What 1,371 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Optima Phev

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.

NHTSA ODI 11434568

WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND LOCKED UP. LUCKILY HE WASNT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH LOTS OF VEHICLES. HE WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD BUT HAD TROUBLE PULLING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED UP. THIS IS A KNOWN RECALL ON KIA VEHICLES AND THE DEALERSHIP IS DENYING TO FIX IT. THERE IS AN OPEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA FOR ENGINE FAILURE THAT WE WILL BE SIGNING.

NHTSA ODI 11414461

TL* THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO KIA OF MADISON (5442 WAYNE TERRACE, MADISON, WI 53718, (608) 443-5700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ECU SOFTWARE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN JULY OF 2020. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.

NHTSA ODI 11397528

STEELING WHEEL AND COLUMN IS VERY LOOSE. WHENEVER YOU HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE STEELING WHEEL LOOSES CONTROL. IT MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. ALSO, THE RADIO SYSTEM STOP WORKING. I WOULD TURN MY CAR OFF AND THE STEREO SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY AND WOULD NOT CUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURN OFF. EVEN WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD GET IT TO TURN OFF WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. TOOK CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THEIR RECALL SYSTEM HAS A NATIONWIDE SHUT DOWN AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPAIR IT.

NHTSA ODI 11397536

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ON THE FN INTERSTATE AND THE CAR STALLED!! I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS UNTIL SOMEONE THAT ASSISTED HER TOLD HER THIS! I AM DURING YOU! SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT! THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF

NHTSA ODI 11397243

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?

NHTSA ODI 11389371

STARTING MAKING A NOISE IN SHUT OFF

NHTSA ODI 11387135

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!

NHTSA ODI 11386518

I WAS GOING DOWN A ROAD IN MY TOWN LPGA IN DAYTONA BEACH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD SOUND THEN MY ACCELERATING STOPPED EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS. THE CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS IT FINALLY SLOWED DOWN WHERE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALL OF MY ENGINE SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY CAR ENGINE WILL NOT ROLL OVER OR EVEN START MY BATTERY JUST TURNS ON. IT'S AS IF IT'S JUST STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY NO ONE HAS GIVEN ME A ANSWER THE TOW DRIVER IS THE ONE WHO TOLD ME THAT KIA OPTIMAS WERE HAVING RECALL ISSUES ON THEY'RE CARS WITH EXACT PROBLEMS LIKE MINE. I LOVE MY OPTIMA I TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF IT SO IT REALLY HURTS THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH I CAN DO ABOUT MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11383584

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.

NHTSA ODI 11383378

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.

NHTSA ODI 11383176

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.

