154 complaints reported

2013 Kia Optima Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
154
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME DIFFICULT AND THE VEHICLE VEERED LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2018
Sep 2018

TAKATA RECALL THERE IS A PLASTIC PART IN THE STEERING ASSIST THAT IS BAD. ITS ALL OVER YOUTUBE INCLUDING MINE. WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION YOU CAN HEAR THE METAL TO METAL CLINKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IT WANTS TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOU HANDS. YOU CAN MOVE THE WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND HEAR WHEN IN STATIOARY AS WELL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2017
Aug 2018

THERE IS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. HAD TIE RODS INSPECTED AND ARE FINE. NOISE IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. IT POPS WHILE MOVING OR STATIONARY.. IT POPS EVERY TIME YOUR CHANGE DIRECTION. NOISE RADIATES FROM INSIDE DASHBOARD. CHECKED U JOINTS AND THEY ARE TIGHT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2018
Aug 2018

THE STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING MAKING NOISES WHEN OPERATING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2018
May 2018

THE ISSUE WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR KIA IS THAT WHEN YOU TURN THE RIGHT 5-10 DEGREES AND THEN GO BACK TO THE LEFT TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR THERE IS A NOTCH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO GET PAST IT. THIS IS THE SAME BULLETIN THAT IS POSTED ON CARS.COM HTTPS://WWW.CARS.COM/ARTICLES/2011-14-KIA-OPTIMA-STEERING-ISSUE-1420684027147/ THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS AND COVERED FOR ALL 2011-2014 KIA OPTIMAS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2017
Jan 2018

THE STEERING IS BAD. IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. WHEN IT'S WINDY MY CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE IT'S HARD TO STEER. I HAVE TO ALIGN IT EVERY YEAR. I TOOK IT FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 1220.50 TO CHANGE THE MDPS STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. MY STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT CENTER RIGHT. I'VE ALREADY ALMOST HAD A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STEERING WHEN IT'S WINDY AND ALSO ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S UNSAFE AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT OUT FOR A NEW MDPS STEERING WHEEL COLUMN.. I LOVE MY CAR BUT IT'S UNSAFE. IT'S HAPPENS WHEN IT'S WINDY OR WHEN I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. I SEEN ONLINE THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR SOMEONE'S GOING TO LOSE THEIR LIFE IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2016
Dec 2017 Crash

CAR WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT NORMAL SPEED. THE STEERING FROZE WITH THE WHEELS TURNED, SENDING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. NO INJURIES BUT THE CAR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER, FENDER, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, ETC. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF STEERING ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2017
Nov 2017

STEERING WHEEL HAS A CATCH OR NOTCH SOMETIMES IN COLD WEATHER WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2017
Nov 2017

STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT NEAR THE CENTER AND IT FEELS LIKE IT GETS HUNG UP WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER DIRECTION AND IT JUMPS WHEN ALTERNATING LEFT TO RIGHT OR RIGHT TO LEFT IT FEELS UNSAFE AND JUMPY WHEELS WILL NOT EVER STAY IN A STRAIGHT CENTERED POSITION WHEN YOU TRY TO CORRECT THE JUMP IN THE STEERING OVER CORRECTS CAUSING A BACK AND FORTH JUST TO STAY IN ONE LANE THE NOISE IT MAKES IS A CLUNK AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE SITTING AT IDLE TURING THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH EVEN ONE INCH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2017
Nov 2017

VEHICLE STEERING HAS BECOME FAULTY. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING, IT STICKS THEN MOVES FREELY WITHOUT THE WHEELS TURNING. THIS STICKING IS ACCOMPANIED BY A KNOCKING/CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS MOST OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM IT'S CENTER POSITION. I'M UNSURE OF THE CAUSE. THIS STARTED APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO (30OCT17) AND HAS PERSISTED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO ESCALATE INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN YOU PLEASE ASSIST?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2017
Nov 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,437.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2017
Oct 2017

CONSTANT KNOCKING / CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE SEEN ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE KIA BRAND IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING COUPLER???? ATTACHING A PIC I FOUND ON A WEBSITE. IT HAS BEEN "KNOCKING" FOR OVER A YEAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2016
Jul 2017

