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1,369 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. 1 active recall campaign on file.
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the engine was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
2013 optima engine seized due to manufacturing errors and Kia wont replace stating it didnt have the ksds update. The update doesnt stop the engine from seixzing only lets you know. When searching recalls and complaints nothing shows up about the ksds update.basically told me…
A year ago, the paint started falling off of the roof rails on my 2013 Kia Optima. It is continuing to peel away. The color I have is Snow White Pearl. I have contacted my dealership and have been told that there is only a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty on the paint and since I am…
When I was driving all the lights came on on the dashboard and I couldn't accelerate at all then it cut off and haven't been able to jump it off or anything! We've looked to see if we could find out why but it's just died and I think the motor locked up!
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Kia optima. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the engine seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. AQ23002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 1,369 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Kia Optima has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 Kia Optima is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the engine was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 1 fatality report and 59 fire-related complaints on the engine; Brakes: 83 complaints, classified critical, failures cluster 80,000–160,000 mi; Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 449 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 102,187 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 102,187 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,369 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.