2013 Kia Optima complaints

THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS PULLING IN EITHER DIRECTION, FIRST NOTICED THIS AFTER 100000 MILES. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

I WAS TRAVELING 65MPH WHEN A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FRONT IN WAS CRUSHED IN AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT RELEASE. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE FORCE IMPACT OF THE DEER THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE CAME OUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S MOTHER WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE STEERING ABILITY FAILED AND PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S MOTHER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, PENDING THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,500.

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.

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.

I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEADREST. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THE ANGLE OF THE HEADREST. THE HEADREST MOVES UP AND DOWN, FORWARD AND BACKWARD BUT THE ANGLE CAN NOT BE ADJUSTMENT.

I HAD MY OIL CHANGE AND TWO DAYS LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO PIT STOP 500 AND HE'S SAID IT WAS LOW SO HE CHECK THE CAR SAID HE DIDN'T SEE ANY OIL LEAKS IF THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN TAKE IT TO KIA. WHEN I LEFT THERE WHILE I WAS DRIVING I COULD SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT MY PIPES. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE OIL WAS LOW PUT OIL IN IT AGAIN AND SAID DRIVE IT 500 MILES AND IF THE OIL LIGHT COME ON BRING IT BACK. WHILE DRIVING IT HOME IT STALLED IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 30 MILES AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE PIPES SO I MADE A APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT BACK NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS SLUDGE IN THE OIL. I HAD DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVER TEN KIA WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND SIX OF THEM ARE KIA OPTIMA

MY VEHICLE HAS 80K MILES ON IT AND IS SERVICED METICULOUSLY. I LOST ALL POWER TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND WAS ALMOST RAN DOWN BY A DUMP TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP MY VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. I ASSUMED THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 100K WARRANTY ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WON'T RUN WITHOUT THE FUEL PUMP, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE ELIMINATED THIS PROBLEM FROM WARRANTY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CASES OF HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP FAILURES ON KIA'S.. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA PRODUCT!!

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.

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 ,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.

WHEN FIRST BUYING THE CAR THERE WERE TIMES IT WOULD START REALLY HARD AND HAVE A LONG CRANK. IT SEEMED LIKE AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AND SHUTTING IT OFF THE CAR WOULD LONG CRANK WITH A HARD START. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIME WITH NO FIX. I LOGGED THE OCCURRENCE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS WHEN THE FIELD TECHNICIAN CAME OUT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. 8 MONTHS LATER IT IS STILL DOING IT AND NOW HAS STARTED A NEW PROBLEM OFF NOT STARTING WHEN PUSH BUTTON AND BRAKE ARE PUSHED.

I LEASED THE KIA OPTIMA (2013) FOR 3 YEARS. WITH 4 MONTHS LEFT ON THE LEASE & 35,000 MILES LATER, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT, NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER, UP UNTIL YESTERDAY MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I WAS APPROACHING A 4-WAY STOP WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE SCREECH OR A SHORT BLAST OF A HAIRDRYER. DIRECTLY AFTER 'THE SOUND' I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN, BUT EVEN AS I WAS SLOWING I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH. I CAME TO A STOP. WHEN I TRIED TO GO AGAIN I REALIZED THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I TRIED A FEW TIMES TO START THE ENGINE BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO GO TO WORK, SO I CALLED A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC TO COME LOOK AT THE CAR. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE THE BATTERY TO PEP BOYS TO HAVE IT CHECKED, WHICH HE DID, THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. HE ADVISED ME TO CALL THE CAR PROS KIA OF CARSON WHERE I LEASED THE CAR FROM AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE "100,000 MILE/10 YEAR WARRANTY". WHEN I GOT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH WOULD COST $119 AND WOULD "PROBABLY BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BUT YOU NEED TO SIGN THIS FORM JUST IN CASE IT'S NOT" OF COURSE, WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY SAID I WAS NOT COVERERED UNDER THEIR WARRENTY BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS "BAD' AND HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN DUE TO "BLACK SLUDGE'' IN THE OIL COMPARTMENT (THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE AS MY MECHANIC FRIEND CHECKED THE OIL THAT MORNING AND IT WAS GOOD!!!) AND THEY NEEDED RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES TO MY CAR GOING BACK ONE YEAR AS THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHO HAD BEEN TAMPER

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.

