2013 Kia Optima Suspension Problems

While driving my KIA Optima on the interstate the rear subframe suffered catastrophic structural failure, resulting in the steering wheel going out of alignment, the rear passenger side wheel tilting with the bottom of the tire being far out compared to the top. This resulted in the rear of the vehicle swaying side to side and being difficult to maintain in a straight path. This vehicle was previously serviced under KIA Campaign SC141 (internal subframe corrosion) at Griffin KIA on April 27, 2017. Despite this safety remedy being performed the subframe rotted through and snapped. This is a remedy failure. The anti-corrosion was applied by the manufacturer failed to prevent the exact structural failure it was designed to mitigate. I have physical evidence (Repair Order #92144) proving the remedy was performed and photographic/video evidence of the subsequent structural break. The manufacturer (KIA) has denied assistance, claiming the failure is "unrelated" to the corrosion campaign despite the part being the exact component covered by the campaign." SC141 involved the inject of wax into the metal components of the subframe of the vehicle and was KIA's response to the NHSTA's concerns about the metal components of their vehicles being unable to withstand salt in the Rust Belt states. The campaign only was for the vehicles in the rust belt states. KIA was very aware this was a safety issue and attempted to avoid a recall by issuing this campaign. The campaign failed and as a result my life was put at risk. I asked KIA for a good will repair of the rusted subframe but they refuse indicating the believe the part that clearly broke due to rust is unrelated to the safety campaign. Several of their employees stated it was very clear the part broke due to rust with one indicating he had a list of rusted parts needing replaced. I'd like the NHTSA to review this failed campaign and ensure the safety of all vehicles relying on this failed safety measure.

NHTSA ID

11733232

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.

NHTSA ID

11524170

Incident

May 20, 1989

I WENT TO START MY CAR WHICH WAS ON AUGUST 24, 2020 AND IT WAS MAKING A VERY VERY LOUD NOISE I COULDN'T MOVE IT SO I HAD IT TOWED OVER TO A MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE IN FACT HAS BEEN BLOWN ARE THE BLOCK HAS BEEN BLOWN SO THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED I AM WAY AND THERE WAS NO WARNING ON MY VEHICLE AND WITH ALSO NO NOTIFICATION OF OIL WAS LOW OR NO OIL IN MY CAR WHATSOEVER THERE WAS A METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED AND IT THERE'S NO LEAKS IN THE CAR AT ALL AND SO NOW I PAY PAYMENTS FOR A CAR AND SOMEBODY ELSE TO TAKE ME AROUND TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR MONTHS ON MONTHS ANDPAYMENTS FOR A CAR THAT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BROKEN DOWN AND THE DEALERSHIP HERE KIA WILL NOT THEY FIX MY CAR THEY REFUSE TO BECAUSE OF A DISAGREEMENT PRIOR TO THIS I AM ON ANYTHING ABOUT MY CAR THEY WILL NOT DO I AM ACTUALLY THE ONE WHO DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL IN THE VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY AND NOBODY HAS TOLD ME AND EVERYBODY HAS FAILED TO MENTION THIS OR CONTACT ME

NHTSA ID

11374794

Incident

Aug 24, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY POWER UNIT NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF CERRITOS (18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703; (562) 860-2424) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,125.

NHTSA ID

11372426

Incident

Oct 18, 2020

Mileage

97,125 mi

WE WERE TRAVELING AT AROUND 55-60 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE T-BONES BY A CHEVY AVALANCHE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND SWERVED SO THE TRUCK LUCKILY STARTED AT MY DOOR AND COMPLETELY RIPPED AND SMASHED IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND BACK/ TRUNK OF OUR OPTIMA. BACK WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED OUT. HIT SO HARD IT COMPLETELY TURNED US IN 2 CIRCLES AND BUSTED MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND IT HIT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I BUSTED MY HEAD OPEN AND RECEIVED 3 STAPLES AND KNEE SHOVED IN DASH BUT NOT 1 AIR BAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED!! I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A KIA!! I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A KIA BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!

