2013 KIA OPTIMA Structurebody Problems

117 NHTSA complaints on file

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Structurebody Issues in the 2013 KIA OPTIMA

117 structurebody complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 KIA OPTIMA. Of these, 5 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, and 1 resulted in injury.

117
Complaints
5
Crashes
11
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

All Structurebody Complaints

#11710752 |
The vehicle paint is bubbling and peeling
#11700621 |
The computer modular or engine control module yes, it is available for inspection. I can be at risk because my lights flicker off and, on my turn, signals do not work, and it will not go into drive I have to start my car 30 minutes before I can leave for work at 5:30am in the morning. I had a security update on my car and ever since that took place, I had this issue. I just had the P1326 code come up on my car last November took it to Vero Beach Kia and had that update done on my car for the engine problems that is going on, and they replaced the last recall which was the knock sensor. I had explained to them the issue my car does when starting it they told me it has nothing to do with the update that would cause it. When...
#11698251 |
The clear coat is delaminating and the Paint is peeling off in multiple areas of the car.
#11695755 |
I have a 2013 Kia Optima and my paint on the vehicle is pilling so bad and fast it is exposing the body of the vehicle. I have done plenty of research and this is a commonly known problem with the pearl white paint jobs. It will start effecting the body and exterior of my vehicle and then turn efforts onto the inside of the vehicle. This is a huge problem so please as a huge company take responsibility and fix this problem.
#11681451 |
3 years ago the paint on my car started peeling. I drove my car from rideshare and was unable to continue due to the visual condition of my car. After further research, it's a nationwide problem. I dont have the money to afford a full paint job and put a bad taste in my mouth when thinking about referring people buying a Kia or my next car purchase. I have lost thousands of dollars due to kid's negligence on their paint.
#11678894 |
The paint on my car slowly began to peel away on the hood and side panels, eventually exposing almost the entire hood to be bare (Kia was notified and I was denied any sort of help). I had the hood and panels painted out of pocket, shortly after the side rear passenger door has begun with the exact same issue Eventually, my car is going to be missing all paint and just primer. This needs to be addressed in a class action settlement! Otherwise my car is immaculate condition.
#11675946 |
PAINT ON MY KIA OPTIMA HAS BEEN PEAL LIKE THE PAINT JOB WAS BAD IT WAS NEVER PAINT IT HAS ORGINAL PAINT FROM WHEN IT WAS FIRST OPERATED.
#11669327 |
While driving 55 mph down the road the window trim flew off of the rear driver side window and a week later the other side flew off hitting the car behind us. Not a very safe thing to be happening while driving.
#11656164 |
The white paint on my car (Snow White Pearl) has been chipping and peeling off near the windshield and rails on the side as well the hood. This is a known problem for KIA's with this particular white colored paint and KIA should really address is. Touching up just the locations it's happening in is not a fix ... The car needs to be properly repainted to fix the issue. KIA has not addressed this for customers and really need to as this happens for spanning several years and different models.
#11638137 |
The paint is chipping heavily and apparently this is an issue with older Kia vehicles due to a primer issue.
#11631347 |
Pearl white color paint chipping, and breaking due to water and air. Bad batch of primer and coating has caused the paint to chip and peel across the body of the car.
#11613791 |
My car's paint began chipping and peeling about a year ago, it continues to get worse day by day and exposed areas show a bare metal with some areas rusting. This is happening very rapidly and appears the whole car may lose its paint quickly. Please help!
#11605172 |
Paint on driver side rear door is delamination from the car body. This is the Pearl white color
#11596613 | Crash
Pearl white paint is pealing and chipping. Falling off going down the road. Car looks terrible and is making rust a possibly.
#11595309 |
The paint on the vehicle is badly peeling due to defective primer. Thousands of other have the same issues from what I see in parking lots. I have gotten it fixed but it doesn't hold up due to primer.
#11594387 |
This is not a safety issue but it is an issue that seems to be happening on many Kia vehicles, especially those with the Snow White paint color. My car is 11 years old but in great shape with only 62,200 miles. The paint looks almost brand new with no other flaws in the car other than there are spots on the hood and roof where the paint is bubbling up and peeling off with no damages to those areas. It appears the paint no longer adheres to the silver primer.
#11590239 |
The paint on my car is peeling off in sheets it is not adhering to the body. There is no way that I believe I can have it repainted because they would have to take all the existing paint off because even if they paint it over it it's not stuck to the body. There is no recall and I really think there should be. My paint is the white pearl paint like everyone else's who's peeling off.
#11588319 |
Car paint started peeling on the whole car and according to dealers it's a common problem with the pear paint and I need it fixed
#11584348 |
Large areas of paint are coming off of the vehicle. The system will not allow the 2mb JPG pictures to be added.
#11582900 |
Paint peeling off 2013 Kia Optima. Either a paint or primer issue by the car manufacture Kia Corp. "Snow White Pearl" is the color of the paint.
#11568296 |
I am experiencing sudden paint delamination on the A pillar. Paint color is snow white pearl. I have not yet contacted the dealer but am seeing many similar online reports for this paint color on Kia vehicles. The area is not otherwise damaged. I noticed the problem on 1/21/24 when the car was stationary. The bad area is now increasing in size. The vehicle has 79,269 miles, is kept outdoors and goes through a car wash approximately monthly.
#11556824 |
I have been the owner of my 2013 white kia optima since 2020 and have had my paint peeling from the front, both sides and rear of my car.
#11555759 |
SAME STORY OVER AND OVER 2013 WHITE PEARL PAINT GARAGE KEPT, NO ACCIDENTS AND PAINT IS LITERALLY CHIPPING AWAY SIDE OF THE CAR DOOR ROOF ABSOLUTELY APPALLING. KIA THE FACT THAT KIA HAS THOUSANDS OF THIS COLOR ON THE ROAD IS EMBARRASSING FOR ALL THE LOYAL CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE TO DRIVE THEM. KIA KNOWS THAT ALL OF THEM WERE PAINTED WITH NO PRIMER. CHEAP PAINT SPRAYED ON BARE METAL AND HAS LEFT ALL OF US STRANDED. THIS CLEARLY IS A COMPANY WITH NO INTEGRITY OR CARE FOR CUSTOMERS LET ALONE OUR LIVES .THIS NEEDS CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT
