2013 Kia Optima vs 2013 Nissan Altima
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 Kia Optima | 2013 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,381 | 2,310 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 12 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 235 | 370 |
| Investigations | 8 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 48 | 63 |
| Fire reports | 114 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–37 | 25–31 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 87,000 mi | 69,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 612 | 158 |
| Air Bags | 60 | 514 |
| Power Train | 64 | 505 |
| Exterior Lighting | 39 | 441 |
| Suspension | 26 | 289 |
| Steering | 213 | 94 |
| Electrical System | 146 | 159 |
| Structure | 127 | 133 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 169 | 182 |
| Check engine light | 108 | 54 |
| Clunking / rattling | 87 | 29 |
| Loss of power | 54 | 32 |
| Vibration / shaking | 54 | 144 |
| Rust / corrosion | 32 | 132 |
| Oil consumption | 25 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 57 |
2013 Kia Optima
2013 Nissan Altima
Compare all Kia Optima vs Nissan Altima 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.