2013 Kia Optima Hybrid: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
54 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 54 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 4.15
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I googled and a recall # SC200TE showed it was uncompleted. I called Holly Kia in Felton, Delaware, and they informed me my title is "branded" and therefore not covered under recalls. Then i google the recall again and now its gone.
The car lights have dimmed tremendously, I replaced lights by myself with no luck over the years. It has just come to my attention, they knew and addressed reported problems but never sent a recall or safety notice that the reflective material designates. My car is at the dealer and confirmed this is the problem, your help would be great. Also, a steering recall and the part was replaced with the same material, it no…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Hybrid battery system warning - Pull over -Do Not Drive" was displayed, prompting the contact to pull over and discontinue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The ABS and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic.…
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 20V750000 | Engine | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving. |
| 23V652000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 37 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $1,700
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System20 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes15 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Engine13 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Hydraulic10 complaints · typical job: Brake master cylinder or ABS module replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,520
- Unknown Or Other9 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train7 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Kia Optima Hybrid years
Kia Optima Hybrid years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (20 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 73/100, computed from 54 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid's most common problem?
20 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid cost to run per year?
About $4,128 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $20,642 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/12/2020. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 54 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 54 NHTSA complaints on record (4.2/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (2.4/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems