2013 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,383 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 48 involved a crash and 114 involved a fire. 36 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, roof and pillarsAug 1, 2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.
A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC245.
Campaign 22V560000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 17, 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 20V-100. The low pressure fuel hose may be damaged, or missing heat-protective tape, which can result in a fuel leak.
A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel hose, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-33-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC228.
Campaign 22V093000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 20V519000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 21, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) or 2.0L GDI Turbo engines. The low pressure fuel hose may deteriorate and crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
If the fuel hose cracks, a fuel leak can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify Owners, and Dealers will inspect the low pressure fuel hose for damage or leaking, replacing it as necessary. If no damage or leaking is found, a heat-protective tape will be installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC187.
Campaign 20V100000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 1, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Campaign 18V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
1,383 reports, newest first.
Steering, Oct 28, 2015
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK. WHEN IT RELEASES, THE VEHICLE WILL ALMOST OVER CORRECT SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE "JERKY" STEERING/DRIVING. IT HAS DONE THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A NEWER VEHICLE, BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT. AND ON LONGER ROAD TRIPS, I GET WORN OUT FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT TO MENTION IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD.
Seats, Oct 16, 2015
I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEADREST. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THE ANGLE OF THE HEADREST. THE HEADREST MOVES UP AND DOWN, FORWARD AND BACKWARD BUT THE ANGLE CAN NOT BE ADJUSTMENT.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 12, 2015
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 PIPES. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE OIL WAS LOW PUT OIL IN IT AGAIN AND SAID DRIVE IT 500 MILES AND IF THE OIL LIGHT COME ON BRING IT BACK. WHILE DRIVING IT HOME IT STALLED IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 30 MILES AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE PIPES SO I MADE A APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT BACK NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS SLUDGE IN THE OIL. I HAD DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVER TEN KIA WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND SIX OF THEM ARE KIA OPTIMA
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 9, 2015
MY VEHICLE HAS 80K MILES ON IT AND IS SERVICED METICULOUSLY. I LOST ALL POWER TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND WAS ALMOST RAN DOWN BY A DUMP TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP MY VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. I ASSUMED THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 100K WARRANTY ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WON'T RUN WITHOUT THE FUEL PUMP, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE ELIMINATED THIS PROBLEM FROM WARRANTY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CASES OF HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP FAILURES ON KIA'S.. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA PRODUCT!!
Steering, Oct 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Steering, Sep 18, 2015
MY STEERING USED TO BE GREAT, WITH NO ISSUES. A FEW DAYS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO FIGHT ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. STRAIGHT, TURNING LEFT, TURNING RIGHT, IT SEEMED TO FIGHT ME NO MATTER THE SITUATION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ANY TINY BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT THE CAR COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THROWS THE STEERING WHEEL A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. ALSO, THE CAR VEERS RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT. MY NORMAL DRIVE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT WAS PHENOMENAL, WITH NO COMPLAINTS... THE CAR TOOK TINY BUMPS IN THE ROAD BUT IT WAS NOT FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY ALIGNING MY TIRES AND UPDATING THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SETTINGS. I WAS EXCITED TO GET BACK INTO MY CAR WITH THE PROBLEM FIXED BUT ALL I NOTICED AFTERWARDS WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS TIGHTER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE TIGHTNESS OF THE WHEEL DOES NOT MAKE THE PROBLEMS AS NOTICEABLE, BUT THE CAR STILL DIRECTS RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL IS JUMPING WITH EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS IN THE ROAD, AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE IS STRESSFUL AND UNCOMFORTABLE AS I ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON HIGH ALERT - THIS IS NOT PLEASANT WHEN I DRIVE LONG DISTANCES EVERYDAY FOR WORK. NEEDS TO BE FIXED!
