10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,622 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Kia Optima steering problems

steering problem

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2013 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 10)

problem #194

Aug 202024

Optima

  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was significant play in the steering wheel and the steering wheel made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering column coupler had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the repair was not covered under TSB Number: CHA060. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #193

May 162024

Optima

  • miles
Dealership states I need a new coupling device. They told me this has been a problem in 2013 Optima.

- Mission, KS, USA

problem #192

May 072024

Optima

  • miles
Flexible steering coupling was faulty and replaced on 02-22-23 under recall. The same part became faulty again on 02-22-24, but Ewald Kia of Oconomowoc refused to replace the defective part without charge. The HECU is under recall so I scheduled a service appointment for recall and when I arrived at Ewald Kia of Oconomowoc, I was advised by service manager that they did no have parts to fix recall.

- Hartford, WI, USA

problem #191

Jan 092024

Optima

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the steering column became very loose, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #190

Mar 212022

Optima

  • miles
2013 Kia Optima EX 2.4L the issue continues to be problematic when driving at 40 miles an hour and above around turns. The steering wheel gets sticky making it difficult to correct the steering.

- Silverdale, WA, USA

problem #189

Feb 162024

Optima

  • miles
The Steering wheel is making a lot of clicking noise when turning or going over bumpy roads. I have takin my car to several independent car shops only for them to tell me that this has been a common problem for this specific model as they have seen similar Kia optima-??s and Hyundai-??s with this issue. I was advised that if left alone, the problem can make the steering go bad and become a dangerous safety concern. I have contacted the Kia dealership and they stated they want $150 diagnostic fee to look at it, even though they admitted that they-??ve had customers bring their Kia-??s in for similar issue.

- Hamtramck, MI, USA

problem #188

Sep 152023

Optima

  • 170,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35-?"45 MPH, the steering wheel was sloppy and there was play in the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the failure was due to the electronic steering and gears. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the failure was related to the Customer Satisfaction Warranty Extension Program: CS1604/WTY006 (Power Steering). The approximate failure mileage was 170,000. The VIN was not available.

- Lake Milton, OH, USA

problem #187

May 012023

Optima

  • miles
The following information was stated in the repair report to the Kia Dealership Service Dept.: 09:49 10NOV23 12:18 10NOV23 LINE OPCODE TECH TYPE HOURS LIST NET TOTAL A CUSTOMER STATES CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING WHEEL, STEERING DOES NOT SEEM AS RESPONSIVE SINCE NOISE STARTED...CLIENT INFORMED OF $200 STARTING DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE...CLIENT OUT OF WARRANTY FOR WTY006 WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR FLEX COUPLER.... IF IT IS POSSIBLE FLEX COUPLER CAUSING STEERING WHEEL ISSUE, CLIENT HAS PART ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT KI REPLACED FLEX COUPLER 2046 CKI $400 $400 PARTS: 0.00 LABOR: $400 OTHER: 0.00 TOTAL LINE A: $400

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #186

Oct 062023

Optima

  • miles
The MDPS FLEXIBLE COUPLING is needing replaced due to the play and knocking and chewing up of the plastic part and my local service center says its not covered. i gave the the nhtsa kia tech bulletin info when i scheduled my appt and was told yes its covered. they called today and said no its not because its 10yrs from the date of purchase and i said no it says 10yrs from the date of service. this was just diagnosed in the last month after spending money replacing other things thinking that was the cause. i just want the replacement that kia said they would cover.

- Bradley, IL, USA

problem #185

Jul 152023

Optima

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and driving a bump in the roadway, the steering wheel vibrated briefly before returning to normal functionality, which had since become a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to TSB: CHA-060, but the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.

- Turtle Creek, PA, USA

problem #184

Aug 032013

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Every since I purchased this car in 2013 I have had nothing but trouble out of it I have called the Kia company numberous times and they never respond all I asked them to do is replace the car I trusted in Kia I love my car but it is severely dangerous please help me before it gets me and my family hurt

- Hi Hat , KY, USA

problem #183

Jul 242023

Optima

  • miles
MDPS FLEXIBLE COUPLING has failed. We hear a clunking sound whenever we turn the steering wheel. The wheel heavily vibrates while driving when hitting a slight bump, pothole, or when turning. Worried that this will affect the steering and won't be able to control the vehicle now that the coupling has failed. Dealership and a separate car repair place has confirmed and reproduced the issue. No warning messages or lights. Kia is refusing the replace this since it has been more than 10 years since the vehicle was first serviced. Was never notified about this issue when they first reported the TSB in mid-2016. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10109834-9999.pdf

- Centreville, VA, USA

problem #182

Jul 012023

Optima

  • miles
Unknown

- Weldon , CA, USA

problem #181

Apr 012023

Optima

  • miles
2013 Kia Optima, 45K miles, owned in family since new and regularly maintained -- steering clunks, feels loose and "broken" when moved left and right, so driving may be unsafe. We believe this is due to the CS1604 Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Flexible Coupling issue previously identified. However, the extension has just now expired and we can't get Kia dealership nor Kia itself to extend coverage further. No warning lamps or messages show, and yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Kia case number is available upon request.

- Sun Prairie, WI, USA

problem #180

Jun 212023

Optima

  • miles
The ESC kight keeps turning on. The brake lights wont turn off, it wont let me accelerate while im driving at different speeds or it will decelerate abruptly. Yes its available for inspection. My safety and the safety of my two young children were at risk multiple times. This is my daily driver. And i was driving them to school when the car would not let me accelerate and someone almost hit me from the back. Also it happened to us on the freeway a few times as we are driving 65 mph the car decelerates abruptly almost causing major accidents while my children are in the vehicle with me. Not yet, i called the nearest kia dealer and they didnt have appointment ls until july - august. There were no warning lights at all. At first we didnt know what was the problem. After the few times it happened then the ESC light turned on and it stays on. Also the brake light wont turn off even when the car is off.

- Corona , CA, USA

problem #179

Apr 052023

Optima

  • miles
Flexible coupler in the MDPS (p/n 56315) is failing and it is causing clicking and clunking when the steering wheel is turned to the left and right. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by the dealer. No warning lamps or messages are visible indicating this failure.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #178

Jan 202022

Optima

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering column experienced excessive shaking and vibration making the vehicle difficult to steer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #177

Apr 072023

Optima

  • miles
Steering coupler went bad. Steering wheel rattles, badly

- Louisville , KY, USA

problem #176

Jan 012022

Optima

  • miles
While driving my 2013 KIA Optima at 65+ mph steering wheel shakes & has a loud clicking noise. The problem has worsened. I have reported this prior. Now it has caused the need to have a frontend alignment.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #175

Sep 092021

Optima

  • miles
2013 Kia Optima EX 2.4L, the problem started at 100,000 miles. The vehicle now has 150,000 miles and the steering has become increasingly more resistant (sticking/glitchy) on turns. Kia corporation is well aware of the problem, due to onboard computer issues.

- Silverdale, WA, USA

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