2013 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,383 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 48 involved a crash and 114 involved a fire. 36 people were injured and 4 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, roof and pillarsAug 1, 2022
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.
A plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 26, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC245.
Campaign 22V560000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 17, 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 20V-100. The low pressure fuel hose may be damaged, or missing heat-protective tape, which can result in a fuel leak.
A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel hose, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-33-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC228.
Campaign 22V093000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 20V519000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 21, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) or 2.0L GDI Turbo engines. The low pressure fuel hose may deteriorate and crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
If the fuel hose cracks, a fuel leak can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify Owners, and Dealers will inspect the low pressure fuel hose for damage or leaking, replacing it as necessary. If no damage or leaking is found, a heat-protective tape will be installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC187.
Campaign 20V100000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJun 1, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
If the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners are disabled, there is an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates deployment of these safety systems.
Kia will notify owners. For model year 2011 Sedona vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to verify the ACU part number and, if necessary, install an extension wire harness kit between the ACU Connector and the Vehicle Harness Connector. For all other affected vehicles, Kia will instruct dealers to install the extension wire harness kit. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC165.
Campaign 18V363000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
213 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Feb 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY A LITTLE BIT OF FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Steering, Jan 11, 2016
I PURCHASED MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ON 9/29/2013. I DROVE IT LESS THAN A MONTH AND THE STEERING STARTED STICKING. I HAD TO JERK THE WHEEL TO GET IT LOOSE. TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD , " THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD DO". I AM NOT DUMB. I KNEW THEIR WAS SOMETHING WRONG. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND HAD TO CALL KIA CONSUMER TO GET IT DIAGNOSED. FOUND OUT SOME TYPE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS GONE. GOT THE CAR BACK AND UPON DRIVING THE STEERING STARTED SPINING AROUND LIKE A MERRY GO ROUND. TOOK BACK TO KIA SERVICE PER THE CONSUMER OFFICE. I HAVE GOTTEN CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD, "_IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT"". NOW THE STEERING IS VERY TIGHT AND STIFF TO DRIVE. THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND I FEEL LIKE I AM FIGHTING TO KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. VERY EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE. NOW EBEN MAKING TURNS I'M S CURVE TO THE LEFT CAN SOMETIMES HEAR A LIST CLICKING NOISE. THESE CARS WITH STEERING PROBLEMS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE S FATAL ACCIDENT. ALL THESE ACTIONS TO PLACE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS ON STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY.
Steering, Dec 11, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. ...UPDATED 02/08/16 *BF UPDATED 5/10/18*JB *CN
Steering, Dec 3, 2015
THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS PULLING IN EITHER DIRECTION, FIRST NOTICED THIS AFTER 100000 MILES. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Steering, Oct 31, 2015
THE STEERING WHEEL IS 'COG-WHEELING' TO FAR LEFT OR RIGHT. CAN'T KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL NEUTRAL/CENTER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. EITHER THE STEERING WHEEL IS ROTATED JUST OFF THE CENTER, COGGED TOO FAR TO LEFT OR TOO FAR TO RIGHT. I NEED TO CONSTANTLY MAKE ADJUSTMENT AND ZIG-ZAG THROUGH THE STRAIGHT ROAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2013 KIA OPTIMA, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED.
Steering, Oct 28, 2015
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK. WHEN IT RELEASES, THE VEHICLE WILL ALMOST OVER CORRECT SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE "JERKY" STEERING/DRIVING. IT HAS DONE THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A NEWER VEHICLE, BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT. AND ON LONGER ROAD TRIPS, I GET WORN OUT FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT TO MENTION IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD.
Steering, Oct 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Steering, Sep 18, 2015
MY STEERING USED TO BE GREAT, WITH NO ISSUES. A FEW DAYS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO FIGHT ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. STRAIGHT, TURNING LEFT, TURNING RIGHT, IT SEEMED TO FIGHT ME NO MATTER THE SITUATION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ANY TINY BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT THE CAR COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THROWS THE STEERING WHEEL A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. ALSO, THE CAR VEERS RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT. MY NORMAL DRIVE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT WAS PHENOMENAL, WITH NO COMPLAINTS... THE CAR TOOK TINY BUMPS IN THE ROAD BUT IT WAS NOT FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY ALIGNING MY TIRES AND UPDATING THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SETTINGS. I WAS EXCITED TO GET BACK INTO MY CAR WITH THE PROBLEM FIXED BUT ALL I NOTICED AFTERWARDS WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS TIGHTER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE TIGHTNESS OF THE WHEEL DOES NOT MAKE THE PROBLEMS AS NOTICEABLE, BUT THE CAR STILL DIRECTS RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL IS JUMPING WITH EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS IN THE ROAD, AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE IS STRESSFUL AND UNCOMFORTABLE AS I ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON HIGH ALERT - THIS IS NOT PLEASANT WHEN I DRIVE LONG DISTANCES EVERYDAY FOR WORK. NEEDS TO BE FIXED!
