2013 Kia Optima Complaint Log

Flexible coupler in the MDPS (p/n 56315) is failing and it is causing clicking and clunking when the steering wheel is turned to the left and right. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealer. No warning lamps or messages are visible indicating this failure.

2013 Kia Optima, 45K miles, owned in family since new and regularly maintained -- steering clunks, feels loose and "broken" when moved left and right, so driving may be unsafe. We believe this is due to the CS1604 Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Flexible Coupling issue previously identified. However, the extension has just now expired and we can't get Kia dealership nor Kia itself to extend coverage further. No warning lamps or messages show, and yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Kia case number is available upon request.

The center console power supply is faulty, does not charge or hold usb port. The white paint on my car began to chip in large amounts.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 22V560000 (Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

I have a 2013kia optima sx 2.0 turbo my engine need to b replace I never had it replace I have engine problems white smoke n black smoke come out of my hood smoke like it's going to burn up I always have to turn off my car every 15 minutes of driving it overhead n smoke start coming out I been dealing with this for 2 years now can I get a new engine replace

The paint on my car slowly began to peel away on the hood and side panels, eventually exposing almost the entire hood to be bare (Kia was notified and I was denied any sort of help). I had the hood and panels painted out of pocket, shortly after the side rear passenger door has begun with the exact same issue Eventually, my car is going to be missing all paint and just primer. This needs to be addressed in a class action settlement! Otherwise my car is immaculate condition.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V093000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light, the traction control warning light, the check engine warning light illuminated then several other unknown warning lights started to illuminate. The contact then stated that the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.

When going over bumpy roads, turning right or leaning on the driver side door the car thinks it’s open and lights come on

Headlights are dangerously dim. Won’t pass inspection and I’ve changed bulbs multiple times

We were driving and then suddenly stopped, thank goodness nothing bad happened to us. and the car never turned on again! I Was told by a mechanic it was the engine. We were told there were several recalls and alot regarding the engine for this year. Why should I have to pay for something we're still paying on and that has been sitting in our driveway for over 2 years! Fix our car!

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a ticking noise coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she was advised by the mechanic to check a site called Bumpers and it produced codes: SC228, SC212, SC197, SC187, SC172, SC142. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

I purchased a Kia 2013 from a used car lot driving it home it cut out on me numerous times and then all the sudden it lost power I was almost struck by a truck luckily I got off and out of the way as I drove all the way home it did the same thing it cut out and lose power I called the dealership where I bought it and he won't return my calls can you help me

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her husband was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact's husband was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving; however, the failure reoccurred the following day. The contact's husband was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine and the battery needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,570.

I have 2 separate issues. 1. Anti-lock brakes don't always work properly. They have locked up in the rain many times. 2. My white pearl paint started chipping two years ago and now has large spots missing with bubbling in other areas.

My pearl white pair is chipping from all over, I had it inspected and they said it was a problem with the original paint and how it was put painted.

Car went into limp mode on a busy highway losing acceleration while next to & in front of semi trucks. Towed into closest Kia dealer and confirmed spun rod bearing with 58,848 miles on the car. Upon them checking for the issue, the engine was also knocking. Car has been at dealer since Jan 11th and still waiting to hear about engine replacement under warranty. There was no warning signs of a major engine problem before the engine light started flashing and loss of acceleration. Oil change recently done & wasn't low when changed, gas mileage still normal, no weird idling or higher rpms. It was driving normal until the engine light & limp mode happened.

The car dealership i bought my kia from is fully aware of this safety recall, Should he have sold me the car with out telling me? Can I take this car back and get my money back?

UNKNOWN There are recalls for the vehicle and the Kia dealership hasn’t sent any letters notifying I had to find out online.

While driving the EPS light comes on and after that the dash board stops working to wear you're not able to see the speed limit anymore. It also declines the car of any speed. And if you put it in park it won't allow you to shift out of that gear. Dealership said its the HECU.

The engine froze with absolutely no warning while driving on the highway. I'd just had general maintenance and the front brakes replaced five days prior. Got it to a safe area; fortunately there were no cars in other lanes. It's been at the Kia dealership/repair facility for a week now. I called Kia Corporate; they provided a case number to me and the dealership prior to having it towed there. I've done research on this site and there have been other owners (same car, year, etc) having the same extremely dangerous issue occurring lately, say late 2021- present. Additionally, Kia sent recall #SC245 regarding headliner plate defects. When I called to have my repair done, they didn't have the appropriate tape. Tape?! Good lord. Asked them to contact me when they had the tape. This was 4-5 months ago. Haven't been contacted.

