Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 03/11/2013 | 3870 | ||
| Driving under normal conditions on a slow 35mph roadway and noticed optima pulls toward the crown (center) of the road (which is against slope). drove vehicle on 45mph and 60mph roadway and same situation. engine was replaced at 3,400 miles due to piston #3 failing. based on current issues to date, i would not purchase another optima. | |||
| 08/01/2012 | 75 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle pulled to the left. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised the contact that they would rotate the tires. the vehicle was repaired. immediately after leaving, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 75. the current mileage was approximately 1,500. | |||
| 08/01/2012 | 75 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle pulled to the left. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised the contact that they would rotate the tires. the vehicle was repaired. immediately after leaving, the failure recurred. the manufacturer was contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 75. the current mileage was approximately 1,500. mah | |||
| 02/09/2013 | 22 | 1 | |
| I've owned this vehicle for about one week. within the first two days i noticed a slight drifting of the vehicle while driving above 40 mph, but dismissed it as being caused by the high winds that were occurring during that time. over the next few days, these drifting experiences lingered. the worst experience occurred 02/14/13, between 5:30pm and 6:15pm, a high traffic period, on a freeway which is currently under construction. after making a left turn from a traffic light onto the freeway, i proceeded into the left lane. within a few feet, or acceleration to 50 mph or so, the front wheels, began to pull toward the right. both of my hands were on the steering wheel the entire time, but i had to steer slightly left to correct to avoid going into the right lane. a few seconds later, the same scenario occurred as above. i next changed to the right lane as my exit was nearing. within 3/4 mile there is a slight curve left, which the car had issues cornering and again led to my having to steer to correct. this is safety concern, a serious one. this is not a random, every so often occurrence. it is daily, frequent, if i travel on a freeway or anytime speed limits are above 35 mph. there are other instances of what appear to be cornering issues. left turns are awkward if you follow proper procedure for turning into the lane closest to you. most turns end up wide, as if you're driving a wider chassis vehicle, i.e. a pick-up or suv. the steering defect even appears noticeable upon parking, as the steering wheel is always a hair off center when you park straight in a stall or space. in the city i reside in the state of nevada, constant road construction, lanes that change from horizontal to zig-zag every few feet, the last thing needed is a car that has any hint of a fault with steering or suspension. *tr | |||
| 02/09/2013 | 22 | ||
| I've owned this vehicle for about one week. within the first two days i noticed a slight drifting of the vehicle while driving above 40 mph, but dismissed it as being caused by the high winds that were occurring during that time. over the next few days, these drifting experiences lingered. the worst experience occurred 02/14/13, between 5:30pm and 6:15pm, a high traffic period, on a freeway which is currently under construction. after making a left turn from a traffic light onto the freeway, i proceeded into the left lane. within a few feet, or acceleration to 50 mph or so, the front wheels, began to pull toward the right. both of my hands were on the steering wheel the entire time, but i had to steer slightly left to correct to avoid going into the right lane. a few seconds later, the same scenario occurred as above. i next changed to the right lane as my exit was nearing. within 3/4 mile there is a slight curve left, which the car had issues cornering and again led to my having to steer to correct. this is safety concern, a serious one. this is not a random, every so often occurrence. it is daily, frequent, if i travel on a freeway or anytime speed limits are above 35 mph. there are other instances of what appear to be cornering issues. left turns are awkward if you follow proper procedure for turning into the lane closest to you. most turns end up wide, as if you're driving a wider chassis vehicle, i.e. a pick-up or suv. the steering defect even appears noticeable upon parking, as the steering wheel is always a hair off center when you park straight in a stall or space. in the city i reside in the state of nevada, constant road construction, lanes that change from horizontal to zig-zag every few feet, the last thing needed is a car that has any hint of a fault with steering or suspension. | |||
| 01/02/2013 | |||
| Car does not track straight while driving over 55mph. driver has to continually correct wheel to keep car straight on road. | |||
| 08/22/2012 | 40 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. the contact stated that the vehicle would drift from side to side when being driven at various speeds. the contact stated that when traveling above 55 mph, the vehicle would become increasingly difficult to keep the vehicle straight. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where an alignment was performed but did not correct the failure. the vehicle was taken to a second dealer who suggested that they adjust the tire pressure. the tire pressure was adjusted but to no avail. the failure persisted. the failure mileage was 40 and the current mileage was 6,500. | |||
