Although the Kia brand has made excellent headway in establishing itself as a reliable, reputable automaker, its 2013 Kia Optima’s life expectancy doesn’t match that of competitors like

Honda

and

Toyota

. The 2013 Optima should last anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 miles, on average.

A 2013 Kia Optima should last 150,000 to 200,000 miles.
You should be able to drive for 10 to 13 years before experiencing major maintenance needs.
You can extend the vehicle's life expectancy by maintaining it properly and avoiding hard driving.

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How many miles can a 2013 Kia Optima last?

If you keep up with your 2013 Kia Optima’s recommended

maintenance schedule

, you should see the model’s average life expectancy of 150,000 to 200,000 miles. This means if you drive 15,000 miles per year, you could get 10 to 13 years out of your Optima before you encounter any major problems.

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How long do Kias last?

How long does a Kia Optima engine last?

While the lifespan of your 2013 Kia Optima’s engine should meet or exceed 150,000 miles, some of this depends on how and where you drive your car. It also depends on whether or not you attend to your car’s maintenance needs.

Engine lifespan can be affected by driving habits and how you use your vehicle. For instance, hauling or carrying heavy loads, driving at high speeds for long durations, and sudden bursts of acceleration and braking are all driving habits that can shorten your engine’s life.

Can a Kia Optima last 500,000 miles?

Anything may be possible, but the Kia Optima will probably not last up to 500,000 miles. But with excellent care and cautious driving, your 2013 Kia Optima could outlast its expected lifespan.

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Average life expectancy for a Kia Optima

On average, the Kia Optima across model years will last 100,000 to 200,000 miles, or about 6-½ to 13 years if you drive 15,000 miles per year. Again, though, this number depends on the condition of the car. Your Optima’s life expectancy could be more or less based on the following:

Vehicle maintenance: Getting regular

oil changes

, tire rotations,

rotor and disc

replacements, and

transmission fluid service

, among other maintenance needs, will help ensure you get many years out of your Kia Optima.

Mileage: If you put a lot of miles on your Optima—especially in lots of stop-and-go traffic—you’ll likely get fewer miles and years out of your car than someone who drives just a little.

Accident history: If you’re in a collision, make sure to get your Optima checked over for potentially unseen damages. Seemingly minor collisions can cause problems, like damage to sensors, that may not reveal themselves until much later.

If you’re the only owner in your 2013 Kia Optima’s history, then you should have a good idea of its driving and collision history. If you’re buying one used, you’ll want to find out how many owners it's had and get whatever details you can about the car’s history. A vehicle history report—like one from

CARFAX

—should tell you about any accidents and prior owners.

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How to extend a 2013 Kia Optima’s life expectancy

The best way to extend your 2013 Kia Optima’s life expectancy is to keep an appropriate maintenance schedule and drive responsibly. That means avoiding sudden, hard acceleration and long periods of driving at high speeds. This puts undue stress on the engine.

By taking care of your car and avoiding stressful driving conditions, you can expect to get plenty of good years out of it as a daily driver.

Common 2013 Kia Optima problems to watch out for

According to

RepairPal

, the Kia Optima earns a 4 out of 5 for reliability but is prone to some potential issues. Here are the most commonly reported ones:

Malfunctioning door locks: There have been several instances in which the Optima’s door locks won’t release, preventing the driver from getting into the car.

Faulty throttle position switch: This can cause the

check engine light

to come on, and it might also affect your acceleration.

Weak alternator: Some Kia Optimas experienced a weak alternator, which failed to sufficiently charge the battery.

Faulty AC compressor clutch: This malfunction can cause excessive shaking and noise when operating your vehicle’s air conditioning.

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FAQs

Is the Kia Optima a reliable car?

According to RepairPal, the Optima has above-average reliability, ranking 8th out of 24 competing models. Its annual repair costs are below average, and they’re typically not severe.

Was there a Kia Optima engine recall?

Kia did initiate a recall for certain 2013 and 2014 Optimas. Those with the 2.4-liter GDI engine or the 2-liter GDI Turbo engine may have been subject to the recall. These engines saw problems with the low-pressure fuel hose deteriorating. To see if your Optima was affected, you can

check for recalls by VIN number

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