10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,069 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.

2012 Kia Optima steering problems

steering problem

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2012 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #152

Feb 012020

Optima

  • miles

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

My steering wheel has a clanking sound everytime I turn left, right, or even go over bumps. I have read multiple reviews on people with the same issue since the car was released! this is a safety issue. This can cause car accidents. People can lose lives over this. There needs to be a recall.

- Ellenville, NY, USA

problem #151

Oct 272018

Optima

  • miles
The vehicle requires that you hold the steering wheel tightly at all times to prevent the vehicle from veering to the right or left. This is not an alignment issue, no uneven wear of the tires. In addition the steering is quite hard requiring unusual grip on the wheel. Also every slight bump is felt throughout the car. The failure of Kia to address this problem found in many of their products, makes this company/mnf of questionable character.

- Englewood, NJ, USA

problem #150

Jan 012018

Optima

  • 40,000 miles
Since about 40K miles my steering has clicked, locked, and missed and has gotten worse to the point that I have almost been in a few wrecks from inability to control steering. A mechanic friend of mine told me there was a recall for this and to call Kia of chattanooga (who I purchased from) to look into it along with other recalls I may not know about before taking a trip accross country with my son. I have tried calling and the dealership hears recall and hangs up on me. I was able to leave one voicemail for the manager but was never contacted back and continue to be hung up on. My concern is mostly with the steering and possible bearings with engine. Steering will click even at a stand still, locks and misses while in motion rather badly. This has been happening since around 40K miles. Unsure of any other safety related recalls as I had moved multiple times and belive that is why I did not get letters.

- South Pittsburg, TN, USA

problem #149

Feb 192020

Optima

  • 138,500 miles

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

Steering sticks and you have to forcefully pull the steering wheel in the other direction to unstick it. Oil is burning with no oil leaks, no leaks in other fluids, no explanation as to where it is going but it is burning through a quart of oil every 7 days.

- Dayton, NV, USA

problem #148

Oct 012019

Optima

  • 93,000 miles
On feb18 2020 head lights again stopped working new bulbs were put in oem replacements light go off when ever they want this is extremely dangerous if your a rural roads interior light stay on or go off on there own but mostly it's the head light that work when they want to this issue happens when driving and when stationary Kia has to do something to repair the problem this isn't a wear and tear people's this is subpar craftsmanship on a safety issue and I'm afraid someone will die. I have read other complaints where the car owners payed $400 to replace the wiring and bulbs only to have it happen again. My other issue is that Kia used a plastic star locking bearing in the steering column that broke and I had to fix at my expense mechanic said it's a problem with the cars. When driving the car making a turn you would feel the grinding in the steering wheel and hear clicking. This was on regular city paved streets.

- Massapequa, NY, USA

problem #147

Jan 252020

Optima

  • miles
Streering get hot

- Albany, GA, USA

problem #146

Jan 062020

Optima

  • 100,000 miles

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

When I'm going around a curve my steering wheel sticks and stays in the turning position. I have to forcefully turn it back

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #145

Dec 012019

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The steering feels like it locks as your driving pulling the vehicle to the left. I can jiggle the steering wheel to help correct it back to straighten the wheels.the dealership aligned the front end but this did not fix the problem. They said they could possibly fix it if I spent over a $1000 dollars to replace parts on the right front end. They would not guarantee that this would solve the problem. That is a lot of money to "maybe" fix it.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #144

Sep 082019

Optima

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the steering wheel vibrated abnormally without warning. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #143

Nov 202019

Optima

  • 137,456 miles
Steering column coupler

- North Ridgeville, OH, USA

problem #142

Oct 022019

Optima

  • 69,149 miles

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

There is a click or clunk upon turning the steering wheel in either direction. This happens when still or turning anyplace.

- Coolville, OH, USA

problem #141

Jun 012017

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving, the contact stated that there was play in the steering wheel when turning left and right. Also, while driving various speeds, there was an abnormal rattling noise when driving over bumps in the road. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Bloomsburg, PA, USA

problem #140

Jun 172019

Optima

  • 49,520 miles
Noise in the steeing when I turn the wheel in motion

- Albany, GA, USA

problem #139

Jun 012019

Optima

  • 75,800 miles
Steering wheel shimmies violently at about 50 to 60 mph. This is not an alignment or wheel balance issue. I had a Kia service person that works in another dealership and I was told this is a known problem that is not being dealt with by Kia.

- Sebago, ME, USA

problem #138

Jun 162019

Optima

  • 93,867 miles
While parking my car into the garage I notice as I was turning my steering wheel to the right to straighten the car I heard a clunking noise. I also notice it while I moved the steering wheel side to side stationary I will still hear the noise on the right.. I've never heard this noise until today.

- Romeoville, IL, USA

problem #137

Jul 012018

Optima

  • 68,864 miles
As I drive the car, she has a tendency of going either to the left or the right. I have to forcefully rectify my steering wheel and someone behind me would see that I'm drivimg erratically. It is annoying while driving to have to give to the steering wheel a notch to the left or to the right when actually you want to go straight. Is there a recall on the problem. I bought the car 2 years ago and they told me that was the only problem they had with it.they had to change the rack and pinion. And now she's doing it again. It does that on any street or highway.

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #136

Jan 242018

Optima

  • 45,000 miles
The steering column is making a clicking noise like something is loose inside it. I am afraid it will break completely and I'll lose all steering while I'm driving. It makes the noise when I hit a bump or veering left or right. It feels like it jerks. I travel quite a bit and have a one year old child. I've also read many complaints about this model having the same issue with other people. I am writing this complaint because I feel that this is not an isolated problem and am asking someone to look at this problem and address it. Thank you for your time.

- Carlsbad, NM, USA

problem #135

Apr 012019

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
Every time I turn my wheel left/right, or hit a bump it clicks loudly.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #134

Apr 012019

Optima

  • miles
The problem: In affected Kia Optima vehicles, a condition may exist where drivers may feel a 'notchy' or "clunky" sound or 'slipping' condition when turning the steering wheel left or right. It is believed by other Kia Optima owners and or mechanics who may be familiar with the issue that this may be due to either a software glitch in the Optima's electronic steering system or a faulty power steering motor assembly, U-joint in the steering assembly, or the steering coupler. Owners are unable to find any known recall on this issue, but mechanics believe that this is a very common fault in the Kia Optima years 2011-2014.

- Oakley, CA, USA

problem #133

Mar 152019

Optima

  • miles
2012 Kia Optima with 43000 miles # airbag warning light stays on and checking different seating position/ restarting the ignition the warning light still stays on. # steering wheel feels sticky while driving straight, which needs immediate correction by moving left /right. If not it keeps going towards one direction constantly. Dealership recommended to get the wheel alignment done, but no improvement as per steering wheel even after getting alignment done.

- Farmers Branch, TX, USA

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