80 complaints reported

2013 Kia Optima Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
80
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2021

Out of no where the paint began peeling in large flakes while going down the road. At first it was small pieces then progressively began to be larger pieces. When I washed it, even more came off on multiple locations on the vehicle. Noticed blistering all over after further review.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2021
Dec 2021

The paint on my car is peeling on the molding around the front windshield on the right and left side.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2021
Dec 2021

PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF OF THE PILLARS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD. STARTED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AGO. FIRST NOTICED WHILE PARKED UNDER CARPORT. NO ACCIDENTS OR PAINT WORK DONE. THIS IS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER PAINT JOB.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2021
Nov 2021

Pealing paint on hood and along windshield area

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2021
Oct 2021

2013 KIA Optima Pearl White paint began chipping and flaking exposing bare metal to rust and corrosion.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
Sep 2021

Paint is peeling off of the hood and side panels of the car. It is Kia Pearl White factory paint job. There have been no impacts or anything that should cause the paint to chip and peel.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2021
Sep 2021

I understand this will not sound like a safety issue, as I felt the same initially, but it is. My paint has been peeling off my Kia Optima for almost two years and sometimes the paint comes off in little pieces and other times it peels off in 6-12 inch sheets. Paint will come off during driving and while being washed. When driving the paint will fly to the back of my car and land of the ground, looks like snow is flying thru air. I have had safety issues to date. First tIme was on my way to work and a large section of paint came up from the bottom of the windshield area and stuck to my windshield. Not only did it scare me, but it blocked my vision.windshield wipers would not move it. I had to quickly pull over to remove it. Second time the same thing happened, but it landed on the windshield of the car behind me. I was unaware it happened until they pulled up next to me at the red light and got out of their vehicle to yell at me and removed the paint sheet. I understand this might not sound serious, but when something comes flying out of nowhere and lands on your windshield blocking your sight it is quite terrifying. I am not sure if this has happened to others with my same paint defect, but I know by researching my paint defect over the past two years, there are thousands of complaints on the internet about paint peeling off. When I contacted Kia in 2019 (corporate in Irvine, Ca), they informed me it was definitely a paint defect that originated during the painting process. Since there was not a recall isued, they were not going to pay for the car to be re-painted. At that time only the top of my car was affected, but now the majority of my car is losing paint. At this time I am wanting Kia to pay to have the car repainted, refund the cost of the vehicle or provide a credit to put towards a new car. At this point my vehicle is basically worthless because I can't sell it as is and trading it in results in me only getting approximately 30% of what the value is.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2021
Sep 2021

Around approximately 76,000 miles on the vehicle, I noticed paint (snow white pearl) started bubbling and coming off the hood. I assumed it was from a rock chip. The paint bubbling and chipping is now occurring all over the vehicle. I've spoken with two different KIA dealers (in Charlotte, NC and Salisbury, NC) and they've both said there are no recalls from KIA and there's nothing they can do but offer to repaint the car for THOUSANDS of dollars. I'm finding new spots every month. There are now 93,000 miles on the car, and I do NOT feel like the paint should be failing like this at all. I will attach pictures if allowed. I doubt I can upload all of the places on my car that have chips at this point.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Sep 2021

THE PAINT ON MY 2013 OPTIMA HAS BUBBLES IN IT THAT ARE CRACKING OPEN WITH PAINT PEELING AWAY. THERE IS ONE SECTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WITH ONE PATCH THAT IS AT LEAST 3" LONG AND 2" WIDE WHERE THE PAINT FLACKED OFF. THE PAINT AROUND THE WINDSHIELD HAS ALSO FLAKED OFF IN PLACES THAT ARE NOW CAUSING RUST SPOTS. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO CAUSE THE ISSUE WITH THE PAINT. THE CAR HAS THE ORIGINAL PEARL WHITE PAINT. THIS STARTED WITH MINOR SPOTS AND HAS GRADUALLY INCREASED TO MORE PLACES ON THE CAR WITH PAINT MISSING. THIS HAS BEEN BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Sep 2021

I OWN A 2013 KIA OPTIMA WITH THE SNOW-WHITE PEARL PAINT AND IT IS DEFINITELY PEELING AT A RAPID RATE. IT IS PEELING OFF ON THE SIDES OF MY TRUNK, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, ON THE HOOD, AND ALSO ON THE EDGES OF THE DOORS. I BOUGHT IT USED, BUT HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR 3 YEARS AND THE PAINT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE THE PAINT CHIP OR PEEL. IT LOOKS HORRIBLE!! KIA NEEDS TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY. WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR NEW CARS AND SHOULD EXPECT THAT THEY HOLD UP. MY PARENTS OWN CARS THAT ARE 20+ YEARS OLD AND THEIR PAINT IS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE! KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REMEDY THIS!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2020
Jul 2021

The Snow White Pearl paint is peeling off of the hood and roof of the car (delamination).

