2014 Kia Optima: pulls to one side

Filed Apr 29, 2020 · Body · 66,752 miles · OK

The antenna fin screws sheered off and plastic screw holder broke into pieces causing the fin to come loose and fall off, exposing electrical components. There was no prior interference with the fin, I observed the fin slightly lifted on the front end and it pulled right off. The vehicle was in the parked position after just driving it 5 minutes. There is no easy way of fixing this issue, rain damage may occur causing issues with radio and other electrical components. Others have complained of the same thing happening to their kia optima antenna fins.

Filed Apr 26, 2019 · Steering, Wheels · 78,901 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 kia optima. While driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel felt loose and started to pull to the left. The vehicle was taken to pep boys where it was diagnosed that an alignment was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,901.

Filed Sep 6, 2014 · Steering · 3,031 miles · OH

The steering wanders side to side. It is a constant battle trying to keep it in a straight line.there is no "sweet spot" you constantly have to correct a little left then a little right over and over again. Also air conditioner failed twice. Car only had 200 miles on it. And again at 350 miles.

Filed Jul 24, 2014 · Steering · 90 miles · DC

I recently leased a 2014 kia optima lx and when driving home on the highway experienced the followed hazards with this vehicle: - drifting - pulling to the left and right - difficulty maintaining straight course and feeling like the car was "all over the road" - instability when driving in windy conditions - extremely sensitive steering wheel the car pulled to the left and right constantly and was worse at higher speeds. The car would drift in lanes and it was constant work to get it to go straight which seemed impossible. High gust winds made it seem like my war was going to move into the other lane. I contacted dealership and after further research by them, they said they could electronically change the mode of the power steering. There seem to be 2 modes available and one of them makes the steering flimsy and hard to handle and the other makes it feel more stable like a steering wheel should be. I would suggest anyone experiencing this problem to contact their service department and ask for the mode change. Most dealership staff don't even know this option exists and some service departments aren't familiar with it either but apparently it does exist. I would not have kept this vehicle if they couldn't have changed the power steering mode because it is simply unsafe to drive. Again, this is not a mode feature on the dashboard or a display function that some of the other kia models have. This is specifically something that the service department needs to do electronically and they can do this on the lx model. One other feature I just discovered that I don't like and think may be an additional problem is the ridiculously low passenger seat. This makes no sense to me at all and I will be inquiring with service about it.

Filed Jul 17, 2014 · Steering · 26 miles · CA

At all speeds since new - the car has had no predisposition to go straight. The steering wheel needs constant input as the car continuously wanders from side to side. The steering wheel needs excessive input to make even the slightest correction. And, when the steering does respond - it over corrects. This effect has you weaving constantly. In the time it takes to look over your shoulder to check traffic - you can be in the next lane. Rather than being able to make a smooth turn - the driving line through a turn looks more like a circular saw blade that a smooth arc. The electric assist steering has a digital feel. It's as if there are programmed digital positions that the wheel can be turned to. Anything in between those positions has you fighting the steering wheel to hold your line. It's bad driving down the freeway. It's the most dangerous when driving on narrow two-lane roads - especially when they're windy. It's subtle, but, you can feel distinct favored steering wheel positions to either side of straight ahead(example: 2 and 4 degrees to either side). It feels as if the steering clicks into those positions. When the wheel is in one of these positions - and, the arc of the turn matches the 2 or 4 degree steering angle - you can go around corners with no hands on the wheel. It feels electrically stuck in position. If a turn is not the same angle as the stuck points - you often find yourself counter-steering through the turn. Example: you're going through a 3 degree left hander. The steering wheel favors a 2 or 4 degree position. The 2 degree position has you drifting to the outside of the turn. You correct to tighten it up. The wheel corrects by going to the favored 4 degree position. You have to hold pressure on the wheel to the right(countersteer) to hold your line in a left hand turn. Unfortunately, there is no favored position for going straight. Dangerous!

Filed Apr 17, 2014 · Steering · AL

2014 kia optima. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle steering problems. *smd the consumer stated the steering issue caused the vehicle to wander to the left or right. The consumer has attempted to get the steering issue fixed several times. The consumer was informed it was a characteristic of the electric assisted power steering. However, the dealer changed the steering mode from normal to sport setting, which made no improvement in the problem. Driving the vehicle demanded constant correction of the steering wheel to maintain a straight line.

Filed Apr 9, 2014 · Steering · 1,000 miles · FL

The car has a hard time continuing in a straight line. The steering always pulls to the left or right. The car either goes 1 left of 1 right. There is no center. It is a strain to try to keep the car in a lane at high speeds.

Filed Mar 13, 2014 · Acceleration, Steering · 123 miles · FL

I complained to the dealer about the rough ride and harsh ride but was told not to worry. I then took it on the highway and the steering pulled to the left and I never felt confident about the steering only to say that it did not feel right and it was worrisome to me. It simply did not feel right to me. I've been driving 50 years and have never felt this uncomfortable driving/steering a car at highway speeds.

Filed Mar 12, 2014 · Steering · 2,000 miles · NC

Vehicle wanders at highway speeds. It is almost impossible to go straight without constant adjustment. Even with constant adjustment the car will not track straight.

Filed Feb 18, 2014 · Steering · 612 miles · CA

Vehicle wanders from side to side on the highway, at highway speeds (60+ MPH) and requires constant correction from left to right to maintain lane position. This has been a problem from the time we purchased it new less than 3 weeks ago. The steering is very hyper-sensitive at speed and a correction to the right requires a correction to left with no apparent "gray" or middle center area which would keep the vehicle in a straight line. Most of this is on very straight surfaces with little to no crown & camber on the road. Steering mode was changed by the dealer service dept. (at our request) from ex sport to ex standard, with minimal improvement. We replaced the oem tires, with upgraded tires. While traction and turning performance have improved, still no noticeable improvement in the wander. My wife refuses to drive the car on the highways, as she feels fear, stress and exhaustion from the constant correction during lengthy drives.