2013 Kia Optima Other / unspecified Problems

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front end of the vehicle caught fire. The contact was informed by another driver that the fire originated near the front driver’s side wheel area. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department, and a police report was filed. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

NHTSA ID

11730924

Incident

Apr 13, 2026

Mileage

144,000 mi

Unknown

NHTSA ID

11535923

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, a bystander alerted him that his vehicle was on fire. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that the front driver-side tire well had caught fire. Another motorist who witnessed the fire stopped and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was called to the scene and inspected the vehicle to ensure that the fire was extinguished. The police department also arrived at the scene. Neither police nor fire report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to the contact's home and then to a dealer where an inspection discovered that the hybrid battery may have been the source of the fire. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer for further investigation. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was deemed a complete loss. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

NHTSA ID

11497001

Incident

Nov 11, 2022

Mileage

126,000 mi

On 1/7/2022 I was driving my 2013 Kia Optima on the freeway heading home and was passing an eighteen wheeler when my car started slowing down even when trying to accelerate, luckily I was far enough ahead and was able to get off the freeway. Had the car towed to the Dealership and was told the engine failed but would be replaced free of charge due to class action suit settlement in 2020. Engine was replaced at 79,319 miles and picked up on 1/22/2022. On 11/08/2022 my son-in-law was driving the car home from work and was on the freeway with heavy traffic at 5:00pm when he first smelled gasoline and then saw smoke from engine compartment. He was in the left hand lane and pulled into the median area and stopped the vehicle and got out when the car caught fire. He called 911 immediately. By the time the police and fire department got there the car was totaled. Luckily no body was injured or killed. I have contacted KIA Consumer Affairs and was given a case number and was assured they would get me a replacement vehicle. I had the car moved from the holding lot and towed to the Dealership where I purchased it and have had it serviced regularly. As of 12/03/2022 we are still without a car and $857 towing fee and waiting on a KIA INSPECTION and decision.

NHTSA ID

11495906

Incident

Nov 8, 2022

Chest clips melted got all over car seat and my child

NHTSA ID

11475020

Incident

Jul 20, 2022

2 FLAT TIRES GETTING OFF WORK

NHTSA ID

11398012

Incident

Feb 25, 2021

ALL THE PAINT ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF THE CHROME ON MY WHEELS IS CHIPPING AND COMING OFF

NHTSA ID

11366908

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

TURNER KIA DIAGNOSIS MY VEHICLE OF OVERHEATING CONDITION REVEALED COMBUSTION GASSES GETTING INTO COOLANT. INTERNAL ISSUE ALLOWING COMBUSTION PRESSURE TO GET INTO COOLING SYSTEM WHICH IS HAMPERING COOLING EFFICIENCY AS WELL AS CAUSING AREACTION OFF COOLANT. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HALF WAY ON THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED TO SMOKE AFTER I JUST GOT IT BACK FROM TURNER KIA AFTER FIXING WHAT THEY SAID WAS THE PROBLEM AFTER THAT I TOOK IT BACK TO TURNER KIA AND THEY DIAGNOSIS IT AS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11364234

Incident

Aug 8, 2020

Mileage

181,000 mi

WE WERE TRAVELING AT AROUND 55-60 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE T-BONES BY A CHEVY AVALANCHE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND SWERVED SO THE TRUCK LUCKILY STARTED AT MY DOOR AND COMPLETELY RIPPED AND SMASHED IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND BACK/ TRUNK OF OUR OPTIMA. BACK WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED OUT. HIT SO HARD IT COMPLETELY TURNED US IN 2 CIRCLES AND BUSTED MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND IT HIT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I BUSTED MY HEAD OPEN AND RECEIVED 3 STAPLES AND KNEE SHOVED IN DASH BUT NOT 1 AIR BAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED!! I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A KIA!! I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A KIA BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!

NHTSA ID

11361018

Incident

Sep 22, 2020

Mileage

164,000 mi

WHEN I'M DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY SURFACE DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLANKING SOUND ALSO THE CAR IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT MY FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT ON THE UPPEROUTSIDE OF THE TIRE THE PART OF TIRE THAT TOUCHES THE ROAD. I HAVE LOOKED ON WEB TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD A ISSUE WITH THIS WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT IT MAY BE THE STEERING COUPLER. IT'S GETTING WORSE I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT GOING TO TURN ONE OF THESE DAYS BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

11326583

Incident

Mar 6, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN I AM DRIVING MORE THAN 65 MPH, MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES FOR 3 SECONDS, STOPS, AND THEN CONTINUES UNTIL I GO UNDER 65 MPH. WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP OR OBJECT, IT SHAKES AS WELL. THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING WHEN TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11319782

Incident

Mar 30, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL SLIPS WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT

NHTSA ID

11292024

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

MY CAR KEEPS HAVING SOME KIND OF AN ELECTRICAL GLITCH WHERE IT SEEMS MY BATTERY IS DEAD COMPLETELY WIPES THE MEMORY FROM THE CAR THEN IT'LL START 1 MINUTE LATER, TIRES KEEP GETTING EATING FROM THE INSIDE JUST ABOVE THE RIM, MOTOR HAS BEEN MAKING A TICKING NOISE SINCE I GOT THE CAR IT WAS LOOKED AT AS ONE OF THE RECALLS AND SAID IT WAS FINE, I FEEL THIS CAR IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, THE HAS EVEN SHUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ACTED LIKE IT WAS THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND IT STARTED A COUPLE MINUTES LATER

NHTSA ID

11266554

Incident

Oct 5, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

THE CHROME ON THE WHEELS IS SEPARATING FROM THE WHEEL/RIM. ALL AROUND THE LUG NUTS AREA THE CHROME IS PEALING OFF.

NHTSA ID

11040514

Incident

Oct 7, 2016

Mileage

82,000 mi

FIRST, THE TIRES WERE WORN/DRY ROT WITH ONLY 3000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SECOND, VEHICLE STALLS WHEN THERE IS ANY MOISTURE ON THE ROADWAY CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THIRD, BACK UP CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. FOURTH, RECALL NOTICE FOR UNDERBODY RUST. FIFTH, RECALL NOTICE FOR ENGINE SEIZURE WHILE THE CAR IS DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED

NHTSA ID

11016185

Incident

Mar 26, 2013

NEXEN CP671 TIRES, P215/55R17 - TIRES ARE OEM ON MY KIA OPTIMA, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. AT 14,972 MILES, MY CAR'S HANDLING CHANGED. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED BOTH FRONT TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED SIDEWALL BULGES, AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. (TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED.) I WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES IMMEDIATELY AS PRESENT ONES WERE EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THESE TIRES, SO I CALLED NEXEN DIRECTLY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD OFFER A REPLACEMENT, BUT WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY ON OEM TIRES, NOR DO THEY EVEN OFFER A DISCOUNT ON THE PURCHASE OF NEW TIRES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WON'T BE REPLACING THEM WITH NEW NEXENS WHICH, BY THE WAY, THEIR AGENT TOLD ME THEY DO WARRANT AT NO ADDITIONAL CHANGE.

NHTSA ID

11000817

Incident

May 26, 2017

Mileage

14,972 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON DARBY ROAD IN HAVERFORD, PA GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SAFELY STOPPING SHE INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS NO LONGER STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN BUT WAS TILTED. THE HAVERFORD POLICE RESPONDED AND ASKED IF SHE HAD HIT ANYTHING. SHE REPLIED "NO". THE POLICE LOOKED DOWN THE ROAD AND COULD NOT FIND ANY POTHOLES OR ANYTHING THAT HAD BEEN STRUCK. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WEST CHESTER, PA KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE INSISTING THAT SOMETHING HAD TO HAVE HIT THE VEHICLE. THEY SAY THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF SCRAPES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE CAR BEING DRAGGED BY THE TOW TRUCK TO GET IN ON TO THE FLATBED WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE TOW TRUCK IT WAS AGAIN DRAGGED ON THE GROUND. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHEN ANOTHER TOW TRUCK CAME TO TAKE IT TO KIA OF WEST CHESTER. THEY ARE NOW GOING TO TOW IT FROM THERE TO GRAN SPORT AUTO IN WEST CHESTER, PA AND I AM SURE MORE DAMAGE WILL OCCUR. I FEEL THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO POTHOLE AND NO COLLISION WITH ANYTHING THAT THIS COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. KIA IS SAYING IT HAD TO HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683643

Incident

Feb 13, 2015

Mileage

25,100 mi

WE GOT A NEW KIA OPTIMA SXL 2013. THE TYRES ARE FILL WITH NITROGEN GAS. ON OUR LAST STATE INSPECTION WE WERE TOLD THE THERE WAS 25% LEFT ON THE TREAD OF EACH TYRE & WILL REQUIRE CHANGING SOON. STARTED TO CHECK OUT PRICES IN THE AREA AT ALL THE TYRE MERCHANTS. ONLY TO FIND IN MY HORROR THAT ONLY TWO PLACES IN A 30 MILE + RADIUS CAN DO NITROGEN FILL & THE PRICES ARE HORRENDOUS. IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT TO SIMPLY CHANGE TYRES ON A CAR. KIA AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER NEW CARS DON'T COME WITH A SPARE TYRE, BUT INSTEAD SUPPLY YOU WITH A SMALL COMPRESSOR UNIT. BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFICULTY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO CHANGE OVER TO AIR FILLED TYPES, AND BUY A NEW SPARE WHEEL & TYRE FOR THE TRUNK. AT A GREAT DEAL MORE EXPENSE, THAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED. KIA USA ARE BEING OF LITTLE OR NO HELP WHATSOEVER. VERY ANGRY. I AM NOW IN THE STAGE OF MAKING A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS WE IT IS ALSO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ANYONE ELSE IN THE SAME BOAT???? *TR