#11554474 |
I have a snow pearl white kia that the paint started chipping off and is continuing to do such all over the vehicle. There is an area on the hood with rust starting where the paint starting chipping first. I have contacted kia and the rep looked for recalls but there were non for paint. The warranty was only for 3 years on the paint but the issue didn't start happening till after that. I have seen other SWP colored kia's with the same issue and there is a forum on FB with many other kia owners having the same problem. The prominant color seems to be the white one's but others are affected as well.
#11552750 |
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIM. I have changed the bulbs and you can not see out of this vehicle at night. I have checked to see if there is a recall or something. A lot of people have issue with this year make and model of this vehicle. The other problem I am having is the paint peeling with the Snow white color of my vehicle. Large spots of paint is coming off and missing. this vehicle is kept under the carport. Yet, large spots of paint comes off.
#11550152 |
The paint on my pearl white kia optima is peeling badly, primarily on the hood but now its starting to peel near the doors.
#11539971 |
My car paint as been chipping off. I see a lot of cars like mine in the street with the same isssue , specially Perales white kias . They look like junk cars . Paint was not good
#11538040 |
2013 Optima SXL with snow white pearl paint. Paint began coming off in areas around the windshield back in 2017. At the time I thought it may have had something to do with the people who replaced my windshield. Had a 50 cent piece size area come off the hood in the car wash shortly after. I have continued to experience paint bubbling and loss ever since. Now I'm considering an upgrade but am worried about my trade in value due to the condition of the paint.
#11530251 |
I have problem for the color white pearl is pealing the car front car side an doors
#11529870 |
Paint peeling off
#11528842 |
I have a white 2013 Kia Optima the paint is chipping, coming off in chunks. After it falls off seeing the panel below is smooth and does not appear to have been roughed up prior to painting to allow the paint to properly adhere. I know of thousands of other Kia owners to have paint issues exactly like this.
#11524170 | Crash
Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.
#11524061 |
Paint peeling off all over vehicle
#11519230 |
Paint defects. Kia admitted about 5-6 years ago that the Snow White Pearl paint on some of their models had issues. Since then they have painted parts of our vehicle 4 or more times. Current issues started in December 2022
#11517096 |
I own a 2013 Kia optima with 70k miles. I have searches so many forums regarding the defect with the PEARL WHITE paint. The paint began to peel all over my car as soon as I bought it with 16k miles a few years back. I’m concerned for myself and hundreds of other people with the same problems. The issue I am concerned with is when the paint begins to peel on my hood I would be concerned it could possibly block my vision while driving. Not to mention the hundreds of other people I’ve read about with the same problem, and now we are supposed to incure the costs of a complete paint job on a car which could cost thousands of dollars when this white Pearl paint is clearly the issue.
#11516384 |
Chipped paint around my windshield and other areas of the car, such as the trunk and various other areas of the vehicle
#11511482 |
I have had this vehicle for 10 years. The paint started to peel in or around 2017. I was in a hail storm and within the last year and now it looks like my car was 100 years old. I put in a claim to my insurance and they denied coverage due to kia having a paint issue. Peal white specifically. I also took the car in December 2022 for all the recalls on the engine. Since then it's literally falling apart. When I took it to the dealership they told me I had a bad valve cover, bad Sway bars, bad passenger side mirror among other things. When I told them I had no issues prior to taking it in they pretty much said it's their word against mine. Oh and they found a "oil shop rag" hanging from the bottom of my car. They said I must have...
#11501857 |
My pearl white has been chipping since 2017 in multiple locations. Kia needs to be held responsible and rectify the situation.
#11501183 |
My pearl white pair is chipping from all over, I had it inspected and they said it was a problem with the original paint and how it was put painted.
#11501251 |
PAINT CHIPPING!!!! (photos attached) I have encountered many of Kia manufactured vehicles with the same issue. The paint bubbles and then peels off, leaving a visible grey (primed) area. I am located in North Carolina. The weather is not harsh and I cannot think of any other reason this would be occurring. When attempting to get the paint repaired / vehicle painted, I was informed of a recall and/or class action associated with this situation. I would like clarification and resolution of this matter.
#11501294 |
The door latches don't spring back into a position that allows the door to be closed again, once it has been opened. I have to stick my finger in the latch hole in the door while pulling out the latch handle to put the latch back into the position where the door will close. So far, this problem has effected three of the four doors in my sedan.
#11492188 |
1. The vehicle has been smoking and constantly burning all the oil. 2. Paint has been pealing all over the car. 3. Electronic parking brakes not working at all now and vehicle will not pass inspection. 4. Electronic steering assist not working tripping the warning light on the dash.
#11491496 |
My 2013 KIA Optima in Snow White Pearl "SWP" has delaminating and pealing paint issues all over the body of the car. Mainly in the front bumper, hood and A pillars of the car. It extends to every single panel of the car even obscure out of the way areas. Only the paint is affected. The body underneath shows no sing of denting from a hard hit of any type. The paint simply delaminates on its own.
#11490816 |
The paint is chipping off and looks horrible.
#11488618 |
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.
#11483618 |
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.
#11480891 |
Paint delaminating and chipping, started on the front driver and passenger pillar. Also spots on the front hood near the bumper.
#11476770 |
Pearl white paint chipping all over
#11476258 |
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#
#11476054 |
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.

