2013 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 54 complaints (35.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 37.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 18.5% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 13.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Electrical System: 19; Engine: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10; Unknown Or Other: 9; Power Train: 7; Hybrid Propulsion System: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Service Brakes: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 9; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 5; 2024: 6; 2025: 1; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10579048 · 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)
TO WHOM IT CONCERNS, I HAVE A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN RELATED TO THE OPTIMA 2013 HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM NOT SURE IF THE BEHAVIOR I AM GOING TO DESCRIBE IS TYPICAL OR DEFECTIVE. WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED, WITH THE CRUISE SET, I FIND THAT ANY SUDDEN AND HARD HIT TO THE BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE SOME TYPE OF AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FEELS LIKE ABS AND SOUNDS VERY MECHANICAL HOWEVER THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT DEACTIVATE AFTER I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES THE CAR TO A NEARLY COM…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10596726 · 2014-06-06 (June 6, 2014)
UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR LOW SPEED, BRAKE WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED INSTRUCTING ME TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND STOP THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, ESSENTIALLY ALL WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN. WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING AND DOOR LOCKS BEGAN CLICKING ON/OFF. CAR BECAME DISABLED AFTER A SHORT DISTANCE AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN IN DRIVE. REQUIRED TOW TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. DEALER SCANNED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND OVER 20 HISTORY CODES POINTING TOWARDS A CAN ISSUE. AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND ROAD TESTED, HISTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10583115 · 2014-04-16 (April 16, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WOULD EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY EXTERIOR METAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10715830 · 2015-05-12 (May 12, 2015)
I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK MONDAY AND A VERY HEAVY RAIN STORM WAS COMING DOWN. AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, I SET MY KIA IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING THE POWER BUTTON. THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE "P" PARK POSITION, ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THAT SHIFTED POSITION. I PRESS THE POWER BUTTON AGAIN AND IT TURNS ON THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR RATHER THAN TURN THEM OFF. I HAVE TO TRY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE A SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT JUST TURNING OFF MY CAR. TURNING IT ON IS NO PROBLEM, ITS JUST TURNING …
Owner-reported narrative. 30,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10860676 · 2016-04-21 (April 21, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYDRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 85 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAD POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS AND OFFERED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10860676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874458 · 2016-06-15 (June 15, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128714 · 2018-09-11 (September 11, 2018)
1. DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE BLEW. KIA REBUILT THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE. 2. DRIVING VEHICLE ON STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. KIA RESET MAIN CONTROL UNIT TO FIX ISSUE. 3. DRIVING VEHICLE ON STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. KIA WANTS TO REPLACE MAIN CONTROL UNIT. CAR HAS PASSED THE WARRANTY BY 10K MILES. NOT COVERED.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11423946 · 2021-07-08 (July 8, 2021)
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally with a sound coming from the steering rack. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11423946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11489787 · 2022-10-18 (October 18, 2022)
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while her daughter was reversing the vehicle, the Hybrid Propulsion System message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 159,636.
Owner-reported narrative. 159,636 miles reported. Look up ODI 11489787 at NHTSA ↗