2013 Kia Optima UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The issue with the car first occurred in 2021 when the vehicle had 109,000 miles. I was driving on the interstate returning from visiting my family when the car began to behave erratically. It started to seize, stall, and accelerated on its own. All of the lights illuminated on the dashboard with the error message hybrid engine, air pull over immediately. This was a serious event because my life as well as others were impacted. The car had just enough power to make it off of the shoulder when it died completely and had to be towed to the nearest dealership. They recommended I have the hybrid battery replaced which I did. That did not correct the issue because less than a year later in 2022 I was once again returning home and the car begin to do the same thing. Stalls, seizes, accelerates on its own and the same lights, the same warning message, and completely loses power when you’re driving! It was again towed to a dealership and this time they recommended I have the spark plugs replaced. The spark plugs were replaced and the day that the car was repaired and picked up it had to then be towed back just a few miles down the road with the same strange behavior, and the same issues. Clearly the recommended repairs are not fixing the root cause problem. And now three times my life as well as other motorists’ lives have been put in danger! I am tired of paying for recommended repairs that are not fixing the root issue when there are several hundred other persons who have been experiencing similar dangerous issues like mine with their vehicles. Kia needs to do something about this!
Snow white pearl paint on my 2013 Kia optima isn't sticking to the primer. Started to flake off in 2019 on the metal that goes around the top of the side windows, both sides. Also flaked off on truck. I've repainted spots several times but it continues to peel off in the above areas and on the passenger rear door. I've seen many Kia snow white pearls -different models with the same issue.
The paint (SWP) on my car has been chipping for some time now and it’s been getting worse.
My Kia has been chipping it’s paint off for years now. I have paint chip marks all around car. Car looks like it’s 15 yrs old due to bad paint. It’s down to the primer bare of the car.
Hello. Last week while driving on a motorway 80 mph engine in my 2013 optima SX 2.0 TGDI just stopped working. Due to fact this engines had problems and Kia recalled owners to replace seized engine, I would like to ask you here, how could I get help in this case. Thing is my car was imported to Europe (Poland) in 2014. Had 3 owners since new (first in US and two previous ones in Poland). Car ran smooth and without any problems till last Monday. Unfortunately engine just stopped on my way work, thanks God without any accident, just passed off motorway and waited for assistance. My mechanic said is impossible to turn an engine even manually, so it must be seized. Could you advise how I could get help from Kia to replace my engine? I’ve called Kia customer helpline, they redirected me to closest Kia dealer, and no one heard about these recalls on US market. Could you advise where I should report my case, to get any information how this recall could be done here with cooperation with Kia USA. Expecting yours [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Snow white paint on optima is chipping bubbling and coming off. now certain areas are starting to rust. this has gotten worse in the last year i have noticed multiple cars in that color peeling in the same areas. hood and roof area. some are worse then mine. i called kia and there is no known issue. if you goggle snow white kia paint issue there are multiple forums. estimates to repaint are more than what the car is worth. if i were to trade my car in there would be issues with the paint cause a decrease in value. car is good condition no machinal issues or body issues other than the paint
UNKNOWN
Paint failed. After less than 3 years of having the vehicle the painted was peeling off. Took it to the dealership and they said they had no complaints that I would have to fix it. It became worse with a large section on the hood of the car and on the drive rear door above the window. After a hail storm I had chips all over. Had to get parts of the car repaired. The insurance did not cover all of the paint. The roof was still covered in chips. A few days ago on 9/6/2022 I went out to my car and noticed a very large portion of paint missing from my trunk lid. It was dark so after work in the morning I looked at it before going home. Almost the entire trunk lids paint was peeling off the car. I verified with the company that didn’t the paint job after the hail storm and they did not paint the trunk. I looked over the car and found a few more chips.
Paint has been chipping/peeling off with no reason at all.......continues to peel off without any cause
While driving down interstate 10 my vehicle suddenly lost all power from the engine. Upon stopping to attempt restarting it I plugged in my personal obd2 maintenance tool and came up with no trouble codes. Vehicle would not crank.
My paint is chipping away on my hood and frame around windshield.
I had a recall on my car a little over a year ago I believe and they had to put new engines in a bunch of Kia cars. They said I would get a rental, but I never did and I ended up having to get my own out-of-pocket cause I had no way of getting around. I was never offered any type of reimbursement for this. Now, they have a recall for something that is related to previous complications I have had with the car and expect me to just drive around with it even though it could catch on fire. This is the same issue I had before. I need a car, have no money for a rental, and they still do not have the part to address this recall. I really want them to handle it this time in a timely manner and provide me with a rental free of charge if they cannot.
My son was driving the vehicle on the freeway. Suddenly and spontaneously, the glass in the sunroof shattered. Fortunately he had the interior shade closed so glass did not spill into the car. He does not believe anything hit the roof, he said he just all of a sudden heard the glass shatter and felt the wind rushing in.
The paint is peeling in multiple areas for no explained reason.
Paint was chipping from the top of the car. White pear white and I seen alot of people having the same problem.it is available for inspection upon request.
The paint has started to peel above the doors in all 4 corners and is now peeling on the passenger side of the hood.
PEARL WHITE PAINT FLAKING AND PEELING OFF EXPOSING BARE METAL TO ELEMENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF RUST AND CORROSION TO BODY. NUMEROUS AREA OF VEHICLE ARE AFFECTED.
Engine recall completed. Two weeks after..Engine light on due to a Crack in the emissions system..
Engine stopped while driving. Would not start afterwards after researching I see it happens to those years and certain models were recalled wondering if mine possibly got missed in that recall, based off the recall seems exactly what happened to mine has plenty oil keep maintained well and only drive back and forth to work.
My paint stated chipping ang peeling about 3 years ago, I did not think much of it until I saw several people who also have pearl snow white paint having the same issues. I ordered touch up paint and a clear coat to try and stop it in the areas that it is peeling. I have had someone rear end me but this is not where the issues with the paint are. It is on my hood, doors, sides etc. I have always parked in a garage or covered parking and have no hail damage etc
About 2 weeks ago my Kia Optima I started noticing a burning smell coming from under the hood. I took it into an auto shop and they could not find anything wrong. Just recently, the burning smell accompanied smoke from under the hood.
Paint peeling
Was driving the car up a hill and alarm starting dinging and gave a notice something to the effect of Stop Safely. The car died and I was unable to move the car out of the traffic lane. People behind were blowing their horn and I did not feel safe to get out of the car. Eventually someone stopped to block traffic and we were able to roll the car back out of traffic.
I have a 2013 Kia Optima EX, on the steering wheel, I hear a knocking sound while turning the wheel. I was informed that there was a recall for the rubber coupler replacement. I never received a recall letter from Kia Motors. I am very concerned about driving the vehicle because the sound is getting louder.
[XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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Quick Summary
The 2013 Kia Optima has 99 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.