2011 Kia Optima complaints

(DIMMED HEADLIGHT) I HAVE OWNED MY 2011 OPTIMA SINCE 2013 AND SUMMER OF 2016 NOTICE MY HEADLIGHTS WERE REALLY DIMMED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CANT SEE PAST 10-20 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU. REPLACED 2 HEADLIGHT BULBS W/ SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR BULBS AND HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL VERY DIMMED. LOOKS LIKE THEY REFLECTORS INSIDE THE BEAMS ARE BURNT/MELTED CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO LOOK DIM. I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I CANT REALLY SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD. IT WOULD BE NICE IF KIA LAUNCHED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT FOR HEADLIGHT PROBLEM SINCE I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW SINCE IT WAS FACTORY BULBS WERE ORIGINALLY IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. UNSAFE HEADLIGHT VISIBILITY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE OPTIMA IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD - THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING AN ODD NOISE WHEN STATIONARY WHEN TURNED SLIGHTLY LEFT OR RIGHT. THEN, TRAVELING ON NORMAL CITY STREETS, A LOUD NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN OVER SLIGHT CRACKS OR BUMPS, AND AT LOW SPEEDS. BUT NOW, THE CAR'S STEERING COLUMN IS VERY LOUD AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - STARTING AT 50MPH. IT IS SO LOUD I CANNOT HEAR THE RADIO AT ALL. I CAN NO LONGER GO ON ANY TRIPS WITH THE CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE MOTOR SEIZED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON CITY STREET WHEN SMOKE APPEARED OUT OF THE HOOD OF THE CAR. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFE SPOT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM.FLASHLIGHT SHOWED A LARGE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND INSPECTED. ALL OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS WERE SUBMITTED AS PER DEALERSHIP REQUEST. DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED CLAIM TO KIA HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF ENGINE WOULD BE COVERED, I. E.,REPLACED. NEXT DAY ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS APPROVED AT NO COST TO ME. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER A MONTH, THERE ARE OTHER KIA CARS AT THIS DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND STILL NO REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I SPOKE TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN SO. CALIFORNIA AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND THE MESSAGE THAT THE ENGINE IS ON BACK-ORDER. NO ETA CAN BE PROVIDED AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A BACKLOG OF CARS WITH THIS CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO END IN SIGHT. ANY ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR OFFICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

AT APPROXIMATELY 118,000 MILES, THE CONNECTING ROD AND ENGINE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON RHODE ISLAND STATE ROUTE 114 IN EAST PROVIDENCE, RI. THE ENGINE SEIZED COMPLETELY AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I THEN REQUIRED A TOW TRUCK. THANKFULLY IT WAS 1AM AND NO CARS ON THE ROAD. NOBODY WAS HURT. BALD HILL KIA IN WARWICK, RI NOW HAS MY CAR, BUT NO ETA ON WHEN IT WILL BE READY. THEY TELL ME THAT THERE ARE TWO OTHER OPTIMAS WAITING FOR ENGINES AHEAD OF MINE. THIS IS 100% UNACCEPTABLE. I SPENT $26,000 ON THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH AND KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY THEY EXTENDED ON THE ENGINE IN A TIMELY FASHION. WHILE THEY HAVE OFFERED A LOANER CAR FOR NOW, THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE IN WRITING THAT THE LOANER WILL BE OF NO COST TO ME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH THE OPTION OF HOPE AND WAIT THAT KIA DOES THE RIGHT THING, OR TAKE MATTERS IN TO MY OWN HANDS BY CONTACTING NHTSA AND CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE.