NHTSA ID

11361018

Incident

Sep 22, 2020

Mileage

164,000 mi

CAR TURN OFF IN THE FREEWAY WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON

NHTSA ID

11337704

Incident

Jul 2, 2020

WHEN I'M DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY SURFACE DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLANKING SOUND ALSO THE CAR IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT MY FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT ON THE UPPEROUTSIDE OF THE TIRE THE PART OF TIRE THAT TOUCHES THE ROAD. I HAVE LOOKED ON WEB TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD A ISSUE WITH THIS WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT IT MAY BE THE STEERING COUPLER. IT'S GETTING WORSE I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT GOING TO TURN ONE OF THESE DAYS BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

11326583

Incident

Mar 6, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

AFTER HAVING WORK DONE ON THE LAST RECALL, I NOTICED THERE IS A RATTLING NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL ON EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD I HIT. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE RATTLING HAS SINCE THEN GOTTEN LOUDER AND WORSE. I FEAR THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE EITHER WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND COMPONENTS OR THE BARS UNDERNEATH. I CANNOT SEEM TO FIND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BUT ITS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS ONLY HAPPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11321896

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi

WHEN I AM DRIVING MORE THAN 65 MPH, MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES FOR 3 SECONDS, STOPS, AND THEN CONTINUES UNTIL I GO UNDER 65 MPH. WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP OR OBJECT, IT SHAKES AS WELL. THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING WHEN TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11319782

Incident

Mar 30, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, ADVISING THE CONTACT TO DISCONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IN ORDER FOR THE INDICATORS TO TURN OFF. IN ADDITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND HESITATED TO STOP APPROPRIATELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ARCHER KIA (LOCATED AT 11614 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77031, 888-879-5194) WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE HYDRAULICS. THE SPECIFIC PARTS WERE NOT IDENTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JOE MEYERS KIA (LOCATED AT 16484 NW FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77040, 713-587-9940) WHERE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 13386178. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11270488

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GLASSMAN KIA (28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (888) 452-1360) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE DRIVE SHAFT WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND BECAME DETACHED. THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11119628

Incident

Aug 8, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

ON AUGUST 17TH , 2017 AFTER MAKING A BROKEN U TURN, I DROVE MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ONTO A ROAD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, TO FLOW INTO TRAFFIC, AND HIT A CURB THAT I BELIEVED I WAS CLEAR OF. I SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND SEVERE PAIN FROM MY ACCELERATOR FOOT UP TO MY SHOULDERS AS BOTH HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE OFF MANY DAYS TO REST SINCE THEN. AFTER A VISIT TO THE DEALER WHERE I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT, THE REP SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE A FRONT CAMERA. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I BEGAN TO HEAR AND FEEL NOISE AND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THE FAULTY PART, THE FLEXIBLE COUPLER AND RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALLED PART THAT CAUSED ACCIDENT REPLACED. I HAD HAD MY SUSPICION'S AS TO WHY THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN MUCH BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS, AND THAT THE INACCURATE NAVIGATION MAY HAVE CAUSED THEM TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, THAT WAS NEVER REPORTED. I BELIEVE I HAVE CASE AGAINST THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURE, FOR MY PAIN AND SUFFERING. AS A TBI SUFFERER THIS LAST EVENT IS CAUSING MAJOR COMPLICATIONS; AND NOW DIZZINESS, DEPRESSION, UNCERTAINTY AND HEADACHES HAVE RETURNED.

