U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,381 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

83,585 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 773 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 612 of 1,381 complaints (44.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	217	15.7%
Engine operation	166	12.0%
Braking behavior	148	10.7%
Electrical and battery issues	104	7.5%
Transmission and shifting	35	2.5%
Fuel system concerns	31	2.2%

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.

Engine

612

Steering

213

Unknown Or Other

186

Electrical System

143

Structure:Body

119

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train

Air Bags

Engine: 612; Steering: 213; Unknown Or Other: 186; Electrical System: 143; Structure:Body: 119; Fuel/Propulsion System: 92; Power Train: 64; Air Bags: 60

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

138

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

105

75,000 to 99,999

153

100,000 to 149,999

204

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 138; 25,000 to 49,999: 87; 50,000 to 74,999: 105; 75,000 to 99,999: 153; 100,000 to 149,999: 204; 150,000 and above: 86

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (204). 608 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.

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

165

2020

162

2021

147

2022

128

2023

134

2024

129

2025

2026

2012: 5; 2013: 36; 2014: 45; 2015: 53; 2016: 55; 2017: 90; 2018: 95; 2019: 165; 2020: 162; 2021: 147; 2022: 128; 2023: 134; 2024: 129; 2025: 82; 2026: 55

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 217 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 166 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 148 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 10476362 · 2012-09-19 (September 19, 2012)

2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, SOMETIMES THE BELT MADE A SQUEAKY NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH A KEY TO OPEN THE TRUNK. UPDATED 01/22/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS MANY SERIOUS ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 06/27/2017*JS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10476362 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10481066 · 2012-10-19 (October 19, 2012)

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE IS NOT STABLE. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS WITHIN SPECS. VEHICLE DOESN'T PULL IN ONE DIRECTION, BUT IT HAS A HARD TIME TRACKING DOWN THE ROAD. SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS, WIND, OR TIRE ISSUES WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DART LEFT/RIGHT. AN IMMEDIATE CORRECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS REQUIRED WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN REQUIRED TO RETURN TO CENTER-LINE AND THUS REQUIRES ANOTHER CORRECTION IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. ANY DEVIATION FROM THE CENTER-LINE REQUIRES TWO CORRECTIONS AND EXTR…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481066 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10498327 · 2013-02-16 (February 16, 2013)

I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO DAYS I NOTICED A SLIGHT DRIFTING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 40 MPH, BUT DISMISSED IT AS BEING CAUSED BY THE HIGH WINDS THAT WERE OCCURRING DURING THAT TIME. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THESE DRIFTING EXPERIENCES LINGERED. THE WORST EXPERIENCE OCCURRED 02/14/13, BETWEEN 5:30PM AND 6:15PM, A HIGH TRAFFIC PERIOD, ON A FREEWAY WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT ONTO THE FREEWAY, I PROCEEDED INTO THE LEFT LANE. WITHIN A FEW FEET, OR…

Owner-reported narrative. 22 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498327 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10519827 · 2013-06-14 (June 14, 2013)

DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC (4:30PM EST) MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE LARGE RATTLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HAD PICKED UP SOMTHING ON THE ROAD, BUT AS I ACCELERATED/DECCELERATED THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER/SOFTER. I IMMEDIATLEY CONTACTED MY KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN NEXT WEEK SINCE THAT WOULD BE THE SOONEST IT COULD BE LOOKED AT. I INFORMED HIM THAT I DID'NT THINK I COULD EVEN MAKE IT HOME LET ALONE WAIT A WEEK TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. …

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519827 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10562752 · 2014-02-03 (February 3, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE SURGED AS THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 3/14/14*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562752 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10574248 · 2014-03-23 (March 23, 2014)

CAR SOMETIMES WILL NOT START WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED & ING SWITCH IS PRESSED ??? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,234 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574248 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10762994 · 2015-09-10 (September 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 COM…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10762994 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10565171 · 2014-02-20 (February 20, 2014)

MY KIA GETS STUCK IN A FEW INCHES OF SNOW OR ANY ICE. SLIDES EASILY IN RAIN OR ICY OR COLD WEATHER. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST. I HAVE BEEN PUSHED BY STRANGERS, COUNTLESS TIMES, TRYING TO GET ME OUT OF SUBDIVISIONS BECAUSE THIS CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HE MENTIONED HE HAD TO TOW 3 OF THESE SAME FANCY VEHICLES THAT WERE STUCK IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW. I AM UNABLE TO PARK IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE IF ANY SNOW OR ICE IS ON THE DRIVEWAY. I DRIVE FOR A LIVING AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PATIENT'S DRIVEWAYS. TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565171 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10588733 · 2014-05-15 (May 15, 2014)

ON 5/15/14 AT APPROX. 0430AM, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR MOVED LESS THAN TWO FEET. I THEN PLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, WHERE THE MOTOR REV'D TO APPROX. 7000 RPM. I THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN BACK ON. AFTER TURNING IT BACK ON, THE CAR THEN RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTIONS. LATER THE SAME DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO T…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588733 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10511798 · 2013-05-13 (May 13, 2013)

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE, ENGINE MADE LOUD, CLANKING NOISE. PUSHED ON GAS AND NOISE GOT LOUDER AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL APPLIED. TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS AND WORKED WAY OVER TO OUTER LANE AND FINALLY TO SIDE OF ROAD. WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED WHEN HAPPENED; CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP BUT NOISE STILL OCCURRING. A WEEK LATER, INFORMED HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. WEEK LATER ENGINE, AND NOW PARTS, WERE ON BACK ORDER. FOLLOWING WEEK, INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP, KIA WOULD…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511798 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10654184 · 2014-11-11 (November 11, 2014)

ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO MY FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. I WAS AT 62,000 MILES WHEN IT WENT OUT, WHICH MEANT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD IT REPLACED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, IT COST AROUND $800.00 TO REPLACE. NOW LESS THAT 2 MONTHS LATER I AM HAVING SOME HESITATION AND JERKING IN THE CAR. HAD THE CAR TROUBLESHOOT AND IT'S NOT THE TEMP SENSOR. THE CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THINGS LIKE THIS TO HAPPENED. ONCE I GET RID OF IT, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA, OR WILL I ALLOW MY FAMILY AND FRIEND TO. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10654184 at NHTSA ↗