2013 Kia Optima Seat belts Problems

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the main road of a T-intersection, the contact blacked out before another vehicle crashed into the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the front of the vehicle sustained severe damages, and there was more damage on the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that the seat belt retracted excessively, causing the contact to be pinned in the seat and to sustain severe injuries. The contact was assisted out of the seat and was partially unconscious. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated after the crash. A Police report was filed. The ambulance transported the contact to the hospital. The contact sustained a fractured L2 and back, ruptured bowel, and intestines and internal bleeding in the stomach. The contact underwent surgery and physical therapy. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. A complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11744952

Incident

Mar 1, 2023

Mileage

130,000 mi

As in May 2025 , I purchased 2013 Kia Optima LX sedan with airbag already deployed before bought it. And in June 2025 I took my car to nearest Kia dealership , I found out that I had recalls over other things as well. I made Kia dealership to look at the airbag and do inspection on it. None of Kia employees did not informed me about the airbag, CARFAX information about previous incident to this car before I purchased.

NHTSA ID

11720904

Incident

May 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle and fastening his seat belt, the seat belt warning light remained illuminated. After unfastening the seat belt, the seat belt warning light turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the seat belt buckle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 187,000.

NHTSA ID

11540312

Incident

Jul 15, 2023

Mileage

187,000 mi

My son owned a Kia Optima built in June of 2013. He was in a motor vehicle accident where he was put in a pit maneuver and Then was T boned on the passengers side causing his body to lay across the front seats and died at the scene. His black box download showed that the seat belt pretensioner was off and both airbags in the front did not go off. I know there is a recall for optimas built before aug 31 of 2012. I believe there was an issue with this vehicle as well. I would hate for there to be anymore deaths or injuries with the later models of these vehicles. I do hope this is looked into further.

NHTSA ID

11475153

Incident

Dec 14, 2021

The contact's ex husband owned a 2013 Kia Optima .The contact stated while her ex-husband was driving at an undetermined speed a 2009 Jeep Liberty cross the center line and crashed into the vehicle. The driver succumbed to his injuries at the scene. There was a report of the driver being located leaning towards the front passenger seat. The air bags deployed. The seat belt was extended and locked but, was torn. The contact stated the driver of the Jeep was intoxicated however there were no reported injuries. The vehicle was towed to a police lot. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11427761

Incident

Jul 9, 2021

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH/UNLATCH PROPERLY. WHEN BUCKLING, IT WON'T LATCH WITHOUT JIGGLING AND REINSERTING SEVERAL TIMES. LATCH WON'T ALWAYS RELEASE WHEN UNBUCKLING. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH AND UNLATCH. THE FOG LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL THE ANTENNA WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. SATALIGHT RADIO WILL NOT PICK UP UNLESS THE BRAKES ARE USED AND THEN FOR JUST A MOMENT THE CONNECTION IS MADE AND THE STATION CAN BE HEARD ALTHOUGH STATICKY AND UNCLEAR. BUT ONLY DOES IT SOMETIMES AND WHEN CAR IS DRIVING AND THE BRAKES ARE APPILED

NHTSA ID

11322423

Incident

Jun 2, 2017

MY DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. HER AIR BAGS DID NO DEPLOY AND HER SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT.

NHTSA ID

11244694

Incident

Aug 17, 2019

Mileage

120,500 mi

I WAS T-BONED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CAR WAS SPUN A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE PASSENGER IN THE CAR WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY WEARING THE SEATBELT IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE SEATBELT WAS NO LONGER BUCKLED. WE BELIEVE THE SEATBELT CAME UNDONE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE VEHICLE HAD BRUISING AND BURNS FROM THEIR SEATBELTS BUT THE PASSENGER DID NOT.