NHTSA ID

11074182

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi

STEERING ,HARD TO KEEP IN LANES,LOUD HARD RIDE. WHILE TEST DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA I TOLD MY SALES PERSON THAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD. HE SAID THAT'S B/C ITS A NEW CAR. IT'LL EASE UP. I THOUGHT IT WAS LOUD & TOOK SMAL BUMPS LIKE A BIG POT HOLES. AND THE GAS PEDAL & ACCELERATION WAS WIERD. HE SAID BRING IT BACK & THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL DRIVE IT & FIX IT. DON'T WORRY. WELL AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT EMULATE THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO LET ME DRIVE WITH SERVICE PERSON. COULD NOT DO. BREAK IT IN & IT'LL GO AWAY. WELL AT 11,000 MILES TOOK IT BACK & COMPLAINED . SAME ANSWER. NOW 19,703 MILES NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS .THEY GOT WORSE. IN ADDITION MY PAINT SCRATCHES & CHIPS SO EASY THAT THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY PAINT. BACK TO SERVICE & BODY WORK THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL. BRING IT IN FOR DETAILING & WE WILL GET IT LOOKING LIKE NEW! DON'T HAVE $175.00 TO DO THAT . I DO NOT GET CLOSE TO QUOTED GAS MILEAGE. IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN IT ACCELERATES & GEARS DON'T SHIFT .IT TAKES OFF OR DOESN'T ALL BY ITSELF. SEEMS LIKE TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. ITS SO LOUD I CANNOT USE HANDS FREE PHONE & CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFICULT. THE STEERING IS SO OFF, I'M AFRAID I'LL GET PULLED OVER & FINED. VERY HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD. AND MY CAR SQUEAKS AS YOU GET IN & OUT OF MY CAR. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION . I'M AFRAID IT WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT & HURT MYSELF & OTHERS.

NHTSA ID

10763371

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

10 mi

HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR ON 12/11/14 MY DAUGHTER DID NOT HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE DRIVING THE CAR.... ON DECEMBER 27 SHE "LOST CONTROL" OF THE CAR, AND RAN INTO THE WALL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DRY EVENING, AND SHE EMPHATICALLY STATES THAT SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, AND THAT IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE ONLY RATIONALE CONCLUSION WAS THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. THAT IS, UNTIL A FRIEND RECOMMENDED I CHECK THE WEB, AND CHECK IF OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN OR ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. ALTHOUGH I HAD DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE WHEN RESEARCHING THE CAR E.G. RECALLS, KNOWN PROBLEMS, ETC. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS CAR, I DID NOT CHECK SPECIFICS SUCH AS STEERING. LONG OF THE SHORT, TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN I GOOGLED STEERING PROBLEMS, THIS SITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2013/STEERING/STEERING.SHTML WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO SHOW UP. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND 35 COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THE SAME STEERING ISSUE. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS I AM I CONVINCED THAT THIS STEERING ISSUE IS THE CONTRIBUTOR TO MY DAUGHTER'S ACCIDENT. IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION OTHER THAN A BLOW OUT. I THINK THIS MAY BE A RESULT OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2013 OPTIMAS. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR KIA TO ADMIT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING? IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE NEEDS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS' RECALL BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURS, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY .... *JS

NHTSA ID

10669214

Incident

Dec 27, 2014

Mileage

32,000 mi

WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY 2013, IT WAS LESS THEN TWO WEEKS AND I TOLD THEM AT CENTURY KIA SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I LATER TOOK IT AND HAD THE ALIGNMENT LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD IT WAS OFF JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER IT IS SWAYING ALL OVER THE ROAD, I CALLED CENTURY KIA AND SPOKE WITH THEIR REPAIR DEPARTMENT AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM TO HIM AND HE SUGGESTED IT SOUND LIKE MAYBE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM AND I TOLD HIM IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE BUT HE TOLD ME THEY WOULD NEED TO CHECK IT OUT TO MAKE SURE, I WAS GOING TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SEE IF IT'S THE SAME THING BUT WILL ALLOW THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. HOPEFULLY I WILL GET SOME REAL HELP BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE MY CAR AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660560

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

38,000 mi

THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT IS WINDY. IT IS A STRUGGLE TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 30MPH. I'M HAVING TO AVOID CERTAIN ROADS AND BRIDGES (I.E. TAMPA BAY'S SUNSHINE SKYWAY) DUE TO THE FAULTY AND INCONSISTENT RESPONSE OF THE STEERING WHEN DRIVING IN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST WIND. GOD FORBID THAT A SUDDEN GUST COME ALONG!! I, TOO, HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION. THINKING THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL!! AND SOON!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10575108

