Steering Column problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Optima

While driving and rotating the steering wheel left ot lright there is a "clunking" noise. The service rep at kia stated that this is a steering column coupler. While driving there are certain points where the stering wheel shakes turning and hitting little deviation on the highway. According to buyautoparts. Com :the steering coupler, which includes a cylindrical rubber bushing, ensures the transfer of movement from the steering wheel to the steering rack. The axis of the cylindrical bushing is almost perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the steering system. I do not believe any shaking while driving on the steering wheel should not occur. No warning lights have occured since the problem has been noticed.

A coupler on the steering column is defective. It is causing the steering wheel to make a clicking noise every time the wheel is turned. If it is now replaced it can cause the steering to malfunction while driving.

Tl the contact owns a 2014 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel suddenly began to shake, vibrate and became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to nationwide kia service center located at 20 west timonium rd, towson, MD 21093, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,000. The VIN was not available.

On September 30th, 2019 driving on interstate 4 west bound exiting altamonte springs FL, my steering began making a thumbing sound along with a vibration. As soon as I parked, I began looking for the cause of sound. It coming from a 12 inch steering column. I call kia on October 3rd asking on any TSB or recalls on this dangerous issue. None found. This occurred with no warning. Please initiate a recall on this issue. Other owners are experiencing the same issue.

My steering wheel started making clicking sound after researching I found it was a common problem in 2014 kia Optima caused by plastic steering coupler confident that kia would cover it because of the service bulletin put out for my yea re and back to my surprise I had to pay out of pocket $340. God know why a manufacture would put plastic in major component of the steering column. I contacted their consumer affairs department and was told my VIN was not covered and despite it being issued for my year and make no other assistance would be provided unless a future recall was issued. This is huge safety issue which I caught prior to a fatality.

After purchasing a brand new kia Optima (51 miles on it at delivery), it became very apparent there were major issues with its steering at speeds over 50 mphs. The vehicle would move left or right within a lane on its own and I would have to constantly put input into the steering wheel to keep it within a lane. My first attempt to remedy the issue was to my local dealership down the street. The dealerships first attempt was to change the steering computers setting to more of a sport mode (told ex model only has 2 steering settings) and I was out of there in 15 minutes. The change did nothing to fix the problem. I took the vehicle back to the same dealership and re-explained the steering issues I was having. After receiving a phone call from a service advisor, I was told the dealership had contacted kia reference the problem and the dealership was told to replace the entire steering column to fix the side to side drifting issue. The steering column would have to be ordered and my brand new vehicle was at the dealership for 5 days to have a major part replaced. Upon a call from the service rep. I was told my vehicle was fixed and it was ready for pickup. It was the next day that I got the vehicle on the freeway only to find I would still drift left and right. The problem was not fixed. I called the dealership and I set up an appointment to take a drive with the mechanic who signed off on the repair. I drove with the mechanic and showed him the drifting issue was still there. He agreed it should not be doing it but I would have to wait for a pending computer fix kia was working on. I asked when this would be available and I was told it could be 1 month or up to 8 months. Now I'm thinking about using the lemon law in my state to return the vehicle. It has less than 2,000 miles and I won't let anyone in my family drive it because its unsafe.