2013 KIA Optima Structure Problems
Owners have filed 127 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2013 KIA Optima, 9% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “pearl white” (17% of reports).
- 127structure complaints
- 70,000median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Pearl white: mentioned in 22 of 127 complaints (17%)
- Paint peeling: mentioned in 21 of 127 complaints (17%)
- Chipping off: mentioned in 11 of 127 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 37 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 127 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 11 a fire, 1 an injury.
KIA Optima structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 1 | 1% | 6,300 |
| 2019 Optima | 14 | 7% | 2,500 |
| 2018 Optima | 7 | 3% | 15,625 |
| 2017 Optima | 5 | 2% | 59,500 |
| 2016 Optima | 40 | 5% | 34,000 |
| 2015 Optima | 76 | 8% | 56,000 |
| 2014 Optima | 48 | 8% | 75,500 |
| 2013 Optima | 127 | 9% | 70,000 |
| 2012 Optima | 39 | 4% | 47,700 |
| 2011 Optima | 21 | 4% | 50,000 |
| 2010 Optima | 2 | 3% | 74,000 |
| 2009 Optima | 4 | 3% | 58,250 |
| 2008 Optima | 5 | 3% | 75,944 |
| 2007 Optima | 4 | 2% | 146,107 |
| 2006 Optima | 12 | 8% | 61,300 |
| 2005 Optima | 22 | 15% | 80,000 |
| 2004 Optima | 42 | 19% | 103,900 |
| 2003 Optima | 25 | 18% | 114,993 |
| 2002 Optima | 30 | 28% | 124,933 |
| 2001 Optima | 35 | 24% | 99,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Structure:body:roof and pillars
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.
Risk: A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC245.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Paint began chipping/flaking off little by little everytime I washed the car. Itâs a common occurrence with snowy white Kia paint in this year
Paint on car is coming off from hood and doors headlights are not bright had to change to aftermarket to make it brighter
The vehicle paint is bubbling and peeling
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 KIA Optimas have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 127 owner complaints about structure for the 2013 KIA Optima (9% of the 1,386 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 KIA Optima structure?
Yes: 1 safety recall list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do structure problems start?
The median reported mileage is 70,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about structure problems on the 2013 KIA Optima?
The most frequent phrase is “pearl white”, in 22 of 127 complaints, followed by “paint peeling” (21).
Other 2013 KIA Optima problems
See all 2013 KIA Optima problems or structure problems across all Optima years.