NHTSA ODI 11378500

THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AN THE STRINGL LOCK

NHTSA ODI 11375328

KIA KIRBY VENTURA HAS REMOVED (2) OR MORE ACTIVE DANGEROUS RECALLS FROM VIN# OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY IN MY NANE. RECALL 1, STEERING WHEEL MDPS UNIT. I HAVE A LETTER NOTIFICATION DATED APRIL 24 2017 NO RECALL#. PLUS RECALL 18V363000 AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT THAT SHOULD APPLY BUT NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. RECALL#17V224 ENGINE STALL/FREEZE ISSUE I HAVE RECALL NOTIFICE PLUS A NOTICE FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ABT SPECIFIC RECALL THAT DOES EFFECT CAR. I MADE 2 ATTEMPTS AT KIA KIRBY VENTURA LAST YEAR, BEFORE COVID19, TO GET ENGINE RECALL FIXED CAR WAS EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED ALMOST CASUED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS ON FREEWAY. I WAS DENIED BY SERVICE MANAGER DAVID BODJANAC SINCE DEALERSHIP, DURING 2ND VISIT TO HAVE ENGINE RECALL FIXED, KIA KIRBY VENTURA REMOVED RECALL FROM VIN# ASKED ME WHERE DID I GET RECALL NOTICE FROM? ENGINE ISSUE NOT FIXED. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, THURS 10/15/20 EARLY EVENING IM COMING UP TO CORNER ENGINE STALLED TWICE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN APPROCHING, TURNING. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AT SLOWER RATE OF SPEED. COMING OUT OF TURN CAR ULTIMATLY MADE INTO MY PARKING LOT W/OUT CRASHING LUCKILY NO ONE WAS OUT WALKING. ENGINE CAR FROZE. LUCKILY IN FRONT OF PARKING SPACE, MANAGED TO FORCE CAR IN PARKING SPOT. NOW DISPUTING W/KIA KIRBY VENTURA, SM DAVID BODJANAC, WHO DENIED ENGINE RECALL OR ANY RECALL. KIA KIRBY VENTURA SERVICE W/UNDOUBTEDLY TELL ME ISSUE W/CAR HAS NOTHING TO DO W/ANY RECALLS. HAD I BEEN ON FWY WHICH I DRIVE ON 2, 3 TIMES A DAY OR BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHER RATE OF SPEED ON STREET AS I WAS I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. KIRBY KIA VENTURA SAID THEY W/GIVE 0 FOR CAR NOT RUNNING DUE TO RECALL BUT STILL IN GOOD CONDITION FULLY LOADED. IF CAR RUNNING THEY MITE GIVE ME $5500-$6000MAX..PER KB NOT RUNNING CARS VALUE $6923- $8852 IN FAIR CONDITION /MECHANICAL ISSUES & $7851-$9790 IN GOOD CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11364816

THE MOTORS ON ALL MY WINDOWS WENT OUT AND MY STEERING WHEEL WHEEL SHAKES AND RATTLES REALLY BAD, IT'S CONCERNING

NHTSA ODI 11362847

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE HORN HAD POPPED OUT OF PLACE AND WAS RAISED INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH MADE THE HORN DEFECTIVE. DESPITE THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTH SHORE KIA (1128 SUNRISE HWY, COPIAGUE, NY 11726) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11361985

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 WHEN I HEARD A SMALL POP & ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON & I LOST EVERYTHING. CAR CLICKS WHEN TRYING TO RESTART BUT DOES NOT START. OIL LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, EPS LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON NOW. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE CARS AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED ASAP AS IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ODI 11361296

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.

NHTSA ODI 11359947

WHEN TURNING, THE WHEEL CLICKS AND THUDS SIDEWAYS AS IF LOOSE. THE STEERING COUPLER SEEMS TO BE THE CULPRIT.

NHTSA ODI 11353453

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.

NHTSA ODI 11348910

STEERING WHEEL CLICKS CONSTANTLY WHEN TURNING ANY DIRECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11342719

THE STEERING HAS PLAY IN IT. IT CLICKS. WHEN DRIVING, THE TINIEST BUMP CAUSES A CLANKING, RATTLE THROUGHOUT THE STEERING COLUMN, AND STEERING WHEEL. CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL AT TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331432

THE GEARBOX YOKE PLUG DETACHES WHENEVER YOU DRIVE AND HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A NOISE. THE NOISE WORSENS AS YOU DRIVE NO MATTER IF YOU'RE TURNING A CORNER BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY TYPE OF ROUGH OR BUMPY ROAD CONDITION. YOU CAN HEAR THE NOISE IN THE STEERING EVEN WHEN YOU'RE STATIONARY AND ARE TURNING THE WHEEL. THERE APPARENTLY IS A RECALL ON THIS SAME COMPONENT FOR EARLIER KIA OPTIMA'S YEARS AND BEYOND, BUT NOT ON THE 2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330279

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

NHTSA ODI 11328241

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A WEAR NOISE, LIKE PARTS ARE GETTING LOOSE WHEN I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL THE LIGHTEST. IT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND NOT SAFE AT ALL. IT ALSO SOUNDS WHEN DRIVING NO MATTER THE SURFACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327412