Page 25 of 28 · complaints 1,201–1,250 of 1,387

2013 Kia Optima complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →

Steering
Filed Dec 1, 201645,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED IN EITHER DIRECTION AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WOULD CORRECT THE CONDITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Engine
Filed Nov 22, 201657,628 milesOH

TOOK CAR TO DEALER A MONTH AGO FOR SIREN NOISES AS I EXCELERATED. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY TURBO CASING THAT CAME OPEN AND THAT THEY CLOSED IT FOR ME. I CALLED THEM AN HOUR LATER AFTER I HAD LEFT TO TELL THEM IT WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE THEY SAID IT WILL AND SHOULD MAKE THE NOISE. TOOK THE CAR BACK TODAY FOR SAME ISSUE AND FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT BEING IN NOW FOR A 6 DAYS. NOW THEY TELL ME I HAVE SLUDGE IN MY ENGINE AND WILL BLOW AT ANY TIME SO I NEED A NEW ENGINE AND WILL LET ME KNOW IF WARRANTY WILL COVER IT OR NOT. I'M NOT EVEN AT 60K MILES YET BUT THEY SAY I'M ALMOST EXPIRED FOR WARRANTY. I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW END OF JANUARY 2013. THE NOISE WAS HAPPENING WHEN STATIONARY, AND WHEN EXCELERATING TO DRIVE AND SPEED UP WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC.

EngineCrashFire
Filed Nov 18, 201666,105 milesNM

MY VEHICLE IS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA AND TODAY A VERY HORRIBLE AND SCARY SITUATION HAPPENED TO ME ON HIGHWAY I-25. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND GOING AROUND 68MPH I NOTICED MY OIL LIGHT START FLICKERING, AT THIS POINT I TRYED TO SLOW AS MUCH AS I COULD BUT THWRE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALMOST TO THE NEAREST OFF RAMP I HEARD A LOUD POP AND I LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS WHATEVER POPPED PUSHED ME TO THE RIGHT, I SOON REGAINED CONTROL AND I COULD HEAR SOMETHING DRAGGING AND IT FALLING OFF. I APPROACHED THE OFF RAMP ON THE SHOULDER WHERE MY VEHICLE STAYED DISABLED UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. A PASSER BY STOPPED TO SEE IF I WAS ALRIGHT AND SAID THAT MY CAR WAS EMMITING FLAMES FROM THE CONNECTING ROD I WAS DRAGGING. MY MACHANIC HAD A LOOK AND SAID "WOW, YOU DEFINITELY THREW A ROD. YOU'RE LUCKY IT DIDN'T COME IN YOUR DIRECTION OR AT ANOTHER VEHICLE." I SEARCHED FOR A RECALL AND FOUND OUT A BIT OF INFORMATION REGARDING THIS EXACT ENGINE WITH BOTH KIA AND ALSO HYUNDAI. KIA SENT OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT HYUNDAI IS DOING A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT ENGINE BECAUSE IT IS FAULTY TO BEGIN WITH. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THERE A LOT OF KIA CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN WHICH A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS CREATED. THIS FAULTY ENGINE IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD TO THE STREETS AND HIGHWAY AND ITS A MATTER OF TIME FOR ALL OF THE CARS WITH THESE ENGINES TO HAVE FAILURE. PLEASE! WE NEED THESE CARS RECALLED SO THEY CAN BE FIXED AND NOT ON THE ROAD WAITING

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 14, 201667,000 milesIA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, WATER WAS OBSERVED IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALANT AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS WAS FAILING. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Engine
Filed Nov 11, 201668,000 milesNC

I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA GDI ENGINE, I HEAR A NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND LATTER STAR WITH SMOKE LIKE BURNING OIL, THE ENGINE BLOAT

Steering
Filed Nov 9, 201660 milesKS

I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I AM HAVING STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. THIS NEEDS TO BE ON RECALL!!!!! I AM A LITTLE OVER 60,000.00. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE POSSIBLE LAWSUIT. I CALLED KIA TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SHE SAID THIS SOUNDS NORMAL AND I NEED TO BRING IT IN TO DO A COMPUTER RESET. I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS. NOT HAPPY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ON RECALL!!!!!!!!

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Nov 3, 201650,000 milesMO

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 1, 201680,000 milesTX

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER'S SHOP THINKING THAT MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS. COME TO FIND OUT THE CONNECTING ROD HAS A DEFECT AND THE WARRANTY IS NULL AND VOID BECAUSE ITS TECHNICALLY NOT CONSIDERED DAMAGED....................I SAID EXACTLY WHAT YOU THE READER WOULD OF SAID. IT WASN'T PRETTY. THINKING ABOUT LAWYERING UP. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 25, 2016OH

I BOUGHT MY NEW/USED 2013 KIA OPTIMA AT THE END OF JUNE 2016 WITH NO IDEA THAT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR HAD SUCH ISSUES. THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN NICELY. I AM A VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVER SO I RARELY TOOK THE RPMS UP PAST 2.5 WHEN TAKING OFF. ONE DAY, NOT EVEN 90 DAYS INTO OWNING MY KIA, I HOPED ON THE HIGHWAY. IN ORDER TO SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC I HAD TO ACCELERATE UP TO 3.5 RPMS TO REACH SPEED OF 65MPH. WHEN I DID I HEARD A STRANGE ALMOST CLICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND GRAY SMOKE POURING FROM THE BACK END OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. JUST BACK OFF THE EXIST NEXT TO MY GYM WAS A GARAGE. I CAREFULLY MANAGED TO GET MY CAR THERE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE DEVASTATING NEWS (THAT I'VE LEARNED NOW SO MANY KIA OPTIMA OWNERS HAVE FACED)...A BLOWN ENGINE. KIA HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WITH SUCH LIMITATIONS THAT THEY RARELY ACTUALLY COVER THE ACTUAL REPAIR. I'VE TAKEN MY KIA TO THE DEALER (PER KIA CUSTOMER AFFAIRS REQUEST) FOR THEM TO TELL ME THE SAME THING AND NOW, BECAUSE KIA WON'T WARRANTY IT DUE TO EXEMPTIONS ON THEIR "EXTENDED" WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER $300. I HAVE A NOTE ON THIS CAR FOR 72 MONTHS. I'VE ONLY MADE 3 PAYMENTS! NO ONE CAN HELP ME AND I'M NOT THE ONLY KIA OWNER FACING THIS DILEMMA. THE ROD THAT IS DEFECTIVE IS CAUSING ISSUES WITH THE OIL WHICH IS ALLOWING METAL FLAKES TO ENTER THE ENGINE. THUS CAUSE SEIZURES IN THE MOTOR AND ENGINE FAILURE. AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIES CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Oct 25, 201667,000 milesTX

THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. DRIVEN DAILY TO AND FROM WORK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY WARNING. CAUGHT FIRE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF TURNING OFF ENGINE.

Power Train
Filed Oct 21, 201682,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE MOTOR OIL AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS AND TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Engine
Filed Oct 21, 2016130,500 milesNV

I WAS DIVING ON THE I-15 UP THE BAKER GRADE AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLE SOUND AND THEN A LARGE BANG AND THEN SHUT OFF. NO POWER TO TRY TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A BIG RIG. ONCE GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OPENED THE HOOD AND OIL AND SMOKE EVERY WHERE IT WAS 3:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING. MY MAINTENANCE RECORD ARE IMPECCABLE AND I HAD JUST PAID THE KIA DEALERSHIP OVER 700 DOLLARS FOR A TUNE UP AND OTHER SERVICES. AFTER FINALLY GETTING A 525 DOLLAR TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS GIVEN A REPORT STATING THESE CARS FROM 2011 TO 2015 HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CONNECTING ROD AND THAT ENGINES ARE SEIZING. DOCUMENT ATTACHED IS SOMETHING THE SERVICE DEPT SHOWED ME BUT I NEVER HAD SEEN IT BEFORE. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2016113,000 milesCA

HEADING UP STEEP INCLINE HWY 680 AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE CLANKING SOUND. ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AS I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE. AS I CROSSED FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC CAR DIED. MANY SEMIS COMING UP ON ME. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED 50 MILES BACK HOME AT 1AM. UPON INSPECTION. ENGINE SEIZED. MY CAR HAS HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT EVER CAME ON AND CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL THAT MOMENT. KIA SAID OUT OF WARRANTY, TOO BAD. NEW MOTOR IS NEEDED ON A 2013 CAR. CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY GARAGE TORN APART BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR.