NHTSA ID

10682455

Incident

Feb 10, 2015

Mileage

26,500 mi

I HAVE FOUND THE TRACTION CONTROL TO BE TOO DRASTIC AT TIMES. WHEN PULLING ON TO A HIGHWAY THERE IS USUALLY A SMALL BUMP (DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT, ABOUT 2", BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE PARKING AREA). IF I'M ACCELERATING (WHICH YOU USUALLY HAVE TO DO TO GET ONTO A BUSY ROAD), WHEN THE CAR GOES OVER THE "SMALL BUMP" THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKS IN AND THE CAR LOSES A LOT OF THE POWER YOU NEED TO AVOID THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE TRACTION CONTROL CAUSES THE CAR TO COME TO A "ROLLING STOP". THIS SEEMS A LITTLE TOO EXTREME TO ME AND I FEEL LIKE THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE OWNED 4 OTHER CARS WITH TRACTION CONTROL (2 SATURNS, 1 CORVETTE, AND A KIA FORTE). NONE OF THE VEHICLES MENTION HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. USUALLY THE TRACTION CONTROL WILL "GRADUALLY" SLOW DOWN THE WHEEL OR WHEELS THAT ARE TURNING FASTER THAN REQUIRED. THE OPTIMA ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, LOSING 95% OF IT'S POWER ON JUNE 6, 2014 I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER (FETTE KIA). I WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THIS WAS HOW THE CAR WAS DESIGNED. THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES THE DATE ABOVE WAS USED TO COMPLETE THE FORM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10598802

Incident

Jun 14, 2014

Mileage

15,000 mi

DEAR NEXEN & SOUTHWEST KIA 39650 LYNDON B. JOHNSON FWY, DALLAS, TX. 75237 (972) 283-9797: I AM REACHING OUT TO YOUR COMPANY IN HOPES OF GAINING RESOLUTION ON A RECENT SAFETY ISSUE I EXPERIENCED WITH YOUR TIRES. ON JUNE 28TH 2013 I PURCHASED A MOTOR VEHICLE FROM YOUR DEALERSHIP VIN# [XXX], KIA SUV. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY BECAUSE ON 3/14/14 I WAS DRIVING IN TO WORK TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE REAR TIRE ON THE SUV COMPLETELY CAME APART TO MY DISMAY, LEAVING ME DRIVING ON THREE GOOD TIRES AND A BARE RIM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10574709

Incident

Mar 17, 2014

Mileage

25,000 mi

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 ACCELERATION TO 50 MPH OR SO, THE FRONT WHEELS, BEGAN TO PULL TOWARD THE RIGHT. BOTH OF MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT I HAD TO STEER SLIGHTLY LEFT TO CORRECT TO AVOID GOING INTO THE RIGHT LANE. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED AS ABOVE. I NEXT CHANGED TO THE RIGHT LANE AS MY EXIT WAS NEARING. WITHIN 3/4 MILE THERE IS A SLIGHT CURVE LEFT, WHICH THE CAR HAD ISSUES CORNERING AND AGAIN LED TO MY HAVING TO STEER TO CORRECT. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN, A SERIOUS ONE. THIS IS NOT A RANDOM, EVERY SO OFTEN OCCURRENCE. IT IS DAILY, FREQUENT, IF I TRAVEL ON A FREEWAY OR ANYTIME SPEED LIMITS ARE ABOVE 35 MPH. THERE ARE OTHER INSTANCES OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE CORNERING ISSUES. LEFT TURNS ARE AWKWARD IF YOU FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TURNING INTO THE LANE CLOSEST TO YOU. MOST TURNS END UP WIDE, AS IF YOU'RE DRIVING A WIDER CHASSIS VEHICLE, I.E. A PICK-UP OR SUV. THE STEERING DEFECT EVEN APPEARS NOTICEABLE UPON PARKING, AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALWAYS A HAIR OFF CENTER WHEN YOU PARK STRAIGHT IN A STALL OR SPACE. IN THE CITY I RESIDE IN THE STATE OF NEVADA, CONSTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION, LANES THAT CHANGE FROM HORIZONTAL TO ZIG-ZAG EVERY FEW FEET, THE LAST THING NEEDED IS A CAR THAT HAS ANY HINT OF A FAULT WITH STEERING OR SUSPENSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498327

Incident

Feb 9, 2013

Mileage

22 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE TIRE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE, ONLY A TIRE MOBILITY KIT THAT INCLUDED AN INFLATION DEVICE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILED TIRE COULD NOT BE INFLATED AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10491945

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

1,000 mi