Issue 1: I did not receive a recall notice for SC172. (NHTSA campaign 18V907000.) The recall began in January 2019. In July 2019 my car broke down with the exact same issue stated in the recall notice. I had to pay $1031.75 for the dealership to repair it. On April 13, 2023 I called Kia Corporate and requested reimbursement for my expense. They said that since the VIN wasn't on their recall list it was my responsibility to pay. I would like NHTSA's assistance in being reimbursed by KIA. I have the original repair documentation. Issue 2: I didn't receive recall notice my car's engine completely seized on 1/4/2023. All of the indicator lights on the dashboard lit up. This occurred on the highway during a heavy rainstorm. This could have caused a major accident, but was able to maneuver car off the highway. I never received any recalls (SC228, SC212, SC200, SC197, SC187, SC147, etc.) anyone of which could be the cause of the seizing. I will upload documents later.

The door latches don't spring back into a position that allows the door to be closed again, once it has been opened. I have to stick my finger in the latch hole in the door while pulling out the latch handle to put the latch back into the position where the door will close. So far, this problem has effected three of the four doors in my sedan.

For the last 2 years, my pearl white paint has been chipping away. Over the last 6 months there are actual chunks of paint missing. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the driver's side seat heater was overheating. The contact stated that he attempted to set the heater to the lowest setting; however, the seat continued to overheat to the point that the contact pulled off the roadway and exited the vehicle. The contact turned off the seat heater. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was no electrical issue found with the seat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V560000 (Structure) and 22V093000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced before servicing the recall repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

My car was sent to Kia on Covington Pike in Memphis, TN to repair the recalls but further repairs were needed stemming from issues with the recall on the low pressure fuel pump

SAME STORY OVER AND OVER 2013 WHITE PEARL PAINT GARAGE KEPT, NO ACCIDENTS AND PAINT IS LITERALLY CHIPPING AWAY SIDE OF THE CAR DOOR ROOF ABSOLUTELY APPALLING. KIA THE FACT THAT KIA HAS THOUSANDS OF THIS COLOR ON THE ROAD IS EMBARRASSING FOR ALL THE LOYAL CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE TO DRIVE THEM. KIA KNOWS THAT ALL OF THEM WERE PAINTED WITH NO PRIMER. CHEAP PAINT SPRAYED ON BARE METAL AND HAS LEFT ALL OF US STRANDED. THIS CLEARLY IS A COMPANY WITH NO INTEGRITY OR CARE FOR CUSTOMERS LET ALONE OUR LIVES .THIS NEEDS CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT

1. Vehicle refuse to start had to have it towed to a shop to have a new battery placed in 2. Replacement of battery caused a short in stereo system resulting in the replacement with a new stereo system 3. Engine began to knock 12/19/22 took car to Car-Mart was given a list of mechanics to call made an appointment with Dominion in Farmington Arkansas for the morning of December 21st 4. Car decelerated and check engine light came on just before Exit 70 on I-49 near Johnson Mill Boulevard pulled over to the side of the interstate was able to move the vehicle forward to Exit 70 at 20 miles per hour to get off the interstate and park at Casey's General Store on Don Tyson Parkway in Springdale 5. Car was towed to Dominion Auto in Farmington Arkansas 6. I was not informed of any recall on my vehicle or any dangers impose to me or my family including my two small children upon purchase of the vehicle or registration of the vehicle or within 90 days of registration 7. Came to this website to post a complaint and found out I not only have one recall but two that I was unaware of

I got onto a highway on ramp, I had to slightly accelerate due to it being busy & my car started knocking & the check engine started flashing. Engine oil level is good but it has a Rod knock.

Paint defects. Kia admitted about 5-6 years ago that the Snow White Pearl paint on some of their models had issues. Since then they have painted parts of our vehicle 4 or more times. Current issues started in December 2022

Recently my vehicle started smelling of raw fuel. I took the vehicle to my mechanic and was advised it was the fuel line issue that KIA had recalled the vehicle for. I contacted my KIA dealer and was advised my particular VIN was not on recall for the fuel line. KIA recalled the 2013 KIA Optima GDI Turbo for the fuel line issues but only certain VIN's. This vehicle was affected by the engine recalls. It initially had a short block engine replacement prior to the engine recall and subsequently that engine failed and the vehicle was replaced with a long block engine in 2018. The new engine has 30,000 miles on it. The VIN number does not have the original engine or potentially the original fuel line. How is KIA determining the current fuel line issue is not on my VIN? This is a 2013 KIA Optima GDI turbo. The vehicle does not have the original engine or likely the original fuel line. The vehicle has been serviced by KIA several times and the engine and fuel lines have been replaced. The vehicle at the time of manufacturing had 1 specific line but no one knows which fuel line is currently in my vehicle. I am requesting KIA contact me and advise they will honor this fuel line repair under the recall and I am questioning why only certain VIN's were recalled. KIA cannot definitively determine which fuel line is in each vehicle because most of the engines were replaced in the 2013 model based on the widespread engine recall/replacement of the engines. This is a major safety issue that needs to be addressed. If the initial recall was done on the manufacturers VIN info, the engine and fuel line data is flawed since these vehicle engines were replaced. There is too much of a coincidence in the fuel line issue on my vehicle and the recall despite what KIA is stating.

