2013 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 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 10608382 · 2014-07-06 (July 6, 2014)
THIS HYBRID HAS A VERY DANGEROUS HESITATION ON DRIVER'S REQUEST FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION. REGARDLESS OF IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR AT SPEED A REQUEST FOR ANY SUDDEN ACCELERATION IS MET BY A VERY SIGNIFICANT HESITATION BEFORE ANY NOTICABLE RESPONSE IS MADE. THAT IS FOR ALL SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. THIS BOTH WITH THE "ECO" FUNCTION ENGAGED OR DISENGAGED. THAT IS NOT SAFE. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10626343 · 2014-08-19 (August 19, 2014)
WE TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR WASH , AFTER THEY CLEAN THE CAR WE TRIED TO START THE CAR , BUT WE GET AN ERROR " KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZE". WE WERE NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR. THEN MY WIFE BROUGHT THE SECOND KEY , WE GOT THE SAME ERROR. WE TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER AND STILL THERE AFTER 3 DAYS . THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG . I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT , THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG , WHAT HAPPENED IF THIS CONDITION APPEAR IN HIGHWAY ? I DRIVE 30,000 MILES A YEAR AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST EPISODE, I AM VERY CONCERN REGARDING THIS PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10702968 · 2015-03-31 (March 31, 2015)
HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE HORRIBLE. WORST OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER SEEN. APPROXIMATE ILLUMINATION RANGE OF THE CAR IS 15 METERS (50 FEET) ON HIGH BEAMS. ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF VEHICLE SEEM FINE, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SHORTCOMING. LAMPS ARE PROPERLY AIMED AND PROVIDE VIRTUALLY USELESS NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. THIS CONDITION IS WIDELY DISCUSSED ON THE INTERNET AND THE REMEDY IS 3RD PARTY AFTERMARKET LIGHTING (HID), WHICH VOIDS THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10702968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10715458 · 2015-05-09 (May 9, 2015)
WHEN WE TAKE THE CAR TO CAR WASH AND SOME TIME GO OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER , IF THE CAR IS ON MOVE , IT WILL SHUT ITSELF AND I HAD TO STOP THE CAR RESTART THE CAR . IF THE CAR COMES OUT OF CAR WASH AND BE TURN , IT WILL NOT START UNTIL 4 TO 5 HOURS LATER . ERROR WE GET " KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZE" I TOOK MY CAR TO KIA DEALER IN IRVINE , AND THEY TOLD ME DO NOT TAKE THE CAR TO CAR WASH . I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR KIA AND THEY SAID THE HYBRID CAR IS NOT DESIGN FOR CAR WASH. THIS IS A PROBLEM , WHAT HAPPEN IN A HEAVY RAIN IN THE HIGHWAY . DOES SOMEBO…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,521 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715458 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V750000 · Engine
Reported: 2020-12-02 (December 2, 2020)
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V652000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
NHTSA campaign record ↗