THE EVENING OF 8/12/15 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE CITY ROAD, 2 LANES EACH DIRECTION. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER AND IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH SUDDEN DECELERATION AND VEHICLES COMING UP FROM BEHIND. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HIT ME AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. NO ENGINE MAINTENANCE/WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND WILL NEED COMPLETELY REPLACE WITH A NEW ENGINE. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING KIA'S 22,500 MILE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ONLY 16 DAYS PRIOR ON 7/27/15. DAVE GREEN, KIA ARAPAHOE SERVICE MANAGER, INFORMED TODAY (8/17/15) THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS IN THE PAST WEEK. THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE HOT WEATHER. WHAT EVER THE CAUSE THIS HAS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DEATH OR EXTREME INJURY.

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.

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.

WAS DRIVING TO WORK(2013 KIA OPTIMA APPX 32000 MILES) AS I ACCELERATED TO MERGE ON THE INTESTATE, A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST,THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR ANY WARNING, THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE LIGHT TO INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP THEY REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE ON THE ENGINE THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, THIS IS NOT COVER BY KIA WARRENTY,AFTER DOING SEVERAL DAY OF RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY KIA OWNER WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE SLUDGE IS THE CAUSE BUT MOST MECHANIC KNOW THAT SLUDGE IS A SYMPTOM NOT A CAUSE, AND WHAT IS EXCESSIVE 1%OR 5% WHO MAKES THAT DETERMANITION? I HAVE DONE REGULAR OIL CHANGES MYSELF. I CONTACTED THE KIA HOME OFFICE AND AM WAITING FOR A REPLY.

FUEL WILL HEAT UP AND BUBBLE OUT OF FUEL TANK AFTER EXTENDED PERIODS OF IDLING. 4 HOURS IDLING WITH 3/4 FULL FUEL TANK. LIQUID FUEL AND VAPORS ESCAPING FROM GAS CAP AND DRIPPING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR.

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA'S BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WILL VIBRATE/GRIND WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. IT STARTED THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. WHILE I WAS SIGNING PAPERS, IT STARTED TO RAIN. DURING THE DRIVE HOME (IMMEDIATELY) I NOTICED VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE PEDAL. I ASKED ABOUT IT AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL. SINCE IT DID IT IMMEDIATELY, NOW I SEE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND NO LONGER THINK I AM CRAZY. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2013 AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS ALSO MY BACKUP CAMERA SOMETIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE. A FEW TIMES THE RADIO SYSTEM GETS STUCK ON STUPID (WONT TURN ON), BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE BACK UP CAMERA HAS ISSUES. AND THIS WEEK 7/2015 MY JUKEBOX STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. LUCKILY, I FOUND THE RESET SWITCH NEAR THE VOLUME CONTROL AND IT WORKS AGAIN :) MA 10/8 UPDATED 3/22/2016*JS

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAKE WILL VIBRATE/GRIND EXTREMELY BAD UNDER MY FOOT. THE CAR BRAKE DOES THIS EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER GETTING MY CAR, WAS AFTER I HAD IT WASHED. IT ALSO DOES IT WHILE DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED KIA AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ABS SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT MEANS AND IT'S FUNCTION. HOWEVER, I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL ABS PERFORMANCE, AS WOULD ANY OTHER DRIVER. NOT ONLY DOES THIS MALFUNCTION DISTRACT MY ATTENTION WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CONTRADICTS THE PURPOSE OF ABS! IT SCARES ME WHEN IT IS HAPPENING, ENOUGH FOR ME TO LOOSE FOCUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROXIMATELY 28 MONTHS SO FAR.

