10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,913 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Kia Optima body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2013 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 5)

problem #91

Aug 042021

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car paint as been chipping off. I see a lot of cars like mine in the street with the same isssue, specially Perales white kias. They look like junk cars. Paint was not good

- Madera , CA, USA

problem #90

Apr 012017

Optima

  • miles
2013 Optima SXL with snow white pearl paint. Paint began coming off in areas around the windshield back in 2017. At the time I thought it may have had something to do with the people who replaced my windshield. Had a 50 cent piece size area come off the hood in the car wash shortly after. I have continued to experience paint bubbling and loss ever since. Now I'm considering an upgrade but am worried about my trade in value due to the condition of the paint.

- Beresford, SD, USA

problem #89

Jul 072022

Optima

  • miles
I have problem for the color white pearl is pealing the car front car side an doors

- Riverview, FL, USA

problem #88

Mar 122018

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Paint peeling off

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #87

Aug 162021

Optima

  • miles
I have a white 2013 Kia Optima the paint is chipping, coming off in chunks. After it falls off seeing the panel below is smooth and does not appear to have been roughed up prior to painting to allow the paint to properly adhere. I know of thousands of other Kia owners to have paint issues exactly like this.

- Mount Orab, OH, USA

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problem #86

May 201989

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.

- Hoopa, CA, USA

problem #85

May 042020

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Paint peeling off all over vehicle

- Moreland, GA, USA

problem #84

Dec 152022

Optima

  • miles
Paint defects. Kia admitted about 5-6 years ago that the Snow White Pearl paint on some of their models had issues. Since then they have painted parts of our vehicle 4 or more times. Current issues started in December 2022

- Foothill Ranch, CA, USA

problem #83

Apr 142023

Optima

  • miles
I own a 2013 Kia optima with 70k miles. I have searches so many forums regarding the defect with the PEARL WHITE paint. The paint began to peel all over my car as soon as I bought it with 16k miles a few years back. I-??m concerned for myself and hundreds of other people with the same problems. The issue I am concerned with is when the paint begins to peel on my hood I would be concerned it could possibly block my vision while driving. Not to mention the hundreds of other people I-??ve read about with the same problem, and now we are supposed to incure the costs of a complete paint job on a car which could cost thousands of dollars when this white Pearl paint is clearly the issue.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #82

Apr 092018

Optima

  • miles
Chipped paint around my windshield and other areas of the car, such as the trunk and various other areas of the vehicle

- Piedmont , SC, USA

problem #81

Aug 012022

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have had this vehicle for 10 years. The paint started to peel in or around 2017. I was in a hail storm and within the last year and now it looks like my car was 100 years old. I put in a claim to my insurance and they denied coverage due to kia having a paint issue. Peal white specifically. I also took the car in December 2022 for all the recalls on the engine. Since then it's literally falling apart. When I took it to the dealership they told me I had a bad valve cover, bad Sway bars, bad passenger side mirror among other things. When I told them I had no issues prior to taking it in they pretty much said it's their word against mine. Oh and they found a "oil shop rag" hanging from the bottom of my car. They said I must have picked it up on the road. Im driving a car I paid top dollar for with no complaints over years and would suggest to others. Now I wouldn't recommend kia to anyone. They brag about their warranty but it's all garbage. I still love my car hit I'd like it to look nice still along with how it used to drive before I took it in.

- West Logan, WV, USA

problem #80

Jan 012017

Optima

  • miles
My pearl white has been chipping since 2017 in multiple locations. Kia needs to be held responsible and rectify the situation.

- Eastvale, CA, USA

problem #79

Jan 012023

Optima

  • miles
The door latches don't spring back into a position that allows the door to be closed again, once it has been opened. I have to stick my finger in the latch hole in the door while pulling out the latch handle to put the latch back into the position where the door will close. So far, this problem has effected three of the four doors in my sedan.

- Lake Leelanau, MI, USA

problem #78

Sep 042015

Optima

  • miles
PAINT CHIPPING!!!! (photos attached) I have encountered many of Kia manufactured vehicles with the same issue. The paint bubbles and then peels off, leaving a visible grey (primed) area. I am located in North Carolina. The weather is not harsh and I cannot think of any other reason this would be occurring. When attempting to get the paint repaired / vehicle painted, I was informed of a recall and/or class action associated with this situation. I would like clarification and resolution of this matter.

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #77

Jan 112023

Optima

  • miles
My pearl white pair is chipping from all over, I had it inspected and they said it was a problem with the original paint and how it was put painted.

- Turlock , CA, USA

problem #76

Oct 212022

Optima

  • miles
1. The vehicle has been smoking and constantly burning all the oil. 2. Paint has been pealing all over the car. 3. Electronic parking brakes not working at all now and vehicle will not pass inspection. 4. Electronic steering assist not working tripping the warning light on the dash.

- Haverhill, MA, USA

problem #75

Oct 282022

Optima

  • miles
My 2013 KIA Optima in Snow White Pearl "SWP" has delaminating and pealing paint issues all over the body of the car. Mainly in the front bumper, hood and A pillars of the car. It extends to every single panel of the car even obscure out of the way areas. Only the paint is affected. The body underneath shows no sing of denting from a hard hit of any type. The paint simply delaminates on its own.

- Deerfield Beach, FL, USA

problem #74

Oct 012021

Optima

  • miles
The paint is chipping off and looks horrible.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #73

Oct 012022

Optima

  • miles
The pearl white paint pealing in 4 different areas in the body of the car to include the front and top of the car above the windshield; both sides of the outer body framing of the windshield and now the hood of the car.

- Clinton, NY, USA

problem #72

Jan 082020

Optima

  • miles
Car is available. I have a 2013 Kia Optima SXL that has paint that is randomly chipping. Took it to service department and this is a common problem for this car and paint color. I have repair estimate totaling $2501.55 not including windshield that he says would need to replaced if it cracks during repair due to it having to be removed.

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

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