The 2013 Kia Optima is a midsize cars vehicle covered by 5 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 1,386 owner complaints and 9 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 48 report a crash and 114 report a fire; 28 complaints report injuries totalling 37 injured people, and 4 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Engine, named in 613 complaints (44.2% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2013 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★☆☆ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★★ |
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (9)
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) that include the 2013 Kia Optima. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 18V907000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, and Fittings 19/12/2018
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V363000 — Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module 01/06/2018
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Consequence: If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Campaign 20V100000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, and Fittings 21/02/2020
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) or 2.0L GDI Turbo engines. The low pressure fuel hose may deteriorate and crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
Consequence: If the fuel hose cracks, a fuel leak can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify Owners, and Dealers will inspect the low pressure fuel hose for damage or leaking, replacing it as necessary. If no damage or leaking is found, a heat-protective tape will be installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC187.
Campaign 20V519000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 27/08/2020
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Consequence: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 21V331000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 10/05/2021
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Consequence: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 17V224000 — Engine and Engine Cooling:engine 31/03/2017
Summary: Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Consequence: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 22V093000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, and Fittings 17/02/2022
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 20V-100. The low pressure fuel hose may be damaged, or missing heat-protective tape, which can result in a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel hose, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-33-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC228.
Campaign 22V560000 — Structure:body:roof and Pillars 01/08/2022
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 23V652000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 25/09/2023
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Owner Complaints (1,386)
Owners have filed 1,386 complaints about the 2013 Kia Optima with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 613 | 44.2% |
| Steering | 213 | 15.4% |
| Unknown Or Other | 186 | 13.4% |
| Electrical System | 146 | 10.5% |
| Structure | 127 | 9.2% |
| Service Brakes | 115 | 8.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 94 | 6.8% |
| Power Train | 64 | 4.6% |
| Air Bags | 62 | 4.5% |
| Hydraulic | 53 | 3.8% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 42 | 3.0% |
| Exterior Lighting | 40 | 2.9% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Engine, 613 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2019 with 165 filings. Owners filed 1,386 complaints in total across 15 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 48 and those involving a fire number 114; 28 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2013 Kia Optima as a midsize cars vehicle and published ratings for 5 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 26–37 MPG; the median configuration returns 24 city / 34 highway / 27 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 36.5 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 |
Showing the 4 most common configuration groups of 5 EPA configurations.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2013 Kia Optima have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 1,386 complaints for the 2013 Kia Optima when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Engine with 613 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2013 Kia Optima?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) covering the 2013 Kia Optima in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 18V907000 for Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, and Fittings.
What is the 2013 Kia Optima's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2013 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 5 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2013 Kia Optima get?
The EPA rated 5 configurations of the 2013 Kia Optima. Combined fuel economy ranges from 26 to 37 MPG, with a median of 27 MPG (median city 24, median highway 34).