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

The pearl white paint pealing in 4 different areas in the body of the car to include the front and top of the car above the windshield; both sides of the outer body framing of the windshield and now the hood of the car.

NHTSA ODI 11488618

Car is available. I have a 2013 Kia Optima SXL that has paint that is randomly chipping. Took it to service department and this is a common problem for this car and paint color. I have repair estimate totaling 2501.55 not including windshield that he says would need to replaced if it cracks during repair due to it having to be removed.

NHTSA ODI 11483618

Paint delaminating and chipping, started on the front driver and passenger pillar. Also spots on the front hood near the bumper.

NHTSA ODI 11480891

Pearl white paint chipping all over

NHTSA ODI 11476770

My (pearl) white 2013 KIA Optima is peeling paint from its front hood and A-pillars. This has been happening since I first bought it in 2018. My car had 55K miles on it and has never been in an accident. I have taken it to the KIA dealership of Fishers with no success. THEY LIED TO ME! Each time, I was told that my car had been previously painted by someone else, and that business did a bad paint job. I have been to KIA of Fishers 3 different times about this concern. There are MANY, MANY sites and now several class action suites pending against KIA for this problem. I want my car repainted. https://m.facebook.com/DefectiveKiaPaint/photos/a.112101813622800/147796620053319/?type=3#

NHTSA ODI 11476258

My paint has been peeling off over the years and it just really got bad to the point I could not take it any more. So I finally look to see if the was other vehicles within that year make and model had the same problems and this is why I am doing this.

NHTSA ODI 11476054

Paint failing and peeling off causing body to rust prematurely.

NHTSA ODI 11472666

PAINT IS CHIPPING ALL OVER THE CAR HOOD, TRUNK SIDE OF WINDOW, ETC. ESTIMATE HAVE BEE SENT AND PICTURES. HAD PROBLEM APRIL2021. AND HAD HOOD PAINTED NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11470683

I have a 2013 Kia Optima with pearl white paint. My paint has significantly chipped away on multiple parts of the body including the roof, side of drivers side windshield, and the drivers side body. This chipping is due to a paint defect during the manufacturing process and the entire car needs to be repainted.

NHTSA ODI 11469849

Exterior Paint Pearl White Kia. Started with small specks all over the entire car around 2018/2019. Last week inches came off with out me noticing since I washed my car three weeks ago. Peeling very fast only has 56,000 miles on it. “Dealer included Paint protection” Have only just begun my research. I have all my purchasing paper work and Maintenace. Bubbling indicates Latent defect, online everyone is starting to post paint problems with the same year. I have paint tearing under my trunk hood. The whole thing needs to be replaced. For having only 56,000 miles on my car it should not have this damage nor should I feel embarrassed about my car. I was not told if and when anything expired before 10years. I have prof of interior and exterior paint protected added and have it in hand.

NHTSA ODI 11469698

My paint is pealing in a number of locations on my car. Trunk, hood rails and hood. Car has been very we’ll maintained. I am aware of many others having this same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11468581

My paint has been chipping really bad. Also I had a few recalls taken care of at modesto Kia once I got my vehicle back and drove it back home (about an hour and a half away) I started smelling something burning, I looked under the hood and couldn't find anything wrong so then a few days later I smelled the same thing but this time I heard a loud pop I got out and noticed my fog light had shattered, and the housing is completely burned. So now my fog lights won't work and I have to make sure the fog lights are turned off because I don't want there to be power going to the loose wires, the head lights get extremely hot to the touch the fog light got so hot it burned a hole through the bumper. Then about two weeks ago the airbag light turned on and it won't turn off, I did some research and found out that when the air bag light is on there is a huge chance the airbags won't deploy. I have a baby so I really hope that isn't the case, because if a hair on his head gets harmed because of Kia I will be suing.

NHTSA ODI 11461428

Paint is chipping everywhere. Snow White pearl

NHTSA ODI 11458085

Paint chipping off on various spots of the vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11457095

Moved my vehicle from California to New York and when the temperature reached around 30 degree's i noticed that that paint would begin to bubble and flake off. Since i have owned the vehicle the vehicle has not been in a location where temperatures reach below 55 degree's. since I relocated to NY for the past 2 years I have had consistent issues with paint flaking and chipping off my vehicle once temperatures go below 30 degree's.

NHTSA ODI 11455107

The car's paint is comiming off

NHTSA ODI 11453336

Basically my paint just started peeling off in spots I have pictures and video showing the paint just come off as we blow on it

NHTSA ODI 11452786

The paint on my white 2013 Kia Optima is starting to flake off on the hood and the passenger side rear door.

NHTSA ODI 11451759

My paint is peeling all over my car. I’ve stored it in a garage and kept very good care of it, but it keeps getting worse.

NHTSA ODI 11450089

The body paint is delaminating and coming off so fast. Every auto body shop I go to says its a manufacturer error. This isn’t okay. I know many other kia optima cars doing that same for the same year. I have many pictures to provide. I shouldn’t have to pay for a new paint job when it was a manufacturing error.

NHTSA ODI 11448491

Paint on car is chipping away little by little . Has been ongoing for a while now & rust spots are starting to pop up around the car . I’ve had the car detailed waxed and sealed and still continues to get worse. Was told by a body shop that the paint was not done right from the beginning

NHTSA ODI 11448279

All my paint on my WHITE Kia is coming off. So many white Kia’s are having This problem.

NHTSA ODI 11445952

A year ago, the paint started falling off of the roof rails on my 2013 Kia Optima. It is continuing to peel away. The color I have is Snow White Pearl. I have contacted my dealership and have been told that there is only a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty on the paint and since I am outside of those parameters, there is nothing they can do for me. I have also taken it to a body shop to find out about repainting the areas and get an estimate for having the work done.

NHTSA ODI 11445757

Out of no where the paint began peeling in large flakes while going down the road. At first it was small pieces then progressively began to be larger pieces. When I washed it, even more came off on multiple locations on the vehicle. Noticed blistering all over after further review.

NHTSA ODI 11443817

2013 KIA Optima Pearl White paint began chipping and flaking exposing bare metal to rust and corrosion.

NHTSA ODI 11437655