THERE'S A TICKING IN MY MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTING UP N LAST ABOUT 5-10 MINS AFTERWARDS AND ALSO A CLANKING AND POPPING SOUNDS IN STEERING EVEN WORSE WHEN HITTING A HOLE OR GOING ACROSS INTERSECTIONS OR RAILROAD CROSSINGS STEERING SLIPS SOME GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS

DRIVING DOWN ROAD 55 MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF HAD TOWED TO DEALER. ENGINE SEIZED FROM FAULTY CONNECTING ROD REPLACEMENT ENGINE 2 MONTH BACK ORDER. *TR

OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA STEERING WHEEL STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AT ABOUT 78000 MILES. MOVES FREELY WHEN IT SHOULDN'T, SLIGHTEST BUMP AND STEERING WHEEL JUMPS UP AN DOWN AND MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND EFFECTS SAFE STEERING. CAN'T FIND A RECALL, THOUGH I FIND THIS PROBLEM IN NUMEROUS WEB SEARCHES. THEY GONNA WAIT TIL PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED ( IF NOT ALREADY) UNTIL THEY TAKE REPAIR ACTION? ! I UNDERSTAND IT'S A $4 PART WITH AVERAGE AROUND $600.00 LABOR TO REPAIR.WHO HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX THEIR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM? HELP PLEASE THIS NOTICED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS DRIVING TO WORK ON NORMAL MAIN STREET. *TR

THERE IS A DEFECTIVE PART IN THE MOTOR WHICH CAUSES THE MOTOR TO FAIL AND SEIZE AT ANY SPEED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN WITHOUT WARNING ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND MY WIFE HAD TROUBLE JUST GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GETTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE EXACT SAME MOTOR WHICH IS IN THE HYUNDAI SONATA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, NO POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO DRIFT ACROSS THE SLOW LANE TO THE SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART. A CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THANKFULLY THEY WERE NOT REAR-ENDED. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME WHILE ACCELERATING AND PROMPTED WITH CLICKING NOISES UNDER THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE AT 120,400 MILES.

2 ISSUES WITH 2011 KIA OPTIMA @ 101,987 MILES. QUICK BURNING OF OIL (CAUSING OIL TO BURN UP AND HAVING CAR OWNER DEAL WITH TOPPING OFF OIL LEVELS) AND GRADUAL "TICKING" SOUND FROM ENGINE THAT RESULTS IN ENGINE SHUTDOWN AS CAR IS IN MOTION PROB #1: MY KIA BURNING THRU OIL AT HIGH TEMP-I PERFORMED EACH AND EVERY OIL CHANGE PAYING OVER $70 FOR TOP QUALITY OIL. ISSUE WITH OIL GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. I HAD TO BUY MY OIL IN BETWEEN CHANGES TO KEEP ADDING OIL TO ENGINE, MADE MISTAKE IN BLAMING OIL CHANGE COMPANIES, WASTED TIME AND MONEY IN HAVING OIL CHANGED SOONER THEN 3,000 MILES. OIL CAN HENRY STATED THAT THEY BELIEVED KIA ENGINE RAN ON HIGH TEMP WHICH WAS BURNING OIL 2X FASTER THEN ANY CAR. PROBLEM #2: "TICKING" SOUND FROM ENGINE, THAT GRADUALLY FOR LOUDER, FINALLY CAUSED ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN (CHARACTERISTICS ARE DECEIVING CAR OWNER ASSUMES BATTERY ISSUES/ KIA MECHANICS BLAME BAD BATTERY) THIS IS NOT THE CASE! I HAVE AAA WITNESS MY CAR ISSUES, AND CAR STILL HAD ISSUES AFTER NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, WHICH KIA MECHANICS STILL BLAMED BATTERY. CAR SHUTDOWN IS NOT BATTERY SINCE ALL INSIDE LIGHTS, RADIO ETC STILL FUNCTION AND WHEN CAR DIED DURING DRIVING IT STILL ALLOWED ME TO "COAST" HOME AT 3 MPH. THE DAY MY CAR DIED, THERE WAS ALREADY A NEW BATTERY IN CAR. I CAME OUT TO LEAVE FOR DOC APPOINTMENT, CAR LIGHTS CAME ON/RADIO ON BUT ENGINE BARELY START, IF IT DID START CAR ENGINE DIED, IT WAS AS IF ENGINE BARELY STARTED AND COULDN'T MAINTAIN ITSELF. I MISSED A URGENT APPOINTMENT(IAM DI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE AND THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WITH THE PRESENCE OF SMOKE FROM THE STARTER WHEN THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

STARTED CAR AFTER WORK AND IT SUDDENLY STARTED KNOCKING. TRIED TO "BABY" THE CAR HOME, MADE IT 3 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WORK AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. THE RESULT OF A PISTON SLAPPING A SPARK PLUG AND PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. SHOULD FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY OF THESE CARS HAVING "WEAK CONNECTING RODS" BUT SHOULD BE A RECALL INSTEAD.

ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2016, I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA TO CHURCH WITH MY 2 CHILDREN. AFTER COMING UP ON A RED LIGHT I STOPPED AND THEN PROCEEDED TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE LIGHT AND ACCELERATE UP A SLIGHT HILL AT ABOUT 35-40MPH. AFTER GOING OVER HILL, I WAS NOT ABLE TO PRESS THE GAS TO KEEP GOING AND MY BRAKES ENDED UP LOCKING UP SO I HAD TO GET IN FAR LANE IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO COAST INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR CAME ON AND CAR LITERALLY JUST CUT OFF. THANKFULLY IT WAS NOT A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROAD TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED A TOW COMPANY THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND SAID THE CAR STILL WANTED TO TURN OVER BUT SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING IT FROM STARTING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A 2ND MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND IT APPEARS THAT THE CONNECTING ROD IS THE ISSUE. I'VE MAINTAINED THE CAR WITH THE SAME MECHANIC FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND I HAVE A LITTLE OF 140K MILES. I'VE TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID I COULD HAVE THE CAR TOWED THERE AND THEY WOULD PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR ABOUT $99 AN HOUR AND IF THE ENGINE WAS THE ISSUE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 120K MILES AND THAT I MUST HAVE ALL MY PAPERWORK FOR MAINTENANCE FROM THE MECHANIC I USED.

MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE COULDN'T SEE GOING TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING. I TOOK HER CAR OUT IN THE EVENING TO FIND YOU COULD ONLY SEE A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM AN ELECTRICIAN AND RAN A COUPLE OF TESTS ONLY TO FIND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. I READ IN A KIA CAR FORUM ABOUT THE REFLECTIVE PAINT MELTING INSIDE THE LOW BEAM CUP. I ORDERED AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT AND THINGS WORKED GREAT. I TOOK APART THE ORIGINAL AND SENDING A PHOTO OF THE MELTED PAINT. HERE IS A WEBSITE WITH OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2011/LIGHTS/EXTERIOR_LIGHTING.SHTML

THE ENGINE TOTALLY LOCKED UP....WHILE DRIVING, IN MOTION, ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE TYPE HIGHWAY! VERY DANGEROUS! MANY KIA OWNERS APPEAR TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THE ENGINE IS FROZEN SOLID AND WILL NOT TURN OVER PER REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. THESE ENGINES ALSO ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO BUY FOR REPLACEMENT AND KIA HAS DISCONTINUED MAKING THEM AVAILABLE. THIS INDICATES LOUDLY THERE IS A PROBLEM.

SAME COMPLAINTS AS THE OTHERS, 85,000 MILES AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING HOME. NO CHECK ENGINE/LOW OIL LIGHT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE SHOP'S REPORT WAS THAT THE OIL WAS LOW AND DARK, COULD NOT CRANK ENGINE MANUALLY BY HAND, ENGINE HAS INTERNAL DAMAGE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED.. $4100 IF I CHOOSE TO PROCEED. WE BOUGHT IT USED, AND ARE SOL.

ON SEPT 24 2016 AROUND 10 PM, DRIVING HOME ENGINE LOCKS UP, CAR TURNS OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS HEADING AROUND A WIDE TURN AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AS IT DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. KIA DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ENGINE FAILURE WITH A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. KIA CONSUMER SUPPORT TODAY SEPT 29, 2016 SAID THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PRETTY WIDE SPREAD WITH MANY KIA MODELS AS WELL AS HYUNDAI MODELS. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A CLASS ACTION STARTING AGAINST KIA FOR NOT FOLLOW SUITE WITH HYUNDAI WHEN HYUNDAI MAKE OWNERS AWARE. SAME ENGINE FROM SAME PLANT. GOING TO KEEP CALLING KIA SUPPORT UNTIL I GET SOME HELP. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM KIA ABOUT A RECALL OR SERVICE NOTICE AS OTHER HAVE MADE NOTE OF RECEIVING.