Steering, Suspension, Vehicle speed control, Sep 13, 2015
STEERING ,HARD TO KEEP IN LANES,LOUD HARD RIDE. WHILE TEST DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA I TOLD MY SALES PERSON THAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD. HE SAID THAT'S B/C ITS A NEW CAR. IT'LL EASE UP. I THOUGHT IT WAS LOUD & TOOK SMAL BUMPS LIKE A BIG POT HOLES. AND THE GAS PEDAL & ACCELERATION WAS WIERD. HE SAID BRING IT BACK & THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL DRIVE IT & FIX IT. DON'T WORRY. WELL AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT EMULATE THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO LET ME DRIVE WITH SERVICE PERSON. COULD NOT DO. BREAK IT IN & IT'LL GO AWAY. WELL AT 11,000 MILES TOOK IT BACK & COMPLAINED . SAME ANSWER. NOW 19,703 MILES NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS .THEY GOT WORSE. IN ADDITION MY PAINT SCRATCHES & CHIPS SO EASY THAT THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY PAINT. BACK TO SERVICE & BODY WORK THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL. BRING IT IN FOR DETAILING & WE WILL GET IT LOOKING LIKE NEW! DON'T HAVE $175.00 TO DO THAT . I DO NOT GET CLOSE TO QUOTED GAS MILEAGE. IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN IT ACCELERATES & GEARS DON'T SHIFT .IT TAKES OFF OR DOESN'T ALL BY ITSELF. SEEMS LIKE TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. ITS SO LOUD I CANNOT USE HANDS FREE PHONE & CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFICULT. THE STEERING IS SO OFF, I'M AFRAID I'LL GET PULLED OVER & FINED. VERY HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD. AND MY CAR SQUEAKS AS YOU GET IN & OUT OF MY CAR. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION . I'M AFRAID IT WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT & HURT MYSELF & OTHERS.
Engine, Sep 10, 2015
I LEASED THE KIA OPTIMA (2013) FOR 3 YEARS. WITH 4 MONTHS LEFT ON THE LEASE & 35,000 MILES LATER, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT, NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER, UP UNTIL YESTERDAY MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I WAS APPROACHING A 4-WAY STOP WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE SCREECH OR A SHORT BLAST OF A HAIRDRYER. DIRECTLY AFTER 'THE SOUND' I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN, BUT EVEN AS I WAS SLOWING I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH. I CAME TO A STOP. WHEN I TRIED TO GO AGAIN I REALIZED THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I TRIED A FEW TIMES TO START THE ENGINE BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO GO TO WORK, SO I CALLED A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC TO COME LOOK AT THE CAR. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE THE BATTERY TO PEP BOYS TO HAVE IT CHECKED, WHICH HE DID, THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. HE ADVISED ME TO CALL THE CAR PROS KIA OF CARSON WHERE I LEASED THE CAR FROM AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE "100,000 MILE/10 YEAR WARRANTY". WHEN I GOT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH WOULD COST $119 AND WOULD "PROBABLY BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BUT YOU NEED TO SIGN THIS FORM JUST IN CASE IT'S NOT" OF COURSE, WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY SAID I WAS NOT COVERERED UNDER THEIR WARRENTY BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS "BAD' AND HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN DUE TO "BLACK SLUDGE'' IN THE OIL COMPARTMENT (THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE AS MY MECHANIC FRIEND CHECKED THE OIL THAT MORNING AND IT WAS GOOD!!!) AND THEY NEEDED RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES TO MY CAR GOING BACK ONE YEAR AS THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHO HAD BEEN TAMPERING WITH MY CAR! FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS FROM PEP-BOYS AND MY MECHANIC WHO HAVE DONE ALL OF MY OIL CHANGES RELIGIOUSLY. NOW I COME TO FIND OUT VIA RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE LAW SUITS HAPPENING BETWEEN CONSUMERS WHO ARE BEING BLAMED FOR NOT DOING OIL CHANGES AND CAUSING CHRONIC ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE KIA DON'T WANT TO HONOR THEIR WARRENTY!!!!
Electrical system, Sep 10, 2015
WHEN FIRST BUYING THE CAR THERE WERE TIMES IT WOULD START REALLY HARD AND HAVE A LONG CRANK. IT SEEMED LIKE AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AND SHUTTING IT OFF THE CAR WOULD LONG CRANK WITH A HARD START. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIME WITH NO FIX. I LOGGED THE OCCURRENCE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS WHEN THE FIELD TECHNICIAN CAME OUT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. 8 MONTHS LATER IT IS STILL DOING IT AND NOW HAS STARTED A NEW PROBLEM OFF NOT STARTING WHEN PUSH BUTTON AND BRAKE ARE PUSHED.
