2011 Kia Optima: loss of power steering

Filed Oct 20, 2022 · Brakes, Electrical · OR

I was driving out of town and when I went to accelerate and the engine had seized, the brakes had locked up and I lost power steering which almost resulted in an accident. On the dash was showing the engine, oil, and esc light, which were not on the dash before and there was nothing wrong or weird going on with the car prior to the first incident to even indicate that something was wrong. Had to get the car towed home then realized there had been a recall on the engine. Contacted the kia manufacturer and they had towed it to a kia dealership where they replaced the engine. Waited 2 Months to get my car back, the dealership let me leave with the ABS and Eps light on the dash, and couldn't give me a reason why the lights were still on. I had it for 3 days, it drove okay and now it no longer drives nor does it start. I was stranded because the car wouldnt start again giving the same issues as before the recall repair was done, with only accessories turning on. On the dash it only shows Engine, Oil, Eps and battery light. Found the Serpentine belt already coming apart and misplaced, found strips of the belt laying in the bottom of the hood. Also had found out the entire engine block ROCKS BACK AND FORTH while car is in motion. If I had driven the car any longer the belt would have completely snapped and would most likely result in an injury or worse. With the Engine movement that is also going to cause other damages to the car and more safety hazards. I have not even known about the engine recall on this car until after everything happened and when the car was purchased no one had notified me in anyway about the recall. Now they refuse to cover towing costs back to the dealership because the "5 year warranty had expired" When this in no way is my fault. Second incident was Oct. 17th 2022.

Filed Nov 23, 2020 · Steering · KY

The electric power steering pump has a short going to the motor, which is a fire hazard. Also, you must move the wheel nonstop or it will lock up which could cause you to wreck and die. Very dangerous. At this point there is absolutely no power steering making it very hard to drive and steer.

Filed Aug 25, 2019 · Engine, Lights · 30 miles · FL

The battery indicator light came on then while driving down the road, the battery discharge kept popping up on the display then went out. About 10 minutes further, I lost power steering. I managed to get to base even though I ran a red light and stop sign because the car started spurttering and feeling like it was getting ready to stall. Once I managed to get to a parking lot, my headlights went out but I still had dash lights. All the error lights came across my dashboard. I took the battery to advance, they said it was low. They charged it and said it needed replaced. The battery indicator was still lit so I took it and they checked the alternator and said it was dead. I took it and had it rebuilt. Everything seemed to work ok.

Filed Mar 12, 2019 · Engine · 140,000 miles · MA

I am driving through an intersection and just as I get through, while still in motion, all the lights on the dashboard flashed or turned on. I lost complete control of the gas pedal, lost power steering, and I was forced to pull off into a parking lot where I couldn't get to a parking spot and was left stuck at the entrance of the establishment. I put my car in neutral and pushed it away from the entrance after trying to turn it off and start it back up several times. I was forced to call a tow truck to get towed to my repair shop and the diagnosis was that the engine blew a bearing and will need an engine replacement.

Filed Sep 3, 2017 · Steering · 103,000 miles · OH

The steering wheel when you turn to either side has a lot of play before responding to turn the wheels and has a loud clanking sound like it's either engaging or slipping, and it gets worse each time I drive it, after talking with a few different mechanics and looking up similar issues the kids optima has a plastic steering gear inside of the steering power box that is wearing out and gets worse and worse of course until you have no steering, I've found way too many people with the same issues and the his can not be ignored, a major accident waiting to happen when driving this car!!! I have went ahead and bought new tires, new brakes new front rotors new float pins for the calipers and the car aligned all four tires and nothing helps like I said it's the plastic gear in the steering power box, it has videos on line of this and why hasn't this been fixed??

Filed Apr 18, 2017 · Engine · 285,000 miles · FL

While traveling in a 65mph zone the vehicle stalled with out indication or dash lights. Vehicle lost steering and control, putting myself and others at risk of danger. Stopped the vehicle. While trying to start the vehicle, turned the key and all dash lights were present but the vehicle would not start, click or turn over. Issue resulted as an engine failure.

Filed Oct 24, 2016 · Engine · 133,858 miles · TX

There is a defective part in the motor which causes the motor to fail and seize at any speed causing the driver to lose power steering and brakes. My wife was traveling home from work on the highway when without warning all lights came on the dash and my wife had trouble just getting to the side of the road and getting the vehicle to stop. There is a recall on the exact same motor which is in the hyundai sonata.

Filed May 29, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 66,670 miles · FL

I have a 2011 kia optima lx, 2.4 liter engine. Always keep up on the maintenance and oil changes, car is in great shape. I was not experiencing any issues, warnings, no check engine/oil lights, no noises, absolutely nothing. Then last night my car just sputtered and cut off while being driven. Apparently when the engine cuts off, so does the brakes. There was no way to push the brakes, so I had to try to safely coast to the side of the road, with no brakes and no power steering. I finally pulled over, tried to restart the car and there was such a loud knocking noise, and some squealing noises as well. The car will no longer start either. I had a mechanic look at it today and says the engine is "just gone." no explanations at all. I verified that the kia optima and the hyundai sonata are the same manufacturer and use the same engines. I see there are way more complaints about the 2011 hyundai sonata with this same issue. I will try to notify kia and see if they are willing to step up and correct this even with the warranty expiring 7,000 miles ago, since I am the second owner. I have found many complaints about this same thing for both the 2011 optimas and sonatas. This is so dangerous because there are no warnings, and the engine cuts off in traffic, which also causes the brakes and steering to go out. Not safe at all.

Filed Mar 18, 2013 · Electrical, Transmission · 35,627 miles · SC

I have a 2011 kia optima lx, one night while driving home from work aloud boom sound with a jerk of the car and all power was gone at once. There was nothing,lights out, in and out and no acceleration, then after about 10 seconds all power returned, before and after this there was no warning of any kind, it has happened a total of three times so far.2nd time at an intersection and the 3rd time in heavy traffic, the only way I got out of traffic the car coasted, all the while steering was very hard , had to be towed to the dealership because power did not return. While they were about to check, once again the power returned all on its own in front of them, they run diagnostics, still not showing anything, so they keep giving me no answers, and putting me back into fear. 4 other repairs was made before these last 3 recurring incidents ;vehicle would not shut off with removal of the key; horns quit working; brake light switch, because could not get car into gear; fuse to the phone charger. Back to the shut downs the service techs.said they don't know what to fix! And the kia corp. Stand behind the same answer. They know how to make these cars what's wrong with fixing these problems especially electrical issues like this! I suggest to anyone who's reading this don't buy a kia of anykind!