2013 Kia Optima vs 2013 Lexus ES350
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2013 Kia Optima | 2013 Lexus ES350 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,381 | 23 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 235 | 268 |
| Investigations | 8 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 48 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 114 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–37 | 24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 87,000 mi | 26,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Lexus ES350 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 612 | 0 |
| Steering | 213 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 146 | 1 |
| Structure | 127 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 92 | 1 |
| Power Train | 64 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 60 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 59 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 169 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 108 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 87 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 54 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 54 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 32 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 25 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 0 |
2013 Kia Optima
2013 Lexus ES350
Compare all Kia Optima vs Lexus ES350 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.