2018 Kia Optima Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 5%of 233 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,100miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the steering of the 2018 Kia Optima, 5% of the 233 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,100 miles.
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.
“Hello I am nychole and in october of 2017 I purchased a brand new 2018 Kia Optima . Never really had any issues with it until fri nov 22. As I was leaving from work my car did a very abrupt jerk that I acknowledged but didn't think anything of it because my gas light had just came on. But today which is sunday my car's eps (electric power steering) light flashed. Weirded out I look at the manual in the glove compartment. …”
NHTSA complaint #11282081, filed 2019-11, 57,000 miles“I purchased a brand new 2018 Kia Optima in november 2018. I have put approximately 22,500 miles on it and have been keeping up with updated oil change maintenance per the schedule recommended by the dealer. On saturday 9/28 I dropped the car off for a routine oil change, and as I drove it off the lot it sputtered as if it was going to die, but it didn't. The car continued to run and it got me home. The next day, sunday 9/29, it drove without problems for about an hour, but while driving the car completely powered down and stopped working. …”
NHTSA complaint #11265744, filed 2019-10, 22,500 miles“I have 63,826 miles on my 2018 Kia Optima s and I drove it to the store and all my light on the dash came on when I would come to a stop and my power steering would go out and about cause me to wreck. I was told that it was my alternator but after getting a new alternator I then drove it to get dinner a few days later when the same thing started happening again and my power steering kept going out again. I have two newborn babies, a 5 year old and a 10 year old in the vehicle with me and had I wrecked when the power steering went out it could have been a bad situation.”
NHTSA complaint #11383186, filed 2020-12, 36,826 miles“I have never had any issues with my car, I get maintenance as scheduled so it's odd that this is even happening. On december 6th I went to move my car. I crank the car with no problem. I noticed it kind of hesistated slightly, but continued on with no problem. When I went to put my car in reverse in order to park it stalled and about 5 or 6 of the lights on the dash came on, the steering wheel went hard to manage/steer and as 6 other lights started blinking, I could no longer manipulate my wheel so I allowed the car to roll into the spot because I was on a slight incline and put it in park. …”
NHTSA complaint #11287697, filed 2019-12, 42,100 miles“High injector fuel pump top engine mount went out at 68000 miles. It caused the vehicle to stall and lose power and basically cut the car off while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11525549, filed 2023-06, 68,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10202227Oct 6, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: REPLACEMENT OF MOBIS C-MDPS SMALL BEARING - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the small bearing of the Column Motor Driven Power…
- 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…
- 10200422Aug 13, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR OF THE DUAL PINION MOTOR DRIVER POWER STEERING SYSTEM - This bulletin provides information regarding the availability of partial repair…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 10152913Jan 4, 2019TSB: REPLACEMENT OF C-MDPS MOTOR AND/OR ECU - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information regarding the partial repair of…
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 2018 Kia Optima
132 complaintsOther or unknown
39 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
19 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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