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

Pearl white paint is pealing and chipping. Falling off going down the road. Car looks terrible and is making rust a possibly.

NHTSA ODI 11596613

Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.

NHTSA ODI 11524170

WE WERE TRAVELING AT AROUND 55-60 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE T-BONES BY A CHEVY AVALANCHE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND SWERVED SO THE TRUCK LUCKILY STARTED AT MY DOOR AND COMPLETELY RIPPED AND SMASHED IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND BACK/ TRUNK OF OUR OPTIMA. BACK WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED OUT. HIT SO HARD IT COMPLETELY TURNED US IN 2 CIRCLES AND BUSTED MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND IT HIT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I BUSTED MY HEAD OPEN AND RECEIVED 3 STAPLES AND KNEE SHOVED IN DASH BUT NOT 1 AIR BAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED!! I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A KIA!! I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A KIA BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!

NHTSA ODI 11361018

IN THE LATE MORNING OF MONDAY, APRIL 6TH 2020, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 KIA OPTIMA SXL HOME FROM THE STORE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN FILLING WITH SMOKE. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND JUMP OUT BEFORE FLAMES BEGAN TO ENGULF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. HE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE COMPANY WAS DISPATCHED. THEIR RESPONSE TIME WAS SHORT, BUT IT TOOK UNDER A MINUTE FOR THE CAR TO GO UP IN FLAMES (SEE PICTURES ATTACHED). THERE WAS ZERO WARNING THAT THIS HORRIFIC EVENT WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO FUNNY NOISES, NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. IN FACT, I HAD JUST BROUGHT THE CAR INTO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE SERVICE LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE ON MARCH 9. THEY GAVE ME NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO CATCH ON FIRE. WE FILED A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO CONFIRMED THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND LISTED A RECENT, BUT AS YET UNANNOUNCED, RECALL ON MY EXACT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT ACCORDING TO A FEBRUARY 27, 2020 ARTICLE IN US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, KIA WOULD SHORTLY BE RECALLING NEARLY 142,000 2013 AND 2014 KIA OPTIMA'S. FURTHERMORE, 'KIA SAYS A FUEL HOSE CAN DETERIORATE AND CRACK DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. THE HOSES CAN LEAK AND CAUSE FIRES. A FIX IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO START APRIL 16.' ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE ARTICLE NO FIRES HAD YET BEEN REPORTED, GIVEN THE SUDDEN NATURE OF OUR CAR FIRE, IT IS OBVIOUS TO US WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11321709

ON 1/11/2020 MY 16 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING THE 2013 KIA OPTIMA WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NO PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNING LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI 11298640

WAITING ON A RED LIGHT, THE KIA OPTIMA STALLED AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CABIN. WITHIN SECONDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN HAD A VERY LIMITED TIME TO GET OUT FROM THE BURNING CAR INTO SAFETY. THE BURNING CAR WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. LOCAL POLICE CORDONED OFF THE LANE TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE TIME OF THE FIRE WAS AROUND 12:30PM.

NHTSA ODI 11202861

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. WHILE WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE I GRABBED SOME ITEMS FROM THE GLOVE BOX AND BACK SEAT THE FRONT OF THE CAR AT THAT POINT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THE FLAMES ESCALATED TO POP THE HOOD A LARGE FIRE HAD IGNIGHTED FROM THE ENGINE AREA THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. A TOW TRUCK TOWED THE CAR AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11193614

MY CAR RANDOMLY CAUGHT FIRE AT 10:30 PM WHILE IT WAS ALREADY SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY SINCE 7 PM. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS NOW MELTED ON MY DRIVEWAY PAVEMENT. PUTTING MY FAMILY AND MY HOUSE AT DANGER.

NHTSA ODI 11186541

"TAKATA RECALL". MY KIA HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES, THE MOTOR HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME, I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME GOING TO ARKANSAS, AND THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST HIT US. I HAVE LOST WAGES FROM WORK, LOST TIME WAITING TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED, IT HAS CAUSED STRESS AND ANXIETY AND RIGHT NOW I JUST GOT THREE MORE RECALL LETTERS IN THE MAIL. THESE CARES ARE UNSAFE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I WANT KIA HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND TO GET THESE DANGEROUS CARS OFF THE STREETS BEFORE SOME GETS KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 11183117

ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 930AM, WHILE ON DUTY AT WORK(CORRECTION OFFICER) MY KIA OPTIMA GDI 2013 WENT UP IN FLAMES IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB.. I WAS NOT PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE. I HAD ALREADY BEEN ON DUTY 530AM THAT MORNING. ONCE I MADE IT TO THE SCENE MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ALMOST BURNT TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LABELED IT AS A ELECTRICAL FIRE, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR THE BURN FROM THE INSIDE OUT, STARTING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD SEVERAL PERSONAL ITEMS OF MINE BURNT IN THE FIRE AND ALSO WORK EQUIPMENT THAT WAS LOST IN THE FIRE. SINCE THE INCIDENT I'VE SUFFERED MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND I DEPENDED ON MY CAR TO GET ME WHERE I NEEDED TO GO. THINGS HAVE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING AND HARD. I'M SEEKING HELP FROM KIA MOTORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11142750

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE JUST SHORT OF DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 15-20 MIN ON 9/23/18. WE GOT NO WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD WE HEARD A LIGHT POP NOISE, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF WHEN WE GOT OFF THERE WAS FIRE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD THAT FASTLY SPREAD THROUGHT OUT UP TO THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR DESTROYING THE WHOLE ENGINE. THE CAR NEVER HAD ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN FROM AZ TO CA THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH NO PROBLEMS. I STILL HAVE NO EXPLANATION WHY MY 5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH JUST A LITTLE OVER 86K MILES CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11139133

CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS. NO INJURY BUT DRIVER HAD TO JUMP OUT OF MOVING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11139335

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY MY CAR STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AS I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY I SEEN SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES WHILE CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11132316

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 ODI 11090295

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 ODI 11039318

HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR ON 12/11/14 MY DAUGHTER DID NOT HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE DRIVING THE CAR.... ON DECEMBER 27 SHE "LOST CONTROL" OF THE CAR, AND RAN INTO THE WALL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DRY EVENING, AND SHE EMPHATICALLY STATES THAT SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, AND THAT IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE ONLY RATIONALE CONCLUSION WAS THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. THAT IS, UNTIL A FRIEND RECOMMENDED I CHECK THE WEB, AND CHECK IF OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN OR ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. ALTHOUGH I HAD DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE WHEN RESEARCHING THE CAR E.G. RECALLS, KNOWN PROBLEMS, ETC. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS CAR, I DID NOT CHECK SPECIFICS SUCH AS STEERING. LONG OF THE SHORT, TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN I GOOGLED STEERING PROBLEMS, THIS SITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2013/STEERING/STEERING.SHTML WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO SHOW UP. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND 35 COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THE SAME STEERING ISSUE. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS I AM I CONVINCED THAT THIS STEERING ISSUE IS THE CONTRIBUTOR TO MY DAUGHTER'S ACCIDENT. IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION OTHER THAN A BLOW OUT. I THINK THIS MAY BE A RESULT OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2013 OPTIMAS. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR KIA TO ADMIT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING? IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE NEEDS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS' RECALL BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURS, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY .... *JS

NHTSA ODI 10669214