2011 KIA OPTIMA Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was a notchy feel in the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was linked to TSB Number: CHA060. The mechanic determined that the steering coupler needed to be replaced. The mechanic ordered the part for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under TSB Number: CHA060; due to the mileage on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

1- Steering wheel. Yes 2- Not sure if something was going to happen while driving whether da or night or long distance traveling 3- I spoke with the service center a while back and didn't have a good time to bring it by. 4- No No just loud shaking from the steering wheel. It's been going on for at least a month

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated while reversing, the contact heard a popping sound, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an impendent mechanic, and he reinstalled the inner shaft. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the steering wheel seized. After the steering wheel was released, an abnormal sound was heard coming from the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle had previously had the steering column and steering rack replaced at the dealer; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Mileage: 120,000

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact’s daughter stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would produce a clicking noise and shaking coming from the steering column. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the flex coupler replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 252,000.

Mileage: 252,000

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced the steering column however, the repair failed to correct the failure. The contact stated that extra effort was needed while attempting to turn the steering wheel. The traction control warning light illuminated whenever the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR ON THURSDAY JANUARY 14, 2021THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND TURN IT OFF AND ONE TURNED BACK ON I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD TOLD ME IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM IN A VERY RUDE WAY. SO I ASKED THEM CAN I HAVE THE OWNERS NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME AND IF I KEEP ASKING THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THE POLICE ON ME. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR THE CAR ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME THEY IF THE PART IS COVERED BUT I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT IS ON RECALL.

Mileage: 201,006

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAS A SHORT GOING TO THE MOTOR, WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, YOU MUST MOVE THE WHEEL NONSTOP OR IT WILL LOCK UP WHICH COULD CAUSE YOU TO WRECK AND DIE. VERY DANGEROUS. AT THIS POINT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND STEER.

THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFFING . I LOOKED IT UP TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE.

STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING NOISE AND A PLAY. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN SMOOTHLY AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE VEHICLE RESPONDING WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT PAID TO HAVE THE FRONT END REPLACED AND BELIEVED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, TIE ROD, AND STRUTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED HOW TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE WITH A $2.00 PART FOR THE STEERING PLASTIC COUPLER; HOWEVER, THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS OVER $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 85,000

STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLICKING SOUND WHEN IT IS TURNED, ADDITIONALLY, THE PART BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES A LOT, ALMOST AS IF ITS LOSE. THE CLICKING HAPPENS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AND THE RATTLING HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION.

Mileage: 98,000

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX STARTED MAKING A LOUD RATTLING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ANY LITTLE BUMP OR DIP MADE IT WORSE AND MUCH LOUDER. THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND THE STEERING FEELS VERY UNSAFE. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.

I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WITH 53,000 MILES. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS TO BE DEFECT FROM A CHEAP PLASTIC PART . I AM READING THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIFE. YOU CAN HEAR THE POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING CORNERS, LEFT AND RIGHT.

Mileage: 5,300

2011 KIA OPTIMA FAVORS A PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH GROWS STRONGER AS THE SPEED INCREASES. THE PERSISTENCE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE IS SUBTLY DECREASED WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BUT QUICKLY RETURNS- RESULTING IN OVER 7 ALIGNMENTS IN 5 YEARS WITH ONLY 70K MILES. 3 SEPARATE KIA DEALERSHIPS HAVE INSPECTED THE ISSUE WITH ONLY A CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT BUT NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL TO FAVOR THE RIGHT PULL TO CORRECT THE FRONT LEFT PULL. A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN INCREASING IN SPEED, THE CAR WILL HEAVILY FAVOR A INSIDE PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH IS WORRYING. I'D LIKE A REGIONAL KIA RM TO HAVE A GO AT THE SITUATION.

Mileage: 12,000

THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON THEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE BATTERY DISCHARGE KEPT POPPING UP ON THE DISPLAY THEN WENT OUT. ABOUT 10 MINUTES FURTHER, I LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO GET TO BASE EVEN THOUGH I RAN A RED LIGHT AND STOP SIGN BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED SPURTTERING AND FEELING LIKE IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. ONCE I MANAGED TO GET TO A PARKING LOT, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BUT I STILL HAD DASH LIGHTS. ALL THE ERROR LIGHTS CAME ACROSS MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE BATTERY TO ADVANCE, THEY SAID IT WAS LOW. THEY CHARGED IT AND SAID IT NEEDED REPLACED. THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS STILL LIT SO I TOOK IT AND THEY CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR AND SAID IT WAS DEAD. I TOOK IT AND HAD IT REBUILT. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK OK.

Mileage: 30

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES WERE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO KIA OF BEDFORD (440-735-4000, LOCATED AT 18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE VEHICLE SOLELY BEING STATIONARY. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST HAD MORE GIVE BEFORE IT WOULD ENGAGE THE TIRES. IT'S CONSISTENTLY GOTTEN WORSE TO WHERE NOW, WHILE DRIVING, HITTING A BUMP ON ANY KIND OF ROAD CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND LOUDER. IT SEEMS TO BE LESS EXTREME IF YOU HIT A BUMP WHILE TURNING. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 55,000