| 08/22/2012 | 40 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2013 kia optima. the contact stated that the vehicle would drift from side to side when being driven at various speeds. the contact stated that when traveling above 55 mph, the vehicle would become increasingly difficult to keep the vehicle straight. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where an alignment was performed but did not correct the failure. the vehicle was taken to a second dealer who suggested that they adjust the tire pressure. the tire pressure was adjusted but to no avail. the failure persisted. the failure mileage was 40 and the current mileage was 6,500. kmj | |||
| 10/24/2012 | 498 | 1 | |
| About a day after i bought my brand new 2013 kia, i noticed that the vehicle veered to the left. i took it back that weekend to get an alignment and the dealer told me that it wasn't an alignment, but that the steering column was off. so, they adjusted that. when i took delivery of the vehicle again, the issue was still there. i took the car to them again, and this time, they said the steering wheel was twisted. i then moved from va to fl two days later. at this point i only had about 1200 miles on my car. during the trip, i noticed the steering doing the exact same issue. i called the dealer and asked them to just tell me what the issue was with the car. i was told that my vehicle was made with a batch of other vehicles that had this issue and there is a technical bulletin involved with it. she said its protocol to bring the vehicle in multiple times so that they can rule out certain issues. she stated the next step was to redo the suspension. unfortunately for me, i had to go to a different dealer for this because i was now in fl. also, unfortunately for me, the first dealer didn't record when i went in the first two times. so when i go to this new dealer at 2500 miles, they have no idea what i'm talking about, give me an alignment that doesn't solve the issue and send me on my way. this is truly ridiculous. i bought a new car to avoid these issues. and kia needs to own up and fix these steering wheel issues properly. i'm going back to the dealer again tomorrow. please recall this steering wheel issue. *tr | |||
| 10/24/2012 | 498 | ||
| About a day after i bought my brand new 2013 kia, i noticed that the vehicle veered to the left. i took it back that weekend to get an alignment and the dealer told me that it wasn't an alignment, but that the steering column was off. so, they adjusted that. when i took delivery of the vehicle again, the issue was still there. i took the car to them again, and this time, they said the steering wheel was twisted. i then moved from va to fl two days later. at this point i only had about 1200 miles on my car. during the trip, i noticed the steering doing the exact same issue. i called the dealer and asked them to just tell me what the issue was with the car. i was told that my vehicle was made with a batch of other vehicles that had this issue and there is a technical bulletin involved with it. she said its protocol to bring the vehicle in multiple times so that they can rule out certain issues. she stated the next step was to redo the suspension. unfortunately for me, i had to go to a different dealer for this because i was now in fl. also, unfortunately for me, the first dealer didn't record when i went in the first two times. so when i go to this new dealer at 2500 miles, they have no idea what i'm talking about, give me an alignment that doesn't solve the issue and send me on my way. this is truly ridiculous. i bought a new car to avoid these issues. and kia needs to own up and fix these steering wheel issues properly. i'm going back to the dealer again tomorrow. please recall this steering wheel issue. | |||
| 10/23/2012 | 25 | 1 | |
| New vehicle. the vehicle will not track in a straight line. the vehicle wanders (drifts) left or right. i constantly have to nudge the steering wheel slightly left or slightly right to keep the vehicle somewhere in the middle of the lane. this is a dangerous condition. i no longer take a mug of coffee with me as i drive to work. i have to keep my eyes directly on the road ahead, only glancing briefly in the rear view mirror or side mirrors to check traffic. it also does this at low speeds on residential streets. help! i am taking it back to the dealer a second time on 11/16. however, i have noticed many complaints on the web for the same vehicle, model and problem. it would seem there is no fix! has the nhtsa contacted kia about this problem? *tr | |||
| 10/23/2012 | 25 | ||
| New vehicle. the vehicle will not track in a straight line. the vehicle wanders (drifts) left or right. i constantly have to nudge the steering wheel slightly left or slightly right to keep the vehicle somewhere in the middle of the lane. this is a dangerous condition. i no longer take a mug of coffee with me as i drive to work. i have to keep my eyes directly on the road ahead, only glancing briefy in the rear view mirror or side mirrors to check traffic. it also does this at low speeds on residential streets. help! i am taking it back to the dealer a second time on 11/16. however, i have noticed many complaints on the web for the same vehicle, model and problem.it would seem there is no fix! has the nhtsa contacted kia about this problem? | |||