2013 Hyundai Elantra vs 2013 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2013 Hyundai Elantra | 2013 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,313 | 1,381 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 154 | 235 |
| Investigations | 4 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 93 | 48 |
| Fire reports | 31 | 114 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 31–32 | 26–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 50,000 mi | 87,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 233 | 612 |
| Steering | 271 | 213 |
| Electrical System | 155 | 146 |
| Air Bags | 168 | 60 |
| Service Brakes | 164 | 59 |
| Structure | 51 | 127 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 115 | 52 |
| Suspension | 99 | 26 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 93 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 75 | 87 |
| Stalling | 65 | 169 |
| Vibration / shaking | 47 | 54 |
| Check engine light | 36 | 108 |
| Won’t start | 27 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 23 | 32 |
| Hesitation / surging | 17 | 24 |
2013 Hyundai Elantra
2013 Kia Optima
Compare all Hyundai Elantra vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.