2013 Kia Optima Steering

2013 Kia Optima, 45K miles, owned in family since new and regularly maintained -- steering clunks, feels loose and "broken" when moved left and right, so driving may be unsafe. We believe this is due to the CS1604 Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Flexible Coupling issue previously identified. However, the extension has just now expired and we can't get Kia dealership nor Kia itself to extend coverage further. No warning lamps or messages show, and yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Kia case number is available upon request.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering column experienced excessive shaking and vibration making the vehicle difficult to steer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

Steering coupler went bad. Steering wheel rattles, badly

While driving my 2013 KIA Optima at 65+ mph steering wheel shakes & has a loud clicking noise. The problem has worsened. I have reported this prior. Now it has caused the need to have a frontend alignment.

MDPS FLEXIBLE COUPLING has failed. We hear a clunking sound whenever we turn the steering wheel. The wheel heavily vibrates while driving when hitting a slight bump, pothole, or when turning. Worried that this will affect the steering and won't be able to control the vehicle now that the coupling has failed. Dealership and a separate car repair place has confirmed and reproduced the issue. No warning messages or lights. Kia is refusing the replace this since it has been more than 10 years since the vehicle was first serviced. Was never notified about this issue when they first reported the TSB in mid-2016. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10109834-9999.pdf

While driving there is a ticking noise in the steering column and it shakes badly. This make the vehicle a little less controllable. 2 Certified mechanics believes it is a coupling or possibly a U joint at the bottom of the steering column. No lights on the dash and no other symptoms prior to this issue. This problem started about on or about September 5th 2022. This occurs during low and higher speeds of travel.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that while accelerating the steering wheel started to shake abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recall for the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.

I HAVE A CLICKING SOUND TURNING WHEEL LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS ON ROAD. AFTER GOING ON LINE FIND OTHER KIA ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLE WITH THE RUBBER COUPLER. AND IT STILL GOING ON.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was shaking and making a clicking sound. While attempting to turn, the steering column felt like it was slipping or felt loosened. The failure increase was more evident while driving 50 MPH or more. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000

Steering wheel started clicking when turned right or left. When I drive over bumps or holes, steering column clanks and clunks loudly. Steering wheel vibrates at times and feels loose. Possible issue with steering coupler or steering column and I've read that this should be a recall.

The contact's son owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the steering wheel while steering the vehicle in either direction without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed her that if the steering column was not replaced, the power steering would fail to operate as needed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Stirring wheel column is loose when turning left or right

Steering the vehicle is a struggle. Jerky, not smooth at all. I've had it repaired once over 2 years ago. Same issue has returned... It's like a hard workout for my upper arms. I have done my research, and other owners have complained about the same issue. LONG trips are a nightmare. Any/all help would be greatly appreciated. This has been going for at least the LAST 6 months!

In 2013 we were driving to NC it was raining the steering just left the car completely un steerable thank God it had came back to be able to control the car ...told dealership about it they acted like I was crazy ....needless to say we don't drive it when it's raining ...if we get caught in rain we use extra caution and very slow speeds ..at this point it was a new car hadn't even had 150 miles on it

Steering has a notchy feel. Binds releases and binds

The steering is loose while driving. It has a lot of play when turning. We took to the mechanic for an alignment and he said that the steering column was the problem. He did not fix because he told us he believed there was a recall. I checked and there is no recall. However, I have reviewed other complaints and there are several related to this same issue.

MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE, MOVE UP AND DOWN, MAKE CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES AS I AM DRIVING. WHEN I HIT A SPEED BUMP THE NOISES GET WORSE IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND THE SHAKING AND MOVING GETS WORSE. TOOK MY CAR TO KIA DEALERSHIP THEY FIXED IT & I PAID AROUND $80. NOW I FOUND THERE'S A RECALL ON THE CUFFLINKS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. KIA KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DIDN'T NOTIFY ME & CHARGED ME TO FIX IT. THE ONLY REASON I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WAS MY CAR WOULDN'T START AND I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO KIA & ASKED ABOUT OTHER RECALLS. I HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL & I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. BUT KIA DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE MY STARTER. SOUND FAMILIAR? KIA DID THE SAME THING TO ME WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, THEY MADE ME PAY TO FIX THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOW SAY I CAN GET REIMBURSED AND THERE'S A RECALL. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE STARTER BUT MY ENGINE HAD A RECALL WHICH REPLACED THE STARTER AND BATTERY. KIA REPLACED 5 OUT 7 BATTERIES WHEN THEY REPLACED THE RECALLED ENGINES. I WILL TRY TO GET REIMBURSED FROM KIA FOR THE STEERING WHEEL REPAIRS NOW THAT I FOUND OUT THERE'S A RECALL ON THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL. BUT I COULDN'T FIND THE RECALL ONLINE ANYWHERE? I BOUGHT MY KIA IN 2019 AND I'VE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT! KIA WANTS ME TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET AND THEN THEY TELL ME IT'S A RECALL LATER ON SO I CAN GET REIMBURSED!

I HAVE A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. AUTO MECHANIC STATED IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BUSHING OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE MENTIONED THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. IT JUST STARTED OUT OF NOWHERE. THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENTS OR WRECKS TO CAUSE IT. IS THERE A RECALL TO HAVE THIS REPLACED?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, A CLICKING SOUND OCCURRED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HERB CHAMBERS KIA OF BURLINGTON (93 CAMBRIDGE ST, MA-3A, BURLINGTON, MA 01803) AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR AND DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL LOOSE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLASTIC STEERING COUPLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF THE PART AND 3 LABOR HOURS.

TL* THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS GRAND-DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF ANY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT'S GRAND-DAUGHTER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN IT WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REALLY BAD AND MAKES A REALLY LOUD RATTLING SOUND.

I STARTED NOTICING A SOUND COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL SOUNDS LIKE A CLANK OR CLUNCK WHEN I MOVE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH MOVING OR NOT STILL MAKES SOUND WHEN I HIT BUMPS IN ROAD IT MAKES SOUND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF CAR IS ON OR OFF MOVING OR STILL IT STILL DOES IT , IT'S GOT WORSE THE NOISE IS LOUDER AND HAPPENS MORE TIMES NOW . *TR

FLEXIBLE STEERING COUPLING FAILED. POORLY DESIGNED RUBBER COUPLING DISINTEGRATES AT LESS THAN 80K MILES. THIS CREATES ONE INCH OR MORE OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL LOOSE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDNENT MECHANIC WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WITHOUT REFERRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THEY ALSO SAID THE ISSUE MIGHT BE WITH A COUPLING PIN IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE DEALER KIA OF HUNTINGTON (1720 E. JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11743, (631) 546-0200) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.