general problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Optima - part 1

My 2013 kia Optima was running fine at 65 mph when suddenly the engine stalled. I then coasted to the shoulder and smelled burning plastic. As soon as I opened the hood the engine started being consumed in fire, it quickly went to a very large engine fire that consumed the front half of the car. There were no other vehicles involved with this incident. Vehicle is a total loss.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine unexpectedly seized without warning. The contact stated that after the vehicle lost motive power, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that no diagnostic trouble codes were found. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

The vehicle is experiencing sudden engine stalling while in motion, a known safety hazard. Despite a documented maintenance history with no issues, the dealer (bayside kia) is attempting to deny a theta ii settlement claim by shifting the narrative to 'engine sludge,' which only appeared as a symptom in June 2025( walmart oil change) alongside engine performance issues. The vehicle has active codes p0014 and p0017, which are secondary symptoms of the internal bearing wear and metallic debris contaminating the oiling system. Kds diagnostic tests showed cylinder 1 at 0. 16mm (approaching the 0. 20mm failure limit). This clearance proves the connecting rod bearings are worn and reaching the failure threshold; this mechanical wear is the root cause of the engine's inability to operate safely. The presence of metallic debris in the oil is the definitive signature of the theta ii manufacturing defect. Furthermore, the dealer acted in bad faith by attempting to charge for airbag repairs (codes b1346/b1481) that are covered under the 15-year clock spring warranty extension (cs1102). The dealer has dismissed my qualifying maintenance documents, claiming they are 'not official,' which is a direct violation of the magnuson-moss warranty act. A manufacturer cannot deny a warranty claim because services were performed at third-party facilities, nor can they deny a claim without proving 'exceptional neglect. ' I am reporting a refusal to honor a court-ordered safety settlement and an attempt to return an unsafe, stalling vehicle to the road. There is no evidence of engine abandonment or exceptional neglect. I’m considered "in compliance" if I can show I didn't go more than 14 months without servicing or a certain mileage between oil changes. The dealer's dismissal of verified third-party receipts and bank statements is a bad-faith attempt to ignore an inherent manufacturing defect documented by a 0. 16mm bct result and metallic debris.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 35 mph, there was an abnormal metal-on-metal sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. The contact drove out to the location and became aware that the oil and the battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart, and the starter motor was smoking. The contact stated that prior to the engine failure, the starter motor had been replaced. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic who had recently replaced the starter motor. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact called the local dealer and the manufacturer but was informed that the vehicle would not be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph, the vehicle lost motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle eventually stalled on the side of the road. The key, battery, oil, and engine warning lights were illuminated. There was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the engine had seized. The engine failed to turn over. The mechanic had previously performed a routine oil change. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with low voltage. The spark plugs were checked, there were no oil leaks, and the vehicle was diagnosed with catastrophic engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 111,862.

1) motor failed on interstate and car towed to automotive shop. Currently still at the shop with hope to tow to kia to address issue. 2)my teenage daughter and her friend were placed in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation due to what appears to be a catostrophic vehicle failure. While driving our 2013 kia Optima whith approximately 160,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost power while our daughter was traveling a major highway. The car quit responding to the gas pedal and she was forced to pull over on the side of the highway and was stranded in traffic with no safe way to move the vehicle. When she attempted to restart the car the engine light began flashing (it did not do so before hand), the car was shaking and undriveable. This was not a minor inconvenience, it was a serious safety hazard. A young driver was left sitting on the shoulder of a high-speed roadway with cars and trucks passing at highway speeds up to 80 mph. Had another driver drifted or had she not been able to reach the shoulder in time, this situation could have easily resulted in a major crash or fatality(-ies). The vehicle would not restart properly and had to be towed. Prior to this incident, there were no obvious warning sings of an imminent catastrophic failure. The mechanic's invoice of his diagnostics is attached. Vehicles should not fail in a way that suddenly leaves drivers stranded in active highway traffic with no warning. This type of failure creates an extremely dangerous situation not just for the driver but for everyone on the road. I strongly urge the NHTSA to review whether this model vehicle has known engine or safety defects that can lead to sudden engine failure or loss of power while driving. No parent should have to get a phone call that their child is stranded on the side of a major highway because their car suddenly died without warning. I am requesting this vehicle incident be documented and investigared as a potential safety defect.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the turbocharger had failed, and the engine and turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received a letter from the dealer that the vehicle was covered under a manufacturer settlement for engine replacement; however, the dealer advised the contact that there was an out-of-pocket cost to replace the turbocharger. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

My car started shutting down while driving. After the engine started seizing the key wouldn't turn in my ignition. Took car to dealership immediately on 10, 2026. Took again in 2024 for recall and other repairs. Found out after requesting previous service incidents they failed to do recall repairs and never notified me of it, or to come back. I've requested current diagnostic report several times in writing and verbally with codes for this current service, with non compliance. My car is still at the dealership needing work and I need current diagnostic report before I pay for repairs. I am attaching a dealership diagnostic e-report for my 2013 kia Optima from 2024. While the report lists “no current dtc” for several systems, it also documents multiple “communication fail” errors across critical modules, including Smart key, head lamp, air conditioner, brake, and other systems. These communication failures indicate a broader electrical or network issue within the vehicle, not simply a failed battery. The report also shows that certain diagnostic scans were not properly performed. Additionally, there are historical fault codes related to tpms and weight classification systems, further supporting that the vehicle has experienced ongoing electrical issues. Despite these findings, the dealership attributed the vehicle failure solely to a bad battery and did not provide a current battery diagnostic test. They also failed to address an open recall related to electrical/fuse issues prior to this failure. Based on this past diagnostic report, I believe the root cause of my vehicle’s failure is an unresolved electrical defect, potentially related to the outstanding recall, rather than normal battery wear. This has resulted in my vehicle becoming inoperable and poses a serious safety concern.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 mph, the vehicle started shuddering with a knocking sound coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the dealer declined to repair the vehicle under NHTSA campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling). The dealer stated that the vehicle had a branded title. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 163,814.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while approaching a freeway and attempting to merge, the vehicle suddenly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

My car suddenly caught fire in my driveway tonight 2/6/26 roughly around 9:40 pm. Fire department has been dispatched to come out and investigate if the fire has been properly extinguished and it does warrant any further safety hazards until kia can be notified and resolve this issue.

After getting the vehicle back from the auto shop for repair in the fuel injector because my car wasn't starting after I purchase it from a third party. Anyways after I got the vehicle back my temperature gauge was sky rocket getting high and higher and my temperature blinker with the red light on the dashboard with the boiling hot water icon temperature and I took it in the shop and it stated on the invoice.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled but restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: pi2002 / pi2002a. The contact discovered there was an issue with the damage to the connecting rod bearing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the battery needed to be replaced. There was an abnormal sound when the vehicle was started. The contact stated that there were metal shavings in the oil and the control valve. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where a broken valve and lifter were found, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be disassembled. The dealer stated that there were metal shavings in the oil and the control valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no repair under recall for the failure. Additionally, the manufacturer requested the oil change records. The failure mileage was approximately 200,776.

I received a recall notice for my 2013 kia Optima, VIN #: [xxx] related to engine issues and an increased risk of fire. After receiving the recall notice, my vehicle began smoking and briefly caught fire while in operation. I immediately shut the vehicle off, and the smoke and fire stopped. For safety reasons, the vehicle was towed by my insurance company to my aunt’s residence, which was the closest safe location at the time. The vehicle was unsafe to drive. No injuries occurred, and the fire department was not called because the fire stopped once the vehicle was turned off. I believe this incident is related to a known safety defect and recall involving kia Optima engine fires. I have contacted kia multiple times regarding this issue, and there have been delays in addressing or repairing the vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I took the kia to hurst dealership and scott told me he would check it out. He called me and told me I needed the key replaced, so we paid them 230 dollars. Then he told me he found 4 recalls, fixed 3 of the 4 recalls. The last one, the engine seizing up, was still not complete. After 30 days we removed the car from that dealership because the whole time they were trying to sell us a car. Now the car doesnt even start, there is no key, there is lots of damage to the front end and underneath the engine is missing covers and who knows what else. Worst employees do the things the company itself tries to prevent, scott is perfect for ruining reputations of the employers he (works for).