Steering, Suspension, Vehicle speed control, Sep 13, 2015
STEERING ,HARD TO KEEP IN LANES,LOUD HARD RIDE. WHILE TEST DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA I TOLD MY SALES PERSON THAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD. HE SAID THAT'S B/C ITS A NEW CAR. IT'LL EASE UP. I THOUGHT IT WAS LOUD & TOOK SMAL BUMPS LIKE A BIG POT HOLES. AND THE GAS PEDAL & ACCELERATION WAS WIERD. HE SAID BRING IT BACK & THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL DRIVE IT & FIX IT. DON'T WORRY. WELL AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT EMULATE THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO LET ME DRIVE WITH SERVICE PERSON. COULD NOT DO. BREAK IT IN & IT'LL GO AWAY. WELL AT 11,000 MILES TOOK IT BACK & COMPLAINED . SAME ANSWER. NOW 19,703 MILES NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS .THEY GOT WORSE. IN ADDITION MY PAINT SCRATCHES & CHIPS SO EASY THAT THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY PAINT. BACK TO SERVICE & BODY WORK THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL. BRING IT IN FOR DETAILING & WE WILL GET IT LOOKING LIKE NEW! DON'T HAVE $175.00 TO DO THAT . I DO NOT GET CLOSE TO QUOTED GAS MILEAGE. IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN IT ACCELERATES & GEARS DON'T SHIFT .IT TAKES OFF OR DOESN'T ALL BY ITSELF. SEEMS LIKE TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. ITS SO LOUD I CANNOT USE HANDS FREE PHONE & CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFICULT. THE STEERING IS SO OFF, I'M AFRAID I'LL GET PULLED OVER & FINED. VERY HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD. AND MY CAR SQUEAKS AS YOU GET IN & OUT OF MY CAR. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION . I'M AFRAID IT WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT & HURT MYSELF & OTHERS.
Steering, Aug 31, 2015
STEERING ISSUES AT HIGH SPEEDS ON EXPRESSWAY. VEHICLE GOES INTO OTHER LANES CONSTANTLY. I THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN BUT IT HAS NEVER GOTTEN BETTER. IT COULD CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF BY A RECALL. IF NOT, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER KIA.
Steering, Jul 31, 2015
CAR STARTED HAVING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, WILL EVEN PULL TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEED RATE. CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING STEERING ISSUES.
Steering, Jul 31, 2015
WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND, IT FIRST STARTED WHEN YOU MAKE A RIGHT TURN, NOW REGARDLESS OF WHICH WAY YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE.
Steering, May 29, 2015
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING MY BRAND NEW 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX I NOTICED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING ON ANY TYPE OF HIGHWAY THE CAR WONDERS ONCE I REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS (USUALLY 65MPH OR MORE). THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS IT WAS A WINDY DAY AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS... BUT, I'VE NOTICED THIS SAME ISSUE EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS LITTLE TO NO WIND. THE CAR REFUSES TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE, CONSTANTLY VEERING LEFT AND RIGHT (EVEN ON A FLAT SURFACE). THE STEERING WHEEL BARELY MOVES, BUT THE CAR ITSELF WILL WONDER BACK AND FORTH, REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION BY THE DRIVER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATEDLY SAID ITS THE SLOPE IN THE ROAD, EVEN THOUGH I'VE TOLD THEM I'VE EXPERIENCED IT ON MULTIPLE HIGHWAYS. NOW I AM NOTICING THE SAME PROBLEM AT REGULAR SPEEDS OF 35MPH AND MORE. THE STEERING WONDERS AND MY SUSPENSION SEEMS NONEXISTENT. SIMPLE TAR LINES IN THE PAVEMENT FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING OVER POTHOLES. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO FEEL A BIT OF A ROUGH RIDE, BUT SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THESE ISSUES COMBINED MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE AND AT TIMES, SCARY. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE SOON ABOUT THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OWNERS HAVE SUBMITTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I LOVE THE CAR, OTHER THAN THE STEERING ISSUE.
Steering, May 25, 2015
I WAS TRAVELING ON 85 NORTH AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 70 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY STIFF AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT! FINALLY IT RELEASED AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT AGAIN. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE ISSUE BUT MY FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT I SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR ANY RECALLS REGARDING STEERING. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND 100+ COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE FOR 2012-2013 MODEL KIA OPTIMAS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN RESULT IN INJURY IF THE STEERING REMAINS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER!