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2016, OUT OF THE BLUE ON MAY 22, 2016 I HEARD A SLIGHT KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VERY NEXT MORNING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE I-15 SOUTH AT AROUND 7:00AM I WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 55 MPH DUE TO TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CRANK THE WHEEL AND PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE OFF RAMP NEARBY WITHOUT HURTING ANYONE. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEARBY SHOP AND AFTER A 24HR EVALUATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE THE OIL COMPARTMENT AND BECAUSE OF THESE SHAVINGS IT CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. NOW MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDRIVEABLE SINCE MAY BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME $4,200 TO REPAIR.

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY FIANCE IN APRIL 2016.IN JULY 2016 WE NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS NOISE IS UNBEARABLE. THEREAD IS A LOT OF LOOSE PLAY IN THE STEARING WHEEL AND THE CAR SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS IF YOU NEED AN ALIGNMENT. I TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS BUT THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.KIA SAID IT WASN'T A PROBLEM.YEA IT GOTS TO BE A PROBLEM IF IT'S MAKING A LOUD NOISE LIKE THAT.THIS IS A PROBLEM AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T CAUSE ANYONE TO GET KILLED.THEY VEHICLE MAKES THE NOISE WHEN TURNING AND IT'S SO BAD NOW IT DOES IT WHEN YOU HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD.

I HAD DROVE THIS CAR FOR A YEAR WITH NO MINOR OR MAJOR PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER JUST REGULARLY PERFORMED MAINTENCE AND UP KEEP. NEVER ONCE SEEING A ENGINE OR OIL LIGHT. HOWEVER IN MARCH OF 2016 WITH NO WARNING OR ANYTHING MY CAR STARTED MAKING THIS HORRIBLE 'KNOCKING NOISE' WHICH WAS MINIMAL AT FIRST AND GREW LOUDER AS I ACCELERATED. AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THAT AND HAS NEVER GONE OFF. THIS IMMEDIATELY RAISED CONCERNS FOR ME BUT DID NOT NO THE CAUSE, I PULLED OVER TO A MECHANIC SHOP AND AFTER JUST 30 SECONDS OF HEARING MY CAR START THEN DIE WITH THE HORRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. HIS EXACT WORDS TO ME ARE 'SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT A ROD KNOCK'. AND HE CHECKED MY OIL TO SEE IF ANY WAS IN THE ENGINE WHICH IT WAS AND ASKED ME ABOUT VEHICLE HISTORY. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING AND THE 3 SEPARATE MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKE WITH SAYS THERE WOULD BE NO REASON FOR A 2011 THAT HAS 90K MILES TO HAVE AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. AT THE TIME I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA AND THEY SAY IT WON'T BE COVERED WHICH PUTS ME AT A LOST FOR WORDS AND HAVING ME TRY TO PREPARE TO BUY A ENGINE WHICH COST WILL EQUAL INTO THE $5,000 PRICE RANGE. THIS WAS NOT A REALISTIC OPTION FOR ME AND FORCED ME TO SEEK OTHER OPTIONS. AND COME TO FIND OUT HYUNDAI SHARES THE SAME ENGINE IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA AND THEY RECALLED THEIRS. BUT KIA IS CALLING THIS A MECHANISM DEFECT NOW, AND STILL FIGHTING CLAIMS. IT JUST BAFFLES ME IF HYUNDAI IS THE PARENT COMAPNY OF KIA AND THEY RE

I WAS TOLD BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MIDDLE LANE. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE MY CAR AND MY ENGINE WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO TOW MY CAR TO KIA. THE NEXT DAY KIA SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND I MUST PROVE THAT I KEPT MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. I HAVE NO CAR NOW AND I NEED TO GET TO WORK AND GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL.