I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL KIA OPTIMA 2011. I BEEN HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALL JACK UP. THE PROBLEM IS THE PARTS THEY PUTTING IN THE CAR ARE CHEAP PARTS YES YU GET WHAT YU BUY. BUT KIA HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB REPLACING PARTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW CHEAP THEY ARE. NO ONE SHOULD BE RIDING AROUND THE CITY AND THE CAR MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN YOU HIT I HOLE IN ROAD OR EVEN A MAN HOLE ITS SOUND CRAZY. ITS LOUDER THEN MY RADIO. MY RADIO STAY ON MAX SO I TOOK MY KIA TO KIA WEST IN CLEVELAND OHIO. THE MECHANIC CALL BACK THIS MORNING 03 12 2019 STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK/ ASSEMBLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTOOD WHY IT NEEDED REPLACE. NOT BECAUSE I WEARED IT OUT . THE STEERING COUPLERS WAS START OF THIS PROBLEM. WITH A QUALITY PARTS THESE PROBLEMS WOULDNT COME UP. THE REPAIR BILL WAS 1035 WITH OUT LABOR COST. KIA HAVE TO DO RIGHT THING BY THE PEOPLE. THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL NEED TO BE PUT UNDER RECALL. OR SOMEONE GOING BE KILLED BY THIS ISSUE. WE ALL KNOW NO ONE WANT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEATH

Mileage: 108

THE STEERING COUPLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BADLY WHEN STOPPING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.

Mileage: 90,000

BAD PART IN STEERING COLUMN , THE PLASTIC COUPLER IS BROKEN AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND AND WITH THAT PART BEING BAD IT COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. I FIRST HEARD THIS NOISE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY

Mileage: 125,000

BAD PART IN STEERING COLUMN , THE PLASTIC COUPLER IS BROKEN AFTER 39400 MILES . THIS HAPPEN ON MANY KIA 'S AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS YET?

Mileage: 39,400

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON IN APRIL 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. HAD TO PULL OVER TURN CAR ON AND OFF. LIGHT TURNED OFF AND CAR WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN. LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF BUT RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. TOOK IT TO KIA AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (SEE PAPERWORK). IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE DRIVING.

Mileage: 89,000

THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE FIRST HEARD IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO WHERE THE STEERING BOX FLEXIBLE COUPLER IS BRAKING APART INSIDE THE STEERING BOX. IF THIS WAS NOT FIXED IT COULD BE A TOTAL FAILURE TO WHERE YOU COULD LOSE YOUR STEERING ALL TOGETHER. KIA IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS FIXING IT FOR FREE. WHY ISNT THIS LISTED ON YOU SITE AS A RECALL AS SOMEONE'S LIFE COULD BE IN JEOPARDY OVER THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 110,000

WHILE DRIVING,STEERING COLUMN STARTS RATTLING. GETS WORSE GOING OVER BUMPS. HAD STEERING COLUMN REPLACED 11 MONTHS AGO. THIS WEEK 7/1/8, THE COLUMN STARTED RATTLING AGAIN. MECHANIC STATED IT MIGHT BE A COUPLING IN THE COLUMN GOING BAD AGAIN.

Mileage: 145,353

THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE ABOUT KNOCKING AND BANGING NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I NOW HAVE THIS IN MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 WITH 48K MILES. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL? IT SEEM TO ME ITS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE SO OFF THE THE DEALER I GO TO EMPTY OUT MY WALLET.

I WAS DRIVING IN HIGHWAY IN JULY 2017. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DRIFTING AND SLIPPERY. IT WAS ABOUT 84,000 MILES IN IT. SO, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN KIA DEALER. THEY SHOWED ME WORN OUT STEERING COUPLING. I ASKED THEM TO CHANGE STEERING COUPLING ONLY BUT THEY CHANGED WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND CHARGED ME $1,402. HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT KIA EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE IN 2016. I AM NOT SURE WHY THEY CHARGED ME FOR STEERING ISSUE. I COMPLAINED KIA MOTORS AMERICA AND SENT ALL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE INCLUDING THE BILLS. THEY DID NOT RESPOND ANY LETTER YET. I LIKE TO HAVE MY MONEY BACK. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I FOUND IN MAY 2018 WAS FAST ENGINE OIL BURN OUT. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN HIGHWAY AND ENGINE OIL WARNING SIGN WAS BLINKING. SO, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED ENGINE OIL LEVEL. IT WAS ALMOST GONE AND SO DARK. THE DEALER JUST CHANGED ENGINE OIL A FEW MONTHS AGO AND LESS THAN 3,000 MILES DRIVEN AFTER THAT. I FILLED UP 3 QUARTS OF BLENDED ENGINE OIL AND CHECKED EVERY OTHER DAY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, IT LOOKS THE LEVEL OF ENGINE OIL WAS WAY LOWER (ABOUT 1 AND HALF QUARTS WERE GONE). I CALLED THE DEALER THAT THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY ENGINE OIL BURNING ISSUE NOT ENGINE FAILURE. THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT COVER BY RECALLS. I CHECKED LOTS OF COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE ISSUE FROM THE INTERNET. BASED ON THAT IN MANY CASES THE ENGINE OIL BURN OUT ISSUE HAPPENED BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE. I STRONGLY THINK THAT KIA SHOULD INSTALL NEW ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALLS BECAUSE I REALLY CONCERN ABOUT ME AND FAMILY'S SAFETY.