Engine
Filed Oct 18, 201699,000 milesAZ

MY VEHICLE STARTED USING A LOT OF OIL AND WAS LOSING POWER UPON ACCELERATION. I HAD READ ONLINE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND I KEPT HOPING FOR A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE RECALL HASN'T HAPPENED AND I AM ALMOST AT 100,000 MILES. MY CAR STARTED MAKING A TICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE AND I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3 WEEKS BEFORE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS ALREADY VERY LOW. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IF I CAN GIVE THEM AT LEAST 13 RECEIPTS THEY'LL REPLACE IT UNDER THE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED. I DRIVE ALL OVER TOWN FOR WORK AND I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED WHEREVER I MAY BE. I WENT TO THE TWO PLACES THAT I HAVE GONE MOST FREQUENTLY BUT, ONE OF THEM SWITCHED THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS 3 MONTHS AGO AND ONLY HAS RECORDS FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS AND THE OTHER PLACE CHANGED OWNERSHIP A YEAR AGO AND ONLY HAS 2 RECEIPTS FOR THIS YEAR. THEY'RE SAYING THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET.

Engine
Filed Oct 9, 201657,000 milesAZ

IN MARCH OF 2016 MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA DIED AT AN INTERSECTION IN TOWN. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY MALFUNCTION, (NO LIGHTS, NO ABNORMAL BEHAVIORS), BUT THE OIL LIGHT DID COME ON VERY BRIEFLY RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. I PUT GAS AND 1 QUART OF OIL IN THEN JUMPED THE BATTERY AND DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. KIA INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY AND THAT MY OIL WAS TOO THICK, DIRTY, AND VISCOUS AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND HAVE A SPECIAL TREATMENT PUT IN THE CAR, (SEAFOAM), TO HELP CLEAN THE ENGINE OUT. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN 500 TO 1000 MILES (AGAINST MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS), TO FLUSH THE TREATMENT OUT OF THE ENGINE AND CHANGE THE OIL AGAIN. WE RETURNED WITH THE CAR A LITTLE OVER 500 MILES LATER AND KIA INFORMED US THAT IT NEEDED ANOTHER SPECIAL TREATMENT BECAUSE THE OIL REREMAINED DIRTY SO THEY PUT ANOTHER TREATMENT IN THE CAR AND THEN INSTRUCTED US TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN IN 500 TO 1000 MILES BUT AFTER 4 DAYS THE CAR STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SOON AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RUINED ALL TOGETHER DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTING ROD BEARING IN THE CRANKSHAFT. WHEN WE DRAINED THE OIL 4 DAYS AFTER KIA CHANGED IT , IT WAS BLACK, THIN LIKE WATER AND FULL OF DIRT AND SEDIMENT. AFTER THE LOUD ENGINE NOISES BEGAN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO KIA WHO THEN INFORMS ME IT WOULD COST ANOTHER $350 TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. FEELING LIKE THEY HAD TREATED THE ENGINE IMPROPERLY ALR

Engine
Filed Oct 4, 201640,000 milesMS

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN MAY 2016. I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE OIL CHANGE AND THE CAR HAS 40,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND I COASTED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND NO OIL WAS INSIDE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO OIL LEAKS BUT THEY WON'T PAY

Engine
Filed Oct 3, 201670,000 milesOK

GDI ENGINE BURNS OIL, CONNECTING ROD FAILED. WHITE SMOKE, AND MAKES WEIRD NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN GETS TO 60MPH

Engine
Filed Sep 30, 201632,000 milesIL

AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW WE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. WHEN YOU TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STOPPED YOU WOULD GET A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND THE VEHICLE JUST NOW HAS 43,000 MILES. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN HAS BEEN AN ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE THAT STARTED TO OCCUR AT JUST OVER 35,000 MILES WHEN YOU START VEHICLE. WE HAD BROUGHT OUR VEHICLE TO LIBERTYVILLE KIA IN LIBERTYVILLE, IL FOR OUR PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE WHAT WE ARE HEARING. THE SERVICE MANAGER VERBALLY TOLD ME TO WAIT FOR IT TO GET WORSE THAT IT IS HARD TO GET KIA TO COVER THIS KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEM. AFTER REACHING OUT TO KIA WITH THIS ENGINE PROBLEM AND GETTING NO HELP EXCEPT THEM BLAMING US FOR LACK OF OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. WHICH WAS ABSURD WHEN WE ONLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA FOR SERVICE SINCE PURCHASING NEW. FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE LISA MADIGAN TO GET HELP WITH THIS AND KIA HAS BOTCHED THEIR RECORDS AND STILL SDAYS WE HAVE NOT MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. BUYERS OF KIA AND HYUNDAI I STRONGLY URGE TO THINK AGAIN. I HOPE EVERYONE THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS GET THE HONEST HELP THEY DESERVE.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 26, 201640,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSED, THE REAR CAMERA FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 26, 2016129,000 milesTX

OPTIMA'S DRIVER'S-SIDE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING AND THE BACK SEAT MIDDLE SEAT BELT, (RARELY USED), STOPPED WORKING DUE TO INABILITY TO CLICK (LOCK) INTO PLACE. CAR IS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA GDI & IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT SEEN & KNOWN.

Engine
Filed Sep 23, 201679,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CONNECTOR ROD IN THE ENGINE THAT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

Engine
Filed Sep 22, 201657,000 milesMD

SAME ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE. SHOWED RECEIPTS OF CONSISTENT OIL CHANGES AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY DUE TO SLUDGE. THE DEALER SAID THEY CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT THE REGIONAL MANAGER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WORK.

Engine
Filed Sep 13, 201683,314 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ON AN INCLINE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,314. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 10, 2016TX

DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR CENTERED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS BECOME JERRY WITH SMALL MOVEMENTS. TENDENCY TO PULL HARD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHTS. STEERING WHEEL JENKS WHEN TRAVELING ON ERROR ANY SIZE BUMP IN ROAD. BACK UP CAMERA CUTS IN AND OUT. NEVER OBTAIN EPAULETS FUEL MILAGE ESTIMATES.

Engine
Filed Aug 12, 201665,929 milesMD

WHEN IDELING THE ENGINE WOULD START SPUTTERING. MECHANICS SAID IT NEED AN OIL CONTROL VALUE AND IT MAY FIX IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT, BECAUSE I COULDN'T PRODUCE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS. I TOOK THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT AS SOON AS I GOT IN THE CAR THE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. ONCE I GOT THE CAR HOME AND DROVE IT FOR ONE DAY THE CAR WOULD BE RUNNING AND JUST SHUT OFF.WHEN TURNING OR IDELING. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER KIA MECHANIC THEY PUT IN THE OIL CONTROL VALUE (SOME HOW IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY). THE MECHANICS SAID IT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW KIA IS SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AND KIA WILL NOT REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAID SINCE I COULD NOT PRODUCE ALL THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE RECORDS THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I CALL KIA CORP, AND ESP WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. AT THIS TIME I FILLED A COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION. I HAVE GOTTEN A HOLD OF A NON-KIA MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS HEARD THE KIA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES.

Steering
Filed Aug 9, 201630,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SUDDENLY BEGAN JERKING AND STICKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

EngineCrash5 injured
Filed Aug 3, 201633,600 milesCA

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HAS HAD DIFFICULTY REMAINING IN A SRAIGHT LINE ON THE FREEWAY. TENDS TO PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. THE RATE OF TRAVEL IS APROX. 45-65MPH. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH "OVERSTEERING" WHEN I ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE CENTER OF THE LANE. I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY OTHER CAR FOR 29YRS, AND I ASSUMED THAT NEWER CARS MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERNT, SUCH AS BEING MORE SENSITIVE WITH STEERING. I HAVE ALMOST HAD A COLLISION ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THERE ARE ALSO BLIND SPOTS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE KIA OTIMA. THIS TIME I DID END UP IN COLLISION BECAUSE OF BLINDSPOTS AND OVERSTEERING IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR NEXT TO ME, AND INSTEAD HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME ON THE OTHER LANE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR WAY THIS OCCURRED FROM SENSETIVE OVERSTEERING. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT, I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA STATING THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD LIKE TO TRADE UP TO THE KNEW KIA OPTIMA. THE EMAIL STATED THEY HAD NEW FEATURES; SUCH AS CAMERAS FOR BLIND SPOTS. THIS MADE ME AWARE THAT KIA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SERIOUS .BLINDSPOTS. THE CAR WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO RUMBLE, AND I BELIEVED IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE,IN FACT QUITE SURE IT WAS FROM THE ENGINE. I ALSO HAD RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM KIA, STATING THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINES FROM CERTAIN YEARS OF THE KIA OPTIMA MY CAR WAS WITHIN THE YEARS STATED. IT STATED THEY WOULD HONOR THIS PROBLEM IF YOU KEPT THIS LETTER IN YOUR CAR, WHEN BRINGING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I WAS

Engine
Filed Jul 25, 201665,013 milesMD

CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES, HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. FOUND SLUDGE IN ENGINE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY.

