2016 Kia Optima: steering wheel locks up

Filed Feb 17, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · 105,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine light illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed, and the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the highway and contacted the Highway Patrol for assistance. The contact associated the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE); with the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

Filed May 28, 2025 · Steering · NC

MDPS failing when driving randomly. Steering locks up and vehicle is uncontrollable, while the vehicle is moving. This has occurred at varying speeds, while turning and while driving straight. Dealer has unsuccessfully got the issue to replicate, but independent service center was able to replicate it and found the extended warranty and recommended dealership visit since issue is covered. Vehicle has been inspected by dealership and the first recommended battery replacement, but this did not remedy the issue. EPS warning light is illuminated while issue is occurring but due to safety, car needs to be restarted to gain control of the vehicle and light turns off.

Filed Jun 4, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · FL

My steering wheel locked while I was on my way to work early Monday, March 28,2022. I was driving down county road Park Avenue around 30MPH and suddenly, I was unable to move the steering at all. Luckily, I was already in the right lane =; however, it was very challenging to steer to get off the road. I called the local dealership and they suggested I bring the car in for inspection to determine what the cause is. I took the car to the dealership and I was informed the vehicle was not drivable because the Steering Wheel Column Assembly and ECU needs repair. They also informed there was no recall on the vehicle. The mileage at the time was 67,400 miles which was very surprising. I received a letter from Kia Motors in February 2022 (6 years after the car was manufactured about the recall however, most cars at this point were out of warranty and Kia was aware no car met the warrantee qualifications). I was told by Kia Motors customer service that my vehicle was out of warranty at the mileage. I paid $3386 for repairs which should have been covered years in 2019 and 2020 according to other reports of the same incident occurring to other 2016 Kia Optima models.

Filed Nov 21, 2022 · Engine · OK · crash

Failed connecting rod bearing. Happened on the freeway my car shut off and steering wheel locked up. It almost caused multiple crashes as other people got out of their cars to try and help me move my car out of the freeway. I take very good care of my car and maintenance was up to date. I still owe over 9k on the car and it only had 130k miles. Kia has a class action lawsuit I was unaware of and promised a lifetime warrant for my engine but now refuse that warranty. I had to get out of my car on the freeway or risk getting hit from the back. Other cars on the freeway were constantly passing at 80mph. Multiple people had to help me push my car that would not turn and kept shutting off. This was very sudden and random I had no check engine lights or any lights on my dash board at the time. This all happened within the matter of 2 minutes and I’m very happy the person who was behind me had distance enough to go around me or else the would have been an accident.

Filed Jan 20, 2020 · Steering · 96,000 miles · NC · crash

Steering wheel locked causing vehicle to hit curb and damage wheel well. Veh possibly will need new rim.

Filed May 31, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 66,500 miles · CO

On the evening of may 17, I needed a jump after work. I went home, turned off my car but was unable to start it again so I replaced the battery. I thought I had fixed the problem until the next day when I was driving 65mph on a local interstate with my daughter in the car, all my dash lights came on, I lost navigation & radio and my power steering locked up. I went to turn on my hazards and those did not work either. I checked my mirrors to make sure no one was going to hit me and I was able to get off the highway and pull onto the shoulder. I was extremely fearful as I had minimal steering capability & was unable to notify other motorists of my disabled vehicle as my hazard lights were not functioning. I was able to get it towed to a dealership where I was told I needed a new alternator for my 3 year old car. While my mileage was at 66,500 miles, I definitely had not anticipated need to replace that part of a while. Despite that, I was more upset that I lost function of my car and was not able to warn other cars with working hazard lights.

Filed Apr 24, 2019 · Steering · 20,000 miles · NJ

Steering wheel locks while driving. Initially happened 1 year ago while driving. Had to use severe force to turn the wheel. I took the car to the kia dealership, who said they did see something on diagnostics; however, they could not duplicate the problem, so they could not fix the car. They kept & drove the car. They checked the coupling unit & contacted kia hotline but still could not find the problem, so they returned the car to me. On april 14th, while backing out of my parking space, the wheel again locked up. I jiggled the wheel and it released, so I pulled out & proceeded to drive. I reached the end of my street & wanted to turn & could not move the wheel. Luckily, I was still in my development with a 25mph zone, so I turned off the car. When I started it again, I could move the wheel, so I returned it to parking spot & had it towed into the dealership on april 15th. The dealer had the car for 8 days, drove it for 340 miles & still could not duplicate the issue, so they could not fix the problem. They returned the car to me & said if they cannot duplicate the issue, they cannot fix it. So I am now driving a car in fear that this will happen again & possibly when on a highway & at higher speed.