Mileage: 92,300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. SNAIL KIA IN GREENSBURG, PA 156601 WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SCHEDULED THE CONTACT FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

THIS HAPPENED TWICE.THE FIRST TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO AUSTIN TX ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH.THE WE HAD THE CAR TOED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER HE CHECKED THE MOTOR WE WERE INFORMED THE MOTOR SEIZED UP.I PURCHASED A USED MOTOR AT A JUNK YARD WITH 22,000 MILES AND THE MECHANIC INSTALLED IT. DEC.26 2017 WE SPENT CHRISTMAS IN AUSTIN TX AND WAS ON OUR WAY BACK ON I10 AROUND SEALY TX THE MOTOR SHUT OFF.I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR UP AGAIN.I FOUND A KIA DEALER IN KATY TEXAS AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR THERE, IT WAS ABOUT 8 MILES AWAY HOWEVER WE DIDN'T MAKE IT.I STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE DRIVING REALLY SLOW 55-60MPH AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THEN SMOKE THE MOTOR LOCKED UP.THE CAR IS AT THE KIA DEALER BUT I AM STILL WAITING FOR AN AUTHORIZATION TO GET HE ENGINE REPLACED,

Mileage: 170,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE DURING THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS, THE STEERING COLUMN JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN IN PARK OR WHEN A BUMP IS HIT

Mileage: 120,000

THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND A CLICKING SOUND. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1350

THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN YOU TURN TO EITHER SIDE HAS A LOT OF PLAY BEFORE RESPONDING TO TURN THE WHEELS AND HAS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND LIKE IT'S EITHER ENGAGING OR SLIPPING, AND IT GETS WORSE EACH TIME I DRIVE IT, AFTER TALKING WITH A FEW DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND LOOKING UP SIMILAR ISSUES THE KIDS OPTIMA HAS A PLASTIC STEERING GEAR INSIDE OF THE STEERING POWER BOX THAT IS WEARING OUT AND GETS WORSE AND WORSE OF COURSE UNTIL YOU HAVE NO STEERING, I'VE FOUND WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES AND THE HIS CAN NOT BE IGNORED, A MAJOR ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR!!! I HAVE WENT AHEAD AND BOUGHT NEW TIRES, NEW BRAKES NEW FRONT ROTORS NEW FLOAT PINS FOR THE CALIPERS AND THE CAR ALIGNED ALL FOUR TIRES AND NOTHING HELPS LIKE I SAID IT'S THE PLASTIC GEAR IN THE STEERING POWER BOX, IT HAS VIDEOS ON LINE OF THIS AND WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN FIXED??

Mileage: 103,000

MY CAR RECENTLY STARTED MAKING AN ODD CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. IT GETS INCREASINGLY LOUDER AND VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN HEAR ANYTHING OVER THE NOISE. I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE BUT THE MECHANICS INSIST IT DEFINITELY IS NOT ALIGNMENT RELATED.

LOUD CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT

Mileage: 70,000

I BOUGHT A 2011 KIA OPTIMA FROM A DEALER AN IT HAS A CLEAN CAR FAX .IT HAS UNDER 70 ,000 MILES .HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE I DROVE IT ONCE ON A 4 LANE HWY AN THE STEERING ACTS AS IF IT GETTING STUCK THERE IS A JERK IN IT .NOW I AM HORRIFIED OF THIS VEHICLE 12,789 $LATER LESS THAN 1 WK OLD.WHAT DO I DO NOW ? PLAN MY FUNERAL OVER A ? CLEAN CAR FAX PLZ TELL CALL ME

Mileage: 65,000

WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING, THE POWER STEERING DEVELOPS HARD CATCHES THAT TEMPORARILY LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM INTENSIFIES ON ROUGH SURFACES, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY WILL SHAKE. THESE PROBLEMS WORSEN AS THESE ISSUES PROGRESS WITH TIME. THE ONLY FIX FOR THIS ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY $$$. *TR

Mileage: 55,828

THE OPTIMA IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD - THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING AN ODD NOISE WHEN STATIONARY WHEN TURNED SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT. THEN, TRAVELING ON NORMAL CITY STREETS, A LOUD NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN OVER SLIGHT CRACKS OR BUMPS, AND AT LOW SPEEDS. BUT NOW, THE CAR'S STEERING COLUMN IS VERY LOUD AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - STARTING AT 50MPH. IT IS SO LOUD I CANNOT HEAR THE RADIO AT ALL. I CAN NO LONGER GO ON ANY TRIPS WITH THE CAR.

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE MOTOR SEIZED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

Mileage: 133,000

THERE'S A TICKING IN MY MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTING UP N LAST ABOUT 5-10 MINS AFTERWARDS AND ALSO A CLANKING AND POPPING SOUNDS IN STEERING EVEN WORSE WHEN HITTING A HOLE OR GOING ACROSS INTERSECTIONS OR RAILROAD CROSSINGS STEERING SLIPS SOME GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS

Mileage: 71,000

OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA STEERING WHEEL STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AT ABOUT 78000 MILES. MOVES FREELY WHEN IT SHOULDN'T, SLIGHTEST BUMP AND STEERING WHEEL JUMPS UP AN DOWN AND MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND EFFECTS SAFE STEERING. CAN'T FIND A RECALL, THOUGH I FIND THIS PROBLEM IN NUMEROUS WEB SEARCHES. THEY GONNA WAIT TIL PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED ( IF NOT ALREADY) UNTIL THEY TAKE REPAIR ACTION? ! I UNDERSTAND IT'S A $4 PART WITH AVERAGE AROUND $600.00 LABOR TO REPAIR.WHO HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX THEIR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM? HELP PLEASE THIS NOTICED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS DRIVING TO WORK ON NORMAL MAIN STREET. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, NO POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO DRIFT ACROSS THE SLOW LANE TO THE SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART. A CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY THEY WERE NOT REAR-ENDED. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME WHILE ACCELERATING AND PROMPTED WITH CLICKING NOISES UNDER THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE AT 120,400 MILES.

Mileage: 120,350

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY FIANCE IN APRIL 2016.IN JULY 2016 WE NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS NOISE IS UNBEARABLE. THEREAD IS A LOT OF LOOSE PLAY IN THE STEARING WHEEL AND THE CAR SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IF YOU NEED AN ALIGNMENT. I TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS BUT THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.KIA SAID IT WASN'T A PROBLEM.YEA IT GOTS TO BE A PROBLEM IF IT'S MAKING A LOUD NOISE LIKE THAT.THIS IS A PROBLEM AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T CAUSE ANYONE TO GET KILLED.THEY VEHICLE MAKES THE NOISE WHEN TURNING AND IT'S SO BAD NOW IT DOES IT WHEN YOU HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ

Mileage: 112,000

STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE VEHICLE A GOOD FIVE MONTHS YET!

MY TIRES HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH EXTREMELY QUICK WARE ON THE OUTSIDE TREAD SINCE ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2011. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IT WAS JUST TIME TO CHANGE THE TIRES OR HAVE THEM ROTATES/BALANCED. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND I TOOK IT SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR A 2ND OPINION - GOT AN ALIGNMENT DONE (WHICH HELPED FOR ABOUT A MONTH) TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, HAD IT RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS - AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.. I HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MANY TIRES... IN ADDITION, I NOW RECENTLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A VERY LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, VERY INTENSE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION IN ADDITION TO A CLICK NOISE WHEN I TURN HARD RIGHT OR LEFT, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE SOMEWHERE.

MY STEERING STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AT 62,000 MILES IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT THAT TIME WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I NOW HAVE 83,000 MILES AND IT IS A CONSTANT CLUNKING SOUND WHENEVER THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO ANY POSITION WHEN DRIVING THE CARE AND ALSO STATIONARY AND WHILE THE CARE IS IN PARK. IT ALSO CLUNKS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACES.

Mileage: 62,000

MARCH 2016 WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND PASSING A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE CAR LOST POWER, BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UNRESPONSIVE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE RIGHT BY REST AREA AND COASTED SAFELY. INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WHILE AND NOTICED A SMELL REMINDING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/FIRE. CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALER AND DIAGNOSED TO BE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND PER DEALER IT WAS PRISTINE, KIA DECIDED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY @ APPROX 98K MILES. DEALER STATED THAT PER KIA IT WAS DUE POSSIBLY TO NON OEM OIL FILTER (NICE). WHEN WE GOT THE CAR BACK IT DID NOT WANT TO START OCCASIONALLY, WHERE IT HESITATED ESPECIALLY AS TEMPERATURES INCREASED. NOTICED DEALER, DEALER TOOK IT IN VERIFIED BATTERY AND STARTER WERE TO SPEC. IN JUNE ON A HOT DAY CAR ALMOST DID NOT START, SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER FOR LATER IN THE WEEK. NEXT DAY CAR DID NOT START, WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED TO WEEK STARTER. STARTER WAS REPLACED AND CAR STARTED ON FOR ONE DAY, THE SECOND DAY TEMPERATURES INCREASED AND CAR WAS DEAD WITH SIMILAR ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN, ALSO NOTICED FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AFTER BULB REPLACEMENT. DEALER DIAGNOSED WITH KIA TO BAD ENGINE AGAIN DUE TO TOLERANCES CAUSING FRICTION AND MORE HEAT. SPOKE TO KIA AND STARTED A CASE BUT THEY JUST WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN AND NOT DISCUSS POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL HARNESS COMPROMISE AND ONGOING ISSUE WITH ENGINE FAILING FOR NO REASON. THIS CAR IS SCARRY AND HOPE IT DOES NOT START ON FIRE WHEN THE THIRD ENGINE FAILS.

Mileage: 98,000

CLICKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH VIBRATION. THE ONLY TIME IT DOESN'T CLICK IS WHEN GOING COMPLETELY STRAIGHT. IT OCCURS THE WHOLE TIME I'M DRIVING.

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN CHANGING LANES. IN ADDITION, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE DISRUPTED THE CONTACT'S STEERING CAPABILITY. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLER IN THE STEERING LINKAGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

Mileage: 119,000

THE STEERING MAKING KNOCKING SOUND WHILE STILL AND DRIVING AND WHILE BRAKING THE STEERING STARTS SHAKING AND MAKES THE KNOCKING SOUND. MOST PEOPLE SAID ITS A PLASTIC COUPLING THAT GETS REPLACED FOR $400 AND I CAN'T KEEP PAYING THAT MUCH MONEY EACH TIME IT GETS MESSED UP THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE GOTTEN FIX THREE MONTHS THE NOISE CAME BACK

Mileage: 72,000

A FLEXIBLE COUPLING HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE COST OF THE PART WAS $1.35. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE COUPLING WAS $250.00. I PAID A TOTAL OF $287.17 TO REPLACE A PART THAT COST $1.35. THE STEERING WAS LOOSE CAUSING THE ISSUE TO BE IMPERATIVE TO REPLACE.

Mileage: 70,000

UNABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. PULLS TO LEFT AND RIGHT. I'M DRIVING ALL OVER THE LANE. WEARS ME OUT JUST TRYING TO DRIVE IT. AND ALL THIS CLICKING NOISE GOING ON...WHY DOESN'T KIA FIX THESE PROBLEMS? WHY IS IT SUCH A MYSTERY?? WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? AN AUTOMOBILE THAT WON'T DRIVE STRAIGHT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Mileage: 84,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER ROLLING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 90,700

WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH.

HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALOT OF FREEPLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE NOISE IS PROGRESSING. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING BUT IT IS NOW GETTING WORSE. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO KIA FOR MY OIL CHANGES AND HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WORNG, WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET MY OIL CHANGE ON SATURDAY 4/2 THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES AND I TOLD THEM I MENTIONED IT TO THEM WHEN MY CAR HAD LESS THEN 100,000 AND HE THEN SAID IT DOESN'T COVER THE STEERING WHEEL.