NHTSA ID

11175711

Incident

Feb 8, 2019

Mileage

89,896 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. CRAIN KIA (5830 WARDEN ROAD, SHERWOOD, ARKANSAS 72120, (501) 542-6042) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DISABLED THE AIR BAG LIGHT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) ON JULY 27, 2018. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

NHTSA ID

11140431

Incident

Oct 8, 2018

Mileage

113,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ID

11132746

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

61,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - WE CALLED DEALER BALL KIA IN NATIONAL CITY, CA & WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER. FOR US TO CALL BACK THEN & THAT WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AN UN-SAFE VEHICLE UNTIL THE LETTER ARRIVED AND A APPOINTMENT COULD BE MADE. THIS CAR COULD KILL US UPON IMPACT!!! PLEASE, THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER & SAFER SOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

11120792

Incident

Aug 17, 2018

Mileage

68,000 mi

SEAT BELT FOR LEFT REAR SEAT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE FEMALE PART SINKS INTO THE SEAT POCKET WHEN ATTEMPTING LATCHING SUCH THAT IT WILL NOT ACCEPT THE MALE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT. THE HARDER THE PUSH OF THE MALE PART, THE MORE THE FEMALE PORTION RETRACTS INTO THE SEAT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF MY KIA DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THEY CLAIM IT IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT OFFER A SOLUTION, IN SPITE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS I HAVE FOR MY PASSENGERS - ESPECIALLY MY GRANDCHILDREN. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND I HOPE IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE NHSTA EITHER. I HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE & ULTIMATELY FORCE KIA TO OFFER A RECALL. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. [XXX] GLENDALE, AZ VIN IS INVALID. ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB

NHTSA ID

11030187

Incident

Jul 31, 2017

Mileage

29,000 mi

SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE,IT GOT TIGHTER ANN WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE IN LOWE'S PARKING LOT. THERE WERE 4 PEOPLE AND AN OFF DUTY POLICEMAN TRIED TO HELP AND FINALLY STATED THAT THE BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE CUT AND THEY DID. I WAS IN DIRE STRESS AND BREATHING PROBLEM AND IN DIRE NEED OF IMMEDIATE RELEASE. A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10943956

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

OPTIMA'S DRIVER'S-SIDE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING AND THE BACK SEAT MIDDLE SEAT BELT, (RARELY USED), STOPPED WORKING DUE TO INABILITY TO CLICK (LOCK) INTO PLACE. CAR IS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA GDI & IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT SEEN & KNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10909722

Incident

Jul 14, 2016

Mileage

129,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

10851260

Incident

Mar 2, 2016

REAR SEAT BELTS IN CLOTH SEAT CONFIGURATION DO NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE IN AN EXPOSED POSITION SO THAT A CHILD OR AN ADULT CAN REASONABLY OPERATE IT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A PLASTIC SHEATH THAT HOLD THE BUCKLE EXPOSED SO THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILD SEAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BUCKLE A CHILD IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS USERS WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND OMIT USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA ID

10725870

Incident

Dec 17, 2012

REAR SEAT BELTS IN CLOTH SEAT CONFIGURATION DO NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE IN AN EXPOSED POSITION SO THAT A CHILD OR AN ADULT CAN REASONABLY OPERATE IT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A PLASTIC SHEATH THAT HOLD THE BUCKLE EXPOSED SO THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILD SEAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BUCKLE A CHILD IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS USERS WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND OMIT USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660220

Incident

Nov 21, 2014

Mileage

17,904 mi

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I UNBUCKLED MY SEATBELT AND THEN LEANED FORWARD TO PICKUP SOMETHING OFF THE FLOOR. WHEN I STARTED TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT AND THE SHOULDER STRAP PULLED MY HEAD INTO THE HEAD REST MY MY NECK. THE MORE I PULLED THE SEATBELT TO LOOSEN IT, THE TIGHTER IT GOT. NOTHING HELPED. FINALLY MY FRIEND WHO HAD BEEN DRIVING, REMOVED THE SIDE PANEL AND THEN REMOVED THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE SEATBELT TO RELEASE MY NECK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593389

Incident

May 18, 2014

Mileage

70,545 mi