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!

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who performed the recall repair for NHTSA Recall Campaign: 22V09300 (Fuel System, Gasoline). After retrieving the vehicle, the odor was still present inside the vehicle. The contact also stated that there was fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.

2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-093. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM SAFETY RECALL.

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, a bystander alerted him that his vehicle was on fire. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that the front driver-side tire well had caught fire. Another motorist who witnessed the fire stopped and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was called to the scene and inspected the vehicle to ensure that the fire was extinguished. The police department also arrived at the scene. Neither police nor fire report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to the contact's home and then to a dealer where an inspection discovered that the hybrid battery may have been the source of the fire. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer for further investigation. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was deemed a complete loss. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to a Goodyear Service Center to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved an unknown code for engine failure. The contact then stated that the following day the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but not assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

On 1/7/2022 I was driving my 2013 Kia Optima on the freeway heading home and was passing an eighteen wheeler when my car started slowing down even when trying to accelerate, luckily I was far enough ahead and was able to get off the freeway. Had the car towed to the Dealership and was told the engine failed but would be replaced free of charge due to class action suit settlement in 2020. Engine was replaced at 79,319 miles and picked up on 1/22/2022. On 11/08/2022 my son-in-law was driving the car home from work and was on the freeway with heavy traffic at 5:00pm when he first smelled gasoline and then saw smoke from engine compartment. He was in the left hand lane and pulled into the median area and stopped the vehicle and got out when the car caught fire. He called 911 immediately. By the time the police and fire department got there the car was totaled. Luckily no body was injured or killed. I have contacted KIA Consumer Affairs and was given a case number and was assured they would get me a replacement vehicle. I had the car moved from the holding lot and towed to the Dealership where I purchased it and have had it serviced regularly. As of 12/03/2022 we are still without a car and $857 towing fee and waiting on a KIA INSPECTION and decision.

2013 KIA optima stalls out if over 2500 rpm reached. loses all power. Shutdown on highway and barely made it to pull off. Was able to start and pull off next exit only going at minimum speed, shut down again on state road with no pull off location and to drift with no power steering or brakes. Took to the Dealer and they have had it for over a week as they are so backed up with failing engine problems. Told by Dealer KIA is not covering all engine failures, opened case with KIA and they said I will just have to wait and see,

fuel hose attached to high pressure pump failed, same part and repair as NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V093000. Expensive repair, not cover by KIA dealers will not cover repair cost due to different dash number on part. Part number required 31312-3Q100-DS.

Air bag light malfunction

Leak and/or cracked oil pan around the drain plug. Due to past issues regarding the crankshaft bearings I fear the oil consumption could assist in the issue. Also fear the oil leaking neak the exhaust and catalytic converter could ignite a fire beneath the vehicle. Vehicle has not been inspected by a dealership yet. And there have been no dash lights to indicate the problem. It was found while trying to investigate oil spots on ground beneath vehicle

My 2013 KIA Optima in Snow White Pearl "SWP" has delaminating and pealing paint issues all over the body of the car. Mainly in the front bumper, hood and A pillars of the car. It extends to every single panel of the car even obscure out of the way areas. Only the paint is affected. The body underneath shows no sing of denting from a hard hit of any type. The paint simply delaminates on its own.

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

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine had seized and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,500.

1. The vehicle has been smoking and constantly burning all the oil. 2. Paint has been pealing all over the car. 3. Electronic parking brakes not working at all now and vehicle will not pass inspection. 4. Electronic steering assist not working tripping the warning light on the dash.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that while accelerating the steering wheel started to shake abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall for the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle t-boned her passenger's side. Only the passenger's side air bag deployed and exploded, causing the contact to sustain coughing spasms. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a police department lot. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and emailed the contact notification for NHTSA Campaign Number 22V560000 (Structure) associated with the VIN. The manufacturer also opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Started with oil light flashing, then the other lights came on. Started losing speed, then lost all power to the engine, will not start back up with the engine, when trying to start it, the engine started smoking.

The pearl white paint pealing in 4 different areas in the body of the car to include the front and top of the car above the windshield; both sides of the outer body framing of the windshield and now the hood of the car.

Own a 2013 Kia Optima SXL with snow white paint. It is peeling horribly around the windshield pillars, and the roof. There are a few other smaller spots starting to chip away as well. This vehicle has been almost exclusivly garage kept. I have read this is a common issue experience by Kia owners with this paint specifically. Please investigate and issue a proper recall for these vehicle owners.