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Problems with 2013 Kia Optima POWER TRAIN

On average, the 2013 Kia Optima starts to “feel” problems with the POWER TRAIN and its various aspects after 61 120 miles.

Recently reported POWER TRAIN problems on 2013 Kia Optima

Driving and check engine light came on then car just stopped running and would not start, on a state road

2013 kia optima sport with approximately 47,000 miles loss of turbo. pulled out of my garage and my car seemed sluggish. i noticed the engine light was on. as i accelerated my turbo did not seem to kick in and my car would rev up and not accelerate very well. called kia they said i have 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty. i told them i also have 10 year 100 mile powertrain warranty. just ran a recall check and nhtsa states recall on long block engine and turbo recall on my sport model.

Im driving in the city streets the car has had a code that came up 1 month after the it is a core to replace tube to the sxl turbo this work was performed at the time of the second engine repair due to recall i have contacted kia and told them of the issue now currently as i wait for my appointment the service department is so backed up i now have a issue where i can not reverse the car wants to shut off as i accelerate and it feels like there is a parking brake on i told kia the car jerks going into 1st gear and then accelerates with a jerking motion took it to a local mechanic verified only code that shows up is for the turbo it has a flutter that needs to be adjusted or line replacement but i have proof that that work was already done i do not know if the car will make the appointment time now that it is 5 days out very dangerous due to car is not able to accelerate at a safe speed going into any intersection

This concerns kia recall sc147. i have a 2013 kia optima ex that i purchased used with 98,000 miles on it in february 2019. the car drove perfect without any problems. i recently had the oil changed in june. a couple of weeks later the motor started knocking slightly for no reason after a recent trip to memphis, tennessee. the engine stalled in traffic so i put it in neutral and i was able to crank it back up. the next morning it was really knocking loudly so i took it to a mechanic who stated the engine was trying to throw a rod.

Engine recall. dealership first received vehicle repair march 4, 2019 for complete engine replacement due to recall and car become completely immobile while on freeways. and towed to dealership. dealership informed me first engine failed and reordered a new engine. received vehicle back from 2nd attempt of engine repair may 16, 2019. vehicle check engine light illuminated may 31,2019. returned vheicle back to dealership. repair to harness and noc sensor. received vehicle back for repair june 8th. on june 10th vehicle became immobile again while driving out of parking lot and towed to dealership for repair. waiting on dealership for details of car problems.

Took vehicle in for service a month ago for airbag recall as was told would not inflate in crash. called kia corp. to ask status as i have heard nothing more after calling each week and was told my car was ready as of that moment. picked up car and transmission (light came on and died) in middle of 4 lane hwy 5o'clock traffic as i was in motion approaching traffic light at within a mile of leaving regal kia and was then told that the airbag was still not working as the extra fix was outside of the recall and i would be responsible for. i could have been in a major accident during stall as i went in for a airbag recall and left with a dead transmission and airbag was not fixed, putting my life in danger within minutes of leaving the same dealership that earlier months cleared my car as perfect except for tune-up because of another previous recall. i was not placed in requested loaner to match my vehicle size as needed due to my family size for 4 weeks. this is not acceptable by any means as a customer.

Vehicle continues to run hot after regular maintenance and repairs from a certified kia dealer. engine had been replaced once and continues to exhibit the same behaviors after multiple attempts at resolving the issue.

My car is parked in the driveway at my job. it had been parked there since 2:50 pm. at 11 pm i went outside after clocking out and it would not crank. however, all my lights in the inside and on my dashboard remained working. upon trying to turn over my key, my car would make a clicking sound. after ab 10 minutes other things began to fade out such as my lights. i also could not use my remote key anymore to lock or unlock my doors. i only had this car a month, and it is still in the condition it was bought in. i'm not sure what the problem is or what could have caused this problem.

Diving at 40 mph. come to a stop at red light and engine begins making a slight noise. no warning gauges or warning light go off. start driving to drive again and 2 blocks later a very loud mechanical bang and the engine shut down. would not restart. oil light went out using the starter while trying to restart. never got the engine restarted. car is now at kia of lansdale after i had to pay for towing. i perform courier services to us treasury dept and us attorney in philadelphia area. i need this car back desperately. last oil change was 2000 miles ago with full synthetic oil. always have used full synthetic. when i got the car pulled over and got out the smell of oil burning was clearly evident to myself and another gentleman who stopped to see if i needed any help. i believe this is an absolute recall related issue.

