2013 Kia Optima Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 127about this part
- Share
- 9%of 1,387 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 127 complaints about the body and structure of the 2013 Kia Optima, 9% of the 1,387 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 11 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Before I paid off my car in 12-1-18, my 2013'Kia Optima's paint started chipping off. It has chipped off first on the hood and then on the door jams on both front doors. I find this suspicious in that when I bought the car new, they were pushing an extra paint protection program- - for a mear $2000 plus extra! It's as if they knew the paint would fail in less than five years.”
NHTSA complaint #11244313, filed 2019-08, 68,000 miles“On september 28th my husband was in a accident where he turned a corner at 8mph and hit the rear end of a boat on a trailer. The whole front of the car was crunched and the car is now a total loss and was totaled. The air bags never went off and if I were in the car with my two small children this would have been a different story.”
NHTSA complaint #11039318, filed 2017-10, 72,350 miles“While I was driving the car, I stopped at a stop light, and realized that my car was on fire from the engine area. The electrical shorted out and I was locked in the car, I had to manually hold the electric lock to be able to escape from the car. It was engulfed in flames.”
NHTSA complaint #11090295, filed 2018-04, 60,000 miles“My four year old daughter and I were in the car and while driving, the sunroof exploded. It was so loud, almost like a gunshot. A small amount of glass entered the car. I was driving straight, southward, near the osceola exit on I 55. There was absolutely no sign or evidence of anything hitting the glass. Weather conditions were clear and the temperature in osceola today was a high of 76 and low of 68 degrees fahrenheit.”
NHTSA complaint #10970621, filed 2017-04, 65,000 miles“While driving on a 2 lane road with my son and a friend, going about 25 MPH on a clear day at noon, we heard what sounded like a gunshot come from the moon roof causing me to swerve. Once I was able to pull off the road and assess the situation, we found that the moon roof had exploded causing the entire thing to crack and remain cracking, causing tiny shards of glass to form. It was immediately undriveable.”
NHTSA complaint #10884497, filed 2016-07, 55,000 milesRelated recalls
- 22V560000Aug 1, 2022Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in…Covers: Kia Optima 2012–2013
Related service bulletins
- 11034003Jun 8, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 11028908Feb 19, 2026TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include…
- 11026825Dec 18, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a…
- 11026980Dec 17, 2025CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software…
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this…
- 10109817Feb 28, 2017TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109874Dec 6, 2016TSB: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL - To improve customer satisfaction, Kia is launching this service campaign to apply additional…
- 10109877Dec 5, 2016Questions and answers for voluntary service campaign sc141 ? Underbody ? Additional anti-corrosion treatment
- 10109876Dec 5, 2016SERVICE MANAGER MEMO: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - Attention: All Kia Service Managers - Kia Motors America, Inc. will be conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign, as a preventative…
- 10109875Dec 5, 2016DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO: SC141 - SERVICE CAMPAIGN - Attention: All Kia Dealer Principals - Kia Motors America, Inc. will be conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign, as a…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 14 | 7% |
| 2018 | 7 | 3% |
| 2017 | 5 | 2% |
| 2016 | 41 | 5% |
| 2015 | 76 | 8% |
| 2014 | 48 | 8% |
| 2013 | 127 | 9% |
| 2012 | 39 | 4% |
| 2011 | 21 | 4% |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% |
| 2006 | 12 | 8% |
| 2005 | 22 | 15% |
| 2004 | 42 | 19% |
| 2003 | 25 | 18% |
| 2002 | 30 | 28% |
| 2001 | 35 | 24% |
Other parts of the 2013 Kia Optima
614 complaintsSteering
213 complaintsOther or unknown
189 complaintsElectrical system
146 complaintsFuel system
123 complaintsBrakes
114 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
64 complaintsAir bags
62 complaintsEngine cooling
42 complaintsExterior lighting
40 complaintsVehicle speed control
39 complaintsSuspension
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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