10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 12 / 77
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 14 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 64,466 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving 10 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they were informed that shards of metal were found in the engine causing the engine failure. The independent mechanic changed the oil however, the vehicle failure recurred. The vehicle was then towed the contact's residence and was not repaired. There were three recalls with NHTSA campaign numbers: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling), 20V519000 (service brakes, hydraulic), and 20V100000 (fuel system, gasoline) associated with the VIN. The contact contacted an unknown dealer and the manufacturer however, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 135,000.
- Simi Valley, CA, USA
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while his girlfriend was driving 25 mph, the steering wheel jerked to the left independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver continued driving to her destination. The vehicle was taken to metro Kia of madison (5442 wayne terrace, madison, wi 53718, (608) 443-5700) where it was diagnosed with needing the ECU software updated. The vehicle had not been repaired as of yet. The contact also stated that the engine was replaced in July of 2020. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
- Jefferson, WI, USA
On February 19, 2021 at around 12:50 a.M., a friend and I were driving home in my 2013 Kia Optima hybrid ex on a city street and we were a little more than half-way home when the check engine light on came on. I started looking for an open gas station so I could stop and check if there was anything visibly wrong with my car. Before I could reach a gas station, I heard a ticking noise in the engine compartment and upon looking in the rearview mirror I saw smoke billowing out of the back of the car and saw and smelled smoke inside the cabin also. I immediately pulled over and shut the car off. The car then completely filled with smoke, so my friend and I got out of the car quickly. The engine area burst into flames. I called 911 and reported it to the police and waited for them to come. The car exploded a couple of times before they got to me and the fire quickly engulfed the car reaching into the cabin of the vehicle. The street had to be completely blocked off from all traffic. It was a very scary experience as we barely made it out of the car before it burst into flames and how risky it was being in the car before it caught fire. As fast as everything happened we feel lucky to be alive. It took the fire crew about an hour to put the car out. Everything inside the cabin was completely destroyed. After getting a ride home from the police I started researching online the issue I had just gone through and found that there was manufacturer recall #sc200te, NHTSA recall #20V750 for my vehicle which seemed to fit the experience I had with my car.
- Palm Springs, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to a friend's house nearby. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
- Tappahannock, VA, USA
My daughter was driving my 2013 Kia Optima on the fn interstate and the car stalled!! I was never notified of any recalls until someone that assisted her told her this! I am during you! she could have been seriously hurt! the engine completely shut off
- Tappahannock, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer Kia of vacaville located at 651 orange dr, vacaville, ca 95687 where it was confirmed that the software needed to repair the vehicle was not available. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the software needed was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
- Susan, CA, USA
Loss of power upon accelerating. Turbo seems to be affected. Problem stops/resets sometimes after I turn off the car and turn it back on again. When trying to accelerate up to 40mph, the engine doesn't respond appropriately. I can have my pedal pushed to the ground and it will still take at least 1-2 minutes to get up to 40 mph. After it gets to around 40-45 mph it seems to respond better to acceleration, but it still lags. Computer threw code P2562.
- Baytown, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the contact noticed fire coming from the engine compartment. The fire department was called and arrived to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 209,000.
- Kempner, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, the message (pull over safely) was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer mentor Kia (9090 mentor ave, mentor, oh 44060, (440)953-1000) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the vehicle was subjected to repair under NHTSA campaign number: 20V750000 (engine). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was had exceeded the warranty mileage limit and there would be no assistance provided in repairing the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
- Geneva, OH, USA
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
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
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
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
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
Starting making a noise in shut off
- Longs, SC, USA
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
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
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
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
- St Louis, MO, USA