What 1,371 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Optima Phev

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her husband was driving at approximately 65 MPH on a hill, the vehicle started losing automotive power and suddenly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not able to be restarted and smoke was noticed emanating from the front area, near the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the contact residence. The contact indicated that while an independent mechanic tried to start the vehicle, he became aware that the vehicle was being overloaded and subsequently fire flames began to be noticed. The mechanic disconnected the alternator and informed the contact it was a manufacturing failure. The local dealer was contacted, however; they stated that it would not be repaired since it was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11590232

I was rear ended hit so hard it smashed my whole back end in. None of my airbags deployed. We were hit hard into the center medium of the highway. Lucky no rigs were coming through. Other parties insurance totaled out my vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11582035

Electrical issue then engine leading to car going up in flames

NHTSA ODI 11575425

I was driving up the [XXX] north and where [XXX] merges to [XXX] I'm going 65mph on the far left side, and my dash starts beeping and reads WARNING STOP VEHICLE CHECK BRAKES. MY brakes go out, pedal to the floor sounding like grinding gears and doing some major damage, my acceleration stopped working. The [XXX] is merging on the left side so i had to avoid major traffic. I am a driver with skill as i dodge slowed and stopped vehicles, and get to the shoulder before [XXX]. I call for roadside assistance because kia says its free and its not. I was looking around the engine to see what the heck and unplugged the hybrid fuse and battery from back and suddenly it worked again and drive it home and right before I park I made a right turn, and it started beeping again, and this time it stayed this way. I almost lost my life, and I did lose my job because of it. GLENDALE'S CARSPRO KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS THE WORST DEPARTMENT EVER!, they would not help me get a tow, I paid for the tow. THEY CHARGED CLOSE TO 5 GRAND FOR A REPAIR, Hydraulic brake booster module, AND A COUPLE HUNDRED FOR THERE HIGHEST SERVICE OPTION (Changing fluids, wipers, wash, detail, etc) this was a huge mistake and took nearly two months! My car had dust on it THEY DID NOT EVEN CHECK THE PRESSURE I HAD IN MY ALL 4 TIRES (EMPTIED UNTIL 25PSI) I started the vehicle and it started to hiccup as I idle I asked for the manager (a tall husky middle eastern guy with long hair and glasses). He replied "DOES YOUR CAR HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON" I said "no" he said "comeback when it does." I have received paper work from KIA corp stating that i could be reimbursed. I sent that document in and never herd from them again. I call customer service i even went to the Service dept and THEY ERASED MY SERVICE RECORD! Finally happened, with my car still Hiccuping, Rare ShutoffAlarm. I exit fw on green Light, made left; Alarm, No brakes, No gas, Hit curb, Near PEDESTRIANS, Trans Leaks, Part Recalled, No Results, New problem! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11574150

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. There was smoke detected, and the vehicle burst into flames and exploded. There were no reported injuries, crashes, or air bag deployments. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The DOT was on the scene. Another motorist assisted the occupants with exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a police department tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11572052

I am concerned about my 2013 Kia Optima SX smoking at a mechanic shop. Mechanics identified smoke from the ABS Control Module or HECU. This raises serious safety concerns. I urge thorough investigation and prompt resolution. Clear communication is expected throughout the process to ensure vehicle safety and reliability.

NHTSA ODI 11571820

car stopped mid freeway 3 times engine light turned on engine started smoking took too dealer per the recall notice and they took 3 months could not fix and wanted to charge me 600 for changing a battery but car still will not run so they want payment for a car I must tow and has had over 5 recall notices ..at this point the car is unsafe I need remedy

NHTSA ODI 11568540

On [XXX] at approx. 4 PM I was driving on [XXX] between Columbus and Nashville in Brown County Indiana. Weather was clear I noticed what appeared to be smoke coming through the car vents I was able to pull to the shoulder of the road, but the breaks were not working well There were no warning lights on the dash about any possible issues After grabbing 2 bags from the car, I was walking away and the car went up in flames and started to make sounds of an explosion. I called 911 and moved to the other side of the road away from the fire. Police and fire arrived on the scene and stopped all traffic The fire was put out and AJ's Paint and Body Shop came to tow the vehicle and clean up debris. We have not yet received the cost of this. We have reported this information to Kia and have spoken to them a couple of times. We have sent all of the details and information on the location of the car. We have sent multiple follow up e-mails and have not received any response since [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11566254

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while parked, the contact noticed smoke coming from the hood and went to open the hood but could not because the latch had melted. The contact went to get an extinguisher but the flames were too aggressive. The vehicle had exploded twice while waiting for the fire department. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. No police report was filed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not under a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11548732

My 2013 KIA Optima caught fire about three weeks ago I don't know what caused it, but it started under the hood of the car where the motor is. Initially the car stopped when I had an oil change and I thought it was the starter. I had a new one put on and it started. I drove it and it caught fire. Now it is sitting at my home and the fuse compartment have been stolen out of the car. If someone will let me know what to do about the situation and what caused the fire, I would really appreciate it. Also, if someone could let me know if the fire was caused by one of the recalls for that car. Thank you, [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11540199

I was turning into some parking spots so i could put my car in reverse and park closer to building i needed. I did not get a chance to putin reverse, the vehicle surged forward and was accelerating. My foot was not on the gas pedal. I was trying to brake. I turned steering wheel so I didn't hit brick building. I swiped the building and 2 vehiles on my right AND still did not stop right away. I kept on the brake and the plants, rocks, landscaping I think helped it to stop. I can get police report in few days.

NHTSA ODI 11539796

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unattended, it spontaneously caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated before the failure. There were no reported injuries. No police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11532903

My car is a total lost. Car caught fire while I was driving with my 2 Daughters. Brakes went out had to jump out of car.

NHTSA ODI 11524191

Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.

NHTSA ODI 11524170

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and was flashing; however, he continued driving the vehicle. The contact stated that she later took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the knock sensor and an unknown component needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, 6 hours later while her son was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed back to the independent mechanic. The independent mechanic then informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer who confirmed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced by the local dealer approximately in October of 2021. The contact then stated that on March 13, 2023, while her son was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle crossed the center line and crashed into a tree on the other side of the road. The contact stated that the air bags deployed; however, her son was pronounced deceased at the scene. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the Police Officer informed her that the speedometer was reading 90 MPH at the time of the crash and that the Event Data Recorder (EDR) was destroyed. The contact stated that the engine and transmission dislodged from the vehicle approximately 30-feet. The contact was concerned that the crash might have been caused by unintended acceleration. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

NHTSA ODI 11521647

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle t-boned her passenger's side. Only the passenger's side air bag deployed and exploded, causing the contact to sustain coughing spasms. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a police department lot. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and emailed the contact notification for NHTSA Campaign Number 22V560000 (Structure) associated with the VIN. The manufacturer also opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11506188

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, a bystander alerted him that his vehicle was on fire. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that the front driver-side tire well had caught fire. Another motorist who witnessed the fire stopped and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department was called to the scene and inspected the vehicle to ensure that the fire was extinguished. The police department also arrived at the scene. Neither police nor fire report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to the contact's home and then to a dealer where an inspection discovered that the hybrid battery may have been the source of the fire. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer for further investigation. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was deemed a complete loss. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

NHTSA ODI 11497001

On 1/7/2022 I was driving my 2013 Kia Optima on the freeway heading home and was passing an eighteen wheeler when my car started slowing down even when trying to accelerate, luckily I was far enough ahead and was able to get off the freeway. Had the car towed to the Dealership and was told the engine failed but would be replaced free of charge due to class action suit settlement in 2020. Engine was replaced at 79,319 miles and picked up on 1/22/2022. On 11/08/2022 my son-in-law was driving the car home from work and was on the freeway with heavy traffic at 5:00pm when he first smelled gasoline and then saw smoke from engine compartment. He was in the left hand lane and pulled into the median area and stopped the vehicle and got out when the car caught fire. He called 911 immediately. By the time the police and fire department got there the car was totaled. Luckily no body was injured or killed. I have contacted KIA Consumer Affairs and was given a case number and was assured they would get me a replacement vehicle. I had the car moved from the holding lot and towed to the Dealership where I purchased it and have had it serviced regularly. As of 12/03/2022 we are still without a car and $857 towing fee and waiting on a KIA INSPECTION and decision.

NHTSA ODI 11495906

I was driving on the interstate in rush hour traffic to pick up my kids from school. The engine light came on, and immediately after that, the gas pedal would no longer accelerate the speed of the car. I pulled over on the side of the interstate to call my fiancé, and within minutes the front end started smoking. I grabbed my work belongings and stepped out of the car and the entire car went up in flames on the interstate. The car has been deemed a total loss with Insurance. We filed a claim with Kia and waiting for someone to inspect the vehicle. This car had engine failure back in 2017, and had an entire engine rebuilt inside of it. Part of the Theta ll engine recall. Police would not create report due to not injuring anyone or any other vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11488754

My son owned a Kia Optima built in June of 2013. He was in a motor vehicle accident where he was put in a pit maneuver and Then was T boned on the passengers side causing his body to lay across the front seats and died at the scene. His black box download showed that the seat belt pretensioner was off and both airbags in the front did not go off. I know there is a recall for optimas built before aug 31 of 2012. I believe there was an issue with this vehicle as well. I would hate for there to be anymore deaths or injuries with the later models of these vehicles. I do hope this is looked into further.

NHTSA ODI 11475153

I was driving down the road and my car started smoking. I pulled over and got out of my vehicle and within 5 minutes my engine was in flames

NHTSA ODI 11474205

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while his brother was attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's brother then saw flames underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact's brother immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire expanded significantly. The contact's brother was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. A fire department report was filed. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11468267

When leaving work on 1/6/22, I didn't let my car warm up for more than 1 minute because I was in a hurry to get home. It was very cold - I think -10 if I remember right - and I had just passed through an intersection about 2 blocks from work where road construction closed the road to one lane. The car in front of me stopped because someone in front of him was turning. I had plenty of time to stop & hit my brakes but had no response, much like not having power brakes, but the pedal felt very firm. As cold as it was, there was no ice or snow & the road was dry. I had no traction control or ABS lights come on & ended up rear-ending the car in front of me. The police came & made a report & I came home & checked KIA forums to see if this had ever happened to anyone else but didn't find anything. I explained it to my KIA service advisor but they found nothing wrong & had no explanation. I thought I had maybe imagined it until it happened again, also on a very cold morning, about 2 weeks later in my own driveway. Just no response of the brakes. I couldn't push the pedal hard enough to stop the car. I also mentioned it to my insurance adjuster who just said to let them know if I found out anything further, which I didn't. I never thought to report it here until my husband had an issue with his car recently & was advised to do so. Even extreme cold should not affect a system as important as the brakes on a car & I believe this is a major safety concern. My accident was minor because I was not traveling at a high rate of speed & was at a safe distance, but the brake failure was still the cause of the accident. When the failure happened in my driveway, I had braked when pulling onto the road but didn't stop. If another car was coming or I was pulling out at the end of my street where there are 4 lanes of 45mph traffic, this could have been disastrous! Please notify me of any steps taken by KIA to remedy this issue. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11461893

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH the vehicle stalled as if someone had pulled the vehicle. Numerous warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact slowed down and pulled over safely then removed herself from the vehicle. Once exited the vehicle it became totally engulfed in flames and was destroyed; however, prior to exiting the vehicle noticed black smoke coming from the hood. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. There was a police report. There were no injuries sustained or medical reports. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11461808

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence, she attempted to start the vehicle and noticed smoke coming from the hood near the battery compartment. The vehicle then caught on fire. The fire department came to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The cause of the fire was a faulty engine component. The vehicle remained at the residence and was not repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

NHTSA ODI 11457956