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2021
Jul 2021

The paint on my car is chipping off. It is a Snow White pearl and I read online that this is very common for Kia’s with this color of paint.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
Jul 2021

I own a 2013 Kia Optima. The paint in chipping and peeling on various parts of the car.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2017
May 2021

THE PAINT IS CHIPPING ON THE CARS HOOD, ROOF RAILS AND TRUNK LID TO NO FAULT OF MINE. PAINT IS ALSO BUBBLING ON THE DOORS AND IS STARTING TO CHIP.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2021
Apr 2021

MY WHITE PEARL PAINT STARTED OFF AS A LITTLE CHIP AND NOW I HAVE BLOTCHES OF PAINT CHIPS ON MY TRUNK LID

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2021
Nov 2020

ALITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AGO I STARTED NOTICING PAINT PEELING OFF THE PILLARS ON THE SIDES OF MY WINDSHIELD, IT STARTED WITH A SMALL SPOT AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN MY CAR SERVICED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP AND HAD WARRANTIES ON MY CAR SO I MENTIONED IT NUMEROUS TIMES AND EVERYTIME I WAS TOLD THAT PAINT WASN'T COVERED AND THAT "THEY HAD NEVER SEEN PAINT PEELING LIKE THAT " ON ANY OTHER SNOW PEARL WHITE KIAS. THE PAINT CONTINUED TO PEEL OFF, THE WIND WOULD BLOW HUGE PIECES OFF. NOW IT HAS STARTED ON MY HOOD, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR AND THE TRUNK! ITS ALREADY SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST. THE WORST PART IS I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AGAIN AND ASKED WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON?! THE TECHNICIAN ASSURED ME THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT, AND WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE 2 OTHER SNOW WHITE PEARL KIAS PULL IN AND THEY HAVE PAINT PEELING IN THE SAME SPOTS! THATS WHEN I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY MAINLY TO KIAS WITH THE SNOW WHITE PEARL COLOR. ALL I WANT IS FOR KIA TO REPAINT MY CAR. I PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR IT AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAR BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS 20 YEARS OLD WITH THE PAINT FLYING OFF OF IT AND ITS STARTING TO RUST!!! THIS IS MY 2ND KIA I HAVE PURCHASED AND I LOVE THEM, BUT I AM EXTREMLY PISSED OFF AND DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OVER 2 YEARS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHEN THESE CARS WERE PAINTED IN THE FACTORY BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR WHY THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SNOW PEARL WHITE KIAS WITH THE PAINT PEELING OFF IN THE SAME EXACT SPOTS. I ALSO BOUGHT MY CAR NEW SO I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THE ENTIRE TIME. I JUST WANT MY CAR PAINTED BEFORE ITS ALL RUSTED ESPECIALLY SINCE I PAID $30,000 FOR THE CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Sep 2020

THE PEARL WHITE PAINT BEGAN PEELING OFF IN LARGE SHEETS AND IS NOT RELATED TO A ROCK CHIP.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2020
Aug 2020

PAINT IS FLAKING AND EXPOSING BARE METAL ON HOOD AND ALONG WINDSHIELD UPRIGHTS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2020
Aug 2020

II HAVE PAINT PEELING AND FALLING OFF AT A RAPID RATE AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 77000 MILES IT IS GARAGE KEPT AND DETAILED TWICE A YEAR I FEEL IT NEED ATTENTION FROM KIA AS THIS IS NOT NORMAL THEY WILL NOT COVER IT AND IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR KIA

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2020
Mar 2020

I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA WITH PEARL WHITE PAINT. CONSISTENT WITH WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF RAPID PAINT PEELING AND DELAMINATION OF THIS PARTICULAR PAINT COLOR, I TOO AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME. ALSO CONSISTENT WITH WIDESPREAD REPORTING, THE PRIMARY AREAS ARE ALONG THE PILLARS AROUND THE WINDSHIELD (LONG VERTICAL STRIPS PEELED DOWN TO THE PRIMER), AND BUBBLING AND PEELING ON THE ENGINE HOOD, THE FRONT GRILL AND THE FRONT BUMPER. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY, AND IS RAPIDLY WORSENING. I FIRST NOTICED THE PEELING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD ON 5/28/20, AND THE ENGINE HOOD AND BUMPER ON 8/2/20. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 62,900 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT IS TYPICALLY GARAGED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN, AND THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WILL NEED TO BE REPAINTED. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT, AS REPORTED BY OTHERS, WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES IN THE SAME MANNER AND LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY KIA AT NO COST TO ME. THANK YOU.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2020
Feb 2020

POOR PAINT JOBS AND NOT CAR HAS LOTS OF PEELING AND CHIPPED PAINT SPOTS. SEEMS TO BE VERY POOR WORKMANSHIP AND NOW WE ARE STUCK WITH A PEELING CAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2020
Feb 2020

THE PAINT IS PEELING IN SEVERAL AREAS ON THE HOOD, AROUND THE FRONT WINDOW AND ABOVE THE DOORS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2019
Aug 2019

BEFORE I PAID OFF MY CAR IN 12-1-18, MY 2013'KIA OPTIMA'S PAINT STARTED CHIPPING OFF. IT HAS CHIPPED OFF FIRST ON THE HOOD AND THEN ON THE DOOR JAMS ON BOTH FRONT DOORS. I FIND THIS SUSPICIOUS IN THAT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, THEY WERE PUSHING AN EXTRA PAINT PROTECTION PROGRAM- - FOR A MEAR $2000 PLUS EXTRA! IT'S AS IF THEY KNEW THE PAINT WOULD FAIL IN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2018
Dec 2018

THE PAINT PILLING OFF THE CAR TOOK IT TO KIA THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING THE PAIN PILLS SO BAD THIS A FIVE YEAR CAR IN IT LOOK LIKE 15 YEAR OLD CAR COST ME 2800 TO GET THE CAR PAINTED I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT ON THE PAIT IN KIA DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED KIA NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2017
Sep 2018 Fire

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY MY CAR STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AS I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY I SEEN SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES WHILE CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2018

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Kia Optima has 80 Structure complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.