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE - THE CAR WANTS TO WANDER - THE STEERING REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION. I CONTACTED KIA USA WHO TOLD ME THAT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER RECALL. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A KIA DEALER TWO WEEKS AGO - THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK. THE STEERING IN THE CAR FEELS VERY UNSAFE, AS THE CAR SEEMS TO WANT TO WANDER, REQUIRING CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTIONS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2017
Apr 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSELY CONNECTED AND NOT ALIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS UNABLE TO BE COMPLETED BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED FIRST FOR THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL A DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2017
Mar 2017

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED A POPING OR CLICKING WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. IT STOPS AFTER YOU'VE TURNED THE WHEEL MORE THAN A 1/4 TURN BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING IS NOT RESPONSIVE UNTIL YOU'VE GOTTEN PAST THAT INITIAL 1/4 WHEEL TURN. IT STARTED A WHILE BACK BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. IT WILL MAKE THE SOUND ANYTIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2016
Jan 2017

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, MY STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK. I AM CONSTANTLY OVER CORRECTING TO GET IT UNSTUCK AND STAY ON THE ROAD. IT HAPPENS TO THE LEFT AS WELL AS TO THE RIGHT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016
Dec 2016

AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF HOWEVER AFTER HAVING MY CAR ALIGNED THE STEERING IS STILL LOSE AND AT ANY GIVEN SPEED THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT VERY EASILY. IT'S DANGEROUS!!! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2016
Dec 2016

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FROM ANY SPEEDS THE CAR WILL DRIFT. WANDERING NOT STABLE GOES IN TO OTHER LANES WITHOUT YOU DOING IT. HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS CONSTANTLY RESTEERING BACK AN FORTH WITHOUT TRYING NOT TO OVER STEER BY STAYING IN YOUR LANE AN NOT STEERING IN TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. . NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. VERY UNSTABLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2016
Nov 2016

I PURCHASED MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ON 9/29/2013. I DROVE IT LESS THAN A MONTH AND THE STEERING STARTED STICKING. I HAD TO JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT LOOSE. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD , " THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD DO". I AM NOT DUMB. I KNEW THEIR WAS SOMETHING WRONG. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND HAD TO CALL KIA CONSUMER TO GET IT DIAGNOSED. FOUND OUT SOME TYPE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS GONE. GOT THE CAR BACK AND UPON DRIVING THE STEERING STARTED SPINING AROUND LIKE A MERRY GO ROUND. TOOK BACK TO KIA SERVICE PER THE CONSUMER OFFICE. I HAVE GOTTEN CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD, "_IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT"". NOW THE STEERING IS VERY TIGHT AND STIFF TO DRIVE. THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND I FEEL LIKE I AM FIGHTING TO KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. VERY EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE. NOW EBEN MAKING TURNS I'M S CURVE TO THE LEFT CAN SOMETIMES HEAR A LIST CLICKING NOISE. THESE CARS WITH STEERING PROBLEMS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE S FATAL ACCIDENT. ALL THESE ACTIONS TO PLACE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS ON STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2015
Oct 2016

EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR, NEW I HAVE NOTICED A TUGGING OR PULLING WHEN I AM DRIVING OR TURNING. THE STEERING SEEMS TO 'STICK' AND SOMETIMES CAUSES ME TO OVER TURN. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS 'IT'S PART OF THE CAR'. I DON'T AGREE AND FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I SEE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE OF THE SAME ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2016
Sep 2016

I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I AM HAVING STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. THIS NEEDS TO BE ON RECALL!!!!! I AM A LITTLE OVER 60,000.00. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE POSSIBLE LAWSUIT. I CALLED KIA TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SHE SAID THIS SOUNDS NORMAL AND I NEED TO BRING IT IN TO DO A COMPUTER RESET. I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS. NOT HAPPY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ON RECALL!!!!!!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2016
Sep 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SUDDENLY BEGAN JERKING AND STICKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2016
Aug 2016

STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN MIDDLE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MAKES A CLICK WHEN IT BREAKS LOOSE. CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD STRAIGHT DRIVING

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2016
Jul 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016
Apr 2016

AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH, AFTER KIA PERFORMED AND ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES INSTALLED, THE STEERING REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION. THERE ALSO APPEAR TO BE ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT TAKES ALOT OF WORK CORRECTING THE STEERING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2013 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2016

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Kia Optima has 154 Steering complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.