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

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the main road of a T-intersection, the contact blacked out before another vehicle crashed into the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the front of the vehicle sustained severe damages, and there was more damage on the front passenger's side of the vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that the seat belt retracted excessively, causing the contact to be pinned in the seat and to sustain severe injuries. The contact was assisted out of the seat and was partially unconscious. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated after the crash. A Police report was filed. The ambulance transported the contact to the hospital. The contact sustained a fractured L2 and back, ruptured bowel, and intestines and internal bleeding in the stomach. The contact underwent surgery and physical therapy. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. A complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11744952

My 2013 Kia Optima was running fine at 65 mph when suddenly the engine stalled. I then coasted to the shoulder and smelled burning plastic. As soon as I opened the hood the engine started being consumed in fire, it quickly went to a very large engine fire that consumed the front half of the car. There were no other vehicles involved with this incident. Vehicle is a total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11737190

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front end of the vehicle caught fire. The contact was informed by another driver that the fire originated near the front driver’s side wheel area. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department, and a police report was filed. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.

NHTSA ODI 11730924

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front of the vehicle started excessively smoking and caught fire. No warning lights illuminated. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department, and a fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure via customer care support since no representative was reached via the phone line. The approximate failure mileage was 179,000.

NHTSA ODI 11729515

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the contact became aware of black smoke coming from the floorboard with a burning plastic odor, and the battery warning light illuminated. The contact called her husband and was informed to exit the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and seconds later the vehicle exploded. The front of the vehicle blew up onto the windshield and the steering wheel detached and struck the driver’s side seat. The fire was extinguished by the Fulton County Fire Department. A Fire Report and Police Report were filed; however, the reports were not yet provided to the vehicle owner. The contact experienced severe emotional distress. The contact stated due to the emotional distress of the fire, she suffered a miscarriage from the stress and had scratches from having to jump out of the window. There was no medical assistance sought. Several personal items inside the vehicle were also lost due to the fire and additionally, the contact lost employment due to the fire. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the vehicle had not been repaired prior to the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard then to a Kia dealer. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 193,876.

NHTSA ODI 11719465

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his niece was driving the vehicle at 65 MPH, a strong fuel odor began to emit from the vehicle without warning. The vehicle then began to violently shake as the contact's niece began to exit the highway. Upon pulling over and exiting the vehicle, black smoke began to emit from the vehicle as both police and fire officials were in the vehicle's vicinity and witnessed the fire. As the vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames, the fire department quickly arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported, and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the niece's home, where it remained in her possession. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000(Service Brakes, Hydraulics). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and an investigator was scheduled to visit the niece's home and inspect the vehicle; the investigator never arrived, and the vehicle had yet to be inspected. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11716694

My car suddenly caught fire in my driveway tonight 2/6/26 roughly around 9:40 PM. Fire department has been dispatched to come out and investigate if the fire has been properly extinguished and it does warrant any further safety hazards until Kia can be notified and resolve this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11716358

I received a recall notice for my 2013 Kia Optima, VIN #: [XXX] related to engine issues and an increased risk of fire. After receiving the recall notice, my vehicle began smoking and briefly caught fire while in operation. I immediately shut the vehicle off, and the smoke and fire stopped. For safety reasons, the vehicle was towed by my insurance company to my aunt’s residence, which was the closest safe location at the time. The vehicle was unsafe to drive. No injuries occurred, and the fire department was not called because the fire stopped once the vehicle was turned off. I believe this incident is related to a known safety defect and recall involving Kia Optima engine fires. I have contacted Kia multiple times regarding this issue, and there have been delays in addressing or repairing the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11712399

My 2013 Kia Optima caught fire while my [XXX] son and his friends were driving it. The car burnt up. Some truck drivers flagged my son down to let him know the car was on fire. They could have been killed if it wasn’t for the truck drivers warning him that the car was on fire while driving down the highway. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11705485

Engine Seized After Kia Recall Repairs – Safety Defect Recurrence I own a Kia vehicle (VIN: [XXX] ) with a rebuilt title. Kia performed engine recall work on my vehicle at Fowler Kia in Longmont, Colorado. The service advisor stated the recall was to “protect the engine from seizing.” After driving around 18,000 miles since the recall service, the engine seized suddenly while operating. Kia Customer Affairs has denied warranty coverage because of the salvage title, but this does not change the fact that the defect is safety-related and persisted after recall work. This creates a serious safety concern because: The engine failure happened without warning, Kia performed the recall on this exact safety defect, And now they are denying any further responsibility. I request that NHTSA investigate Kia’s handling of safety recalls on vehicles with rebuilt titles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11694353

2013 Kia Optima (VIN [XXX] , Recall 23V-652) caught fire on [XXX] in Rossville, GA. I had just parked in my garage when smoke came from the engine. I pushed it outside and a coworker helped extinguish it. There was no warning signs. Also didn’t receive recall until a few days after the fire . Even though the letter said final notice this was the first letter I received. No injuries or property damage, but the car is beyond repair. Kia case #[XXX] (rep Ashley). Inspector came Sept 2 but no response since. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11690579