Steering, May 22, 2015
I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 17996 MILES. AFTER A FEW MILES DRIVING ON THE I-95 I NOTICED THAT THE 2013 OPTIMA HAS A VERY WEIRD STEERING PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING OVER 50MPH. IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT PATH. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP ON THE CORRECT LANE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND TOLD THEM THAT I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINS OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I'VE ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THERE IS A PATCH THAT WAS RELEASED ON APRIL 2015 BUT THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T APPLY FOR MY CAR. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. KIA NEEDS TO GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AS IT'S VERY UNSAFE.
Steering, May 21, 2015
MY WIFE'S 2013 OPTIMA HAS VERY STIFF STEERING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE OR LONG STRETCH ROAD. IT'S VERY HARD TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING LOCKS WHEN GOING STRAIGH AND IT FEELS LIKE IT CATCHES WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. I IGNORED IT FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THINKING MAYBE A "BREAK IN" STAGE. STILL AT 40K MILES IT'S THE EXACT SAME WAY. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. I NOTICED I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE KIA FIXES THIS PROBLEM. MAY BE MY LAST KIA CAR!!!
Steering, May 12, 2015
WIFE'S 2013 OPTIMA HAS A VERY STIFF STEERING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. IT'S VERY HARD TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. ITS ALMOST AS IF THE STEERING LOCKS AT 12 OCLOCK AND IT BREAKS FREE AT ANY LEFT OR RIGHT MOVEMENT. OVER CORRECTING IS INEVITABLE. WE IGNORED IT FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THINKING MAYBE IT'S JUST IN A "BREAK IN" STAGE. NOW AT 30K MILES IT'S THE EXACT SAME WAY. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL AND WANTS ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT CAUSE THERE ARE NO RECALLS. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE KIA MAN'S UP AND FIXES THIS PROBLEM.
Steering, May 3, 2015
BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ONLY 27 MILES ON IT. WE TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO GET FIRST OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE STEERING BECAUSE THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY. DEALER SAID THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WAS ALREADY SET TO THE LEAST SENSITIVE SETTING. DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY. IT IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. IT HAS DONE THIS FROM THE BEGINNING. I'M SURE KIA WILL JUST IGNORE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DID WHEN I CONTACTED THEM BEFORE ABOUT A DIFFERENT ISSUE. I ALREADY HAVE CALLED KIA ABOUT THE FACT THAT MY CAR GETS NOWHERE NEAR THE STATED MPG. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF CARS WITH OVERSTATED MPG. SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY IGNORE THIS ISSUE AS WELL. THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS A BIG ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE FILED BEFORE KIA DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT? THIS CAR ALSO SKIDS EASILY IN THE RAIN. *TR
Steering, Mar 18, 2015
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES VERY STIFF AND RIGID. TO MAKE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO STAY WITHIN YOUR LANE, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FORCE IS REQUIRED. THIS RESULTS IN OVER CORRECTING CAUSING YOU TO BASICALLY SWERVE DOWN THE LANE. ADDITIONALLY, THIS DIFFICULT STEERING RESULTS IN DRIVER FATIGUE AND FRUSTRATION. ANY OF THESE FACTORS COULD EASILY RESULT IN A CRASH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. KIA STATES THE STEERING FALLS WITHIN THEIR NORMAL "SPECS", HOWEVER THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Steering, Mar 14, 2015
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK. YOU HAVE TO USE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THEN THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE. THE ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED AND WAS GOOD. THE CAR HAS NEW TIRES BUT STILL DID IT WHILE IT HAD THE FACTORY OEM TIRES ON IT. AFTER RESEARCH I UNDERSTAND THE 2013 HAS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME COMPLAINT BUT KIA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Steering, Mar 2, 2015
DURING A TRIP THAT WAS ONLY 100 MILES ONE WAY I HAD TO CORRECT THE STEERING SO MANY TIMES THAT ON THE RETURN TRIP I WAS SO TIRED I DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE ANY MORE THAT EVENING. I HAD TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING (RIGHT OR LEFT) AND DREADED THE RETURN TRIP. I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED. I AM EXPECTING THE U.S. GOVT. TO HELP US FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I ASKED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TO GOOGLE THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE HE REFUSED. HE EXPLAINED HE KNEW OF NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. I DON'T THINK HE WAS BEING HONEST, HOWEVER THAT IS JUST MY OPINION. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP! *TR
Steering, Feb 17, 2015
