2017 Kia Optima: loss of power steering

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Engine · TX

While driving at highway speed, my engine began to produce a loud knocking noise without prior warning. Within few seconds, the engine seized completely causing sudden loss of motive power.This caused a dangerous situation— loss of power steering and barking at highway speed, leaving me stranded in traffic lanes. I was forced to coast to the shoulder. The vehicle was towed to the nearest independent repair shop because it was not drivable and I was stranded far from home. The shop diagnosis —- seized engine due to big end connecting rod bearing seizure, identical to the federal safety agency Recall 17V‑224 and KIA recall SC 17/ SC165 and TSB P1803 related to Theta engine bearing wear and engine seizure.My vehicle has the 2.4 L engine covered by this recall/defect.The failure occurred exactly as described in the recall: knocking , the seizure. KIA has denied warranty coverage because the vehicle was initially diagnosed and repaired at independent shop after the roadside emergency.The shop was used only because the vehicle was immobilized on the freeway away from home. I did attempt to contact a dealership in FortWorth, Texas, Morits KIA, but they could not provide roadside assistance or a tow solution at that time. I am reporting because: 1) This is a sudden loss of power at highway speed, which is a major safety risk 2) This appears to be the same defect KIA has recalled for, but the vehicle was not remedied or remedy failed 3) KIA is refusing to honor the extended warranty for this known defect I request the federal safety agency document this failure as part of the ongoing monitoring of Theta II engine failures. Vehicle is available for inspection and defective engine have been preserved.

Filed Jun 30, 2026 · Steering · MA

Since 4/1 my car has intermittently lost power steering. I received dashboard warning lights and the wheel was difficult to turn. When I shutoff the car and turned back on, the warning lights were gone and the steering returned. My mechanic did a diagnostic and found the following codes c1259, c1260, c1290 and c1688 each time the incident occurred. After research, we discovered these codes relate to TBS CHA114 and TSB CHA864 under extended warranty WTY023. I was unable to upload the TBS documents. The same thing happened on 6/18. I brought the car to a different dealer. The first time they supposedly did a diagnostic and said there were no codes. I have pictures of the codes. They said it did not matter because the codes need to be active and the lights need to be on the dashboard. The second time at a different dealer, they didn't do a diagnostic but said it did not matter because the codes need to be active. No where is any documentation does it say the codes need to be active. They are stored in history and Freeze frame data. It is impossible for me to get the car there with the illuminated dash and "active" codes because when it happens, I cannot steer the car and when I shut if off they go away. Plus when I get to the dealer, they will tell me they cannot take me and to make an appointment. I am now working with KIA escalation department but she informed me today that she did not have the authority to authorize a dealer to repair the car. When I asked who does she said I need a techline which is opened by the dealership. WHAT??? This all started with the dealer. The car is now having glitches with the steering while driving. IT IS DANGEROUS AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I have no idea when the steering might go out. I need help in getting a Kia dealership to fix the issue under the extended warranty they sent me in 2022. I am so sick of the run around and brush off. How do I get this accomplished?

Filed Jun 3, 2025 · Steering · NJ

Randomly when turning, my steering will jolt in the opposite direction and lose power steering. The red power steering light does come on at this moment where I have to pull over, turn the car off, and restart and the symptoms clear itself up. In addition, there is there is, randomly, grinding noises (and I can feel it in the steering) when turning. When this occurs, relocating the steering column by changing the position (via tilt and telescopic) seems to help clear it up for awhile. I have almost jolted to oncoming traffic when turning and a few instances. I have had it serviced to check steering points at tires, axel, cv joints, and my mechanics can't seem to find the fault there. Even after doing alignments, it helped for a little bit but the same problems came back. They believe it to be a steering column issue. They believe that it is getting caught when turning and causing the issues. This has been occurring for about 6-8 months now. The power steering losing power happens maybe once or twice a week to once every two weeks. The grinding and vibration in the steering column while turning happens a few times a week to maybe just once a week. Its occurrence worsens when it rains. I am reporting this because I have read other reports of people have the same experience as myself.

Filed May 19, 2025 · Acceleration, Steering · GA

The power steering stopped working and the car became hard to turn because of it. The power steering light (red color with steering wheel and exclamation point to the right of it) came on also.

Filed Aug 30, 2024 · Steering · IA

Car engine stuttered when turned on, then after a moment smoothed out . I noticed some looseness in response in the steering wheel while driving forward, after a short period of time driving the antiskid symbol and the EPS symbol came on and I lost power steering. I turned off the car and turned it back on . The emergency symbols were gone and the power steering was OK. I headed back home and the symbols came back on and lost power steering again after driving about 3 blocks. I repeated turning car off and on to get home.