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2003 Kia Optima Steering Problems

2 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

2
Complaints
Feb 2025Jul 2013
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (2)

criticalSTEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE
Filed: Feb 2025

While turning left at an intersection, your steering wheel didn't respond properly and made a noise underneath the car. As you continued driving, the steering became increasingly difficult to control, making it impossible to avoid an obstacle in the road, which caused a flat tire. When you inspected the car, you found that bolts on the steering rack were loose and nearly fallen out, two ball joints were bent, one ball joint nut was completely missing, and the sway bar was misaligned. The loose and damaged steering components should be inspected and replaced immediately by a mechanic, as this condition severely compromised your ability to steer safely.

NHTSA #: 11640256
mediumSTEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS
Filed: Jul 2013

I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS, MY CAR STOPPED AND STARTED SHAKING, IT WOULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. TURNED THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AS I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. I GOT OUT AND WENT AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR; THE WHEEL WAS AGAINST THE FIREWALL. I FOUND A RECALL 2-15-13, CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SENT A TOWING COMPANY; IN WHICH, TOWED MY CAR TO MIKE SMITH KIA IN PADUCAH, KY. THEY FOUND THAT MY LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUB-FRAME DUE MASSIVE CORROSION. REPLACED THE SUB-FRAME & DRIVE AXLE,2 NEW TIRES. PICKED MY OPTIMA 3-20-2013. 3-27-2013, NOTICED POWER STEERING LEAK, CALLED SET-UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT FOR 4-4-2013. APRIL 3, 2013 MY BRAKES GO OUT! JESSE HODGES (MIKE SMITH KIA) HAS MY CAR TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY; IN WHICH, THE BRAKE LINE CRACKED MY THE GAS TANK. I PAID TO REPLACE THE BRAKE & GAS LINES, THEY REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING LEAK! THE PROBLEM NOW IS: ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE TIRES THEY REPLACED FROM THE RECALL. MIKE SMITH KIA WILL REPLACE MY TIRES BUT WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT; IN WHICH, WAS TO BE DONE WHEN REPLACING THE SUB-FRAME. I FEEL THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA CORPORATION, THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS IN RECEIVING COPIES OF MY FILE FROM MIKE SMITH KIA TO RESOLVE THIS. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS!! (RECALL CASE NUMBER: [XXX] WITH KIA CORPORATION) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10522638

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