2013 Kia Optima vs 2013 Volkswagen Passat
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 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,381 | 748 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 235 | 1,593 |
| Investigations | 8 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 48 | 29 |
| Fire reports | 114 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–37 | 23–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 87,000 mi | 53,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 612 | 104 |
| Air Bags | 60 | 382 |
| Steering | 213 | 51 |
| Electrical System | 146 | 93 |
| Structure | 127 | 31 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 92 | 65 |
| Exterior Lighting | 39 | 60 |
| Power Train | 64 | 33 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 169 | 47 |
| Check engine light | 108 | 31 |
| Clunking / rattling | 87 | 13 |
| Loss of power | 54 | 30 |
| Vibration / shaking | 54 | 9 |
| Rust / corrosion | 32 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 25 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 6 |
2013 Kia Optima
2013 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Kia Optima vs Volkswagen Passat 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.