August 21, 2018, we had the car towed to gossett kia motors (dealership) because it would not start.. the car has a push button start, whenever we tried to start the car by pressing the start button and pushing down on the brake pedal the car would not start. the dealership was unable to find a problem because the car would start for them. we drove the car home the same day. on the night of august 22, 2018, the car would not start, same as described above. on august 23, 2018, we had the car towed to the dealership and it was repaired and returned to us august 25, 2018. today, august 30, 2018, the car did not start and exhibited the same problem as the previous two times. we will have the car towed to the dealership at their convenience. luckily for us, each time the car did not start it was parked in our driveway. special note, on august 2, 2018, we took the car to the dealership for brake repair work. additionally, one of the tow truck drivers stated he towed several kia optima's with the same described problem.

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.

Takara recall: my engine had been knocking/shaking for a good minute now. when i have it running and hood open it's just vibrating extremely hard and constantly.i've noticed it wants to stall or no shift correctly after a dead stop and something going into 3rd gear. even while just idling i can feel the engine shaking the whole car from inside.

Takata recall my engine started shaking and the car stopped!

When i press down on the accelerator while already moving, in order to pass or get on the a highway the engine will rev up very high but there will be no increase in speed. this has been happening since i purchased the vehicle and i first reported it to the deal in 2014. they say they can not get it to do it and because they have no code to go by, can do nothing. now the care has only 500 miles left on the warranty. i recently realized the urgency of the situation as i was entering the turnpike where construction was taking place. there was little room for error and little time to see who was coming. i saw a semi coming but knew if i accelerated i could get on in time. i pushed down on the accelerator and this happened. i took my foot off and put it back on and fortunately it kicked in. no one would have known this was a defect of the car if i was hit by the semi. i am hearing from others that they are having the same problem. i would warn others not to trust this manufacturer.

The axle and wheel broke off and flew into 2 parked cars. it totaled our car.my husband had just turned off of a busy street to a small street. he was going about 15 miles per hour. he heard a loud noise and the airbags went off. he got put of the car and saw what happened. his axle and wheel broke off and flew into the 2 parked cars. kia is not cooperating at all and there has been a recall for this exact problem on the same model, but different year.

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. the contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a front end collision after losing functionality of various electrical systems. the failure occurred without warning. the air bags did not deploy. prior to the crash, the vehicle was taken to valley hi kia (14673 civic dr, victorville, ca), but the failure was not diagnosed until the second time it was brought in for driving abnormally. the dealer diagnosed that the electronic system, motor mount, and transmission were defective and needed to be replaced. the dealer banned the contact from returning. the contact took the vehicle to kia of orange (210 w katella ave, orange, ca) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the contact did not receive a recall notice. the recall was remedied, but no other repairs were performed. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed. there was one injury that required medical attention. the contact suffered lower back, hip, and head injuries. the failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

Shifting problems from 0 to 30 miles per hour..before and after driving for an hour or so around town. started last year very few times, 2 times during the year. 3 times so far this year.

My transmission went out on my 2013 kia optima sxl only six months after purchasing. i am 2,000 miles over the warranty as i am the second owner. after researching warranty history, i have found this car has had the transmission replaced twice already, and draft shaft replaced twice. issues appear to occur every six months or so per the warranty history. i have major concerns of my ongoing safety in this car, given the reoccurring transmission issue. i believe i am being treated inhumanely. kia is not working with me to reach an amicable solution.

Transmission shifts up and down very often under 35 mph during city driving. hard shifting up and down.

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. while the vehicle was parked, the gears failed. the contact used the shift lock release to take the vehicle out of gear. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 64,837. the vin was unavailable.