PROBLEM IS ONGOING. VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTION NECESSARY. YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. SLIGHT CORRECTIONS HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY MADE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR GOING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. . I LITERALLY HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY MICRO-STEER THE CAR JUST TO KEEP IT WITHIN THE LANE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN. THIS DRIFTING WILL HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE WIND IS BLOWING OR THE TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE. I HAVE INSTALLED NEW TOP QUALITY TIRES AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT SCRUPULOUSLY PERFORMED. NO IMPROVEMENT. *TR
Steering, Feb 16, 2015
IS ANYONE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE OVERLY SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC STEERING ON THE 2013 KIA OPTIMAS THAT CAUSE THE CAR TO ZIG ZAG WITHIN THE LANE OF TRAVEL??? THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT IS PROMINENT ALL OVER THE INTERNET ON MANY DIFFERENT SITES. THERE IS, QUITE SIMPLY, A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS, AND COMPLAINTS TO KIA OR THE NHTSB SEEM TO FALL ON DEAF EARS. WILL IT TAKE A FATALITY DUE TO THESE ISSUES FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE NOTICE OF THE MAJOR HAZARD THESE PARTICULAR CARS PRESENT TO DRIVERS?!? THE ELECTRONIC STEERING IS EXTREMELY OVERLY SENSITIVE...SO BAD THAT ONE CAN BARELY LOOK DOWN TO TURN THE DEFROST ON OR LOOK INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WITHOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THE CAR TO DRIFT IN ANOTHER LANE IN THE SAME DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, OR EVEN IN AN ONCOMING LANE OF TRAVEL!! YOU LITERALLY CANNOT MOVE YOUR HAND AT ALL ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WITHOUT THE STEERING REACTING. A 1/4 MOVEMENT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT??? YOU'LL FEEL THE CAR SHIFT IN THE DIRECTION TURNED, SO THAT LEAVES THE DRIVER HAVING TO CONTINUALLY KEEP HIS HAND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT JUST TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE OF TRAVEL, THUS CAUSING THE CAR TO ZIG ZAG DOWN THE LANE OF TRAVEL, GIVING THE APPEARANCE OF AN IMPAIRED DRIVER. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR EVEN SPEEDS 45MPH OR HIGHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITHOUT HAVING TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I LOOKED DOWN TO TURN THE DEFROST ON AND WHEN I LOOKED BACK UP THE CAR WAS HALFWAY IN THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAVEL FOR GOD'S SAKE! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, WHETHER IT BE A SIDE SWIPE ON THE HIGHWAY OR A HEAD ON COLLISION, SOMETHING WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN, AND WHEN SOMEONE FINALLY DIES MAYBE THEN KIA OR THE NHTSB WILL FINALLY LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Feb 8, 2015
THE STEERING GETS STIFF AND TENDS TO STICK WHEN GOING STRAIGHT THIS CAUSES SLIGHT OVER STEERING BACK AND FORTH CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS TO COME ON WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE. *JS
Steering, Jan 24, 2015
THIS IS THE MOST RECENT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF TIMES MY CAR HAS WONDERED INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAVEL BY ITSELF. TODAY MY SON AND I WERE GOING OUT TO EAT. THERE WAS A COLD RAIN FALLING, SO THE WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG UP A BIT. I LOOKED DOWN JUST LONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE DEFROST ON AND WHEN I LOOK BACK UP MY VEHICLE IS ABOUT 3/4 INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAVEL AND MY HAND DID NOT MOVE AT ALL!!! HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER CAR COMING IN THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAVEL THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HEAD ON CRASH AND THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN FATALITIES TOO, ALL BECAUSE KIA WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE WITH THE 2013 OPTIMA. THE CAR WONDERS CONSTANTLY SO YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO LOOK IN YOUR REAR VIEW OR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, NOT CAN YOU LOOK DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE HEAT OR AC ON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR WONDERING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INTO OTHER LANES OF TRAVEL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. ON AND TRIP OF LENGTH, IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS WONDERING FROM HAPPENING YOU HAVE TO 100% OF THE TIME CORRECT TO THE LEFT AND THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT AND THEN BACK TO THE LEFT AND BACK TO THE RIGHT, ALL THE WAY TO YOUR DESTINATION, AND ALL WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL NO MORE THAN 1 INCH TO THE RIGHT OR 1 INCH TO THE LEFT, SO IN ESSENCE I AM HAVING TO CONSTANTLY STEER THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH WITHIN A 2 INCH RANGE OF MOTION. THERE IS NO CENTERING OF THE VEHICLE AND HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AND THE CAR STAY STRAIGHT. THERE IS ALWAYS A CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE OF TRAVEL. THAT IS HOW SENSITIVE THE EPS IS. IT IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET OF KIA DEALERS BEING ABLE TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY OF THE STEERING THROUGH THE COMPUTER, AND THESE PEOPLE ALSO SAY THAT INITIALLY KIA TELLS THEM NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. IT APPEARS KIA IS DECEIVING THEIR 2013 OPTIMA OWNERS. *TR