2011 Kia Optima: pulls to one side

Filed Sep 17, 2019 · Steering · 12,000 miles · MA

2011 kia optima favors a pull to the left which grows stronger as the speed increases. The persistence in regards to the issue is subtly decreased with a wheel alignment, but quickly returns- resulting in over 7 alignments in 5 years with only 70k miles. 3 separate kia dealerships have inspected the issue with only a control arm replacement but no satisfactory resolution. This issue is dangerous and requires constant pressure on the wheel to favor the right pull to correct the front left pull. A very good example is when increasing in speed, the car will heavily favor a inside pull to the left which is worrying. I'd like a regional kia rm to have a go at the situation.

Filed Apr 28, 2016 · Steering · 84,000 miles · SC

Unable to drive straight. Pulls to left and right. I'm driving all over the lane. Wears me out just trying to drive it. And all this clicking noise going on...why doesn't kia fix these problems? Why is it such a mystery?? Why isn't this a recall? An automobile that won't drive straight? Are you kidding me?

Filed Nov 29, 2015 · Suspension, Tires · 69,000 miles · WV

Whinning in the front end, brakes are grabbing and and thumping in the front end when you hit a bump. Brakes grab and sometimes goes to the floor. And pulls to the left.

Filed Jul 27, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 108,000 miles · NC

When driving on the highway 55mph or higher steering wheel has a loud knock and pulls left. It is very dangerous to drive because the steering wheel is uncontrollable. When in park and turning the wheel it makes the knocking noise also. Updated 10/07/15*lj updated 12/11/2017

Filed Feb 12, 2015 · Steering · 30,000 miles · MO

My car has been pulling to the left every since I purchased it. I took it to the dealership to get an oil change and to register a complaint about the pulling. The car was test driven on the highway. Afterwards I was told that this is a "feature" of the steering wheel. It is called a "smart wheel" and there was nothing to worry about. I have always had this problem and I have never been able to get used to this "feature".

Filed Oct 13, 2014 · Body, Engine · 5,200 miles · GA

Just weeks after purchasing my kia, it had to be brought back to replace cracked dash, heated steering wheel peeling, tires wearing on the outside, wiper blades sucked & you could not see out of them when it rain, cracked outside of sunroof seal, pulling to left side and surges. They put new tires, steering wheel & fixed the dash. The service manager stated the specs were within normal limits for the alignment & transmission. The outside of the sunroof is normal wear & tear & it will crack again, stated the sun cracks it! It has been in the service department 5 times! Even though my car is still under warranty! I have had 4 set of tires & they wear on the outside, it stills pulls to the left & I was told the alignment is normal. 6 sets of new wiper blades & they say that's not a problem. My car surges & it has not even been addressed! In late september my check engine light came on the day after I had my oil changed, I took my car to my dealership service, they kept it, fixed the 'oil control valve" within 5 miles from my dealership, check engine light came back on. After a week & a half, my 'intake cvvt timing & my 'exhaust cvvt timing! My warranty will be up in the next few months & I am worried about what is going to happen next & then there's no warranty! There should be a recall on optima's steering to the left & on the tires either, alignment! I have went as far as contacting the georgia consumer protection, kia consumer hotline, us department of transportation, traffic safety, the attorney general's office. I have also contacted my local & national news station & will be meeting with them next week. If this does not raise a few questions, I will hire an attorney!! This is not about money, verses what is right!

Filed Aug 24, 2013 · Steering, Wheels · 6,000 miles · IL

When I purchased the vehicle I noticed it pulled to the left and I brought it back to the dealer and they "said" they performed a fix according to an internal kia tsb-032 document. When I brought the vehicle back for a 15,000 mile service and another tire rotation they rotated the tires and the car aggressively pulled to the left again. I brought it back and argued over paying for an alignment and they said they would do the alignment to correct the problem. At this point, it did not correct the issue and the tires were put back prior to the 15k rotation. Since owning the vehicle, I am unable to rotate the tires without an aggressive pull to the left. Just today, 8/24/2013, the dealer told me kia had numerous complaints with nexen tires and have since switched to kumho. There should be a recall because kia used a product line that is obviously flawed and now the dealer is saying I have to spend >$1000 on a set of new tires for a problem that has existed since I drove the vehicle (brand new) off the lot.

Filed Jan 28, 2012 · Steering, Wheels · 100 miles · VA

This is a brand new hybrid. Since initial purchase the car has been observed to steer to left on its own at lowest speeds. Tire pressure has been checked weekly and has been maintained as per specs. Car still veers to left. On researching have found that this is an issue with all 2011 kia optimas including other models. Continuously observed this for next 500 or so miles and then took to dealer who acknowledged the issue but said kia corporate has not notified them of any issue so they do not know what to do as this hybrid car is too new. The same issues has been reported on other kias non hybrid as well.the dealer was dulles kia in leesburg, va . I would not worry about cosmetic issues but on a brand new car such safety issues are troublesome especially when dealers have no clue. Dealer indicated these are new cars with new power steering modules and hence they have seen lot of these cases. Kia needs to recall and replace asap. The federal safety agency needs to issues safety research. The car on higher speeds also pulls to left and is dangerous with windy conditions.

Filed Jan 16, 2012 · Steering · MD

I bought the car in february 2011 and within several days, noticed the car would pull left after making a left turn or even changing lanes to the left. Thinking it was just an alignment issue, I took the car back to the dealer. The car has been back to the dealer for this issue 6 times, each time they did an alignment. Recently I noticed both front tires were wearing excessively, with less than 14000 miles, and have had to replace both tires. Since the new tires have been installed, the problem has gotten worse, like it was when I purchased the car. Now at the dealer for the 6th time, I was told that kia has new alignment specifications, the 3rd set of alignment specifications kia has had in less than a year. I was told also told that this issue was in part due to the nature of electronic steering. This is unacceptable and an excuse, not a reason.

Filed Nov 16, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 347 miles · RI

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 kia optima. The contact stated that the vehicle consistently pulled to the left. The contact had the dealer perform an alignment twice and both the struts and the bolts were replaced. The dealer insisted that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, but the contact believed there was some type of defect. The failure mileage was 347 and the current mileage was 3,672. Updated 12/12/11*lj updated 01/23/12

Filed Nov 2, 2011 · Steering · NY

The vehicle pulls to the left and sometimes to the right. You have to hang onto the steering wheel with both hands to keep it straight. The pulling to the left is more prominent. I took it in on sept 20th for the first time. They switched the wheels but the problem continued. I took it in again on oct. 7th and at this time they told me there was nothing wrong with it. The problem continued still. On oct 9th I was driving off a thruway ramp when the car almost swerved into on coming traffic. I took it back on oct. 13th because I'm afraid to drive it. They still have said vehicle.

Filed Jul 18, 2011 · Transmission · 100 miles · MO

2011 kia optima lx. Car pulls to the left at all speeds but most significantly at speeds above 60mph. This can make for very dangerous situations as the car drifts in all situations to the left. If the road is crowned to the left the car will pull almost violently to the left. I have almost hit median barriers and/or gone veered off the road several times. I can consider myself a good driver without any accidents in the past 12 years and this is unacceptable. Kia has been notified of the issue and is working on the problem. However, kia has not come up with a fix for this problem.