Steering, Aug 31, 2015
STEERING ISSUES AT HIGH SPEEDS ON EXPRESSWAY. VEHICLE GOES INTO OTHER LANES CONSTANTLY. I THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN BUT IT HAS NEVER GOTTEN BETTER. IT COULD CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF BY A RECALL. IF NOT, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER KIA.
Engine, Aug 17, 2015
THE EVENING OF 8/12/15 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE CITY ROAD, 2 LANES EACH DIRECTION. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER AND IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH SUDDEN DECELERATION AND VEHICLES COMING UP FROM BEHIND. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HIT ME AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. NO ENGINE MAINTENANCE/WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND WILL NEED COMPLETELY REPLACE WITH A NEW ENGINE. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING KIA'S 22,500 MILE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ONLY 16 DAYS PRIOR ON 7/27/15. DAVE GREEN, KIA ARAPAHOE SERVICE MANAGER, INFORMED TODAY (8/17/15) THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS IN THE PAST WEEK. THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE HOT WEATHER. WHAT EVER THE CAUSE THIS HAS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DEATH OR EXTREME INJURY.
Steering, Jul 31, 2015
CAR STARTED HAVING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, WILL EVEN PULL TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEED RATE. CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING STEERING ISSUES.
Steering, Jul 31, 2015
WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND, IT FIRST STARTED WHEN YOU MAKE A RIGHT TURN, NOW REGARDLESS OF WHICH WAY YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE.
Engine, Jul 24, 2015
WAS DRIVING TO WORK(2013 KIA OPTIMA APPX 32000 MILES) AS I ACCELERATED TO MERGE ON THE INTESTATE, A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST,THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR ANY WARNING, THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE LIGHT TO INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP THEY REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE ON THE ENGINE THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, THIS IS NOT COVER BY KIA WARRENTY,AFTER DOING SEVERAL DAY OF RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY KIA OWNER WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE SLUDGE IS THE CAUSE BUT MOST MECHANIC KNOW THAT SLUDGE IS A SYMPTOM NOT A CAUSE, AND WHAT IS EXCESSIVE 1%OR 5% WHO MAKES THAT DETERMANITION? I HAVE DONE REGULAR OIL CHANGES MYSELF. I CONTACTED THE KIA HOME OFFICE AND AM WAITING FOR A REPLY.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 17, 2015
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA'S BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WILL VIBRATE/GRIND WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. IT STARTED THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. WHILE I WAS SIGNING PAPERS, IT STARTED TO RAIN. DURING THE DRIVE HOME (IMMEDIATELY) I NOTICED VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE PEDAL. I ASKED ABOUT IT AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL. SINCE IT DID IT IMMEDIATELY, NOW I SEE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND NO LONGER THINK I AM CRAZY. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2013 AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS ALSO MY BACKUP CAMERA SOMETIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE. A FEW TIMES THE RADIO SYSTEM GETS STUCK ON STUPID (WONT TURN ON), BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE BACK UP CAMERA HAS ISSUES. AND THIS WEEK 7/2015 MY JUKEBOX STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. LUCKILY, I FOUND THE RESET SWITCH NEAR THE VOLUME CONTROL AND IT WORKS AGAIN :) MA 10/8 UPDATED 3/22/2016*JS
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 17, 2015
FUEL WILL HEAT UP AND BUBBLE OUT OF FUEL TANK AFTER EXTENDED PERIODS OF IDLING. 4 HOURS IDLING WITH 3/4 FULL FUEL TANK. LIQUID FUEL AND VAPORS ESCAPING FROM GAS CAP AND DRIPPING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR.
Service brakes, Jun 26, 2015
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAKE WILL VIBRATE/GRIND EXTREMELY BAD UNDER MY FOOT. THE CAR BRAKE DOES THIS EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER GETTING MY CAR, WAS AFTER I HAD IT WASHED. IT ALSO DOES IT WHILE DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED KIA AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ABS SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT MEANS AND IT'S FUNCTION. HOWEVER, I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL ABS PERFORMANCE, AS WOULD ANY OTHER DRIVER. NOT ONLY DOES THIS MALFUNCTION DISTRACT MY ATTENTION WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CONTRADICTS THE PURPOSE OF ABS! IT SCARES ME WHEN IT IS HAPPENING, ENOUGH FOR ME TO LOOSE FOCUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROXIMATELY 28 MONTHS SO FAR.
