2013 Kia Optima Complaint Log

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE IS NOT STABLE. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT EVERYTHING IS WITHIN SPECS. VEHICLE DOESN'T PULL IN ONE DIRECTION, BUT IT HAS A HARD TIME TRACKING DOWN THE ROAD. SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS, WIND, OR TIRE ISSUES WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DART LEFT/RIGHT. AN IMMEDIATE CORRECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS REQUIRED WHICH IS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN REQUIRED TO RETURN TO CENTER-LINE AND THUS REQUIRES ANOTHER CORRECTION IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION. ANY DEVIATION FROM THE CENTER-LINE REQUIRES TWO CORRECTIONS AND EXTREME VIGILANCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS EASY CHARACTERIZED AS A WANDERING, BUT IS MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS AN UNSETTLED ISSUE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS ALSO MOST OBVIOUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AROUND 70MPH. *TR

VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTION NECESSARY. YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. VEHICLE WILL DART TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS ON PERFECTLY FLAT ROADS WITH NO WIND. STEERING WHEEL IS ALSO TURNED TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IN SPEC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE TIRE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE, ONLY A TIRE MOBILITY KIT THAT INCLUDED AN INFLATION DEVICE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILED TIRE COULD NOT BE INFLATED AND NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AS VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES ABOVE 50 MPH THE VEHICLE DRIFTS RIGHT OR LEFT THEREBY REQUIRING CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTIONS. IT ALSO BECOMES A STRAIN ON MY ARM. I SPOKE TO KIA'S HQ IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. I FINALLY GOT A CASE NUMBER FROM KIA AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

I AGREE WITH THE MAY 24, 2013 - SCOTTSDALE, AZ OVERVIEW REGARDING WIND. THE CAR IS EASILY AFFECTED AND MOVES IN THE WIND AND IS A CHALLENGE TO STAY STRAIGHT IN THE LANE. I FEEL LIKE OTHER DRIVERS MUST THINK I AM A DRUNK DRIVER. THE CAR DOES NOT REALLY DRIFT BUT THE STEERING IS SLUGGISH WITH PLAY AND DEAD SPOTS/HARDER TO MAKE FIRST PART OF A TURN, (ALMOST LIKE STEERING STICKS). ALSO AS SOMEONE ELSE SAID, THE STEERING IS A CHALLENGE ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND IS HARD TO MAINTAIN IN THE LANE.... MAY ALSO BE A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. IT IS EASY TO LOSE CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS IF THE ROADWAY IS NOT PERFECT. CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THE LOOSE STEERING TO THE POINT WHERE AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE I AM A DRUNK DRIVER. INCREASING THE AIR IN THE TIRES WAS OF NO HELP TOWARD THE STEERING STABILITY. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER SERVICE MANAGER (FEBRUARY 2012), AND HE NOTED THAT THE CONDITIONS SOUNDED TYPICAL OF WHAT HE HAS HEARD WITH THE NEWER MODEL OPTIMAS WHICH HAVE THE ELECTRONIC STEERING. HE WAS GOING TO CHECK WITH KIA FOR THEIR THOUGHTS. NO RESPONSE YET. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE GOOD OLD TIGHT, RACK AND PINION STEERING? ENOUGH OF THIS MUSHY STEERING, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SPORTY CAR... AM I FINDING OUT THAT IT IS JUST GOOD LOOKS? I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN SIMILAR PRICED CHRYSLER AND FORD PRODUCTS PRIOR TO THIS AND NEVER UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE STEERING. *TR

2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING TO THE RIGHT *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, SOMETIMES THE BELT MADE A SQUEAKY NOISE. HE ALSO NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. *JB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH A KEY TO OPEN THE TRUNK. UPDATED 01/22/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS MANY SERIOUS ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 06/27/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN BEING DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING ABOVE 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER WHO SUGGESTED THAT THEY ADJUST THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS ADJUSTED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD ROTATE THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500. *TR

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CARPET HAS WORN THROUGH (THREADBARE) JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SEAT. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND THE REP TOLD ME IT HAPPENS WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE SIX FEET TALL. THE SPOT THAT IS WORN IS ON A RAISED SURFACE (COVER?) OF SOME SORT. A REDESIGN TO PLACE A HEAY DUTY CARPET PIECE IN THAT PART OF THE CARPET OR REDESIGN THE REMOVABLE FLOOR MAT TO COVER THE SPOT SO IT WOULDN'T WEAR OUT THE UNDERLYING CARPET. WHAT TO DO FOR REPAIR??? *TR

Vehicle body damage. Vehicle car parts damage.