2013 Kia Optima Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,387 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 46,893miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2013 Kia Optima, 1% of the 1,387 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,893 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving down the road doing about 45 when I heard a small pop & all my dash lights came on & I lost everything. Car clicks when trying to restart but does not start. Oil light, battery light, eps light & check engine light stay on now. I was told there is a recall on these cars and would like to get it fixed asap as it's my only transportation.”
NHTSA complaint #11361296, filed 2020-09, 126,000 miles“I was sitting at a stop sign waiting to cross two lanes, when clear I pressed the gas pedal . The tires spun a little on some antiskid; as a result the traction control intervened. The car seamed to loose all power!!. With traffic on its way I drifted across one lane before getting full power back. This tcs in my 2013 Kia Optima is not safe-- someone is going to get killed! What should I do !?”
NHTSA complaint #10683940, filed 2015-02, 42,205 miles“My car began to smell like gas when driving and my car started jerking, and making a weird noise..so I pulled over on the side of the road. It smelled like fuel through my air vents while driving, and when I popped the hood to look under it with my boyfriend there was a leak, and it was spewing out fuel out of the pump. What was the scariest part about it is there was no warning light or any thing that told me there was a fuel leak we had to find out for ourselves. …”
NHTSA complaint #11172010, filed 2019-01, 60,000 miles“I was driving from woburn ma on new boston road headed to wilmington ma and my car seemed to shut down I was able to pull over off the street next to a curb location 147 new boston rd. I tried to start my car pressing the push button start only lights came on on the oil has engine battery... While still sitting in the car I was trying to make some calls I smelled a burning smell I noticed smoke coming from the front of the car. The smoke increased rapidly I exited the car called 911. …”
NHTSA complaint #11193614, filed 2019-04, 79,000 miles“While I went on the highway the acceleration felt very sluggish and had a hard time speeding up to the speed limit. The car only got worse as I went on a street and it felt as though it did not want to go, like it lost most of its power. Turns out something is wrong with the engine but I feel that my car should be under a newer recall but isn't, as smoke was coming out of the exhaust and the engine light wasn't even on. Somehow the car was out of oil with no light coming on to indicate that and recently about a week ago oil was put in, and weeks prior oil was put in.”
NHTSA complaint #11245928, filed 2019-08, 49,786 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10058510Jul 1, 2015Kia: some vehicles would hesitate on hard acceleration and electronic stability control (esc) light illuminates; would need to replace hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu)…
Electronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% |
| 2016 | 9 | 1% |
| 2015 | 10 | 1% |
| 2014 | 6 | 1% |
| 2013 | 19 | 1% |
| 2012 | 11 | 1% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 9 | 8% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2013 Kia Optima
614 complaintsSteering
213 complaintsOther or unknown
189 complaintsElectrical system
146 complaintsBody and structure
127 complaintsFuel system
123 complaintsBrakes
114 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
64 complaintsAir bags
62 complaintsEngine cooling
42 complaintsExterior lighting
40 complaintsVehicle speed control
39 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology