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 turning the steering wheel there is a knocking noise in the steering column and appears very loose where I have to turn the wheel almost an extra 1/8-1/4 turn. The steering wheel is loose and then seems to lock up at speeds of 55-60. I first noticed this about a year ago but after today the knocking noise became worse.
- St. Simons Island, GA, USA
While driving at highway speeds with steering wheel at 12 O'clock position, the steering wheel feels like it is stuck or locked when trying to make minor steering corrections. I have to somewhat jerk the wheel at which time the steering appears to wake up and respond. It feels as if the electronic power steering module shuts down giving the feeling of a locked/stuck steering wheel. By jerking the wheel to "wake up" the steering it creates an over compensated steering correction issue and a concern for safety at highway speeds.
- Cumming, GA, USA
The steering wheel sticks!!! hard to stay in your lane and over correcting happens every day. Just like everyone elses. Wheres the recall"??" I've got bids from $450-$650 to fix this crap. Kia will cost people their lives.
- Pflugerville, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the steering wheel column was defective. The steering wheel emitted a loud clicking noise and vibrated while turning. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
- Avon Park, FL, USA
The steering wheel is loose when I hit a bump feels like the car just wants to turn. Seems like if the wheel could just lock up or will just completely not turn at some point
- Stafford, TX, USA
Motor driven power steering coupler replacement needed
- Homestead, FL, USA
Takata recall
- Savannah, GA, USA
Urgent: Steering wheel constantly sticks while driving. This is a safety hazard!!!!!!!!!! I see there are dozens and dozens of similar complaints from other Optima owners!!! does someone have to have a fatal accident for this to become a recall item "??"
- Orlando, FL, USA
I've been driving my car for some time now when it reach 60,000 + miles, I notice the car steering would stick when slightly turn or a full turn. It also drifts and there is a clicking noise when the steering wheel is turning left and right. I had front end line meant done. That did not stop the noise or sticking steering column. This happens while driving or sitting.
- Durham, NC, USA
The steering wheel sticks, and it makes it hard to keep the car straight. There's no smoothness when turning the wheel. It's like the steering wheel turns in increments.
- Stafford, VA, USA
Urgent: From when I purchased it new, steering wheel constantly sticks while driving. This is a safety hazard!!!!!!!!!! I filed a report with NHTSA when I bought it, but never heard back from anyone. I see there are dozens and dozens of similar complaints from other Optima owners!!! [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
Unsafe loose steering. I first noticed this issue while driving on I75 shortly after purchasing my car in June of 2012. The car pulls to the left, when corrected, it then pulls to the right or viceversa. It's almost impossible to keep this car in a straight line. I reported this issue to my local Kia dealer about 4 times (during ever service visit) their response is always the same: "the car is performing according to manufacturer's specifications, we couldn't find anything wrong with it" I disagree but couldn't do anything about it. Today, 3 years later, it's worse, I hear a loud clicking noise coming from the steering column when I turn the wheel. This situation has escalated to severe. I fear for my life when driving this car. Please help!
- Naples, FL, USA
Wanders off center, either right or left. Will not stay straight. Wears you out continually correcting the drift or wandering.
- Independence, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While reversing out of the residential driveway, an abnormally loud clicking sound emitted from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering wheel was malfunctioning and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 29,000. The VIN was not available.
- Fort Myers, FL, USA
Noticed in October 2014 the car started drifting and the steering wheel began to lock up. It has become progressively worse and now I'm hearing a knocking noise in the steering wheel. I was told by my coworker who has a 2011 Optima that he has the same problem and he was told by the dealership that it was a plastic gear in the steering column and would cost roughly $300 to fix. Upon research with this issue I have come across several owners that seem to have the same problem which Kia knows about. I feel that Kia should correct this problem at their expense before this issue kills someone.
- Loxahatchee, FL, USA
I have noticed a lot of play in the steering of my 2012 Optima in the last few months. I took the car into the dealer for new tires, alignment and balance while the mechanic was putting on the tires, I asked him about the play in the steering wheel and he said it was because of a fiber gear in the steering motor that is on the steering column and that it was a warrenty problem and would be repaired free of charge there is a small fiber gear about the size of a quarter that the teeth break off of and will cause a clicking that I had herd and could cause the steering to lockup. When the unit was taken apart, the gear had a lot of teeth broken off and after it was replace the steering wheel was fine again with no play in the wheel I saw no recall or warnings but it seems that this happens at about 25000 mile give or take. Thought I would share this with other owners it can be repaired at no cost on a warrenty bases
- Miami, FL, USA
I noticed when I was driving in the freeway I had to keep over correcting the steering wheel. It would get stuck and you needed to kind of jerk it to unstick.
- Moreno Valley , CA, USA
Vehicle has trouble maintaining proper steering at highway speeds. The steering needs to almost constantly be turned right to left to try to maintain straight driving. The steering will also occasional lock when turning and you have to manually turn the wheel back straight. The constant need to over correct the steering makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. I could see it easily causing an accident in the correct conditions.
- Massillon, OH, USA
We purchased the car on 4/3/15 hendrick Chevrolet in cary nc drove 5 miles home back to dealer ship next morning for paperwork to finish. Left dealership headed to main highway interstate 40 noticeable as soon as you get at highway speed the steering was tight had to hold on with both hand the car was weaving lane to lane as the was no center for you to drive straight. Immediately called dealer we took the car back left it. Today is a few weeks out 4/23/15 the have reset steering code, align and rebalanced tires a few times and yesterday replaced the whole steering column and we today still does the same thing. They said today they will replaces the tires and see his this goes. From the start they said no one has reported this issues but I showed them online of the hundreds of complaints. Kia is involved but I think they just want us to take the car and go. Its not safe and I am not driving it. It will sit there till tires rot. They are suppose to call Kia foe more things to they but they didn't act lime they are in a hurry. If I would have known this car had complaints L. would have never purchased it. Did research the car before purchase did not see any issue until I googled the problem and man the internet went crazy. I want it fixed and safe or Kia to offer me a similar car with no issues...............
- Apex, NC, USA
- Fort Myers, FL, USA