What 590 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Kia Optima

THE STEERING MAKING KNOCKING SOUND WHILE STILL AND DRIVING AND WHILE BRAKING THE STEERING STARTS SHAKING AND MAKES THE KNOCKING SOUND. MOST PEOPLE SAID ITS A PLASTIC COUPLING THAT GETS REPLACED FOR $400 AND I CAN'T KEEP PAYING THAT MUCH MONEY EACH TIME IT GETS MESSED UP THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE GOTTEN FIX THREE MONTHS THE NOISE CAME BACK

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A FLEXIBLE COUPLING HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE COST OF THE PART WAS $1.35. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE COUPLING WAS $250.00. I PAID A TOTAL OF $287.17 TO REPLACE A PART THAT COST $1.35. THE STEERING WAS LOOSE CAUSING THE ISSUE TO BE IMPERATIVE TO REPLACE.

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UNABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. PULLS TO LEFT AND RIGHT. I'M DRIVING ALL OVER THE LANE. WEARS ME OUT JUST TRYING TO DRIVE IT. AND ALL THIS CLICKING NOISE GOING ON...WHY DOESN'T KIA FIX THESE PROBLEMS? WHY IS IT SUCH A MYSTERY?? WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? AN AUTOMOBILE THAT WON'T DRIVE STRAIGHT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER ROLLING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH.

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HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALOT OF FREEPLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE NOISE IS PROGRESSING. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING BUT IT IS NOW GETTING WORSE. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO KIA FOR MY OIL CHANGES AND HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WORNG, WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET MY OIL CHANGE ON SATURDAY 4/2 THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES AND I TOLD THEM I MENTIONED IT TO THEM WHEN MY CAR HAD LESS THEN 100,000 AND HE THEN SAID IT DOESN'T COVER THE STEERING WHEEL.

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WHILE TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THEY DID A 360 CHECK AND NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD PLAY IN IT AND MADE A CLICKING NOISE ABOUT A QUARTER TURN EACH DIRECTION. IT IS A PLASTIC GEAR PIECE THAT IS SMALLER THAN A QUARTER, PICTURE WILL BE ATTACHED. THEY SAID IF I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED IT WOULD GET EVENTUALLY WORSE BY WEARING OUT THE TIRES OR ALIGNMENT SO I HAD IT REPLACED. THEY HAD TO TAKE APART THE STEERING WHEEL TO REPLACE IT. IT WAS 20 FOR THE PIECE BUT WITH LABOR MY BILL WAS 181.

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HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALOT OF FREEPLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS TOLD BY MY FRIEND WHO HAS A 2012 OPTIMA THAT HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A PLASTIC GEAR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD COST ROUGHLY $300 TO FIX. UPON RESEARCH WITH THIS ISSUE I HAVE COME ACROSS SEVERAL OWNERS THAT SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH KIA KNOWS ABOUT. I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE BEFORE THIS ISSUE KILLS SOMEONE.

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HARD TO STEER, ALONG WITH A NOISE INSIDE THE CAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOOSE PIECE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CAR HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID PART IS A STEERING COLUMN COUPLER AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. COST WAS $332.00.

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THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND THUMPS WHEN I MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. I ALSO HEAR A THUMB UNDER THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN I BACK UP AND WHEN I COME TO A STOP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

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LOW BEAMS ARE NOT ILLUMINATING.. THE REFELECTIVE PAINT INSIDE HAS BURNED OFF AND I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH OUT MY HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 2 FEET IN FRONT OF MY CAR. THE STEERING ON MY CAR STARTED THIS CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES WHEN I GO OVER THE SMALLEST BUMP ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO WEARING OUT MY TIRES AND CAUSING MY CAR TO PULL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.

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SUDDENLY AT 89,000 MILES THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CAUSED A SEVERE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT A SPEED OF 50 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF PLAY AND A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STANDING OR MOVING. THE CAR IS A 2011 CAR PURCHASED IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER OF 2011 SO IT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR

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THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE THAT YOU FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT IS WORSE IN REVERSE.

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STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. BOUGHT IT INTO A COLLISION CENTER, THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS A SERVICE RECALL ON OPTIMA. HE KNEW THAT SOUND BEFORE I DESCRIBED IT TO HIM. BRAKE LIGHT BULB BLOWS AS SOON AS YOU PUT THEM IN. THE TECH SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

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WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS OR HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH AND UP, A CONSTANT RATTLE IS HEARD INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. A LOUD CLUNK/RATTLE IS HEARD IF DRIVING OVER A BUMP. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE PARKED, THERE IS A THUD AND A THUD IS ALSO FELT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON CAR WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER WAS 63,000(61,000) WHEN APT WAS INITIALLY MADE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A 2 DOLLAR PART BUT WOULD COST 350 TO REPLACE IT. THE WARRANTY FOR STEERING WHEEL PARTS EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. PART WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME.

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STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. GOING TO TAKE IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT TODAY. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND GETTING WORSE WHEN I LAST DROVE IT ON 9/23/15.

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WHILE BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPACE, HEARD AND FELT A LOW THUD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND ALSO TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS ABOUT 20-30 MPH IT APPEARS FINE. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS >10MPH AND GOING OVER BUMPS OF ANY KIND WHILE TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS DEFINITELY ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN CLOSE TO STEERING. MAKING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE KIA DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO THIS.

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THE STEERING HAS 1-2 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

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WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TELESCOPING LINKAGE FROM THE RACK AND PION STEERING BUT THE LINKAGE WAS FINE AND TIGHT LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE TECH STATED IT HAS TO BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

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THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, $350 REPAIR.

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WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 55MPH OR HIGHER STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOUD KNOCK AND PULLS LEFT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL IS UNCONTROLLABLE. WHEN IN PARK AND TURNING THE WHEEL IT MAKES THE KNOCKING NOISE ALSO. UPDATED 10/07/15*LJ UPDATED 12/11/2017*CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOSTLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE COMPLETELY DIM. I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 4 FT IN FRONT OF MY CAR SO NO LONGER DRIVE AT NIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP HERE IN ORLANDO AND THEY STATED THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE HEAT OF THE BULB CAUSE THE PAINT IN THE UNIT TO PEEL AWAY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS YET, BUT HAVE HAD A FEW OCCASIONS WHERE A CAR CUT ME OFF AND ANOTHER ALMOST RAN ME OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY LIGHT TO NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY IT WOULD COST ME $1200 TO FIX. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND SOME FORUMS WHERE OTHER DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AND RATTLING WHEN I DRIVE AND HIT A SMALL BUMP. I WAS TOLD BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST $400 TO FIX THAT $3.00 PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THAT TOGETHER. IF IT NOT FIXED IN TIME THAT THE STEERING WOULD BE GONE COMPLETELY. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURER TAKING SHORT CUTS AND USING CHEAP PRODUCTS THAT COST US TONS OF MONEY TO FIX.

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