FRIDAY SEPT 9TH I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT WALMART IN JACKSON OHIO, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES FROM MY HOME, AFTER THE OIL CHANGE I DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR FOR THE EVENING, I'M RETIRED SO I DON'T DRIVE VERY MUCH EVERYDAY, SO SATURDAY I WENT TO LEAVE TO GO TO THE STORE WHICH IS ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY AND WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR LEAVING THE STORE THE CAR STARTED AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL BANGING AROUND, I INSTANTLY THOUGHT THAT WALMART LEFT MY OIL CAP OFF OR SOMETHING SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED, CAP WAS ON AND THE OIL WAS GOOD AND TO THE FULL LINE, I STARTED THE CAR AND DRIVE IT HOME AND THE NOISE GOT TREMENDOUSLY WORSE, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 BETWEEN HOME AND THE STORE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO PAST 15 MPH, IT'S SITTING NOW AND IF I TRY TO START IT, IT WILL START BUT THE NOISE IS UNBELIEVABLE, NOT DRIVABLE, I'VE LOOKED UP THIS CAR AND MORE THEN 200 OF THE SAME COMPLAINANTS ARE ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME EXACT THING AND EVERYONE SAYS THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR TO A TUNE OF BETWEEN 5,000-7,000 DOLLARS, WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? WHY ISN'T KIA FIXING THESE ENGINES? I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND STILL OWE AT LEAST TWO YEARS ON THE CAR! I HEARD THE HYNDAI HAS THE SAME EXACT MOTOR AND THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR THE MOTOR DOING THIS??? CAR HAS 103,900 MILES AND I'VE ALWAYS KEPT MAINTENANCE UP AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES! TOO MANY OF THESE KIA OPTIMA SHAVE HAD BAD MOTORS AND THE PUBLIC IS SUFF RING AND GETTING PUT INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF IT, WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BECAU

THE ENGNE LOCKED UP AT 87K! I HAD NO OIL IN IT

ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2016, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV SLIGHTLY WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. IT WAS 7:30AM WHEN THIS OCCURRED SO LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT MANY CARS ON THE ROAD YET. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS OFF, THE BREAKS WOULD NOT WORK WELL. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP BY CONTINUING TO HIT THE BREAKS AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BREAK AS WELL. KIA RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES EVERY 7,500 MILES, HOWEVER, I USUALLY HAVE MINE DONE EVERY 5,000. I HAD ZERO WARNING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 31, 2016, AND THE MECHANIC THAT PERFORMED THE CHANGE SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. THERE WAS ZERO SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST AND NO "KNOCKING" SOUND IN THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. ONCE THERE, WE TESTED THE BATTERY AND IT SEEMED A LITTLE LOW. MIND YOU THIS IS A NEW BATTERY PURCHASED FROM COSTCO ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. WE TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND AFTER TRYING TO START THE CAR A 3RD TIME, THE ENGINE STARTED SHOOTING OUT BLACK SMOKE AND HAD A FOUL SMELL TO IT. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER AUTHORIZING $280 TO OPEN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE SO THEY COULD TAKE PICTURES AND SEND IT TO KIA. . I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ

THIS 2011 KIA HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE LIGHT QUIT WORKING. WAS INFORMED THAT LIGHTBULB MELTED AND ENTIRE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT FOR BETTER LIGHTING

2011 KIA OPTIMA. SERVICED AS REQUIRED. APPROX 120,000 MILES. ENGINE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISES AND SEIZED. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD METAL SHAVINGS WERE IN THE MOTOR AND NEED NEW MOTOR. AFTER INVESTIGATING ON LINE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MOTORS. ALSO, KIA MOTORS WERE BUILT IN THE SAME PLANT AS HUNDAI AND THOSE MOTORS AS WELL HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND WERE RECALLED! WHY HAS KIA NOT RECALLED THESE MOTORS KNOWING THERE IS AN ISSUE? OUR MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET A MOTOR FOR A DODGE AT HIS SHOP WITH NO ISSUE, BUT WHEN HE CALLED TO GET A MOTOR FOR THE KIA OPTIMA - NONE TO BE FOUND! CALLED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NONE EITHER, ALL ON BACK ORDER....WHY??? THIS IS VERY OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND I WISH THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE TO GET KIA TO RECALL THESE MOTORS AND MAKE IT RIGHT WITH THE BUYERS. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED MY NHTSA? MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN IT SEIZED IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY STREET IN THE CITY, AND AFTER READING OTHERS THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE! GIANT SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!!! SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST KIA, GUESS IT IS TIME TO JOIN IN ON THAT!