Mileage: 69

WHILE TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THEY DID A 360 CHECK AND NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD PLAY IN IT AND MADE A CLICKING NOISE ABOUT A QUARTER TURN EACH DIRECTION. IT IS A PLASTIC GEAR PIECE THAT IS SMALLER THAN A QUARTER, PICTURE WILL BE ATTACHED. THEY SAID IF I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED IT WOULD GET EVENTUALLY WORSE BY WEARING OUT THE TIRES OR ALIGNMENT SO I HAD IT REPLACED. THEY HAD TO TAKE APART THE STEERING WHEEL TO REPLACE IT. IT WAS 20 FOR THE PIECE BUT WITH LABOR MY BILL WAS 181.

Mileage: 76,250

HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALOT OF FREEPLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS TOLD BY MY FRIEND WHO HAS A 2012 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.

Mileage: 78,000

HARD TO STEER, ALONG WITH A NOISE INSIDE THE CAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOOSE PIECE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CAR HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID PART IS A STEERING COLUMN COUPLER AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. COST WAS $332.00.

Mileage: 64,000

THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND THUMPS WHEN I MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. I ALSO HEAR A THUMB UNDER THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN I BACK UP AND WHEN I COME TO A STOP.

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Mileage: 68,000

LOW BEAMS ARE NOT ILLUMINATING.. THE REFELECTIVE PAINT INSIDE HAS BURNED OFF AND I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH OUT MY HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 2 FEET IN FRONT OF MY CAR. THE STEERING ON MY CAR STARTED THIS CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES WHEN I GO OVER THE SMALLEST BUMP ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO WEARING OUT MY TIRES AND CAUSING MY CAR TO PULL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.

Mileage: 73,000

SUDDENLY AT 89,000 MILES THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CAUSED A SEVERE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT A SPEED OF 50 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF PLAY AND A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STANDING OR MOVING. THE CAR IS A 2011 CAR PURCHASED IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER OF 2011 SO IT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR

Mileage: 89,000

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE THAT YOU FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT IS WORSE IN REVERSE.

Mileage: 54,000

STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. BOUGHT IT INTO A COLLISION CENTER, THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS A SERVICE RECALL ON OPTIMA. HE KNEW THAT SOUND BEFORE I DESCRIBED IT TO HIM. BRAKE LIGHT BULB BLOWS AS SOON AS YOU PUT THEM IN. THE TECH SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Mileage: 75,000

WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS OR HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH AND UP, A CONSTANT RATTLE IS HEARD INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. A LOUD CLUNK/RATTLE IS HEARD IF DRIVING OVER A BUMP. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE PARKED, THERE IS A THUD AND A THUD IS ALSO FELT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON CAR WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER WAS 63,000(61,000) WHEN APT WAS INITIALLY MADE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A 2 DOLLAR PART BUT WOULD COST 350 TO REPLACE IT. THE WARRANTY FOR STEERING WHEEL PARTS EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. PART WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME.

STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. GOING TO TAKE IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT TODAY. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND GETTING WORSE WHEN I LAST DROVE IT ON 9/23/15.

Mileage: 58,000

WHILE BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPACE, HEARD AND FELT A LOW THUD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND ALSO TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS ABOUT 20-30 MPH IT APPEARS FINE. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS >10MPH AND GOING OVER BUMPS OF ANY KIND WHILE TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS DEFINITELY ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN CLOSE TO STEERING. MAKING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE KIA DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO THIS.

Mileage: 44,850

THE STEERING HAS 1-2 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

Mileage: 75,000

WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TELESCOPING LINKAGE FROM THE RACK AND PION STEERING BUT THE LINKAGE WAS FINE AND TIGHT LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE TECH STATED IT HAS TO BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

Mileage: 58,652

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, $350 REPAIR.

Mileage: 99,902

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 55MPH OR HIGHER STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOUD KNOCK AND PULLS LEFT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL IS UNCONTROLLABLE. WHEN IN PARK AND TURNING THE WHEEL IT MAKES THE KNOCKING NOISE ALSO. UPDATED 10/07/15*LJ UPDATED 12/11/2017*CN

Mileage: 108,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOSTLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE COMPLETELY DIM. I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 4 FT IN FRONT OF MY CAR SO NO LONGER DRIVE AT NIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP HERE IN ORLANDO AND THEY STATED THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE HEAT OF THE BULB CAUSE THE PAINT IN THE UNIT TO PEEL AWAY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS YET, BUT HAVE HAD A FEW OCCASIONS WHERE A CAR CUT ME OFF AND ANOTHER ALMOST RAN ME OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY LIGHT TO NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY IT WOULD COST ME $1200 TO FIX. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND SOME FORUMS WHERE OTHER DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AND RATTLING WHEN I DRIVE AND HIT A SMALL BUMP. I WAS TOLD BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST $400 TO FIX THAT $3.00 PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THAT TOGETHER. IF IT NOT FIXED IN TIME THAT THE STEERING WOULD BE GONE COMPLETELY. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURER TAKING SHORT CUTS AND USING CHEAP PRODUCTS THAT COST US TONS OF MONEY TO FIX.