REAR SEAT BELTS IN CLOTH SEAT CONFIGURATION DO NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE IN AN EXPOSED POSITION SO THAT A CHILD OR AN ADULT CAN REASONABLY OPERATE IT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A PLASTIC SHEATH THAT HOLD THE BUCKLE EXPOSED SO THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILD SEAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BUCKLE A CHILD IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS USERS WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND OMIT USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,678.

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.

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!

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.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MODERATELY STEEP SLOPE AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I COULD FEEL A SHAKING ON THE BREAK PETAL ABOUT A 20 SECOND DURATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. BOTH WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING.

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!!!

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN A HILL, I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY SO I DID NOT NEED TO ENGAGE MY BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN HIT BECAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND BEFORE I COULD PARK THE CAR, IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AS PULLED IN. I WAS FORCED TO STOP IN THIS MIDDLE OF A NARROW PARKING LOT BLOCKING CARS FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT THEIR SPOTS. I CALLED KIA ROADAIDE ASSISTANCE, WHO INSTEAD OF GETTING ME HELP, TRANSFERED ME TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY HELP. NOT ONLY DID MY CAR FAIL ME, KIA CUSOTMER SERVICE DID AS WELL. .

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.

MY WIFE, SON AND I WERE ON THE WAY HOME FROM TOWN IN OUR 2013 KIA OPTIMA. I STOPPED AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE TO PICK SOME EGGS AS MY WIFE AND SON STAYED IN THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WENT INTO THE STORE FOR ABOUT 7-8 MINUTES, WHEN I WALKED OUT THE DOOR MY SON CAME RUNNING UP TO ME YELLING OUR CAR IS ON FIRE, YOU COULD SEE THE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOOD AND BOTTOM OF CAR. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. WHEN I CONTACTED THE KIA DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOT SEEMED TO CONCERN AND GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO REPORT. AFTER DOING SO I RECEIVED A CALL FROM KIA CORPORATE A DAY LATER ASKING QUESTIONS. THEY WANTED ME TO SEND THEM PICTURES OF THE FIRE TO DO THEIR INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAD TWO ENGINEERS WHO COULD LOOK INTO THIS. IT IS NOW MAY AND STILL I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. I HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND SENT EMAILS TO KIA CORPORATE. MY WIFE & KID WAS IN THIS CAR WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND NOT RUNNING AT A PARKING LOT. THIS IS RIDICULES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STAND STILL POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,320.

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

HAD OIL CHANGE 5 DAYS PRIOR, AND RECALL FOR ACCELERATION. CALLED THE,DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. WAS ON MY WAY TO DEALERSHIP ON THE,EXPRESSWAY, CAR LOST POWER, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED TO RIGHT SIDE OF XWAY..CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE AND FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WAITING TO HEAR IF INSURANCE IS LOOKING INTO FAULTY WORK WITH RECALL OR OIL CHANGE. *TR

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

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

ON 2/19/2015 AT 8:30 A.M. MY WIFE DROVE OUR 2013 KIA OPTIMA APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES TO THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET AND THEN DROVE THE 6 MILES BACK HOME. MAXIMUM SPEEDS REACHED WERE NO MORE THAN 50 MPH WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE DRIVE BEING AT 35 MPH. ABOUT HALFWAY HOME SHE NOTICED AN UNFAMILIAR SMELL BUT WAS NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS, AND THE CAR SEEMED TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY AND NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER CAME ON. AS SHE PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AT OUR HOME SHE THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE TURBO. SHE RAN INTO THE HOUSE AND GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. SHE USED THE ENTIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. I CAME HOME AND TOGETHER WE PUSHED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE AND CALLED KIA. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED 43 MILES AWAY TO THE CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP. KIA COOPERATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION WAS IMMEDIATELY IN CONTACT WITH US, WE STATED THAT WE NO LONGER FELT SAFE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WANTED IT REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THEY COULD NOT EVEN TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL AN INVESTIGATOR FROM KIA CORP. LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. AFTER PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT WERE RECEIVED BY COOPERATE THE WHOLE SITUATION CHANGED. I FEEL THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BURNED BADLY (ONLY BECAUSE OF MY WIFE'S QUICK ACTION) KIA IS NOT TREATING THIS AS SERIOUS AS THEY SHOULD ANYMORE. I WAS INFORMED BY KIA CORPORATE THAT THEY WOULD BE FIXING THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY AND RETURNING IT