Incident

Mar 25, 2014

Mileage

15,000 mi

I AGREE WITH THE MAY 24, 2013 - SCOTTSDALE, AZ OVERVIEW REGARDING WIND. THE CAR IS EASILY AFFECTED AND MOVES IN THE WIND AND IS A CHALLENGE TO STAY STRAIGHT IN THE LANE. I FEEL LIKE OTHER DRIVERS MUST THINK I AM A DRUNK DRIVER. THE CAR DOES NOT REALLY DRIFT BUT THE STEERING IS SLUGGISH WITH PLAY AND DEAD SPOTS/HARDER TO MAKE FIRST PART OF A TURN, (ALMOST LIKE STEERING STICKS). ALSO AS SOMEONE ELSE SAID, THE STEERING IS A CHALLENGE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND IS HARD TO MAINTAIN IN THE LANE.... MAY ALSO BE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. IT IS EASY TO LOSE CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS IF THE ROADWAY IS NOT PERFECT. CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THE LOOSE STEERING TO THE POINT WHERE AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE I AM A DRUNK DRIVER. INCREASING THE AIR IN THE TIRES WAS OF NO HELP TOWARD THE STEERING STABILITY. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER SERVICE MANAGER (FEBRUARY 2012), AND HE NOTED THAT THE CONDITIONS SOUNDED TYPICAL OF WHAT HE HAS HEARD WITH THE NEWER MODEL OPTIMAS WHICH HAVE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING. HE WAS GOING TO CHECK WITH KIA FOR THEIR THOUGHTS. NO RESPONSE YET. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE GOOD OLD TIGHT, RACK AND PINION STEERING? ENOUGH OF THIS MUSHY STEERING, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SPORTY CAR... AM I FINDING OUT THAT IT IS JUST GOOD LOOKS? I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN SIMILAR PRICED CHRYSLER AND FORD PRODUCTS PRIOR TO THIS AND NEVER UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569154

Incident

Sep 12, 2012

Mileage

3,000 mi

MY KIA GETS STUCK IN A FEW INCHES OF SNOW OR ANY ICE. SLIDES EASILY IN RAIN OR ICY OR COLD WEATHER. I LIVE IN THE MIDWEST. I HAVE BEEN PUSHED BY STRANGERS, COUNTLESS TIMES, TRYING TO GET ME OUT OF SUBDIVISIONS BECAUSE THIS CAR WILL NOT MOVE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HE MENTIONED HE HAD TO TOW 3 OF THESE SAME FANCY VEHICLES THAT WERE STUCK IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF SNOW. I AM UNABLE TO PARK IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT DEPENDABLE IF ANY SNOW OR ICE IS ON THE DRIVEWAY. I DRIVE FOR A LIVING AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PATIENT'S DRIVEWAYS. THEY LAUGH AND SAY THE OTHER NURSES DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS. THIS IS HUMILIATING. THIS CAR COSTS ALMOST 40,000. IT SHOULD BE DEPENDABLE INSTEAD IT IS UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS: OTHER CARS MAY RUN INTO ME WHEN MY CAR STARTS SLIDING BACKWARDS ON THE STREETS. I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD TO CALL IN SICK SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE MY CAR WILL NOT BACK OUT A FEW FEET FROM MY DRIVEWAY IF THERE IS 3 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. ALSO THE ENGINE WHINES ALOT. IT SEEMS TO LAG IN SHIFTING AND THE RPM GOES UP TO ALMOST 4 BEFORE IT WILL SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. I AM AFRAID THE ENGINE WILL EXPLODE OR BLOW UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565171

