2011 Kia Optima Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN IN PARK OR WHEN A BUMP IS HIT
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2011 Kia Optima has 76 Steering complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.