2013 Kia Optima Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 64about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,387 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 64,837miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 64 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2013 Kia Optima, 5% of the 1,387 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 64,837 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Takara recall: my engine had been knocking/shaking for a good minute now. When I have it running and hood open it's just vibrating extremely hard and constantly.I've noticed it wants to stall or no shift correctly after a dead stop and something going into 3rd gear. Even while just idling I can feel the engine shaking the whole car from inside.”
NHTSA complaint #11221025, filed 2019-06, 100,000 miles“I had the engine replaced around 85000 miles, at dealer with recall. Now at 140000 the transmission is making a bad grinding noise when accelerating and slowing down, noise starts about 15 MPH all the way to highway speeds. At highway speeds if I put the car in neutral, the sound goes away. As I put car back in drive the grinding noise reappears. The noise does not change while gear changes, only when put in neutral.”
NHTSA complaint #11316540, filed 2020-03, 125,000 miles“I was driving my vehicle on the street when I began to see white smoke clouds coming from my exhaust. I immediately took the car home, was nearly hit on the way home (low power to vehicle) and made an appointment at Kia. I had approximately 120000 miles on the car. Had engine and turbo charger replaced at 74000 miles. Took car to Kia claims the turbo charger is out again. This year has a lot of problems as it is. I do not recommend Kia...”
NHTSA complaint #11362405, filed 2020-10, 120,000 miles“The axle and wheel broke off and flew into 2 parked cars. It totaled our car.my husband had just turned off of a busy street to a small street. He was going about 15 miles per hour. He heard a loud noise and the airbags went off. He got put of the car and saw what happened. His axle and wheel broke off and flew into the 2 parked cars. Kia is not cooperating at all and there has been a recall for this exact problem on the same model, but different year.”
NHTSA complaint #11072840, filed 2018-02, 22,500 miles“2013 Kia Optima sport with approximately 47,000 miles loss of turbo. Pulled out of my garage and my car seemed sluggish. I noticed the engine light was on. As I accelerated my turbo did not seem to kick in and my car would rev up and not accelerate very well. Called Kia they said I have 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty. I told them I also have 10 year 100 mile powertrain warranty. Just ran a recall check and NHTSA states recall on long block engine and turbo recall on my sport model.”
NHTSA complaint #11280648, filed 2019-11, 47,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11017172Apr 17, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- 11000787May 16, 2024This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission…
- 10226555Nov 18, 2022TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity…
- 10174520Apr 24, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information relating…
- 10130104Feb 16, 2018TSB - DRIVESHAFT SERVICEABILITY - This bulletin has been revised most recently to include additional information. This bulletin provides information regarding axle shaft…
- 10127029Dec 13, 2017TSB - SERVICE ACTION: TURBO OIL FEED LINE REPLACEMENT (SA300) - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the turbo oil feed line on some 2011-2015MY Optima (TF), produced…
- 10089382Aug 3, 2015Tsb: 6-spd. A/t adaptive value reset /relearn - this bulletin provides the procedures necessary to reset and relearn the adaptive values after transmission replacement or…
- 10092147Jun 1, 2015Tsb: 6 spd a/t solenoid replacement multiple dtcs - this bulletin provides information relating to the replacement of various shift solenoids on 6-speed automatic transaxles…
- 10089761Jun 1, 2015Tsb: 6 spd a/t solenoid replacement multiple dtcs - this bulletin provides information relating to the replacement of various shift solenoids on 6-speed automatic transaxles…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 27 | 18% |
| 2019 | 17 | 8% |
| 2018 | 19 | 8% |
| 2017 | 21 | 8% |
| 2016 | 74 | 10% |
| 2015 | 49 | 5% |
| 2014 | 20 | 3% |
| 2013 | 64 | 5% |
| 2012 | 54 | 6% |
| 2011 | 25 | 4% |
| 2010 | 24 | 32% |
| 2009 | 33 | 28% |
| 2008 | 18 | 13% |
| 2007 | 13 | 8% |
| 2006 | 14 | 9% |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% |
| 2004 | 8 | 4% |
| 2003 | 8 | 6% |
| 2002 | 6 | 6% |
| 2001 | 12 | 8% |
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 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 30, 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