Skip to content
SteeringPart report

2012 Kia Optima Hybrid Steering Problems

Complaints
9about this part
Share
8%of 109 total for the year
Median mileage
72,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the steering of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, 8% of the 109 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 72,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“When I move the steering wheel from side to side I can hear a popping noise when I am driving as well as when I am at a stop. The steering wheel has excessive vibration and raddling when I am driving between 65-75 on the highway, it decreases at 80 MPH. I have gotten my tires checked as well as an alignment so it is not an issue with that.”

NHTSA complaint #11138961, filed 2018-10, 84,000 miles

“This vehicle is dangerous and extremely faulty. I have had to replace the transmission due to the car traveling at no more than 55 MPH. In addition, there was extreme knocking within the steering wheel in which the steering wheel had to be replaced as well. Then my car started drifting again with white smoke coming from under the hood and exhaust. Now Kia is saying that the engine is faulty and needs to be replaced. My car is not being serviced for a recall on the engine because it is a hybrid, yet non-hybrid Kia cars have a recall for it. This is the same thing. What a disservice! …”

NHTSA complaint #11130766, filed 2018-09, 100,000 miles

“Bought the car new in 2012 from fuccillo Kia in cape coral, florida for my wife. She noticed the very slight clunking noise in 2014 with about 50k miles on it and didn't think it was much of a problem. It gradually became very, very loud and she could now feel the constant clunking when turning the steering wheel or hitting small imperfections in the road. She brought it to my attention at about 65k miles and after researching the noise on the internet I found this problem has been occurring in thousands of Kia and hyundai vehicles from 2010 to 2014 model years. …”

NHTSA complaint #10845692, filed 2016-03, 50,000 miles

“I was driving in a residential neighborhood and a lady pulled in front of me. I slammed on my brakes and swerved to the right so I would avoid hitting her. The next thing I knew I smacked into a pole. For the past year I have been trying to figure out how and why I had so much damage to my car when I was only going 25 MPH. I finally realized that this happened because I couldn't stop my car even when applying the brakes. The accident happened july 10, 2013 and one year later on the same day july 10, 2014 my brakes failed on my car while I was waiting for a gate to open. …”

NHTSA complaint #10638311, filed 2014-09, 21,988 miles

“Inherently bad electronic power steering coupler. Broken wile still relatively low milage. Makes a very bad clunking noise when steering and going over bumps and causes steering wheel to wobble.”

NHTSA complaint #10894859, filed 2016-08, 60,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2015217%
2014310%
201347%
201298%
201126%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

Engine
72 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology