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2013 Kia Optima Hybrid electrical complaints

Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 22 of 22, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid electrical problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Oct 21, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · TX

Vehicle would't start the engine randomly. Kia dealer wasnt able to find the issue since I brought my vehicle in and it was running at that time. Randomly shows hybrid system is not properly working.

Filed Sep 11, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 70,000 miles · CA

1. Driving vehicle on freeway and the engine blew. Kia rebuilt the top half of the engine. 2. Driving vehicle on street and the power steering went out. Took a lot of strength to steer to the side of the road. Kia reset main control unit to fix issue. 3. Driving vehicle on street and the power steering went out again. Kia wants to replace main control unit. Car has passed the warranty by 10k miles. Not covered.

Filed Mar 1, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 54,844 miles · CA

From a stop at a light or intersection, over seven (7) times the car has jolted forward and stopped abruptly, losing most power to the motor at that point. Audible alarms ring and the dashboard has read both "hybrid system warning! Immediately stop and do not drive" and "check charging system". This has happened during left turns with oncoming traffic that then has to slow as I slowly creep out of the intersection.

Filed Dec 21, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 69,000 miles · FL

I have a 2013 kia optima hybrid with faulty headlights that have completely gone out/failed over 10 times starting 3 mos after purchasing the car. After 1/2 years and 4 fixes, including completely replacing the headlight package, I filed the lemon law paperwork (I purchased in april 2013.) in nov of 2014. I was told they get a final fix. They replaced the entire headlight system again. Then, in dec 2015, my headlights went out again & had to be completely replaced again. Kia corporate has been rude to me and denied any assistance even though they had completed the final fix a year before. I have phone videos (with witnesses) from years ago, 11/18/14, 1/25/16, 3/18/17, 3/27/17, 4/8/17 and 12/10/17. Most of the times I have been out and have had to drive home in dangerous conditions. I love my car but hate the dangerous issues. Kia has made me feel as though I'm not important, my safety is a non-issue and that they fix it every time, but it is not truly fixed if I have had 6 major repairs over 4 years. I've been at the point of a nervous breakdown over the stress and fear for my safety and of letting kia bully & convince me I do not qualify to get my car replaced. I am putting my safety first not to mention the emotional stress, interference with my work, putting family & friend's safety at risk. Never knowing if and when it will happen again & have not driven it many times because of this issue. I've been told too many times this is the last fix! I don't like conflict and have put my faith in kia too many times and put my faith in them over myself. I'm done being the nice person. I have had meltdowns over this, arguments with my significant other over this, interference with my work, been stranded out of town because of this! Kia told me today they will not replace my car at this time. I cannot go on like this any longer. I need your help. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Nov 16, 2017 · Electrical, Transmission · 35,000 miles · VA

Takata recall: car at 35k mileage and displays 'hybrid system warning, safely stop and do not drive'. Have been in and out of dealerships who still can't seem to figure out what the issue is. Also, seems like the battery is discharging while driving on the highway which is completely unsafe!! Issues have yet been fixed!

Filed Jul 27, 2017 · Brakes, Electrical · 41,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Vehicle surged forward while in motion to park in a parking space. Brakes failed to stop vehicle from a very slow speed of 5-10 MPH approximately. Has done this on occasion at highway speed a sudden surge so a braking would relieve problem.

Filed Apr 28, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 33,997 miles · TX

Upon starting the vehicle (thankfully parked in my driveway), vehicle was in EV mode, with just check engine light on. After entering gas mode battery and maintenance light appeared in addition to check engine light. The green "ready" light on the speedometer began flashing and a warning message stating "hybrd system warning: safely stop and do not drive" appeared on the trip screen in the middle of the dash.

Filed May 12, 2015 · Electrical · 30,150 miles · OH

I was coming home from work monday and a very heavy rain storm was coming down. As I pulled into my driveway, I set my kia in park and attempted to turn off the vehicle by pressing the power button. The response I got was that the vehicle was not in the "p" park position, although it was in that shifted position. I press the power button again and it turns on the lights inside the car rather than turn them off. I have to try several times before a successful attempt at just turning off my car. Turning it on is no problem, its just turning it off that is causing distressing. It is very difficult to fill up your car with gas when you cannot even turn it off. This is a really serious problem that needs to be resolved immediately! From the other complaints I've read, a common theme about water interfering with the electrical system is a common trend.

Filed May 9, 2015 · Electrical · 50,521 miles · CA

When we take the car to car wash and some time go over a puddle of water , if the car is on move , it will shut itself and I had to stop the car restart the car . If the car comes out of car wash and be turn , it will not start until 4 to 5 hours later . Error we get " key is not recognize" I took my car to kia dealer in irvine , and they told me do not take the car to car wash . I call customer service for kia and they said the hybrid car is not design for car wash. This is a problem , what happen in a heavy rain in the highway . Does somebody need to die that company look at this issue ? This is my second complain and third time I am stranded in street because of this issue. I was luck that I was in the street in 91 expressway .

Filed Aug 19, 2014 · Electrical · 31,320 miles · CA

We took the car to a car wash , after they clean the car we tried to start the car , but we get an error " key is not recognize". We were not able to start the car. Then my wife brought the second key , we got the same error. We towed the car to dealer and still there after 3 days . They said they could not find anything wrong . I do not believe that , there is something wrong , what happened if this condition appear in highway ? I drive 30,000 miles a year and even though this is the first episode, I am very concern regarding this problem.

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 4,720 miles · CA

Upon acceleration from stop or low speed, brake warning message displayed instructing me to safely pull over and stop the vehicle. Additionally, essentially all warning lights displayed on the information screen. Warning lights began flashing and door locks began clicking on/off. Car became disabled after a short distance and car would not move forward when in drive. Required tow to dealer for service. Dealer scanned the vehicle and found over 20 history codes pointing towards a can issue. After vehicle was serviced and road tested, history codes were cleared by dealer on 5/24/2014. Same problem repeated under similar conditions on 5/28/2014 and again on 6/4/204. During the third incident, the car became disabled immediately after entering an intersection at low speed and could not be moved out of the intersection under its own power, creating a safety hazard with cross traffic waiting to enter the intersection. After the second occurrence, dealer service department was unable to diagnose the problem or repeat the conditions. After the third occurrence, the car became operable a short time after the incident after turning the car off and on again a few times. After each occurrence, the passenger air bag warning light remained in the history code. Currently awaiting response and diagnosis of problem by kia district parts service manager.

Filed Apr 16, 2014 · Electrical · 20 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima hybrid. The contact stated that when exiting the vehicle, the driver and passengers would experience an electrical shock after making contact with any exterior metal part of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 20. The VIN was unavailable.

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