Incident

Feb 20, 2014

Mileage

22,000 mi

RECENTLY I LEASED A KIA OPTIMA SX, AFTER 1 WEEK NOTICED THE STEERING WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN LANE WHILE STEERING WHEEL KEPT STRAIGHT AT CENTER POSITION. WHEN CORRECTING "DRIFT" STEERING OVER COMPENSATES FOR CORRECTION AND SWAYS VEHICLE OTHER WAY. HAVE HAD CAR IN FOR SERVICE 2 TIMES IN 2600 MILES FOR THIS ISSUE. FIRST TIME THEY RESET ALIGNMENT, THE 2ND SERVICE DEPT. SAYS EVERYTHING IS WITHIN KIA SPECS AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. CAR STILL "DRIFTS"WHILE ON ROAD MOST NOTICEABLY ABOVE 50-60 MPH WHILE ON EXPRESSWAY, WHILE SOMEWHAT PRESENT CAR ACTS MORE NORMALLY ON STREET SPEEDS UNDER 45 MPH. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES WITH ELECTRIC STEERING AND THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING TO TRACK STRAIGHT. REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN AN OTHERWISE VERY NICE VEHICLE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE PERFORM AS IT SHOULD AND TRACK PROPERLY WHILE BEING OPERATED. I FEEL THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY CONCERN ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING ON SNOW AS IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WANT TO TRAVEL INTO OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558260

Incident

Nov 7, 2013

Mileage

1,200 mi

CAR SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. HARD TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY ADJUSTED THE STEERING FROM SPORT TO STANDARD. GAVE IT A TRY AND IT STILL CONTINUED TO HANDLE TERRIBLE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND LEFT IT FOR A FEW DAYS. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE CAR IS ACTING NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER MADE A COMMENT THAT 5 GALLONS OF GAS AND A MATCH WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN SAID HE WAS KIDDING. I DIDN'T FIND IT FUNNY BECAUSE IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR KILLS ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HATE THE CAR AND FEAR DRIVING IT. I'VE ONLY HAD IT 7MONTHS AND IT HAS ABOUT 5,500 MILES ON IT. CAR STILL DOES IT AND I'M EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549408

Incident

Jul 8, 2013

Mileage

3,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM GERALD KIA IN AURORA ILLINOIS. CAR PULLS LEFT THEN RIGHT. ASSUMED IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT OBRIEN KIA IN CHAMPAIGN, IL TO CHECK IT OUT ON WEDS, 5-8. MADE AP[POINTMENT ON TUESDAY, 4-30. LOOKED ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON 11,12 AND 13 OPTIMAS. THERE IS EVEN A VIDEO SHOWING THIS PROBLEM ON UTUBE. I BELIEVE I BOUGHT A LEMON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS IF YOU LOOK AWAY FOR A SECOND, YOU COULD HIT SOMEONE HEAD ON. I WANT TO GIVE THEM THERE CAR BACK. ALSO I CAN'T GET THE PART TO COME UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510392

Incident

Apr 6, 2013

Mileage

60 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10498327

Incident

Feb 9, 2013

Mileage

22 mi

CAR DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT WHILE DRIVING OVER 55MPH. DRIVER HAS TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT WHEEL TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT ON ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494657

Incident

Jan 2, 2013

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

NHTSA ID

10486711

Incident

Oct 24, 2012

Mileage

498 mi

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE IS NOT STABLE. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS WITHIN SPECS. VEHICLE DOESN'T PULL IN ONE DIRECTION, BUT IT HAS A HARD TIME TRACKING DOWN THE ROAD. SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS, WIND, OR TIRE ISSUES WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DART LEFT/RIGHT. AN IMMEDIATE CORRECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS REQUIRED WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN REQUIRED TO RETURN TO CENTER-LINE AND THUS REQUIRES ANOTHER CORRECTION IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. ANY DEVIATION FROM THE CENTER-LINE REQUIRES TWO CORRECTIONS AND EXTREME VIGILANCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS EASY CHARACTERIZED AS A WANDERING, BUT IS MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS AN UNSETTLED ISSUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS ALSO MOST OBVIOUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AROUND 70MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481066

Incident

Oct 18, 2012

Mileage

2,800 mi