10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 41,617 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
When driving slow and turning a knocking clunking sound, or slipping condition while driving in high speed also making wheel vibrate. When in stop and just turning wheel you hear the load clunking. I feel this is a safety issue
- Wentzville, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Optima. The contact stated that while driving or while the vehicle was parked, there was a rattling sound coming from the steering wheel. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not yet taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,500.
- Bronx, NY, USA
Steering wheel makes a clicking noise. Absolutely ridiculous
- Canton, OH, USA
My vehicle steering makes a loud noise when turning it. It happens when driving and while car is in park. I was told this happens with Kia's(steering coupling) and should be a recall. I need to know if established as a recall so I can take to a dealer for repair because I do not want to continue driving like this.
- Miami, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while pulling out of her driveway, the vehicle loss power steering assist and ceased without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer. The vehicle was towed to dorschel Kia (3817 w henrietta rd, rochester, NY 14623) where the vehicle was diagnosed with power steering failure however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
- Rochester, NY, USA
My steering wheel has a clanking sound everytime I turn left, right, or even go over bumps. I have read multiple reviews on people with the same issue since the car was released! this is a safety issue. This can cause car accidents. People can lose lives over this. There needs to be a recall.
- Ellenville, NY, USA
The vehicle requires that you hold the steering wheel tightly at all times to prevent the vehicle from veering to the right or left. This is not an alignment issue, no uneven wear of the tires. In addition the steering is quite hard requiring unusual grip on the wheel. Also every slight bump is felt throughout the car. The failure of Kia to address this problem found in many of their products, makes this company/mnf of questionable character.
- Englewood, NJ, USA
Since about 40K miles my steering has clicked, locked, and missed and has gotten worse to the point that I have almost been in a few wrecks from inability to control steering. A mechanic friend of mine told me there was a recall for this and to call Kia of chattanooga (who I purchased from) to look into it along with other recalls I may not know about before taking a trip accross country with my son. I have tried calling and the dealership hears recall and hangs up on me. I was able to leave one voicemail for the manager but was never contacted back and continue to be hung up on. My concern is mostly with the steering and possible bearings with engine. Steering will click even at a stand still, locks and misses while in motion rather badly. This has been happening since around 40K miles. Unsure of any other safety related recalls as I had moved multiple times and belive that is why I did not get letters.
- South Pittsburg, TN, USA
Steering sticks and you have to forcefully pull the steering wheel in the other direction to unstick it. Oil is burning with no oil leaks, no leaks in other fluids, no explanation as to where it is going but it is burning through a quart of oil every 7 days.
- Dayton, NV, USA
On feb18 2020 head lights again stopped working new bulbs were put in oem replacements light go off when ever they want this is extremely dangerous if your a rural roads interior light stay on or go off on there own but mostly it's the head light that work when they want to this issue happens when driving and when stationary Kia has to do something to repair the problem this isn't a wear and tear people's this is subpar craftsmanship on a safety issue and I'm afraid someone will die. I have read other complaints where the car owners payed $400 to replace the wiring and bulbs only to have it happen again. My other issue is that Kia used a plastic star locking bearing in the steering column that broke and I had to fix at my expense mechanic said it's a problem with the cars. When driving the car making a turn you would feel the grinding in the steering wheel and hear clicking. This was on regular city paved streets.
- Massapequa, NY, USA
Streering get hot
- Albany, GA, USA
When I'm going around a curve my steering wheel sticks and stays in the turning position. I have to forcefully turn it back
- Charlotte, NC, USA
The steering feels like it locks as your driving pulling the vehicle to the left. I can jiggle the steering wheel to help correct it back to straighten the wheels.the dealership aligned the front end but this did not fix the problem. They said they could possibly fix it if I spent over a $1000 dollars to replace parts on the right front end. They would not guarantee that this would solve the problem. That is a lot of money to "maybe" fix it.
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the steering wheel vibrated abnormally without warning. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.
- Riverside, CA, USA
Steering column coupler
- North Ridgeville, OH, USA
There is a click or clunk upon turning the steering wheel in either direction. This happens when still or turning anyplace.
- Coolville, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving, the contact stated that there was play in the steering wheel when turning left and right. Also, while driving various speeds, there was an abnormal rattling noise when driving over bumps in the road. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.
- Bloomsburg, PA, USA
Noise in the steeing when I turn the wheel in motion
- Albany, GA, USA
Steering wheel shimmies violently at about 50 to 60 mph. This is not an alignment or wheel balance issue. I had a Kia service person that works in another dealership and I was told this is a known problem that is not being dealt with by Kia.
- Sebago, ME, USA
- Milwaukee, WI, USA