Power Train
Filed Jul 25, 201664,837 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEARS FAILED. THE CONTACT USED THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,837. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Engine
Filed Jul 19, 201648,000 milesNV

CAR WAS RUNNING FINE OR SO I THOUGHT AND @ 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING MY OIL CHANGED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE EXHAUST/SMOKE AND MY SON AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BAD GAS OR CLOGGED INJECTORS. WE DROVE IT TO AZ AND BACK TO NV. CAR SEEMED TO RUN OK AT THAT POINT THEN MY DAUGHTER TOOK IT TO CA AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND FINALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE TOOK IT TO A JIFFYLUBE WHERE THEY SAID IT HAD NO OIL. WHAT?!?!?! THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED AT 47,000 MILES. PUT 4 QTS IN AND TOOK IT AAA TO RUN AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC. SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE ACCORDING TO THE CODE THEY GOT AND RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. WRONG AGAIN.. DAUGHTER DROVE AWAY AND SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO AAA WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM AND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SLUDGE EVERYWHERE IN THE ENGINE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AS SCHEDULED. WAITING TO HEAR WHAT KIA IS GOING TO DO, BUT FROM THE SOUNDS OF THE PRIOR COMPLAINTS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I CAN'T AFFORD $5,000+ TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY CAR. THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS. THEY NEED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY FOR THEIR [XXX] ENGINES. *TR 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).

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 13, 201655,000 milesGA

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD WITH MY SON AND A FRIEND, GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY AT NOON, WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT COME FROM THE MOON ROOF CAUSING ME TO SWERVE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ASSESS THE SITUATION, WE FOUND THAT THE MOON ROOF HAD "EXPLODED" CAUSING THE ENTIRE THING TO CRACK AND REMAIN CRACKING, CAUSING TINY SHARDS OF GLASS TO FORM. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY UNDRIVEABLE.

Engine
Filed Jul 9, 201645,000 milesOK

SLUDGE IN ENGINE 45,000 MILES. WARRANTY WONT COVER AND APPARENTLY SERVICE CAMPAIGN MEANS NOTHING

Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2016103,000 milesSD

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND I COULD HEAR A CLANGING NOISE, I STOPPED AND PARKED AND IT WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY. STILL CAN'T DRIVE IT.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 15, 201665,000 milesFL

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY SINCE 2014 I CALLED WHEN IT ORIGINALLY STARTED TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS AND THEIR WASNT. THE CAR IS DEAD DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE IF YOU LEAVE IT FOR A MORE THAN 3-4 HOURS FOR EXAMPLE DRIVE IT TO WORK AND HAVE TO GET A JUMP AT THE END OF THE (5) SHIFT. IT IS WILL STOP FOR A WHILE THEN THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. IT STOPPED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND NOW IT HAS STARTED AGAIN

Engine
Filed May 31, 201652,000 milesCA

THE KIA OPTIMA I PURCHASED HAD LOW MILEAGE ONLY 46K BOUGHT IT ON MARCH 2016 WITH CARFAX SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING UP TO 26K MILES ON 5/4/15. APPERANTLY MY ENGINE HAD SLUDGE AND KIA IS VOIDING THERE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE. MY TURBO AND ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WITH IN A YEAR A CAR CSNIBEAT DEVELOPED SO MUCH SLUDGE, SEEMS THE CAR HAD ALREADY STARTED COLLECTING SLUDGE EVEN WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. KIA NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION AND HONOR THERE WARRANTY. NOW I CAN GO PASSED 40 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE LACK OF POWER

Steering
Filed May 5, 2016MD

-1ST PROBLEM- HEADLIGHTS/ FOG LIGHTS SEEM TO BURN OUT WAY TOO OFTEN. I'VE OWNED CARS FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BULBS AS OFTEN AS I DO WITH THIS CAR. -2ND PROBLEM- STEERING SEEMS TO BE DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON ROAD AND WHEEL SEEMS TO BE STICKING. I FIND MYSELF OVER-CORRECTING TO "UNLOCK" THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE A LONG DAILY COMMUTE, 184 MILES ROUND TRIP, SO MY 3 YEAR OLD CAR HAS OVER 100,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND NEVER HAD THE STEERING PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. OTHER THAN THOSE 2 THINGS, THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT WITH GREAT GAS MILEAGE, GOOD RIDE, ETC. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PROBLEM SCARES ME NOW.

