2013 Kia Optima problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2013 Kia Optima has 1,383 owner complaints on record with NHTSA, which ranks it 1 of 5 Kia Optima model years by complaint volume. That is the highest of any year in the run — the 2020 car has 148. 9 recall entries cover this year.
Is 2013 a good year for the Kia Optima?
The spread across this nameplate is wide: the 2013 draws 9 times the complaints of the 2020. On a run like that the model year you buy matters more than the badge, and 2013 sits near the top of it.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall entries |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 148 | 0 |
| 2019 | 210 | 1 |
| 2017 | 256 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1,009 | 4 |
| 2013 ← this page | 1,383 | 9 |
Older years have been on the road longer and collect more complaints for that reason alone, and a year that sold in higher volume collects more while being no worse.
This retrieval holds 5 of the nameplate’s model years. 2014, 2016, 2018 are absent, which means no records came back for them — not that they were clean. The ranking above is among the years shown.
The 2013 accounts for 46% of every complaint filed against the Kia Optima in this retrieval, which works out to 106.4 complaints per year on the road across the 13 years since it was sold new — the figure to compare against other years, because it removes the advantage a newer car gets simply from having had less time to accumulate reports.
Which recalls cover the 2013?
Fuel System, Gasoline
Free remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
Air Bags
In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from…
Free remedy: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary.
Fuel System, Gasoline
The low pressure fuel hose may deteriorate and crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
Free remedy: Kia will notify Owners, and Dealers will inspect the low pressure fuel hose for damage or leaking, replacing it as necessary. If no damage or leaking is found, a heat-protective tape will be installed.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Kia dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2013 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Kia Optima?
Across every Kia Optima year, not the 2013 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Engine — 1,086 reports
- Unknown or Other — 302 reports
- Steering — 301 reports
- Electrical System — 290 reports
If your 2013 is doing something now, these are the guides for that system — each opens with whether it is safe to keep driving:
Which other Kia Optima years should you compare?
2015 Kia Optima → · All Kia Optima years
If you are deciding between years, the table above is the short answer and the Kia Optima page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2013 before you commit
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