2013 Kia Optima Suspension Problems
12 owner-reported suspension complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (12)
Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.
I WENT TO START MY CAR WHICH WAS ON AUGUST 24, 2020 AND IT WAS MAKING A VERY VERY LOUD NOISE I COULDN'T MOVE IT SO I HAD IT TOWED OVER TO A MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE IN FACT HAS BEEN BLOWN ARE THE BLOCK HAS BEEN BLOWN SO THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED I AM WAY AND THERE WAS NO WARNING ON MY VEHICLE AND WITH ALSO NO NOTIFICATION OF OIL WAS LOW OR NO OIL IN MY CAR WHATSOEVER THERE WAS A METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED AND IT THERE'S NO LEAKS IN THE CAR AT ALL AND SO NOW I PAY PAYMENTS FOR A CAR AND SOMEBODY ELSE TO TAKE ME AROUND TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR MONTHS ON MONTHS ANDPAYMENTS FOR A CAR THAT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BROKEN DOWN AND THE DEALERSHIP HERE KIA WILL NOT THEY FIX MY CAR THEY REFUSE TO BECAUSE OF A DISAGREEMENT PRIOR TO THIS I AM ON ANYTHING ABOUT MY CAR THEY WILL NOT DO I AM ACTUALLY THE ONE WHO DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL IN THE VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY AND NOBODY HAS TOLD ME AND EVERYBODY HAS FAILED TO MENTION THIS OR CONTACT ME
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY POWER UNIT NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF CERRITOS (18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703; (562) 860-2424) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,125.
WE WERE TRAVELING AT AROUND 55-60 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE T-BONES BY A CHEVY AVALANCHE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND SWERVED SO THE TRUCK LUCKILY STARTED AT MY DOOR AND COMPLETELY RIPPED AND SMASHED IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND BACK/ TRUNK OF OUR OPTIMA. BACK WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED OUT. HIT SO HARD IT COMPLETELY TURNED US IN 2 CIRCLES AND BUSTED MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND IT HIT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I BUSTED MY HEAD OPEN AND RECEIVED 3 STAPLES AND KNEE SHOVED IN DASH BUT NOT 1 AIR BAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED!! I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A KIA!! I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A KIA BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!
CAR TURN OFF IN THE FREEWAY WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, ADVISING THE CONTACT TO DISCONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IN ORDER FOR THE INDICATORS TO TURN OFF. IN ADDITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND HESITATED TO STOP APPROPRIATELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ARCHER KIA (LOCATED AT 11614 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77031, 888-879-5194) WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE HYDRAULICS. THE SPECIFIC PARTS WERE NOT IDENTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JOE MEYERS KIA (LOCATED AT 16484 NW FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77040, 713-587-9940) WHERE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 13386178. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GLASSMAN KIA (28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (888) 452-1360) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE DRIVE SHAFT WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND BECAME DETACHED. THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY 2013, IT WAS LESS THEN TWO WEEKS AND I TOLD THEM AT CENTURY KIA SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I LATER TOOK IT AND HAD THE ALIGNMENT LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD IT WAS OFF JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER IT IS SWAYING ALL OVER THE ROAD, I CALLED CENTURY KIA AND SPOKE WITH THEIR REPAIR DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO HIM AND HE SUGGESTED IT SOUND LIKE MAYBE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM AND I TOLD HIM IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE BUT HE TOLD ME THEY WOULD NEED TO CHECK IT OUT TO MAKE SURE, I WAS GOING TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SEE IF IT'S THE SAME THING BUT WILL ALLOW THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. HOPEFULLY I WILL GET SOME REAL HELP BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE MY CAR AS WELL. *TR
MY KIA GETS STUCK IN A FEW INCHES OF SNOW OR ANY ICE. SLIDES EASILY IN RAIN OR ICY OR COLD WEATHER. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST. I HAVE BEEN PUSHED BY STRANGERS, COUNTLESS TIMES, TRYING TO GET ME OUT OF SUBDIVISIONS BECAUSE THIS CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HE MENTIONED HE HAD TO TOW 3 OF THESE SAME FANCY VEHICLES THAT WERE STUCK IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW. I AM UNABLE TO PARK IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE IF ANY SNOW OR ICE IS ON THE DRIVEWAY. I DRIVE FOR A LIVING AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PATIENT'S DRIVEWAYS. THEY LAUGH AND SAY THE OTHER NURSES DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS. THIS IS HUMILIATING. THIS CAR COSTS ALMOST 40,000. IT SHOULD BE DEPENDABLE INSTEAD IT IS UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS: OTHER CARS MAY RUN INTO ME WHEN MY CAR STARTS SLIDING BACKWARDS ON THE STREETS. I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD TO CALL IN SICK SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE MY CAR WILL NOT BACK OUT A FEW FEET FROM MY DRIVEWAY IF THERE IS 3 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. ALSO THE ENGINE WHINES ALOT. IT SEEMS TO LAG IN SHIFTING AND THE RPM GOES UP TO ALMOST 4 BEFORE IT WILL SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. I AM AFRAID THE ENGINE WILL EXPLODE OR BLOW UP. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM GERALD KIA IN AURORA ILLINOIS. CAR PULLS LEFT THEN RIGHT. ASSUMED IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT OBRIEN KIA IN CHAMPAIGN, IL TO CHECK IT OUT ON WEDS, 5-8. MADE AP[POINTMENT ON TUESDAY, 4-30. LOOKED ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON 11,12 AND 13 OPTIMAS. THERE IS EVEN A VIDEO SHOWING THIS PROBLEM ON UTUBE. I BELIEVE I BOUGHT A LEMON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS IF YOU LOOK AWAY FOR A SECOND, YOU COULD HIT SOMEONE HEAD ON. I WANT TO GIVE THEM THERE CAR BACK. ALSO I CAN'T GET THE PART TO COME UP. *TR
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE IS NOT STABLE. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS WITHIN SPECS. VEHICLE DOESN'T PULL IN ONE DIRECTION, BUT IT HAS A HARD TIME TRACKING DOWN THE ROAD. SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS, WIND, OR TIRE ISSUES WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DART LEFT/RIGHT. AN IMMEDIATE CORRECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS REQUIRED WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN REQUIRED TO RETURN TO CENTER-LINE AND THUS REQUIRES ANOTHER CORRECTION IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. ANY DEVIATION FROM THE CENTER-LINE REQUIRES TWO CORRECTIONS AND EXTREME VIGILANCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS EASY CHARACTERIZED AS A WANDERING, BUT IS MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS AN UNSETTLED ISSUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS ALSO MOST OBVIOUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AROUND 70MPH. *TR
2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, SOMETIMES THE BELT MADE A SQUEAKY NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH A KEY TO OPEN THE TRUNK. UPDATED 01/22/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS MANY SERIOUS ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 06/27/2017*JS