2013 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 1386 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (613), Steering (213), Unknown Or Other (186).
Key takeaways
- 1386 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 48 involve a crash, 114 a fire, 37 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 613 | 44% |
| Steering | 213 | 15% |
| Unknown Or Other | 186 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 146 | 11% |
| Structure | 127 | 9% |
| Service Brakes | 115 | 8% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 94 | 7% |
| Power Train | 64 | 5% |
| Air Bags | 62 | 4% |
| Hydraulic | 53 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 42 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 40 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Air Bags - filed 2026-10-09
Air bag light is on the panel & is not enabled & buttons on steering wheel that adjust the volume and stations have stopped working unless the steering wheel is turned all the way to the left. Believe it is a faulty spring in the steering wheel.
Air Bags - filed 2026-10-07
I own a 2013 Kia Optima SXL. While the vehicle was parked and there was no collision, crash, impact, or other event that should have caused the airbags to deploy, the airbags unexpectedly deployed on their own. The deployment caused damage to the vehicle, including damage to the windshield. The airbag also hit me whil...
Exterior Lighting,engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-10-07
Despite documenting this catastrophic internal mechanical destruction, the authorized franchise dealer has issued a written directive instructing the driver to operate this structurally compromised vehicle on public roads for a 1,000-mile oil consumption test with explicit instructions not to add, check, or have anyone...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2013 Kia Optima
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.