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact's son was driving at 35 MPH when smoke was emitting from under the hood. The contact's son pulled over to the side of the road and immediately exited the vehicle. The contact's son opened the hood, and smoke was emitting from the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's son did not sustain any injuries. The police or fire department was not called. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that an electrical fire had started in the engine and damaged the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fire. The contact stated that the engine was replaced in 2018 or 2019 due to an unknown recall. The contact did not notify her insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ODI 11685787

I own a Kia optima LX 4.0 engine when I called I was told that this car has an open recall for engine rod bearing defect my engine locked up on me 2 mts ago and has not ran since I just finalized my payments on this car and received the title...I took very good care of this car and it was well maintained...it only has 104,000 miles on it.i called and was told this open recall could be fixed with no problem however when I took it to Kia dealership here in gso NC they refused to repair it..I've spent almost 200.00 in towing fees for nothiing..I'm so unhappy with the response I've gotten with this company since I have had such a wonderful experience with my car I hope maybe I can get a response from your company for its the only car I have and my daily living activities have been altered by lack of transportation..thank you..I was told to call attorney general to see what could come about however Im hoping I can get a response from your office

NHTSA ODI 11674164

Car cuts off while driving almost causing a accident. The brakes randomly stop working while driving also. The code says P1777 relating to the transmission/ hybrid system. Kia dealerships are charging customers to diagnosis their vehicles. Eventhough they already know this is a common problem with the hybrid cars. Also the 12v battery and hybrid battery needs to be replaced every 2 years, which is costly. The tech also advised that Hybrids are the worst cars and I should sale my car. This is unfair to customers and a waste of money. Please make this a recall and extend all warranties past 150k. This is a huge safety problem and could cause deaths in the future.

NHTSA ODI 11658778

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after parking her vehicle in her driveway when the vehicle had caught on fire 2 hours later. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The location of the fire was underneath the front driver's side tire, shortly after the vehicle was engulfed in flames, and due to the proximity of the vehicle to the contact's residence, this caused siding on the side of her house to also catch on fire. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. A police department report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. No injuries were reported. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) as probable cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

NHTSA ODI 11657588

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH when they suddenly heard a loud boom noise and the front end of the vehicle caught on fire. The contact pulled into a nearby parking lot and all passengers exited the vehicle. The vehicle was consumed by the fire which was put out by the fire department. The vehicle was towed and totaled. There were no injuries or need for medical assistance. The fire department filed a report. There were no injuries or need for medical assistance. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 187,000.

NHTSA ODI 11648359

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while his husband was driving approximately 70 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that as the driver was pulling to the side of the road, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that several drivers alerted the driver that the vehicle was on fire, and the driver immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that upon opening the hood, the driver saw flames, and the front end of the vehicle became engulfed in fire. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle burned to the ground, and the front doors and the front windows sustained fire damage. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact was unsure whether a fire department report was filed. A police report was filed. The contact's husband did not sustain injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V100000(Fuel System, Gasoline) and 23V652000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic), which the contact related to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11628600

I was in an accident on 10/18/24 where a person switched lanes and hit the front end of my vehicle. My airbags didn't deploy.

NHTSA ODI 11623159

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, smoke was coming from the hood of the vehicle, and the entire front of the vehicle caught on fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The vehicle was occupied; however, the contact and her daughter were able to exit the vehicle safely before the flames spread. There were no injuries sustained and no medical attention was sought. There entire front of the vehicle was damaged including the windshield and everything lined up with the dashboard. The fire department was involved and had to come to extinguish the fire. A fire department report was not filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The contact did research and became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the contact was not notified before the failure. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable and remained at a friend of the contact's place of residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ODI 11616865

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after parking in the garage and turning the vehicle off, approximately six hours later it was discovered that a fire had started in the garage area and had begun to spread inside the townhome. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the fire, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. Also, a second vehicle parked inside the garage was destroyed and a third vehicle parked outside in the driveway sustained fire damage. The garage was destroyed and the townhome sustained significant fire damage. A fire report was taken at the scene but the cause of the fire was not determined. The contact later received a recall notice for the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 170,000.

NHTSA ODI 11611362

The car as a fire hazard

NHTSA ODI 11607140

On 7/31, we had the HECU Fuse recall fixed at the Federico Kia Dealership. In 8/1, one day later, when driving the vehicle all of the car emergency lights came on, the engine started smoking and eventually caught fire. Fire department and police were called. Vehicle was toed to Kia Dealership. The next morning 8/2 we spoke with the service manager at the dealership, who was no help and gave us a 1-800 number to call Kia directly. Since this fire directly pertains to the part they “fixed” the day before during the recall, we believe the dealership did not fix the issue and believe something they “fixed” caused the issue as we have never had any prior issues with the engine.

NHTSA ODI 11606030

While driving on the freeway I noticed my car wasnt going as I was pushing the gas and noticed all my dash lights were on like I was in accessory mode. I coasted to the edge of the freeway and decided to pop my hood and see if it was my battery cable that came loose. While waiting for traffic to break I noticed my hood looked alittle hazy like it was hot. When I was able to get out of my car I noticed black smoke coming from under the hood so I backed off and called 911.

NHTSA ODI 11602382

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

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked and attempting to enter it, she became aware of a strong unknown smell. The contact re-exited the vehicle, and immediately noticed smoke coming from the front side. After this, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire was emanating from the underneath of the vehicle. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. The contact was unaware of a police report or a fire department report being filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11591584