Mileage: 82,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE O RING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Mileage: 82,000

THE CAR PULLS CONTINUOUSLY TO THE RIGHT WHEN RIDING IN A CURVE GOING TO THE RIGHT OR MAKING A RIGHT TURN. I SPOKE TO TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE ISSUE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, BUT I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 51,900

MY CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE LEFT EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PULLING. THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTERWARDS I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "FEATURE" OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS CALLED A "SMART WHEEL" AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET USED TO THIS "FEATURE". *TR

Mileage: 30,000

JUST WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY KIA, IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO REPLACE CRACKED DASH, HEATED STEERING WHEEL PEELING, TIRES WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE, WIPER BLADES SUCKED & YOU COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THEM WHEN IT RAIN, CRACKED OUTSIDE OF SUNROOF SEAL, PULLING TO LEFT SIDE AND SURGES. THEY PUT NEW TIRES, STEERING WHEEL & FIXED THE DASH. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE SPECS WERE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS FOR THE ALIGNMENT & TRANSMISSION. THE OUTSIDE OF THE SUNROOF IS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR & IT WILL CRACK AGAIN, STATED THE SUN CRACKS IT! IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 5 TIMES! EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY! I HAVE HAD 4 SET OF TIRES & THEY WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE, IT STILLS PULLS TO THE LEFT & I WAS TOLD THE ALIGNMENT IS NORMAL. 6 SETS OF NEW WIPER BLADES & THEY SAY THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. MY CAR SURGES & IT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN ADDRESSED! IN LATE SEPTEMBER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DAY AFTER I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP SERVICE, THEY KEPT IT, FIXED THE 'OIL CONTROL VALVE" WITHIN 5 MILES FROM MY DEALERSHIP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. AFTER A WEEK & A HALF, MY 'INTAKE CVVT TIMING & MY 'EXHAUST CVVT TIMING! MY WARRANTY WILL BE UP IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS & I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT & THEN THERE'S NO WARRANTY! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON OPTIMA'S STEERING TO THE LEFT & ON THE TIRES EITHER, ALIGNMENT! I HAVE WENT AS FAR AS CONTACTING THE GEORGIA CONSUMER PROTECTION, KIA CONSUMER HOTLINE, US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC SAFETY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS STATION & WILL BE MEETING WITH THEM NEXT WEEK. IF THIS DOES NOT RAISE A FEW QUESTIONS, I WILL HIRE AN ATTORNEY!! THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, VERSES WHAT IS RIGHT! *TR

Mileage: 5,200

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY "SAID" THEY PERFORMED A FIX ACCORDING TO AN INTERNAL KIA TSB-032 DOCUMENT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A 15,000 MILE SERVICE AND ANOTHER TIRE ROTATION THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY PULLED TO THE LEFT AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND ARGUED OVER PAYING FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO THE ALIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE AND THE TIRES WERE PUT BACK PRIOR TO THE 15K ROTATION. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE, I AM UNABLE TO ROTATE THE TIRES WITHOUT AN AGGRESSIVE PULL TO THE LEFT. JUST TODAY, 8/24/2013, THE DEALER TOLD ME KIA HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH NEXEN TIRES AND HAVE SINCE SWITCHED TO KUMHO. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE KIA USED A PRODUCT LINE THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING I HAVE TO SPEND >$1000 ON A SET OF NEW TIRES FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE I DROVE THE VEHICLE (BRAND NEW) OFF THE LOT. *TR

Mileage: 6,000

FIRST NOTICED ABNORMAL TIRE WARE ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. SO I HAD TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT. RECEIVED THE SPEC SHEETS AFTER. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT .15 DEGREES RF, .01 DEGREES LF, .19 DEGREES LR, .13 DEGREES RR. VEHICLE WAS SET BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS, AND DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE MIS ALIGNMENT ON MICHIGAN ROADS. CAR WAS SET TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED 1500 MILES LATER OR 30 DAYS. 2ND TIME IN THE SHOP FOR ALIGNMENT CHECK AND WAS OUT . 09 DEGREES LF, .11 DEGREES RF, .02 DEGREES LR, .04 DEGREES RR. DEALERSHIP SET THE ALIGNMENT BACK TO FACTORY SPECS. CAR AGAIN WAS SET 30 DAYS LATER OR 1500 MILES FOR ANOTHER ALIGNMENT CHECK AND WAS OUT ONCE AGAIN. .21 DEGREES LF, .13 DEGREES RF, .26 DEGREES LR, .02 DEGREES RR. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 22300. AFTER THE 3RD TIME TO THE DEALER AND TAKING THEIR ADVICE TO GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE END , THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, YET EVERY TIME IT WAS THERE THE ALIGNMENT HAD TO BE ADJUSTED AND PUT BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBER OF DEGREE CHANGES, MORE THAN .05 DEGREES IS ASTRONOMICAL WHEN IT COMES TO TOE SETTINGS ON ANY CAR. THIS CAR HAS A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, YET KIA, NOR THE DEALERSHIP IS STANDING BEHIND THE PRODUCT, THEY MANUFACTURE OR SELL! *TR

Mileage: 15,700

THIS IS A BRAND NEW HYBRID. SINCE INITIAL PURCHASE THE CAR HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO STEER TO LEFT ON ITS OWN AT LOWEST SPEEDS. TIRE PRESSURE HAS BEEN CHECKED WEEKLY AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS PER SPECS. CAR STILL VEERS TO LEFT. ON RESEARCHING HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL 2011 KIA OPTIMAS INCLUDING OTHER MODELS. CONTINUOUSLY OBSERVED THIS FOR NEXT 500 OR SO MILES AND THEN TOOK TO DEALER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE BUT SAID KIA CORPORATE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THEM OF ANY ISSUE SO THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AS THIS HYBRID CAR IS TOO NEW. THE SAME ISSUES HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER KIAS NON HYBRID AS WELL.THE DEALER WAS DULLES KIA IN LEESBURG, VA . I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT COSMETIC ISSUES BUT ON A BRAND NEW CAR SUCH SAFETY ISSUES ARE TROUBLESOME ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALERS HAVE NO CLUE. DEALER INDICATED THESE ARE NEW CARS WITH NEW POWER STEERING MODULES AND HENCE THEY HAVE SEEN LOT OF THESE CASES. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPLACE ASAP. NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUES SAFETY RESEARCH. THE CAR ON HIGHER SPEEDS ALSO PULLS TO LEFT AND IS DANGEROUS WITH WINDY CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 100

