Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and was flashing; however, he continued driving the vehicle. The contact stated that she later took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the knock sensor and an unknown component needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, 6 hours later while her son was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed back to the independent mechanic. The independent mechanic then informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer who confirmed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced by the local dealer approximately in October of 2021. …
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after having the vehicle for a month, while driving approximately 30-40 MPH on a residential street, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle failed to accelerate above 35 MPH and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had a Salvaged Title but should still be covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine rod bearing failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
I purchased my vechile Dec 28 2021, after driving it exactly one month, as I was driving on the high way my vechile shut off it was the scariest thing that has happened to me the car couldn't brake turn on nor accelerate I had to pull over on the break from being in the middle lane i had to be cautious due to vechile passing fast. Once the car stopped. Had to pay for towing due a state police showing up regardless if I had it on my insurance. I lost my good paying job due to this due to working 45 min away. I had my recall appointment for March 10th already scheduled before hand and my car was parked for a Lil over a month then towed to the dealer. It's been 2 months and yet no vechile nor a temp vechile provided from the dealer told me there's nothing they can do. I called 3 days ago and they keep telling me nothing has been done yet anther month my vechile has to be there. …
The ESC kight keeps turning on . The brake lights wont turn off, it wont let me accelerate while im driving at different speeds or it will decelerate abruptly. Yes its available for inspection. My safety and the safety of my two young children were at risk multiple times. This is my daily driver. And i was driving them to school when the car would not let me accelerate and someone almost hit me from the back. Also it happened to us on the freeway a few times as we are driving 65 mph the car decelerates abruptly almost causing major accidents while my children are in the vehicle with me. Not yet , i called the nearest kia dealer and they didnt have appointment ls until july - august. There were no warning lights at all. At first we didnt know what was the problem. After the few times it happened then the ESC light turned on and it stays on. …
Traction control is too sensative. I was in a stop sign. Then tried to press the acceleration but vehicle lost power. Too sensative traction control caused me to stall in the middle. There were car coming from the left or right to me. I am glad I was at safe distance and could regain control of the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While the contact's mother was behind the wheel and the vehicle was idling, the vehicle accelerated while her foot was on the brake pedal. The steering ability failed and prevented her from turning the steering wheel. The contact's mother lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment and a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed, pending the insurance company's investigation and analysis. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was 56,500.
Recently I have been having issues with my vehicle it will cut off while driving the and I am unable to apply the brakes, just last night while driving the vehicle it stalled out and started going slowly I could not apply brakes to the car and it started smoking from the dash and the engine with no other current conditions I had to throw the car in park with out being able to use the brakes in order to stop the vehicle this almost caused an accident and almost cost me my life I noticed from other complaints others are having the same issues with no current solution or problem this is very weird
Steering ,hard to keep in lanes,loud hard ride. While test driving my 2013 Kia Optima I told my sales person that I was having trouble keeping keeping it on the road. He said that's b/c its a new car. It'll ease up. I thought it was loud & took smal bumps like a big pot holes. And the gas pedal & acceleration was wierd. He said bring it back & the service department will drive it & fix it. Don't worry. Well after several trips to the service department they said they could not emulate the problem. I asked them to let me drive with service person. Could not do. Break it in & it'll go away. Well at 11,000 miles took it back & complained . Same answer. Now 19,703 miles not only do I have the same problems .they got worse. In addition my paint scratches & chips so easy that there had to be something wrong with my paint. Back to service & body work they told me that was normal. …
I was sitting in the yard at my aunts yard and the RPM's dropped while in park. I sat there for a few minutes to see if it would do it again, it didn't, so I left and headed home and got 5-7 miles down the road, and the car completely stalled and shut down, while I was going about 45-50 MPH, and I had no control over the car. The brakes got hard, the steering was hard, and I was barely able to get out of the middle of a busy road with vehicles behind me. It wouldn't crank back up. I sat there waiting for someone to come to me to check it out, and I tried to start it back up and it did, so I went on home. I called Kia and they said bring it in, I paid $100 to have it towed to the local Kia dealership in lake city, fl. They checked it out and said it was nothing wrong gn with it. But I received a notice about a recall on the motor stating it would do what happened to me. …
I was on the expressway and went to move to the second lane it was fine except I my car began to stall and slow down making this grinding noise when I tried to gain speed... All the lights came on and I couldn't go faster than 30 miles per hour. All while incoming traffic was coming at me going about 60 miles per hour I had to gain composure. Put on my hazards and pull over... It wouldn't let me go above 20 when I pulled over.... I was freaking scared once I pulled over I was shaking and crying had to gain composure... I believe I caught this on my dash cam. I [redacted] hate this Kia... It by grace my kids weren't in the car with me and that the van behind me switched lanes at the last second.... I have taken my Kia 2 times to the Kia repair dealership, the first one was free the second time I had to pay 145 just to be seen. …
NHTSA investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.
Acceleration complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2013 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 39 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2013 Kia Optima, 3% of the model year's 1,386 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Kia Optima acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2013 Kia Optima, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Kia Optima acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury and 1 death to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.