Other 2013 KIA OPTIMA Problem Areas

Engine 595 complaints Steering 207 complaints Unknown Or Other 179 complaints Electrical System 139 complaints Fuelpropulsion System 89 complaints Power Train 61 complaints Air Bags 57 complaints Service Brakes 54 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulic 50 complaints Vehicle Speed Control 38 complaints Engine And Engine Cooling 32 complaints Exterior Lighting 31 complaints Suspension 25 complaints Fuel System Gasoline 24 complaints Electronic Stability Control Esc 19 complaints Wheels 17 complaints Seat Belts 16 complaints Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly 12 complaints Structure 8 complaints Visibilitywiper 8 complaints Seats 5 complaints Exterior Lightingbrake Lights 3 complaints Exterior Lightingheadlights 3 complaints Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking 3 complaints Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings 2 complaints Service Brakes Airantilockcontrol Unitmodule 2 complaints Chest Clip Buckle Harness 1 complaint Electrical Systemhorn 1 complaint Electrical Systemignitionanti Theftcontrol Module 1 complaint Electrical Systemignitioncoil 1 complaint Electrical Systemwiring 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolineturbosuperchargerintercooler 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System 1 complaint Firerelated 1 complaint Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control 1 complaint Fuel System Dieseldeliveryfuel Pump 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinestorageevaporative Emissionscanister 1 complaint Hybrid Propulsion System 1 complaint Interior Lighting 1 complaint Latcheslockslinkages 1 complaint Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch 1 complaint Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler 1 complaint Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light 1 complaint Tires 1 complaint Tirespressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 1 complaint Tirestreadbelt 1 complaint Traction Control System 1 complaint Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal 1 complaint Visibility 1 complaint Visibilitywindshield 1 complaint
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