2013 Kia Optima Interior & seats Problems

I have been having electrical/lighting issues for about a year. It initially started with the inside lights intermittently flashing when opening the door or attempting to use the interior lights; however sometimes the automatic interior lights did not come on at all when set to automatically turn on when a door opened, but now the lights don’t come on at all when opening the door. I have also had some headlight and dashboard lights going on and off while driving. I have experienced this on at least 3 occasions since last June or July. I have done some of my own testing by switching the lights to different functions, on and off, etc. Because it has only happened 3 times I’m not sure exactly what the issue is and scared that at some point, they won’t work at all. This is very concerning and obviously a safety issue. In addition, just recently my interior speaker system began having issues when using the hands free call option. With every call I make or take while using the hands free option, the call goes in and out constantly and consistently. It doesn’t happen to those on the other end of the line. It does this every time for about the past month. The speakers work fine when listening to the radio. My phone works perfectly through the regular calling option or on the speaker option but that is not ideal while driving. As new issues continue to pop up, increase, progressively get worse, I’m concerned there could be other current or future electrical problems in the engine or in regular safe functioning of the car leading to melting, fire, or a malfunction while driving, causing catastrophic results.

NHTSA ID

11497588

Incident

Jan 20, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the seat cushions on both the front driver’s and passenger’s seats had separated from the frame of the vehicle. Both the dealer and the manufacturer were informed of the failure; and the contact was informed that the repair would not be covered under a warranty. The contact was given an estimate for the repair. The contact stated that failure had made it difficult to fasten the seat belts in the vehicle. The contact was referred to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The contact stated that they are still awaiting a response from the manufacturer and the dealer about repairs.

NHTSA ID

11490652

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THE HOOD INADVERTENTLY OPENED AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,564.

NHTSA ID

11386427

Incident

Dec 31, 2020

Mileage

116,564 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE DOORS SECURELY LOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. SPARKS NISSAN KIA (1100 AUTO MALL DR, MONROE, LA 71203, (833)255-2570) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OFFER THE REPAIR DUE TO THE BODY WORK THAT WAS REQUIRED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *LN*JB *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11322189

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS. NO INJURY BUT DRIVER HAD TO JUMP OUT OF MOVING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11139335

Incident

Oct 8, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HAS HAD DIFFICULTY REMAINING IN A SRAIGHT LINE ON THE FREEWAY. TENDS TO PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. THE RATE OF TRAVEL IS APROX. 45-65MPH. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH "OVERSTEERING" WHEN I ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE CENTER OF THE LANE. I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY OTHER CAR FOR 29YRS, AND I ASSUMED THAT NEWER CARS MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERNT, SUCH AS BEING MORE SENSITIVE WITH STEERING. I HAVE ALMOST HAD A COLLISION ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THERE ARE ALSO BLIND SPOTS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE KIA OTIMA. THIS TIME I DID END UP IN COLLISION BECAUSE OF BLINDSPOTS AND OVERSTEERING IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR NEXT TO ME, AND INSTEAD HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME ON THE OTHER LANE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR WAY THIS OCCURRED FROM SENSETIVE OVERSTEERING. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT, I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA STATING THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD LIKE TO TRADE UP TO THE KNEW KIA OPTIMA. THE EMAIL STATED THEY HAD NEW FEATURES; SUCH AS CAMERAS FOR BLIND SPOTS. THIS MADE ME AWARE THAT KIA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SERIOUS .BLINDSPOTS. THE CAR WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO RUMBLE, AND I BELIEVED IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE,IN FACT QUITE SURE IT WAS FROM THE ENGINE. I ALSO HAD RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM KIA, STATING THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINES FROM CERTAIN YEARS OF THE KIA OPTIMA MY CAR WAS WITHIN THE YEARS STATED. IT STATED THEY WOULD HONOR THIS PROBLEM IF YOU KEPT THIS LETTER IN YOUR CAR, WHEN BRINGING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I WAS GOING TO DO THIS, BUT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10892968

Incident

Jul 26, 2016

Mileage

33,600 mi

I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEADREST. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THE ANGLE OF THE HEADREST. THE HEADREST MOVES UP AND DOWN, FORWARD AND BACKWARD BUT THE ANGLE CAN NOT BE ADJUSTMENT.

NHTSA ID

10782958

Incident

Oct 16, 2015

Mileage

3,500 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA ACCIDENT ON 9/24/2014. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, FACING EAST, TURNING TO GO NORTH, IN SC IA A MAN RAN A RED LIGHT, COMING WESTBOUND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED HIT THE TRAFFIC GOING SOUTH BOUND WHICH IN TURN THE 1993 FORD EXPLORER HIT ME HEAD ON. PUSHED MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA 40FT FROM THE LIGHT. THE IMPACT WAS PRETTY INTENSE AND I WAS HIT HEAD ON AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AS I LOOKED IN THE BACK SEAT MY BACK SEATS WERE LAYING DOWN, BEFORE THE IMPACT THEY WERE IN A UP POSITION AND FULLY LOCKED..UPDATED 10/17/14 *BF UPDATED 3/30/15 *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

10644010

Incident

Sep 24, 2014

Mileage

11,424 mi