Steering
Filed Apr 30, 201641,000 milesFL

AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH, AFTER KIA PERFORMED AND ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES INSTALLED, THE STEERING REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION. THERE ALSO APPEAR TO BE ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT TAKES ALOT OF WORK CORRECTING THE STEERING.

Steering
Filed Apr 23, 201655,000 milesAL

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN BARELY TURNING LEFT TO RIGHT, AND ALSO SHAKES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE CLUNK NOISE OCCURS ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN IN PARK AND TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT. FEELS AS THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING GOING BAD IN THE STEERING SHAFTS OR COLUMN.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 23, 2016IL

AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Mar 16, 201623,000 milesPA

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE ROOF WAS OPEN AND THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND APPROACHING 70*.

Engine
Filed Feb 24, 201641,900 milesWI

BLOWN ENGINE

Steering
Filed Feb 10, 201610 milesIL

EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR, NEW I HAVE NOTICED A TUGGING OR PULLING WHEN I AM DRIVING OR TURNING. THE STEERING SEEMS TO 'STICK' AND SOMETIMES CAUSES ME TO OVER TURN. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS 'IT'S PART OF THE CAR'. I DON'T AGREE AND FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I SEE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE OF THE SAME ISSUE.

Steering
Filed Feb 8, 201615,000 milesGA

STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN MIDDLE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MAKES A CLICK WHEN IT BREAKS LOOSE. CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD STRAIGHT DRIVING

Steering
Filed Feb 4, 201618,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY A LITTLE BIT OF FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

Engine
Filed Jan 12, 201656,337 milesLA

PURCHASED A USED 2013 OPTIMA WITH 24,952 MILES ON 3/13/14. COMPLETED SCHEDULED 7500 MILE OIL CHANGES WITH SOME ONE OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP. AT 56337 MILES, THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A CLATTERING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. SOON AFTER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATLY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO DEALSHIP AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER 4 HOURS OF WAITING, SERVICE TECH TOOK ME TO THE BACK AND SAID I HAD SLUDGE IN MY OIL AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED ON SCHEDULE. I ARGUED THE POINT KNOWING I HAD ALL CHANGES DONE. HE GAVE ME OTHER REASONS ...CHEAP OIL, WRONG OIL, ETC. DID SOME RESEARCH...THER ARE QUITE A FEW OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS!

Steering
Filed Jan 11, 201625 milesGA

I PURCHASED MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ON 9/29/2013. I DROVE IT LESS THAN A MONTH AND THE STEERING STARTED STICKING. I HAD TO JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT LOOSE. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD , " THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD DO". I AM NOT DUMB. I KNEW THEIR WAS SOMETHING WRONG. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND HAD TO CALL KIA CONSUMER TO GET IT DIAGNOSED. FOUND OUT SOME TYPE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS GONE. GOT THE CAR BACK AND UPON DRIVING THE STEERING STARTED SPINING AROUND LIKE A MERRY GO ROUND. TOOK BACK TO KIA SERVICE PER THE CONSUMER OFFICE. I HAVE GOTTEN CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD, "_IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT"". NOW THE STEERING IS VERY TIGHT AND STIFF TO DRIVE. THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND I FEEL LIKE I AM FIGHTING TO KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. VERY EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE. NOW EBEN MAKING TURNS I'M S CURVE TO THE LEFT CAN SOMETIMES HEAR A LIST CLICKING NOISE. THESE CARS WITH STEERING PROBLEMS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE S FATAL ACCIDENT. ALL THESE ACTIONS TO PLACE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS ON STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 7, 201641,183 milesOH

RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. WHEN TURNING OR PULLING OUT CAR TENDS TO STALL AND THE ACCELERATE S.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jan 6, 201658,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Steering
Filed Dec 11, 201530,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. ...UPDATED 02/08/16 *BF UPDATED 5/10/18*JB *CN

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Dec 7, 2015NJ

2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN IT RAINED, THE WINDSHIELD BECAME HAZY. THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER VISITED THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE WINDSHIELD HAD SOME SPOTTING AND IT WAS NORMAL. *JB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2013 Kia Optima → · Every Optima year → · How the figures are calculated →