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

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

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

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

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

The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 10mph when the contact was struck by another vehicle which resulted in none of the airbags deploying. The contact sustained bruise sternum, bruised heart, and neck injury and sought medical treatment. There was a police report taken and the vehicle was towed to an insurance lot where it was diagnosed as destroyed. The manufacturer was informed of failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000. Consumer stated air bags did not deploy and seat belt was torn.

NHTSA ODI 11441468

MY DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. HER AIR BAGS DID NO DEPLOY AND HER SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT.

NHTSA ODI 11244694

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 VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FENDER BENDER. I WAS STATIONARY IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND.A FEW DAYS AFTER, I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON AND REAR SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK. PRIOR TO THE FENDER BENDER I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT. A MINOR INCIDENT CAUSED MY AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND NOW ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11164801

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE A MONTH AGO FOR AIRBAG RECALL AS WAS TOLD WOULD NOT INFLATE IN CRASH. CALLED KIA CORP. TO ASK STATUS AS I HAVE HEARD NOTHING MORE AFTER CALLING EACH WEEK AND WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS READY AS OF THAT MOMENT. PICKED UP CAR AND TRANSMISSION (LIGHT CAME ON AND DIED) IN MIDDLE OF 4 LANE HWY 5O'CLOCK TRAFFIC AS I WAS IN MOTION APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT AT WITHIN A MILE OF LEAVING REGAL KIA AND WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WAS STILL NOT WORKING AS THE EXTRA FIX WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT DURING STALL AS I WENT IN FOR A AIRBAG RECALL AND LEFT WITH A DEAD TRANSMISSION AND AIRBAG WAS NOT FIXED, PUTTING MY LIFE IN DANGER WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT EARLIER MONTHS CLEARED MY CAR AS PERFECT EXCEPT FOR TUNE-UP BECAUSE OF ANOTHER PREVIOUS RECALL. I WAS NOT PLACED IN REQUESTED LOANER TO MATCH MY VEHICLE SIZE AS NEEDED DUE TO MY FAMILY SIZE FOR 4 WEEKS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BY ANY MEANS AS A CUSTOMER.

NHTSA ODI 11140595

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11132746

TAKATA INFLATORS READ ON WEBISTE;HOWEVER, GOT IN A WRECK ON 4/11/18 CAR TOTALLED GOT HIT IN FRONT END AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE ENTIRE CAR, I HIT STEERING WHEEL AND HAD TO GO TO THE ER. ALSO, IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR THE CAR HAD INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE AND PUT NEW ENGINE IN MY CAR. HAD NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR. I EMAILED KIA ON THE AIR BAGS AND NO ONE HAS GOT BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME.

NHTSA ODI 11091155

I HAVE HAD TWO HEAD ON COLLISIONS WITH MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA, NEITHER WERE MAJOR BUT IMPACT WAS ABOVE 30MPH IN BOTH CASES. DURING BOTH INCIDENTS NEITHER TIME DID AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOY. ONE WOULD THINK AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IN THOSE SITUATIONS, BUT THEY DID NOT. ADDITIONALLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR I HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT FIX. AFTER HEARING ABOUT AIRBAGS AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE KIA FORTE AND HYUNDAI SONATAS I BELIEVE THIS AIRBAG ISSUE COULD BE EFFECTING A WIDER RANGE OF VEHICLES POSSIBLY INCLUDING 2011 KIA SORRENTOS AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11079917

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

NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING IN THE YEAR VEHICLE WAS OWNED, WAS BOUGHT PREOWNED WITH 25K MILES ON IT, NOW WITH 28K MILES ON IT. ON DAY OF ACCIDENT, ROADS WERE DAMP, WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD LITTERED WITH NUMEROUS POT HOLES AND BUMPS, CAME AROUND A CORNER ON WHAT SEEMED TO BE BUMP FREE PAVEMENT, STEERING JERKED RIGHT, CAR VEERED INTO THE GRASSY TERRAIN ALONGSIDE ROAD, COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL OF CAR AS STEERING WAS FIGHTING ME NO MATTER WHAT I DID, RAISE IN TERRAIN FORCED PASSENGER SIDE DOWN AN DRIVER SIDE OF CAR INTO AIR, CAR CAME TO REST NEAR SIDE OF ROAD ON IT'S PASSENGER SIDE, ALSO AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CAR IS SUPPOSEDLY SAFE I BELIEVE I SURVIVED THANKS TO AN ANGEL ABOVE KEEPING ME SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 10970401

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 10818493

I WAS TRAVELING 65MPH WHEN A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FRONT IN WAS CRUSHED IN AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT RELEASE. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE FORCE IMPACT OF THE DEER THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE CAME OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10790730

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S MOTHER WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE STEERING ABILITY FAILED AND PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S MOTHER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, PENDING THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,500.

NHTSA ODI 10790745

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA ACCIDENT ON 9/24/2014. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, FACING EAST, TURNING TO GO NORTH, IN SC IA A MAN RAN A RED LIGHT, COMING WESTBOUND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED HIT THE TRAFFIC GOING SOUTH BOUND WHICH IN TURN THE 1993 FORD EXPLORER HIT ME HEAD ON. PUSHED MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA 40FT FROM THE LIGHT. THE IMPACT WAS PRETTY INTENSE AND I WAS HIT HEAD ON AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AS I LOOKED IN THE BACK SEAT MY BACK SEATS WERE LAYING DOWN, BEFORE THE IMPACT THEY WERE IN A UP POSITION AND FULLY LOCKED..UPDATED 10/17/14 *BF UPDATED 3/30/15 *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI 10644010

I WAS EXITING TO TURN RIGHT ONTO THE STREET WHEN I LOOKED DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND HIT THE MEDIAN HEAD ON. THERE WAS A BIG TERRA-COTTA POT WITH A TREE PLANTED IN IT THAT I HIT HARD. IT RIPPED THE FRONT BOTTOM PART OF MY CAR OFF AND BROKE MY TRANSAXLE. IT WOULDN'T DRIVE ANYMORE AND IT TOTALED MY CAR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EVER CAME OUT EVEN WHEN I HIT HEAD ON. I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A CSCAN. I ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS AND STILL HAVE A KNOT ON MY HEAD. I WAS ALSO WEARING MY SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10578443

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF NECK INJURIES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10523248