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

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN, WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO TURN ONTO A BUSY ROAD MY CAR LOST POWER HALFWAY INTO THE INTERSECTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO PUSH HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL, AS THERE WERE CARS COMING AT ME FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR VIOLENTLY LURCHES FORWARD AND REGAINS POWER. THIS IS A TERRIFYING ISSUE AND A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT. I HAD 2 CHILDREN AGES 8 AND 12 IN MY VEHICLE BOTH TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED.

MY HEADLIGHT WENT OUT SUNDAY, 2/23/2015. I PURCHASED A BULB FROM OUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE AND WENT HOME , THINKING I COULD CHANGE THE BULB MYSELF. I TOOK OUT MY TRUSTY CAR MANUAL AND TRIED TO GET DIRECTIONS ON CHANGING THE BULB MYSELF. AFTER FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS, I WAS STILL UNABLE TO GET TO THE BULB. AT THIS POINT I WENT TO THE INTERNET. MY KIA WILL BE 2 YEARS OLD IN MAY 2015. LOW AND BEHOLD, I FIND OUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE FRONT BUMPER JUST TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHT. IN A PANIC, I CALL THE DEALERSHIP, SALE KIA OF KINSTON, NC, THEY INFORM ME THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE BULB, IT WILL COST ME $100.00 TO TAKE OFF THE BUMPER, JUST TO CHANGE THE LIGHT. MAYBE I SHOULD BUY ANOTHER BULB AND CHANGE BOTH AND THAT WAY I COULD BE SAVING MYSELF ANOTHER $100.00. THIS IS THE SECOND KIA I HAVE OWNED. I TRADED MY AMANTI WHICH WAS 6 YEARS OLD FOR THIS VEHICLE. I GOT NONE OF THE ADVERTISED PERKS, LOYALTY BONUS OR ANY OTHER ADVERTISED BONUS THAT I HAD READ ABOUT, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY WARNING. TRADING FOR THIS OPTIMA WAS THE WORST MISTAKE I COULD HAVE MADE. I HAD ONE SERVICE CALL WORKED ON THROUGH MY WARRANTY ON THE AMANTI. AFTER 9 MONTHS IN THE OPTIMA THE DEALERSHIP STATED NOTING UNUSUAL WEAR ON MY FRONT TIRES. I FINALLY HAD TO BUY MORE OUT OF MY POCKET. BY THE WAY MY KIA DIDN'T COME WITH A SPARE OR A JACK, JUST A MOBILITY KIT, WHICH CONSIST OF A LITTLE BAG WITH A CAN OF FIX-A-FLAT. SO IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A BRAND NEW CAR, DON"T BUY A KIA. WHEW!! I FEEL BETTER NOW. I'M RETI

VEHICLE IN REVERSE BACKING UP ON STEEP DRIVEWAY, FOOT ON FUEL PEDAL, CAR BEGAN ITS AUTOMATED HILL HOLDING FUNCTION, WHILE IN REVERSE, HEARD HIGH RPM, TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL, CAR BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE, BRAKE FAILED, CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, AND ENGINE DIED, THEN HIT THE WALL INSIDE THE GARAGE. I ESTIMATED, SPEED AT TIME OF IMPACT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH. NOTICED ANOTHER ENTRY FILED SIMILAR TO THIS,HAD SAME FUEL, BRAKE FAIL SYMPTOMS. *TR

