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2013 Kia Optima body complaints

Page 2 of 5: complaints 11 to 40 of 127, newest first, as owners wrote them.

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

Filed Apr 22, 2025 · Body · NJ

The white paint on my car (Snow White Pearl) has been chipping and peeling off near the windshield and rails on the side as well the hood. This is a known problem for KIA's with this particular white colored paint and KIA should really address is. Touching up just the locations it's happening in is not a fix ... The car needs to be properly repainted to fix the issue. KIA has not addressed this for customers and really need to as this happens for spanning several years and different models.

Filed Jan 23, 2025 · Body · CA

The paint is chipping heavily and apparently this is an issue with older Kia vehicles due to a primer issue.

Filed Dec 18, 2024 · Body · CA

Pearl white color paint chipping, and breaking due to water and air. Bad batch of primer and coating has caused the paint to chip and peel across the body of the car.

Filed Sep 10, 2024 · Body · AZ

My car's paint began chipping and peeling about a year ago, it continues to get worse day by day and exposed areas show a bare metal with some areas rusting. This is happening very rapidly and appears the whole car may lose its paint quickly. Please help!

Filed Aug 8, 2024 · Body, Brakes · 145,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and 22V560000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle experienced reduced engine power and the engine started overheating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall because the product improvement campaign for knock sensor software update had not been performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they were not legally required to complete the recall repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Jul 29, 2024 · Body · CA

Paint on driver side rear door is delamination from the car body. This is the Pearl white color

Filed Jun 25, 2024 · Body · AR · crash

Pearl white paint is pealing and chipping. Falling off going down the road. Car looks terrible and is making rust a possibly.

Filed Jun 19, 2024 · Body · TN

The paint on the vehicle is badly peeling due to defective primer. Thousands of other have the same issues from what I see in parking lots. I have gotten it fixed but it doesn't hold up due to primer.

Filed Jun 14, 2024 · Body · TX

This is not a safety issue but it is an issue that seems to be happening on many Kia vehicles, especially those with the Snow White paint color. My car is 11 years old but in great shape with only 62,200 miles. The paint looks almost brand new with no other flaws in the car other than there are spots on the hood and roof where the paint is bubbling up and peeling off with no damages to those areas. It appears the paint no longer adheres to the silver primer.

Filed May 22, 2024 · Body · TX

The paint on my car is peeling off in sheets it is not adhering to the body. There is no way that I believe I can have it repainted because they would have to take all the existing paint off because even if they paint it over it it's not stuck to the body. There is no recall and I really think there should be. My paint is the white pearl paint like everyone else's who's peeling off.

Filed May 12, 2024 · Body · PA

Car paint started peeling on the whole car and according to dealers it's a common problem with the pear paint and I need it fixed

Filed Apr 21, 2024 · Body · OK

Large areas of paint are coming off of the vehicle. The system will not allow the 2mb JPG pictures to be added.

Filed Apr 16, 2024 · Body, Brakes · WA

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the trunk of the vehicle became wet from rainwater. The contact stated that the trunk area had a moldy odor. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 14, 2024 · Body · NY

Paint peeling off 2013 Kia Optima. Either a paint or primer issue by the car manufacture Kia Corp. "Snow White Pearl" is the color of the paint.

Filed Jan 28, 2024 · Body · MA

I am experiencing sudden paint delamination on the A pillar. Paint color is snow white pearl. I have not yet contacted the dealer but am seeing many similar online reports for this paint color on Kia vehicles. The area is not otherwise damaged. I noticed the problem on 1/21/24 when the car was stationary. The bad area is now increasing in size. The vehicle has 79,269 miles, is kept outdoors and goes through a car wash approximately monthly.

Filed Nov 29, 2023 · Body, Brakes · TN

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 22V560000 (Structure) and 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issues. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Nov 26, 2023 · Body · TX

I have been the owner of my 2013 white kia optima since 2020 and have had my paint peeling from the front, both sides and rear of my car.

Filed Nov 18, 2023 · Body · CA

Same story over and over 2013 white pearl paint garage kept, no accidents and paint is literally chipping away side of the car door roof absolutely appalling. Kia the fact that kia has thousands of this color on the road is embarrassing for all the loyal customers that have to drive them. Kia knows that all of them were painted with no primer. Cheap paint sprayed on bare metal and has left all of us stranded. This clearly is a company with no integrity or care for customers let alone our lives .this needs class action law suit

Filed Nov 10, 2023 · Body · GA

I have a snow pearl white kia that the paint started chipping off and is continuing to do such all over the vehicle. There is an area on the hood with rust starting where the paint starting chipping first. I have contacted kia and the rep looked for recalls but there were non for paint. The warranty was only for 3 years on the paint but the issue didn't start happening till after that. I have seen other SWP colored kia's with the same issue and there is a forum on FB with many other kia owners having the same problem. The prominant color seems to be the white one's but others are affected as well.

Filed Oct 30, 2023 · Body, Lights · LA

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DIM. I have changed the bulbs and you can not see out of this vehicle at night. I have checked to see if there is a recall or something. A lot of people have issue with this year make and model of this vehicle. The other problem I am having is the paint peeling with the Snow white color of my vehicle. Large spots of paint is coming off and missing. this vehicle is kept under the carport. Yet, large spots of paint comes off.

Filed Oct 16, 2023 · Body · VA

The paint on my pearl white kia optima is peeling badly, primarily on the hood but now its starting to peel near the doors.

Filed Aug 22, 2023 · Body, Engine · CA

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

Filed Aug 11, 2023 · Body · SD

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.

Filed Jul 3, 2023 · Body · FL

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

Filed Jul 1, 2023 · Body · CA

Paint peeling off

Filed Jun 26, 2023 · Body · OH

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.

Filed May 27, 2023 · Body, Lights · CA · crash

Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.

Filed May 26, 2023 · Body · GA

Paint peeling off all over vehicle

Filed May 19, 2023 · Body, Fuel system · TN

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 22V560000 (Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Apr 27, 2023 · Body · CA

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

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