My 2013 kia Optima sxl experienced engine knock and shutdown after completion of recall sc147 (ksds software update). The recall did not repair the known theta ii rod bearing defect and now the engine is failing as detected by the software. Kia corporate and kia of merced (merced, CA) are refusing repair, citing auction purchase and pi1803, despite the engine being covered under the theta ii engine warranty extension. The vehicle is unsafe to operate and shuts down unexpectedly.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30–35 mph, the engine started knocking. The check engine warning light illuminated once the knock started in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was driven to the dealer. The contact stated that there was an open recall associated with the VIN; however, the dealer declined to repair the vehicle because the engine was knocking. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the speedometer started malfunctioning, and the check engine warning light was flashing. There was an abnormal burning odor, and there was smoke coming from under the hood. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and allowed the vehicle to cool down for an hour. While attempting to restart the vehicle, several unknown warning lights were flashing, and the vehicle failed to restart. The contact was picked up by her daughter, and the vehicle was later towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer later informed the contact that the warning lights had turned off. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that the tires, the oil, and the oil filter needed to be replaced. The contact declined to pay for the parts replacement because the oil and the oil filter had been replaced two weeks prior to the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was ready for pick up. The contact stated that after a family member picked up the vehicle, the failure recurred while driving, and the vehicle stalled. The driver was able to pull into a parking lot. The contact stated that the dealer had informed them that an arrangement had been made for the vehicle to be towed to their location; however, no further update was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to pull over, the steering wheel was difficult to turn, and the brake pedal required additional effort to depress. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle; however, while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

During a drive after startup, vehicle flashed the hybrid electric vehicle (hev) error and put the car into limp mode. Car will idle fine, but the issue is intermittent upon acceleration. Error code is p1775 electric oil pump hall ic sensor failure. Took it to a mechanic and they had performed a test on the sensor and pump and found no issues after stress testing and checking cabling. Issue occurred at mechanic when they tried to move the vehicle and suggest replacing the electric oil pump and sensor even though they found no issue the parts themselves without tearing down the mechanism. Car is undrivable because of this issue.

The engine on my 2013 kia Optima (VIN [xxx] ) failed catastrophically less than one mile after purchase. This vehicle is subject to kia safety recall sc147, which addresses a manufacturing defect involving engine bearing wear caused by factory machining debris and identifies engine replacement as the remedy when failure occurs. A kia dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed the failure was denied under warranty. I then requested that the dealership pursue recall compliance under safety recall sc147. After consultation with kia techline and a kia service representative, the dealership declined to submit or pursue recall compliance for this engine failure. I am submitting this complaint for recall non-compliance and request that this matter be reviewed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have had 2 incidents of engine ceasure in my 2013 kia Optima sx w/ limited package. Once it ceased on the freeway causing me to have a minor collision with the offramp guide rail and just recenting on 10/18/2025 it happened again on the 405 with loud knocking sounds engine light flashing and no real engine power after ceasing. My engine was previously repaired under warranty with case number xxx which should have extended the warranty along with the existing recall for the gdi engine. I need help to get kia to repair/replace under warranty as my engine is covered in the theta ii class action settlement. Kia repeatedly tries to Dodge responsibility for repairing my car under warranty. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The engine went.

The engine began exhibiting symptoms consistent with the known bearing wear defect covered under the manufacturer’s safety recall, including knocking noises, loss of power, and engine malfunction. The condition worsened to the point that the vehicle became unsafe to operate due to the risk of engine seizure and sudden loss of propulsion while driving. The vehicle was inspected by a kia dealership, which confirmed engine damage consistent with the recall defect. The engine remains available for inspection. Despite an active, unrepaired safety recall for engine bearing wear that increases the risk of engine seizure and crash, the manufacturer and dealership have refused to perform the recall remedy unless the owner first replaces the engine at personal expense. The manufacturer has stated that the recall cannot be performed due to the current condition of the engine. This refusal leaves the vehicle with an open safety recall and no manufacturer-provided remedy, creating an ongoing safety risk due to potential engine seizure and loss of power while driving.

On Sunday, September 21st, 2025, my 2013 kia Optima ex suffered sudden catastrophic engine failure while driving on the highway. The check engine light was flashing, the car misfired badly, lost complete power, and became unsafe to operate. The vehicle was then towed to wagner kia of shrewsbury, MA. On Monday, September 22nd, kia diagnosed the engine with holes in the intake valves (cylinder 3) and multiple misfire codes (p2191, p0272, p0301, p0304, p0172, p0303). The dealership documented that major engine repairs would be required, including two intake valves, two exhaust valves, valve cover gaskets, hraf bolts, two ignition coils, and a valve job. This sudden engine failure created an immediate safety risk of stalling or losing power while in motion, which could have led to an accident. Despite kia’s history of theta ii engine recalls and settlements, my VIN is not included, leaving this major engine defect unaddressed. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate and consider expanding kia’s existing engine recalls to cover this engine failure, as it represents a serious safety issue consistent with kia’s documented engine problems.