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

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN WAITING TO CROSS TWO LANES, WHEN CLEAR I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL . THE TIRES SPUN A LITTLE ON SOME ANTISKID; AS A RESULT THE TRACTION CONTROL INTERVENED. THE CAR SEAMED TO LOOSE ALL POWER!!. WITH TRAFFIC ON ITS WAY I DRIFTED ACROSS ONE LANE BEFORE GETTING FULL POWER BACK. THIS TCS IN MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA IS NOT SAFE-- SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED! WHAT SHOULD I DO !? *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON DARBY ROAD IN HAVERFORD, PA GOING ABOUT 30 MPH. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER SAFELY STOPPING SHE INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS NO LONGER STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN BUT WAS TILTED. THE HAVERFORD POLICE RESPONDED AND ASKED IF SHE HAD HIT ANYTHING. SHE REPLIED "NO". THE POLICE LOOKED DOWN THE ROAD AND COULD NOT FIND ANY POTHOLES OR ANYTHING THAT HAD BEEN STRUCK. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WEST CHESTER, PA KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE INSISTING THAT SOMETHING HAD TO HAVE HIT THE VEHICLE. THEY SAY THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF SCRAPES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM THAT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE CAR BEING DRAGGED BY THE TOW TRUCK TO GET IN ON TO THE FLATBED WHEN IT WAS TOWED TO OUR HOUSE. WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE TOW TRUCK IT WAS AGAIN DRAGGED ON THE GROUND. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHEN ANOTHER TOW TRUCK CAME TO TAKE IT TO KIA OF WEST CHESTER. THEY ARE NOW GOING TO TOW IT FROM THERE TO GRAN SPORT AUTO IN WEST CHESTER, PA AND I AM SURE MORE DAMAGE WILL OCCUR. I FEEL THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO POTHOLE AND NO COLLISION WITH ANYTHING THAT THIS COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. KIA IS SAYING IT HAD TO HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF IMPACT. *TR

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 L

WE GOT A NEW KIA OPTIMA SXL 2013. THE TYRES ARE FILL WITH NITROGEN GAS. ON OUR LAST STATE INSPECTION WE WERE TOLD THE THERE WAS 25% LEFT ON THE TREAD OF EACH TYRE & WILL REQUIRE CHANGING SOON. STARTED TO CHECK OUT PRICES IN THE AREA AT ALL THE TYRE MERCHANTS. ONLY TO FIND IN MY HORROR THAT ONLY TWO PLACES IN A 30 MILE + RADIUS CAN DO NITROGEN FILL & THE PRICES ARE HORRENDOUS. IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT TO SIMPLY CHANGE TYRES ON A CAR. KIA AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER NEW CARS DON'T COME WITH A SPARE TYRE, BUT INSTEAD SUPPLY YOU WITH A SMALL COMPRESSOR UNIT. BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFICULTY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO CHANGE OVER TO AIR FILLED TYPES, AND BUY A NEW SPARE WHEEL & TYRE FOR THE TRUNK. AT A GREAT DEAL MORE EXPENSE, THAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED. KIA USA ARE BEING OF LITTLE OR NO HELP WHATSOEVER. VERY ANGRY. I AM NOW IN THE STAGE OF MAKING A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS WE IT IS ALSO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ANYONE ELSE IN THE SAME BOAT???? *TR

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

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 VE

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 22000 MILES. ON MY FIRST RELATIVELY LONG TRIP, I GOT UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAS NO STRAIGHT POSITION. IT NEEDS CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS, EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT (MOSTLY RIGHT ). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT DISCREPANCIES, BUT EVERYTHING IS WITHIN MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN UPDATE TO THE ELECTING POWER STEERING MODULE/STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DESIGN FLAW. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS UNTIL YOU LISTEN, KIA? WE THE PEOPLE CALL UPON THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES TO HELP IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. *TR

IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE CAR ON A STRAIGHT TRACK. WILL DRIFT LEFT,WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT TO A STRAIGHT TRACK,THE STEERING REQUIRES SO MUCH FORCE TO CORRECT THAT THE RESULT IS AN OVER CORRECTION TO THE RIGHT. THIS SCENARIO REPEATS FOREVER. THE STEERING STICKS AND CANNOT BE HELD IN A STRAIGHT LINE. *TR