2013 Kia Optima Recalls, Complaints & Specs
9 safety recalls list the 2013 Kia Optima, and owners have filed 1,383 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
9 safety recalls for the 2013 Kia Optima
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module Park outside
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…
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,…
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Roof and pillars (structure)
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.
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.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
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.
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.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module Park outside
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.
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…
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module Park outside
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.
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…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
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.
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…
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Engine and hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
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…
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…
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Air bag/restraint control module (air bags)
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.
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…
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
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.
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.…
1,383 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2013 Kia Optima have filed 1,383 complaints with NHTSA; 48 describe a crash and 114 describe a fire. Reports cite 36 injuries and 4 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 82,491 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 165 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Gas smell from under the hood. When taken to the dealership it was diagnosed as the high pressure fuel line. NOTE: The high and low fuel lines have recalls that impact this vehicle make, model, and ye”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2026 · Fuel/propulsion system
“The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to start due to the battery being drained from the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) remaining on while the ve”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2026 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2013 Kia Optima (Optima Hybrid, Optima Hybrid EX). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 26–37 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–35 / 33–38 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM6); Automatic 6-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Kia Optima model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Optima model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Kia Optima | 3 | 143 |
| 2002 Kia Optima | 3 | 107 |
| 2003 Kia Optima | 2 | 141 |
| 2004 Kia Optima | 1 | 225 |
| 2005 Kia Optima | 0 | 144 |
| 2006 Kia Optima | 2 | 155 |
| 2007 Kia Optima | 2 | 167 |
| 2008 Kia Optima | 3 | 144 |
| 2009 Kia Optima | 1 | 116 |
| 2010 Kia Optima | 1 | 75 |
| 2011 Kia Optima | 5 | 593 |
| 2012 Kia Optima | 5 | 919 |
| 2013 Kia Optima | 9 | 1,383 |
| 2014 Kia Optima | 7 | 589 |
| 2015 Kia Optima | 4 | 1,009 |
| 2016 Kia Optima | 5 | 756 |
| 2017 Kia Optima | 3 | 256 |
| 2018 Kia Optima | 2 | 232 |
| 2019 Kia Optima | 1 | 210 |
| 2020 Kia Optima | 0 | 148 |
Checking a specific 2013 Kia Optima
How do I know if my 2013 Kia Optima has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 9 campaigns currently list the 2013 Kia Optima; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 17V224000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.