2013 KIA OPTIMA Structurebody Problems
117 NHTSA complaints on file
All Structurebody Complaints — Page 3
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.
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...
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.
"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.
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
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.
CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS. NO INJURY BUT DRIVER HAD TO JUMP OUT OF MOVING VEHICLE.
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.
THE PAINT PILLING OFF THE CAR TOOK IT TO KIA THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING THE PAIN PILLS SO BAD THIS A FIVE YEAR CAR IN IT LOOK LIKE 15 YEAR OLD CAR COST ME 2800 TO GET THE CAR PAINTED I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT ON THE PAIT IN KIA DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED KIA NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM
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.
THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF OF MY CAR WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY
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.
MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE IN THE CAR AND WHILE DRIVING, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS SO LOUD, ALMOST LIKE A GUNSHOT. A SMALL AMOUNT OF GLASS ENTERED THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, SOUTHWARD, NEAR THE OSCEOLA EXIT ON I 55. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO SIGN OR EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE GLASS. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND THE TEMPERATURE IN OSCEOLA TODAY WAS A HIGH OF 76 AND LOW OF 68 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, WATER WAS OBSERVED IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALANT AROUND THE HEADLIGHTS WAS FAILING. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD WITH MY SON AND A FRIEND, GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY AT NOON, WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT COME FROM THE MOON ROOF CAUSING ME TO SWERVE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ASSESS THE SITUATION, WE FOUND THAT THE MOON ROOF HAD "EXPLODED" CAUSING THE ENTIRE THING TO CRACK AND REMAIN CRACKING, CAUSING TINY SHARDS OF GLASS TO FORM. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY UNDRIVEABLE.
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...
THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EXPLODED OUT WARDS RAINING BROKEN GLASS DOWN ON MY HEARD. THE CAR WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT AND NO CARS WERE AHEAD OF ME ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS A SLIGHT CREAKING NOISE AND THEN A VIOLENT EXPLOSION LEAVING AN UP TURNED CRATER IN THE GLASS ROOF. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEMS WITH ANY SUNROOFS DISPUTE THE RECALL ON SIMILAR ROOFS ON OTHER KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS. *TR
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