Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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 owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 55 mph during rain, the windshield wiper where violently wiping and there was a burning odor coming from the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
My 2013 Kia Optima sunroof exploded as I was at a stop, about to turn into work. I experienced a pop and had glass falling on me within seconds. There were no recent rock experiences and the road was completely clear. After dealing with the initial clean up, I drove to an auto glass shop to have it professionally removed. The glass was bowed and left with a large hole, almost like it had just exploded due to pressure or a faulty piece. I almost always have my daughter with me and I'm SO grateful she was not in the vehicle. This could have resulted in injury or even a collision due to the terrifying nature of glass shattering above you. My insurance does not cover comp, however I do work for an insurance agent and he did view the damage. No claim can be filed as the repair and replacement for the damage has to come out of pocket.
My sunroof exploded as I was driving my car down the road. It made a noise that sounded like a gunshot and I pulled into a parking lot and the whole thing was shattered. The sun roof is less than a year and a half old and there was no chips or cracks in it and nothing had fallen on top or damaged it.
I was driving on the hwy approx 1306hrs on may19, 2020. I heard a popped noise like a gun shot or a blow out tire. My steering wheel wasn't wobbling so I looked in my rear mirror to pull over and saw black glass sliding down my rear window . I heard air coming from my sunroof. I was scared nervous and my anxiety was on level 10. I called sharonville police not knowing what to say or do . It was raining and I tried to exit the hwy at the next exit but it was closed . I was only 10mins fri my house I decided to make it home where I felt safe . I was scared hearing the air blowing in the car hoping the glass wouldn't fly in the car . I was a wreck trying to control my vehicle . I made it home . I was scared to look at the sunroof . When I did I was shocked it was a big round hole in the middle of the sunroof . The glass was so thick and I didn't think a rock could break it . …
At a 4 way stop, (stop signs only) the car to my left was completely obscured by the side mirror and window housing. Street lights absorbed his headlights, car was dark blue. After looking both ways I let off the gas to proceed through the intersection to see a dark object right in front of me. I brake but we made contact scraping the paint from my bumper. I will say I just moved here from a larger town that only had stop lights so I had not noticed this problem before. I am 5'2" tall which also puts my eye level directly line of sight with the side mirror. It's a problem.
Oil is completely empty before 1000 miles after an oil change. Have switched to synthetic oil and used additives. Nothing has helped and I am adding at least 6-8 quarts for 3000 miles. Also the headlights are horrible. I can not see 10 feet pass my front end at night. This is extremely dangerous and new bulbs do not help. It is a known problem, but Kia could care less. Not only can I not see but I'm driving a death trap that will most likely catch fire like thousands of the 2013 have already. How do these car companies get away with this?
My four year old daughter and I were in the car and while driving, the sunroof exploded. It was so loud, almost like a gunshot. A small amount of glass entered the car. I was driving straight, southward, near the osceola exit on I 55. There was absolutely no sign or evidence of anything hitting the glass. Weather conditions were clear and the temperature in osceola today was a high of 76 and low of 68 degrees fahrenheit.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While the vehicle was being driven highway speeds, a pebble struck the windshield and caused a minor crack. Upon trying the clean the area, the contact noticed the film on the windshield was starting to detach. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
I was on my way home one evening from work. There was no other vehicles in front of me but several behind me. I had just stopped at a stop light and had just started to speed up and there was a 'big boom/explosion', I had seriously thought it was a gun shot. Then realized it was my sunroof. I pulled over to examine the sunroof and counted my blessings the sun visor covering was closed, otherwise could have been so much more serious. I could tell by the way the glass was pushed upward that nothing had hit it. But it was shattered in many, many pieces. I drove the car to the dealership immediately and left it in their hands. It took over two weeks to get it back (because I was told it was under investigation). …
While traveling in the morning to work while on the interstate, a loud sound like a bomb or explosion occurred in my car, then glass from my sunroof fell down. My sun roof on my 2012 Kia Optima exploded. The minute this happened I looked up because I could hear and feel air from up above. My sunroof was shattered in tiny pieces. The noise by itself was so startling and frightening that it could have caused an accident if I would have reacted to the sound somehow while driving. Once pulled over, it was clear that the glass shattered out and up not downward so it was fairly apparent nothing landed on top of my roof to cause this. I filed a claim with my auto insurance. However, with that being said, I have now researched on the internet this issue and from what I am reading on line this has happened to many other people. …
Window & Wiper complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2013 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2013 Kia Optima, 2% of the model year's 1,386 complaints. The component named most often is sun/moon roof assembly (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Kia Optima window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof 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 window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 20,000 miles, and 71% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.