Seat belts, Jun 17, 2015
REAR SEAT BELTS IN CLOTH SEAT CONFIGURATION DO NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE IN AN EXPOSED POSITION SO THAT A CHILD OR AN ADULT CAN REASONABLY OPERATE IT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A PLASTIC SHEATH THAT HOLD THE BUCKLE EXPOSED SO THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILD SEAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BUCKLE A CHILD IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS USERS WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND OMIT USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS.
Steering, May 29, 2015
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING MY BRAND NEW 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX I NOTICED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING ON ANY TYPE OF HIGHWAY THE CAR WONDERS ONCE I REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS (USUALLY 65MPH OR MORE). THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS IT WAS A WINDY DAY AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS... BUT, I'VE NOTICED THIS SAME ISSUE EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS LITTLE TO NO WIND. THE CAR REFUSES TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE, CONSTANTLY VEERING LEFT AND RIGHT (EVEN ON A FLAT SURFACE). THE STEERING WHEEL BARELY MOVES, BUT THE CAR ITSELF WILL WONDER BACK AND FORTH, REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION BY THE DRIVER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATEDLY SAID ITS THE SLOPE IN THE ROAD, EVEN THOUGH I'VE TOLD THEM I'VE EXPERIENCED IT ON MULTIPLE HIGHWAYS. NOW I AM NOTICING THE SAME PROBLEM AT REGULAR SPEEDS OF 35MPH AND MORE. THE STEERING WONDERS AND MY SUSPENSION SEEMS NONEXISTENT. SIMPLE TAR LINES IN THE PAVEMENT FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING OVER POTHOLES. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO FEEL A BIT OF A ROUGH RIDE, BUT SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THESE ISSUES COMBINED MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE AND AT TIMES, SCARY. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE SOON ABOUT THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OWNERS HAVE SUBMITTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I LOVE THE CAR, OTHER THAN THE STEERING ISSUE.
Vehicle speed control, May 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,678.
Steering, May 25, 2015
I WAS TRAVELING ON 85 NORTH AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 70 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY STIFF AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT! FINALLY IT RELEASED AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT AGAIN. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE ISSUE BUT MY FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT I SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR ANY RECALLS REGARDING STEERING. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND 100+ COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE FOR 2012-2013 MODEL KIA OPTIMAS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN RESULT IN INJURY IF THE STEERING REMAINS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER!
Service brakes, May 22, 2015
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MODERATELY STEEP SLOPE AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I COULD FEEL A SHAKING ON THE BREAK PETAL ABOUT A 20 SECOND DURATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. BOTH WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING.
Steering, May 22, 2015
I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 17996 MILES. AFTER A FEW MILES DRIVING ON THE I-95 I NOTICED THAT THE 2013 OPTIMA HAS A VERY WEIRD STEERING PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING OVER 50MPH. IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT PATH. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP ON THE CORRECT LANE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND TOLD THEM THAT I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINS OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I'VE ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THERE IS A PATCH THAT WAS RELEASED ON APRIL 2015 BUT THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T APPLY FOR MY CAR. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. KIA NEEDS TO GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AS IT'S VERY UNSAFE.
Steering, May 21, 2015
MY WIFE'S 2013 OPTIMA HAS VERY STIFF STEERING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE OR LONG STRETCH ROAD. IT'S VERY HARD TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING LOCKS WHEN GOING STRAIGH AND IT FEELS LIKE IT CATCHES WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. I IGNORED IT FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THINKING MAYBE A "BREAK IN" STAGE. STILL AT 40K MILES IT'S THE EXACT SAME WAY. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. I NOTICED I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE KIA FIXES THIS PROBLEM. MAY BE MY LAST KIA CAR!!!
Service brakes, May 15, 2015
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN A HILL, I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY SO I DID NOT NEED TO ENGAGE MY BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN HIT BECAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND BEFORE I COULD PARK THE CAR, IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AS PULLED IN. I WAS FORCED TO STOP IN THIS MIDDLE OF A NARROW PARKING LOT BLOCKING CARS FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT THEIR SPOTS. I CALLED KIA ROADAIDE ASSISTANCE, WHO INSTEAD OF GETTING ME HELP, TRANSFERED ME TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY HELP. NOT ONLY DID MY CAR FAIL ME, KIA CUSOTMER SERVICE DID AS WELL. .