2011 Kia Optima Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

99Steering complaints

16.8%Of all 589 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE253 · 43%

STEERING99 · 16.8%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING82 · 13.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM61 · 10.4%

Unspecified / other38 · 6.5%

Share of the 589 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Kia Optima overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING. IN…”NHTSA complaint 10807144 — filed 11/27/2015

“THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE THAT YOU FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS…”NHTSA complaint 10781407 — filed 10/12/2015

“STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. BOUGHT IT INTO A COLLISION CENTER, THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS A SERVICE RECALL ON OPTIMA…”NHTSA complaint 10781156 — filed 10/09/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Kia Optima have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Kia Optima: 99 of 589 complaints on file (16.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Kia Optima have in total?

589 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 23 involved a crash, 32 involved a fire, 19 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.