2013 Kia Optima steering problems
212 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the steering on the 2013 Kia Optima — 15% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“the engine revs high and transmission wont shift and when you turn the steering wheel ya get a loud click and the steering wheels jumps”
filed Jul 19, 2026
“While driving my KIA Optima on the interstate the rear subframe suffered catastrophic structural failure, resulting in the steering wheel going out of alignment, the rear passenger side wheel tilting with the bottom of the tire being far out compared to the top. This resulted in the rear of the…”
filed Apr 23, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Steering problems in other Optima years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 Optima | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 Optima | 12 | 5% |
| 2017 Optima | 11 | 4% |
| 2016 Optima | 24 | 3% |
| 2015 Optima | 68 | 7% |
| 2014 Optima | 94 | 16% |
| 2012 Optima | 188 | 20% |
| 2011 Optima | 100 | 17% |
| 2010 Optima | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 Optima | 7 | 6% |
| 2008 Optima | 4 | 3% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2013 Kia Optima
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.