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2011 AND WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS, NOTICED THE CAR WOULD PULL LEFT AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN OR EVEN CHANGING LANES TO THE LEFT. THINKING IT WAS JUST AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE 6 TIMES, EACH TIME THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT. RECENTLY I NOTICED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY, WITH LESS THAN 14000 MILES, AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TIRES. SINCE THE NEW TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, LIKE IT WAS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW AT THE DEALER FOR THE 6TH TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT KIA HAS NEW ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS, THE 3RD SET OF ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS KIA HAS HAD IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I WAS TOLD ALSO TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE WAS IN PART DUE TO THE NATURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AN EXCUSE, NOT A REASON. *TR

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AND THE CAR PULLS HEAVILY TO THE LEFT EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROADS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN SPECS BUT IT ACTS THE SAME. IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A COUPLE SECONDS YOU'RE ON THE SHOULDER. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE BOLTED DOWN IN ONE BOLT OUT OF FOUR. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE MISSING BOLTS BUT THIS MAKES ME REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY CONTROL AT KIA. WHAT ELSE MIGHT THEY MISSED? I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BEFORE NOTICING THIS. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

Mileage: 150

KIA OPTIMA LX 2011 WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT 4 MILES IN ODOMETER. PROBLEM 1 LESS THAN A MONTH: STEERING VEERING TO THE LEFT AN RIGHT. HAD TO STEER THIS CAR TO TRACK STRAIGHT. THE DEALER PERFORMED MINOR ALIGNMENT IN OCTOBER. CAR CONTINUES TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT. TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECH STATED THE FRONT END OFF BY 2 DEGREES AND STATED HE PERFORMED THE ADJUSTMENT. THE STEERING PROBLEM NOT FIXED. PROBLEM #2: CAR WAS PARKED WITH FUEL READING 42 MILES TO EMPTY. RETURNED TO START CAR. WILL NOT CRANK AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER. CAR CRANKED UPON DE-TOW AT THE LOCATION. BUT STILL LEFT THE CAR FOR WHY IT WILL NOT CRANK IN THE FIRST PLACE. RETURNED 4 DAYS LATER. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAR WAS EMPTY OF GASOLINE, EVEN WHEN FUEL READER CLEARLY INDICATED 42 MILES TO EMPTY. KIA PAID FOR RENTAL FOR 4 DAYS ($100). I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AND ON BACK ORDER. THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND THE STALLING ISSUES ARE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE THE LANES, ARTERIAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE DAILY ARE CONGESTED. *TR

Mileage: 5,400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT TWICE AND BOTH THE STRUTS AND THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,672. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 01/23/12*JB

Mileage: 347

THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND SOMETIMES TO THE RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO HANG ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. THE PULLING TO THE LEFT IS MORE PROMINENT. I TOOK IT IN ON SEPT 20TH FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY SWITCHED THE WHEELS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON OCT. 7TH AND AT THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED STILL. ON OCT 9TH I WAS DRIVING OFF A THRUWAY RAMP WHEN THE CAR ALMOST SWERVED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT BACK ON OCT. 13TH BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THEY STILL HAVE SAID VEHICLE. *TR

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD OFTEN VEER TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WOULD BE APPLID TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,425.

Mileage: 100

PURCHASED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX ON 5/18/11. CAR CONSTANTLY PULLED LEFT SO BAD THAT YOU WOULD END UP INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A TWO LANE ROAD IN YOU DIDN'T CONTINUALLY CORRECT TO THE RIGHT. HAD THE DEALER ALIGN VEHICLE TO FACTORY SPECS WITH NO CHANGE. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER WHO REALIGNED TO NEW SPECS RECEIVED FROM KIA TECH SUPPORT. VEHICLE NOW ONLY HAS A TENDENCY TO PULL LEFT BUT WILL DRIFT LEFT IF YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AGAIN AND CLAIMS THE VEHICLE DRIVES BETTER THAN A NEW ONE ON THE LOT. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR ME AND REFERRED ME TO KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS. *TR

Mileage: 111

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA PULLS LEFT AND THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MEETS FACTORY ALIGNMENT SPECS BUT STILL PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. *TR

Mileage: 20

CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. *TR

Mileage: 150

I PURCHASED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX ON 12/28/10 FROM KIA COUNTRY OF SAVANNAH. KIA COUNTRY OBTAINED THE AUTO FROM AN ORLANDO KIA DEALER AND DRIVE IT 269 MILES TO SAVANNAH WHERE I TOOK DELIVERY. THE STEERING PULLS/DRIFTS LEFT WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS DRIFTED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. KIA COUNTRY ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT, BUT IT STILL DRIFTS LEFT. KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND ARE NON RESPONSIVE. *TR

I AM ALSO HAVING THE LEFT PULL ISSUE WITH MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA. I ALERTED THE DEALER AS SOON AS IT LEFT THE LOT AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON 5/2/11. SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE TECH TODAY (5/4) AND HE SAID THAT ALL OF THE ALIGNMENT SPECS WERE WITHIN FACTORY STANDARDS BUT THE CAR IS STILL PULLING LEFT. CURRENTLY AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM KIA'S CORPORATE ENGINEERS. THIS PRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER AS THE CAR WILL SWITCH LANES UNLESS CONSTANT PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 325

WHEN I BOUGHT THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX I WENT AROUND THE BLOCK AND CAME BACK TO THE KIA DEALER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT IT AND I LEFT. I CAME BACK A WEEK LATER FOR THE SAME ISSUE SO DEALER DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY SENT A DISTRICT MANAGER TO LOOK AT IT. LATER ON KIA SENT A DISTRICT TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT AND RE-DO THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I UNDERSTOOD BY OTHER KIA DEALERS THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S.

