10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 75
Injuries / Deaths:
14 / 1
Average Mileage:
65,032 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #333

Dec 282020

Optima

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving, the vehicle began to shake and vibrate with the check engine light illuminated before going into limp mode and stalling. The vehicle was towed to the dealer South hills Kia located at 3644 Washington rd, mcmurray, pa 15317 who replaced the spark plugs but the engine continued to stall. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 118,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #332

Jan 172021

Optima

  • 130,009 miles
During a commute to worksite the car was driving normally for the first 10 miles. No sounds, no dash lights illuminated. No signal that anything was wrong. As I drove normally through the route, I entered the highway and accelerated to nearly 65 mph. After a moment or so of driving the car suddenly felt as if the engine had no power. I pulled my foot off the gas, then I checked the dash lights, I made sure the vehicle was in the proper automatics mode and not manual (it felt like it was thrown into neutral or a lower gear), I also verified cruise control was off. Everything seemed fine. I pressed the gas to accelerate back up to speed and the car began shaking very vigorously. Then the engine light came on. Because I was not in a safe area to stop, I tried to coast to the nearest exit. I imagine I was coasting and accelerating intermittently (for only a few seconds at a time) for anywhere from one-half to two miles before the next exit. It is hard to guess the distance because it was dark during the incident. Once I made it to the exit, the engine was no longer providing power at all - meaning I would press the gas and nothing would happen. The car would not move, the engine would not even rev. I called a tow truck and had it towed to the dealership. The dealer said that because the car did not have a code of P1326 that the issue was not covered under Kia's extended engine warranty. I am trying to fight for them to honor the warranty. No luck so far. They quoted a $7500 repair. Car is perfectly maintained. I just put new spark plus and a new serpentine belt on 9 weeks ago (at the Kia dealership of course- only place I do maintenance at).

- Fallbrook, CA, USA

problem #331

Jan 212021

Optima

  • 126,000 miles
My car started making a slight knocking sound on the morning of 1/21/21 on kemp blvd which is just a city street and within less than a mile, it stopped running and had me on the side of the road for about 15 minutes. I was only about 2 streets from my house, I got it to start and got it back home but then immediately turned it off and it has been parked there since. I had a mechanic look at it and was notified that it was failure of the rod bearing and that I would need a new engine

- Wichita Falls, TX, USA

problem #330

Jan 182021

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
First my car has 80,000 miles and I do all his regular services on time. I own this car 5 years ago, I do even extend the warranty at the time of purchase but I never use it because the car was giving me no problems at all. Today I was driving to the store using the freeway and after 10 minutes that I leave my house I started hearing a noise coming from the front of the car the engine and increases little by little.I just take the closest exit and pull over because the noise was too much for continue driving.I just parked my car on davis street in san leandro and I try to call someone to help me..I decide no to drive my car back home I just towed to my home. I'm so upset because the car it's pretty much low miles to give that kind of problems..thank you

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #329

Jan 042021

Optima

  • 115,000 miles
Driving at approximately 60mph on expressway, gave a little more gas to pass someone and engine stalled while switching lanes at high speed. Informed by Kia dealership that there was a failure of the connecting rod bearing/S.

- Moriches, NY, USA

problem #328

Dec 192020

Optima

  • 176,000 miles
Starting making a noise in shut off

- Longs, SC, USA

problem #327

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 #326

Jan 022021

Optima

  • 119,800 miles
Car started vibrating and making a knocking noise coming from the engine while beginning drive on the highway. The knocking got worse and the engine stalled shortly afterwards. Pulled over on highway shoulder and smelled burnt oil after car stopped. Checked oil levels and temperature were within acceptable ranges. Engine appeared to be siezed after attempting to turn on the vehicle again. Car had to be towed away from highway.

- Le Mars, IA, USA

problem #325

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 #324

Dec 302020

Optima

  • 112,000 miles
The vehicle's engine stalled & shut off without warning, while I was driving in traffic. It gave zero prior warning, there were no warning lights, no sputtering, no indication of an issue. At the time, it had a quarter tank of gas (at least the gauge said so). Aaa filled the tank and we restarted the vehicle, without issue. I took it to the dealership out of concern it may happen again (on the freeway where it could cause an accident), and they said it's a faulty turbo charger causing a "loss of power." Given there were no issues while driving it to the dealership, I'm not sure I agree with the "loss of power." But regardless, if the turbo is bad, it's among thousands of other 2013 Kia Optimas with turbo & engine issues that are all way too similar to be coincidence. The dealership wants almost 4K to replace it, without any guarantee it'll actually fix the engine stalling issue.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #323

Jan 022021

Optima

  • 910,000 miles
My car is ticking and battery keeps going dead it cut off on the highway had to have it towed home

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #322

Dec 202020

Optima

  • 15 miles
When I was driving all the lights came on on the dashboard and I couldn't accelerate at all then it cut off and haven't been able to jump it off or anything! we've looked to see if we could find out why but it's just died and I think the motor locked up!

- Asheboro, NC, USA

problem #321

Aug 132020

Optima

  • 0 miles
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 #320

Nov 012020

Optima

  • 91,000 miles
There is a loud knocking noise when placed in gear, the knock is not heard while in park. Because no sensor has gone off, the repair tech said there is nothing he can do. I do have a the motor that was recalled, and it was replaced

- Lakeview, CA, USA

problem #319

Dec 152020

Optima

  • 180,000 miles
I was going down a road in my town lpga in daytona beach, when all of a sudden I heard this weird sound then my accelerating stopped even though I had my foot on the gas. The car engine would not accelerate even though I had my foot on the gas it finally slowed down where I came to a complete stop got to the side of the road and all of my engine sensor lights came on and my car engine will not roll over or even start my battery just turns on. It's as if it's just stopped working completely no one has given me a answer the tow driver is the one who told me that Kia Optimas were having recall issues on they're cars with exact problems like mine. I love my Optima I take really good care of it so it really hurts that there isn't much I can do about my car.

- Daytona Beach, FL, USA

problem #318

Dec 012020

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehcile stalled and failed to restart. There was fuel leaking from vehicle. There was abnormal odor of fuel detected. The vehicle was taken to Kia of orange park (6373 blanding blvd, jacksonville, fl 32244, (904) 758-2612) but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 18V907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine). The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #317

Dec 052020

Optima

  • 65 miles
On Dec 5, 2020. I was driving on 78 West when suddenly my 2013 Kia Optima ex begin to decrease in speed.within 5 minutes I had to pull over where my car just turned off. Dec 12, 2020 I was told that my engine wasn't turning over and the motor was gone. Just like that. I was very confused and disappointed as I didn't do anything for this to happen.

- Matawan, NJ, USA

problem #316

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 #315

Nov 222020

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the vehicle was decelerating independently. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the bearing and engine seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA

problem #314

Nov 102020

Optima

  • 166,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop and attempting to drive, the vehicle hesitated with the check engine warning light flashing. Additionally, the failure recurred while driving 60 mph. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vehicle had a defective knock sensor that needed to be replaced. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 166,000.

- Detroit, MI, USA

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