ENGINE IS BLOWN, THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS SNAPPED OFF AND PIECES ARE BANGING AROUND IN MY ENGINE

STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE VEHICLE A GOOD FIVE MONTHS YET!

I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE THEN THE CAR JUST DIED AND WHEN IT DID IT MADE A LOUD POP AND WOULDN'T START.

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA HOME ONE EVENING AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WHATSOEVER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED UP. THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY SLUDGE IN THE OIL. THE PRICE TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE 6,612.00$ I CONTACTED KIA CORP. AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE OIL. THE ENGINES HAVE A DEFECT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE QUITE A POOR HISTORY WITH THESE ENGINES. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY PERSONAL CERTIFIED MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED BUT THERE WAS NOT AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THEY ARE GOING TO PUT ANOTHER ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE WITH LESS MILES FOR ABOUT 1,200.00$ LESS. NOT ONLY KIA WOULDN'T HELP ME OUT BUT THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE AN ABOVE AVERAGE COST. THE AVERAGE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS 4900.00$ SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP ALL WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE

MY TIRES HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH EXTREMELY QUICK WARE ON THE OUTSIDE TREAD SINCE ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2011. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IT WAS JUST TIME TO CHANGE THE TIRES OR HAVE THEM ROTATES/BALANCED. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND I TOOK IT SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR A 2ND OPINION - GOT AN ALIGNMENT DONE (WHICH HELPED FOR ABOUT A MONTH) TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, HAD IT RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS - AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.. I HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MANY TIRES... IN ADDITION, I NOW RECENTLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A VERY LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, VERY INTENSE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION IN ADDITION TO A CLICK NOISE WHEN I TURN HARD RIGHT OR LEFT, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE SOMEWHERE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SOUND BECAME LOUDER WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. ...UPDATED 10/11/16 *BF

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY ISSUES AT NIGHT. CONSUMER USES HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AT NIGHT. *SMD THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, THE CONSUMER PROVIDED IS INVALID. *JB

MY STEERING STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AT 62,000 MILES IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT THAT TIME WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I NOW HAVE 83,000 MILES AND IT IS A CONSTANT CLUNKING SOUND WHENEVER THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO ANY POSITION WHEN DRIVING THE CARE AND ALSO STATIONARY AND WHILE THE CARE IS IN PARK. IT ALSO CLUNKS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACES.

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HAS GONE THROUGH 2 ENGINES WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. BOTH TIME I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STOPPED. I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. NO LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED, THAT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WILL BE SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT TO THE KIA ORGANIZATION SHORTLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

MARCH 2016 WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND PASSING A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE CAR LOST POWER, BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UNRESPONSIVE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE RIGHT BY REST AREA AND COASTED SAFELY. INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WHILE AND NOTICED A SMELL REMINDING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/FIRE. CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALER AND DIAGNOSED TO BE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND PER DEALER IT WAS PRISTINE, KIA DECIDED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY @ APPROX 98K MILES. DEALER STATED THAT PER KIA IT WAS DUE POSSIBLY TO NON OEM OIL FILTER (NICE). WHEN WE GOT THE CAR BACK IT DID NOT WANT TO START OCCASIONALLY, WHERE IT HESITATED ESPECIALLY AS TEMPERATURES INCREASED. NOTICED DEALER, DEALER TOOK IT IN VERIFIED BATTERY AND STARTER WERE TO SPEC. IN JUNE ON A HOT DAY CAR ALMOST DID NOT START, SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER FOR LATER IN THE WEEK. NEXT DAY CAR DID NOT START, WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED TO WEEK STARTER. STARTER WAS REPLACED AND CAR STARTED ON FOR ONE DAY, THE SECOND DAY TEMPERATURES INCREASED AND CAR WAS DEAD WITH SIMILAR ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN, ALSO NOTICED FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AFTER BULB REPLACEMENT. DEALER DIAGNOSED WITH KIA TO BAD ENGINE AGAIN DUE TO TOLERANCES CAUSING FRICTION AND MORE HEAT. SPOKE TO KIA AND STARTED A CASE BUT THEY JUST WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN AND NOT DISCUSS POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL HARNESS COMPROMISE AND ONGOING ISSUE WITH ENGINE FAILING FOR NO REASON. THIS CAR IS SCARRY AND HOPE IT DOES NOT START ON FIRE WHEN THE THIRD ENGI

CLICKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH VIBRATION. THE ONLY TIME IT DOESN'T CLICK IS WHEN GOING COMPLETELY STRAIGHT. IT OCCURS THE WHOLE TIME I'M DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,479.

VEHICLE SHOT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING PEDAL DIDN'T RESPOND. WE HAD RESTART VEHICLE SOME DAY 3 OR 4 TIMES AND AFTER THAT WAS WORKING FOR THE WEEK OR TWO WITH NO PROBLEM .WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA AND TOLD THEM THAT ENGINE HAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING SHOT DOWN. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. KIA FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE.KIA SAID THAT VEHICLE IS FINE WITH NO PROBLEM . AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED ENGINE BLOW OUT AND KIA REPLACED THE ENGINE. THEY ASKED $ 5900FOR REPLACE THE ENGINE. WE REFUSED TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE THE WARRANTY . THEY OFFERED US THE ENGINE FOR FREE AND WE PAID $ 1875 FOR LABOR. WE MADE A CLAIM THROUGH KIA HEADQUARTER BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOTHING HELPS.WE HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE KIA ENGINES ARE NOT GOOD AND IT HAS TO BE A RECALL THE LONG TIME AGO. WHEN ENGINE FINALLY BLOWS OUT IT WAS THE SAME SCENARIO AS ALWAYS BEFORE ...RESTART ENGINE , ENGINE SHOT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, RESTART AGAIN, DRIVING, RESTART UNTIL WE HEARD LOUD KNOCK NOISE

IN MARCH 2016, OUR KIA OPTIMA SEIZED ON THE ONRAMP TO THE I-10 SPEED GOING AT 45 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WHEN IT STALLED THE CAR IN BACK OF US NEARLY HIT US. THERE WAS NO WARNING THE ENGINE WAS FAILING AS IN SIGNS OR WARNING LIGHT. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, THE INSPECTION FOUND THAT ONLY 1 CUP OF OIL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD NO SIGNS OF ENGINE PROBLEMS OR OIL LEAK. MAINT. PER OWNER'S MANUAL WAS DONE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2011. WE WERE VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT SERIOUSLY AND WAS GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER. KIA DID NOT ASSIST IN ANYWAY AS GOODWILL DUE TO FACT WE WERE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH KIA ENGINES.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HOME FROM MY COLLEGE GRADUATION. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE OIL WAS FINE, NOTHING TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. THE CAR HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS ALWAYS BROUGHT IN FOR ITS REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A NEW MOTOR, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NEVER HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT IT IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL" FOR AN ENGINE TO SEIZE AT 76,000 MILES. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS INCIDENT OCCUR IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN VERY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A ROADWAY. STILL IN CONTACT WITH KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT HAVE NOT MADE IT VERY FAR AT THIS POINT. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE 2011 OPTIMA, I EXPECTED IT TO LAST ME MORE THEN A YEAR AND A HALF, AND THE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE.

CAR WAS RUNNING AND SAT AT A RED LIGHT. WENT TO GO... MY RPMS SHOT DOWN TO 0, BATTERY AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. LIGHTS, WINDOWS, WIPERS..... THE CAR STILL WOULDNT TURN. THINK ITS THE ALTERNATOR. I THINK YOU SHOULD RECALL THEM AND GET THEM FIXED. THERES ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAULTY ALTERNATORS ON THESE OPTIMAS.

LIGHT TAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS. ON THE FOURTH DAY, WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY, THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH SEIZED ENGINE. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE WAS ONLY RECOURSE. THE CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED WITH OIL CHANGES AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN CHANGING LANES. IN ADDITION, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE DISRUPTED THE CONTACT'S STEERING CAPABILITY. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLER IN THE STEERING LINKAGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.