Mileage: 81

2011 KIA OPTIMA PULLS TO LEFT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATE NOTHING IS WRONG AND IT IS WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECS. THE CAR WILL CHANGE LANES IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU HAVE TO HOLD TENSION ON THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT IT WILL STAY STRAIGHT. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND BY THE TIME I GET TO WORK MY ARM HURTS. THIS CAR IS A DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO ANYTHING MORE FOR ME. I SURE HOPE THIS GETS LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES BECAUSE OF THIS. IF SOMEONE WOULD LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A SECOND THE CAR COULD CROSS OVER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 61

UPON DRIVING HOME FROM TAKING DELIVERY OF MY NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA ON 2/11/11, MY HUSBAND I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT SUBSTANTIALLY. IF YOU LOOSEN THE GRIP OF THE WHEEL THE CAR IMMEDIATELY PULLS TO THE LEFT. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 2/18, 3/5 AND 3/14. EACH TIME I HAVE RECEIVED THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER, THEY INDICATE THAT IT IS WITHIN KIA SPECS AND IS 'TRACKING' STRAIGHT. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP LAST NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT. *TR

Mileage: 68

IT'S HAPPENING ON MY BRAND NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA. I DRIVE AN HOUR TO WORK BOTH WAYS, SO ANY PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE CAN EASILY PRESENT ITSELF. ON MY FIRST DAY OF WORK, I REALIZED THE CAR PULLED LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN MY HEAD OR SIMPLY THE CROWN OF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF IGNORANTLY THINKING IT WAS JUST ME, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, IT HOLDS SLIGHTLY LEFT. THUS, THE CAR PULLS LEFT. IT DOES THIS ABOUT 85 PERCENT OF THE TIME. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAITED THREE HOURS. THEY ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED THE TIRES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR STILL PULLED LEFT. I TOOK IT IN FIVE DAYS LATER. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR FOR TWO DAYS WHILE THEY TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY CALL ME AND SAID IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE THEY READJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL AND REPLACED A TIRE (AND REALIGNED IT AGAIN). I GO AND PICK IT UP, TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEIR HEAD TECHNICIAN RIDES WITH ME BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY (THEY NEVER TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY). HE SEES THE PROBLEM AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE CAR PULLED LIKE THAT. HE SAID SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN TELLS ME TO TAKE THE CAR HOME FOR THE WEEKEND AND WE'D SET SOMETHING UP. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT UNLESS IT WAS FIXED SO I AM STILL WITH THE LOANER CAR FIVE DAYS LATER. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN ONE WRECK ALREADY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY LEFT PULL. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONSIDERING THE TYPES OF ROADS I MUST DRIVE ON EVERYDAY. *TR

PURCHASED A NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA SX WITH PREMIUM TOURING PACKAGE. THE CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. SEEMS TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE THE FASTER YOU GO. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD I WILL BE IN THE NEXT LANE IN A SECOND OR TWO UPON LETTING GO OF THE STEERING REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD CROWN I AM ON. I ALSO NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL DOES SHIFT LEFT DURING THIS AND IS OFF CENTER. *TR

Mileage: 10

SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. DEALER DECLARED THAT IT WAS FIXED. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE PULL TO THE LEFT PERSISTED AS IT HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. ANOTHER ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED. THE GENERAL MANAGER PROMISED THIS WOULD HAPPEN, AND ALSO PROMISED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD RIDE ALONG WITH ME UPON PICKING UP THE CAR TO ENSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY, AND WHEN I DROVE HOME, IT WAS STILL PULLING LEFT. RETURNED THE CAR TO SERVICE. UPON CALLING THE SERVICE DEPT. TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND A PROBLEM, THE SERVICE MANAGER DECLARED THAT THEY HAD FOUND A BAD TIRE, AND HAD SWAPPED IT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE MANAGER THAT I DID NOT WANT A BAD TIRE LEFT ON MY CAR. HE FINALLY CONCEDED, AND SAID HE WOULD TAKE A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE OF A NEW CAR AND SWAP IT WITH THE BAD ONE. DROVE THE CAR HOME. SEEMED A LITTLE BETTER, BUT STILL WAS PULLING LEFT, AND JUST FELT UNSETTLED, WITH VERY POOR ON CENTER FEEL. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEY SENT OUT 2 ENGINEERS WHO VALIDATED THE HANDLING PROBLEMS. REPLACED LEFT STRUT, TIGHTENED REAR SUSPENSION, TALKED ABOUT SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING, BUT NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID TO IT. DROVE THE CAR HOME. CAR PERFORMED BETTER THAN IT EVER HAD, BUT NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS COCKED LEFT, AND THE MORE I DRIVE IT, THE MORE IT PULLS LEFT AGAIN, AND IS REVERTING TO THE VERY POOR ON CENTER FEEL. CONSUMER RELATIONS IS STARTING TO GET IRRITATED WITH MY CONTINUING PHONE CALLS. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I FEEL I DESERVE COMPENSATION UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

Mileage: 74