Sometimes have trouble with the steering, it doesn't lock up but it gets stuck and doesn't respond to small movements (feels like the steering wheel is a fight against the movement) when driving longer distance in a straight line.... i also have some problems with the shifting when i'm driving somewhere between 20 and 30 mph and feathering the gas pedal (usually happens when going up an incline). like the car doesn't know what gear it should be in and slips between gears.... hope this helps you and you could help me thank you *tr

After purchasing the vehicle brand new we noticed a problem with the steering. when you turned the steering wheel while stopped you would get a loud knocking noise. the power steering rack was replaced twice already and the vehicle just now has 43,000 miles. our biggest concern has been an engine knocking noise that started to occur at just over 35,000 miles when you start vehicle. we had brought our vehicle to libertyville kia in libertyville, il for our problem and they said they could not duplicate what we are hearing. the service manager verbally told me to wait for it to get worse that it is hard to get kia to cover this known engine problem. after reaching out to kia with this engine problem and getting no help except them blaming us for lack of oil changes and maintenance. which was absurd when we only took the vehicle to kia for service since purchasing new. filed a formal complaint with illinois attorney generals office lisa madigan to get help with this and kia has botched their records and still sdays we have not maintained the vehicle properly. buyers of kia and hyundai i strongly urge to think again. i hope everyone that has had problems like this get the honest help they deserve.

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. while driving, the contact heard a clicking noise coming from the engine. the engine failed and the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered metal fragments in the motor oil and diagnosed that the engine would need to be replaced. the engine was replaced; however, the vehicle would turn off and on while driving. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine harness and transmission solenoid were faulty. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failures. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 82,000.

After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, when i tried to accelerate to turn onto a busy road my car lost power halfway into the intersection. this has happened twice. my first reaction was to push harder on the gas pedal, as there were cars coming at me from both directions, and after a few seconds the car violently lurches forward and regains power. this is a terrifying issue and a serious safety threat. i had 2 children ages 8 and 12 in my vehicle both times this has happened.

Transmission shifts hard, jerky, hesitates, engine light comes on and off, this happens on and off, have to stop and restart car sometimes, this is a serious issue. been happening on and off for years, no solutions so far.

Our vehicle changes gears from automatic to manual shift on its own while the car is in driving and the vehicle is moving. this has happened 5 times. after the 1st occurrence we contacted our dealer to notify them of the issue. we were told unless the issue happens again and they see it, nothing can be done. well since then the issue has happened 4 more times. the last occurrence, we took the car to the dealer and then were advised to contact kia consumer affairs to have them authorize the dealer to inspect the issue. the dealer provided a loaner vehicle at that time of drop off. after 2 weeks or inspecting the vehicle and with a diagnostic test done, it was deemed that the car was operable and safe. my wife, who drives the vehicle, feels no confidence and safety to drive the car. i have reached out to consumer affairs again to discuss options upon which i was told a few times there was nothing further to do and that if the issue happens again we should bring the car back to the dealer. this would then bring us back to step 1 again and the possibility of nothing being resolved. i cannot accept that as my final answer. if the vehicle slows suddenly and an accident occurs, we would have a different discussion. i cannot accept the fact that it would take an accident to occur before real action is done. *tr

Fuel will heat up and bubble out of fuel tank after extended periods of idling. 4 hours idling with 3/4 full fuel tank. liquid fuel and vapors escaping from gas cap and dripping down the side of the car.

The traction control system is designed so poorly that when i pull into traffic from a stop i have to disable the system completely or risk being a sitting duck in the middle of an intersection. it seems that if the traction control system detects any amount of tire slippage it cuts power to both wheels completely. your instinct is to press the accelerator harder to make the car get out of the intersection which causes the wheels to slip when the car reapplies power and the whole problem starts again and you are still in the intersection. the power is cut so dramatically that it is almost as if the brakes are being applied and vehicle occupants lurch forward. after a second or two the vehicle gradually reapplies power. the only way to avoid this is to disable the system which has to be done each time you start the car. if you forget to disable it you are fumbling on the dash while driving to disable it. when i reproduced the event at the dealership they said that this was how the system is designed to work. all it takes is a couple rocks on the ground, a little rain, or even a heavy fog and the system will completely kill the power for between 1 - 2 seconds when you start off from a stand still. *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

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. the contact stated that when attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the traction control system would erroneously engage causing the vehicle to stall. the vehicle was able to be restarted. the failure was recurring over a six month period. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician diagnosed that the vehicle was operating as designed. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 2,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stand still position, the vehicle would shudder and failed to accelerate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician stated that this was a normal occurrence. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 2,320.

First, the tires were worn/dry rot with only 3000 miles on the vehicle. second, vehicle stalls when there is any moisture on the roadway causing safety hazard because the car will not move. third, back up camera is not working. fourth, recall notice for underbody rust. fifth, recall notice for engine seizure while the car is driving at high speed

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

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