I was driving and my car stopped running took it to the dealership find out. It has a recall never got a recall letter because I wasn’t the first owner and now they refuse to fix my car.

Engine seized after kia recall repairs – safety defect recurrence I own a kia vehicle (VIN: 5xxgn4a72dg236883) with a rebuilt title. Kia performed engine recall work on my vehicle at fowler kia in longmont, colorado. The service advisor stated the recall was to “protect the engine from seizing. ” after driving around 18,000 miles since the recall service, the engine seized suddenly while operating. Kia customer affairs has denied warranty coverage because of the salvage title, but this does not change the fact that the defect is safety-related and persisted after recall work. This creates a serious safety concern because: the engine failure happened without warning, kia performed the recall on this exact safety defect, and now they are denying any further responsibility. I request that NHTSA investigate kia’s handling of safety recalls on vehicles with rebuilt titles.

Engine blew up. Was burning oil since I got it, only had it for 6k miles. It started knocking at some point so I stopped driving it and was gonna take it to the dealership n get it repaired since tbat shouldve been fixed by sc147 but the engine blew on the way to the dealership. It happened on a very main road, and I couldnt get my car fully out of the way of traffic due to it making an abrupt stop shortly after the engine blew up. We had to call a towtruck and a police officer due to how busy the road was, and there was a good fresh 5 quarts of oil spilt all over the ground, on a main road. The dealership is saying they're trying to deny my warranty since the engine passed their test & I do my own oil changes but I have perfect documentation of each oil change, including date, miles, oil weight & volume, even the amount the car burnt in that period. I called kia consumer affairs, they said I dont even have a warranty because I didnt get the knock detection sensor upgrade done, and they wont do sc147 past engine failure. The dealership said themselves my engine is shot.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 70-75 mph, the contact accelerated to 80 mph to pass another vehicle; however, after releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The battery and the low oil pressure warning lights and two other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

After picking up my 2013 kia Optima from a kia dealership for an engine recall repair, I was told that no issues were found with the vehicle. The following morning, while driving on the freeway, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning and lost power in the middle of traffic. This created a dangerous situation, as the driver was left stranded in an active lane with vehicles traveling at high speeds. Prior to dropping off the car, multiple independent mechanics and a body shop had advised that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to engine concerns. The dealer stated they could not reproduce the issue and cleared the car for use. However, within hours of getting the car back, the stall occurred. The vehicle is currently available for inspection. The problem has not yet been confirmed by the dealer, but the symptoms are consistent with known kia engine failures related to connecting-rod bearing wear. Before the stall, the check engine light had intermittently illuminated, but the dealer reported “no issues found. ” this failure put the driver and surrounding motorists at serious risk of a collision and highlights that the recall remedy may not have addressed the underlying safety defect.

The contact owned a 2013 kia Optima. The contact's son was driving at 35 mph when smoke was emitting from under the hood. The contact's son pulled over to the side of the road and immediately exited the vehicle. The contact's son opened the hood, and smoke was emitting from the engine. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact's son did not sustain any injuries. The police or fire department was not called. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that an electrical fire had started in the engine and damaged the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fire. The contact stated that the engine was replaced in 2018 or 2019 due to an unknown recall. The contact did not notify her insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the engine had seized and to tow the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the engine had failed. The contact was informed that since the vehicle had a branded title, it could not be repaired. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact stated that back in October 2024, the vehicle had been in a hit-and-run accident. The insurance company had declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact kept the vehicle and registered it with the rebuilt title. The contact stated that the engine on the vehicle was the original engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that kia customer care called and advised the contact that the manufacturer declined the request for the repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

2013 kia Optima (VIN [xxx] , recall 23v-652) caught fire on [xxx] in rossville, GA. I had just parked in my garage when smoke came from the engine. I pushed it outside and a coworker helped extinguish it. There was no warning signs. Also didn’t receive recall until a few days after the fire . Even though the letter said final notice this was the first letter I received. No injuries or property damage, but the car is beyond repair. Kia case #[xxx] (rep ashley). Inspector came sept 2 but no response since. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the engine seized with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while a family member was driving the vehicle at 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road where the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where an independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.