2011 Kia Optima Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 100about this part
- Share
- 17%of 594 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 71,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 100 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Kia Optima, 17% of the 594 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 71,500 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought a 2011 Kia Optima from a dealer an it has a clean car fax .it has under 70 ,000 miles .how is this possible I drove it once on a 4 lane hwy an the steering acts as if it getting stuck there is a jerk in it .now I am horrified of this vehicle 12,789 $later less than 1 wk old.what do I do now ? Plan my funeral over a ? Clean car fax plz tell call me”
NHTSA complaint #10957143, filed 2017-02, 65,000 miles“I have a 2011 Kia Optima with 53,000 miles. I have recently noticed a noise in the steering column. It has been reported by others to be defect from a cheap plastic part . I am reading that this problem could result in a loss of life. You can hear the popping sound when turning corners, left and right.”
NHTSA complaint #11265278, filed 2019-09, 5,300 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10888132, filed 2016-07, 62,000 miles“The steering making knocking sound while still and driving and while braking the steering starts shaking and makes the knocking sound. Most people said its a plastic coupling that gets replaced for $400 and I can't keep paying that much money each time it gets messed up this is the second time I've gotten fix three months the noise came back”
NHTSA complaint #10865488, filed 2016-05, 72,000 miles“Unable to drive straight. Pulls to left and right. I'm driving all over the lane. Wears me out just trying to drive it. And all this clicking noise going on...why doesn't Kia fix these problems? Why is it such a mystery?? Why isn't this a recall? An automobile that won't drive straight? Are you kidding me?”
NHTSA complaint #10862113, filed 2016-04, 84,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10202226Oct 5, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 10189545Mar 25, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 10183333Nov 25, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 10183332Nov 4, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU, WORM GEAR AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information…
- 10174693Apr 24, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: STEERING GEAR YOKE PLUG AND ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the…
- 10170773Jan 10, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: STEERING GEAR YOKE PLUG AND ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides the…
- 10168850Nov 26, 2019TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.This bulletin…
- 10167301Oct 15, 2019TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB084_R3: PARTIAL REPAIR OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information.This…
- 10163445Jul 5, 2019TSB: ECU UPGRADE - STEERING LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information related to the MDPS ECU…
- 10162044Jun 21, 2019TSB: REPLACEMENT OF C-MDPS MOTOR, ECU AND/OR STEERING COLUMN HOUSING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 | 12 | 5% |
| 2017 | 11 | 4% |
| 2016 | 24 | 3% |
| 2015 | 69 | 7% |
| 2014 | 97 | 16% |
| 2013 | 213 | 15% |
| 2012 | 188 | 20% |
| 2011 | 100 | 17% |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 | 7 | 6% |
| 2008 | 4 | 3% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 2 | 1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% |
| 2004 | 7 | 3% |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% |
| 2002 | 8 | 7% |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2011 Kia Optima
256 complaintsExterior lighting
88 complaintsElectrical system
63 complaintsBrakes
47 complaintsOther or unknown
41 complaintsAir bags
31 complaintsFuel system
26 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsBody and structure
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
19 complaintsSuspension
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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