER. LEFT THE DEALER AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOW TURNED TO THE LEFT AND T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 87 fire reports💥 12 crashes

“2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, SOMETIMES THE BELT MADE A SQUEAKY NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH A KE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

210 complaints

11%

• NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WANDERS (DRIFTS) LEFT OR RIGHT. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT OR SLIGHTLY RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I NO LONGER TAKE A MUG OF COFF
• ABOUT A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2013 KIA, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT BACK THAT WEEKEND TO GET AN ALIGNMENT AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T AN ALIGNMENT, BUT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS OFF. SO, THEY ADJUSTED THAT. WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING ABOVE 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WANDERS (DRIFTS) LEFT OR RIGHT. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT OR SLIGHTLY RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I NO LONGER TAKE A MUG OF COFF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

187 complaints

10%

• STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SEEM TO REACT WELL WITH TURNING OF THE VEHICLE. PARKING THE VEHICLE IS UNEVEN AND NOT ALIGNED TO THE CENTER OF PARKING STALLS. STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AS IF STEERING A BOAT ON A WATERWAY. *TR
• I HAVE FOUND THE TRACTION CONTROL TO BE TOO DRASTIC AT TIMES. WHEN PULLING ON TO A HIGHWAY THERE IS USUALLY A SMALL BUMP (DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT, ABOUT 2", BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE PARKING AREA). IF I'M ACCELERATING (WHICH YOU USUALLY HAVE TO DO TO GET ONTO A BUSY ROAD), WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER THE "S
• I HAD MY OIL CHANGE AND TWO DAYS LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO PIT STOP 500 AND HE'S SAID IT WAS LOW SO HE CHECK THE CAR SAID HE DIDN'T SEE ANY OIL LEAKS IF THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN TAKE IT TO KIA. WHEN I LEFT THERE WHILE I WAS DRIVING I COULD SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT MY P

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 15 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SEEM TO REACT WELL WITH TURNING OF THE VEHICLE. PARKING THE VEHICLE IS UNEVEN AND NOT ALIGNED TO THE CENTER OF PARKING STALLS. STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AS IF STEERING A BOAT ON A WATERWAY. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

146 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD NOT BLOW COLD AIR. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THEY HAD NOT DETERMINED A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
• CAR SOMETIMES WILL NOT START WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED & ING SWITCH IS PRESSED ??? *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 21 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD NOT BLOW COLD AIR. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THEY HAD NOT DETERMINED A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

126 complaints

• THIS IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CARPET HAS WORN THROUGH (THREADBARE) JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SEAT. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND THE REP TOLD ME IT HAPPENS WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE SIX FEET TALL. THE SPOT THAT IS WORN IS ON A RAISED SURFACE (COVER?) OF SOME SORT. A REDESIGN TO PLACE A HEAY DUTY
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. TH
• THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EXPLODED OUT WARDS RAINING BROKEN GLASS DOWN ON MY HEARD. THE CAR WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT AND NO CARS WERE AHEAD OF ME ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS A SLIGHT CREAKING NOISE AND THEN A VIOLENT EXPLOSION LEAVING AN UP TURNED CRATER IN THE GLASS ROOF. THE CAR IS CU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 11 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“THIS IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CARPET HAS WORN THROUGH (THREADBARE) JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SEAT. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND THE REP TOLD ME IT HAPPENS WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE SIX FEET TALL. THE SPOT THAT IS WORN IS ON A RAISED SURFACE (COVER?) OF SOME SORT. A REDESIGN TO PLACE A HEAY DUTY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1871 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, SOMETIMES THE BELT MADE A SQUEAKY NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH A KE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WANDERS (DRIFTS) LEFT OR RIGHT. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT OR SLIGHTLY RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I NO LONGER TAKE A MUG OF COFF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SEEM TO REACT WELL WITH TURNING OF THE VEHICLE. PARKING THE VEHICLE IS UNEVEN AND NOT ALIGNED TO THE CENTER OF PARKING STALLS. STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AS IF STEERING A BOAT ON A WATERWAY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD NOT BLOW COLD AIR. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THEY HAD NOT DETERMINED A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)