3.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,926 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.

2009 Kia Optima steering problems

steering problem

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2009 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #7

Nov 102023

Optima

  • miles

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

After 131,500 miles, struts, rotors and pads wore out. Lower ball joint and control arm also wore out, No injuries or accident.

- Syracuse , UT, USA

problem #6

Aug 202019

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. While making a right turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. When the contact depressed the brake pedal and turned the steering wheel right and left, the vehicle was able to drive normally. The contact stated that the failure occurred three times within two months. The vehicle was taken to jeff belzer's Kia Chevrolet Dodge Ram Kia (21111 cedar ave, lakeville, mn 55044, (952) 232-6897), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was later taken to luther bloomington Kia (1701 american blvd w, bloomington, mn 55431, (612) 424-7641) where it was diagnosed, but no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- New Prague Mn 56071, MN, USA

problem #5

Mar 252019

Optima

  • miles
My steering wheel is locked and nothing will help unlock it. Is there a re call

- Pocatello, ID, USA

problem #4

Aug 022016

Optima

  • 60,000 miles

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

Took 2009 Kia to dealership, Tuesday, August 2, 2016 because of air bag illumination. Was told it was two things. The OCS mat in the passenger seat was defective and the clock spring assembly located in the steering column. Kia issued a recall on the 2008 Optima for this very same issue (clock spring assembly). The recall should be extended to include the 2009 Kia Optima. We did, however, receive a letter from Kia regarding the OCS mat in the passenger seat. Unfortunately, Kia will not pay for the repair even though they know it is a defect on their part. Prices for repair? over $1,500. These two items are clearly a safety issue and Kia needs to step up to the plate repair these safety issues. These issues did not occur because of misuse - they are occurring and have occurred because of known defects.

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #3

Oct 152014

Optima 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The ESC alarm came on and the car began shuddering. I tried to brake but it seemed to make the shuddering worse. It became difficult to steer so I coasted the vehicle.to the shoulder of the road and waited a few minutes. I turned the ignition again and the car came on first try but the ESC alarm was still illuminated and usually is although it turns off from time to time.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #2

Aug 092014

Optima 4-cyl

  • 50,250 miles
My 2009 Kia Optima was parked. When I put the key in, it would not turn the car on. The steering wheel would move slightly. The ignition switch and tumblers were not reading that the car was in park. I had the ignition switch replaced. I contacted Kia but they would not cover repairs because the car was 2 weeks out of warranty.

- Gulf Shores, AL, USA

problem #1

Feb 032014

Optima

  • 23,233 miles
After the problems with the rotor and pads which [xxx] says he did replace both back pads with generic pads even though my receipt showed something different; I went to get the car appraise to see how much I could get for it on a trade-in vehicle, I was told the car need front bushings so that knocked $900 on the amount they would give me for it. Bushings, on a car barely driven and I have a 10 year warranty that comes with it, a 10 year warranty I purchase and a 5 year warranty on the tires. Can you believe this? I can't. I guess if I drove it every day the way I should the car would be completely overhauled at my expense and all the warranties mean nothing; my money just went right up in smoke. This is definitely a piece of junk or I am being scammed. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Chesterfield, MI, USA

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