This is an online automotive information provider of a detailed information on complaints, defects and recalls for KIA OPTIMA HYBRID 2012 steering. Our users can find data on mass market car models from most popular brands. The service allows to compare and analyze statistics for reported problems, complaints, recalls for various manufacturers. We hope our site will help with selecting of a reliable and safe car. By using this tool, you will be able to get records with description of safety issues for vehicles, equipment, tires and child restraints. These issues include safety recalls for your KIA OPTIMA HYBRID 2012 steering and complaints other owners have filed.

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2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID Steering Problems, Complaints and Defects

Issue ID	1267342
Internal NHTSA #	10845692
Manufacurer	Kia Motors America
Brand	KIA
Model	OPTIMA HYBRID
Model Year	2012
File date	30/09/14
Component	STEERING
Product type code	VEHICLE
Description of the problem	Bought the car new in 2012 from fuccillo kia in cape coral, florida for my wife. She noticed the very slight "clunking" noise in 2014 with about 50k miles on it and didn't think it was much of a problem. It gradually became very, very loud and she could now feel the constant "clunking" when turning the steering wheel or hitting small imperfections in the road. She brought it to my attention at about 65k miles and after researching the noise on the internet i found this problem has been occurring in thousands of kia and hyundai vehicles from 2010 to 2014 model years. It is a quarter sized rubber star shaped bushing between two metal couplers that disintegrates over time and very quickly in warm climates like south florida. This repair is not a recall and is not covered after 60k warranty. I purchased the "new & upgraded" part from a local kia dealer for less than $2 but, the labor to install is close to $350!!! This should be a recall for the vehicles involved due to the unsafe steering characteristics and the volume of vehicles affected as it does not involve an owner serviceable routine maintenance component!!!
Vehicle Mileage at Failure	50000
Number of Occurences
Source of the issue	NHTSA WEB SITE
City and State	NAPLES, FL
VIN pattern	KNAGM4AD3C5XXXXXX
Was vehicle invloved in a crash?	N
Was vehicle involved in a fire?	N
Was incedent reported to police?	N
Was medical attention required?	N
Was part original equipment?
No. of injured persons
No. of fatalities
Date of purchase	07/08/26
Was original owner?	N
Anti-lock brakes	N
Cruise control	N
Number of cylinders
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DoT tire identifier
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Location of tire code
Type of tire failure code
Was defective tire repaired?
Date of manufacture
Type of child seat code
Type of restraint
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What is Recall?
A recall is when a product is removed from the market or a correction is made to the product because it is either defective or potentially harmful.
What is Failure?
Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. Product failure ranges from failure to sell the product to fracture of the product, in the worst cases leading to personal injury, the province of forensic engineering.
What is Defect?
Non-conformance of a car component with the specified requirements, or non-fulfillment of user expectations, including the safety aspects.

Last decoded VIN:

1TK602836VM018406 5N1BT3AB4RC717512 WAUZZZ8P8BA047418 MCANJPBB8KFA44577 3C4PDCBB1KT737765 1G6CD4788G4348722 1B3ES22Y5WD533494 W1K2050772R573042 WVWHE1CD2TW188529 3GCUKREC8JG305164 2HKRM4H31GH123336 ZFA31200003162683

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2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID Steering Problems, Complaints and Defects, Recalls and Failures

2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID Steering Problems, Complaints and Defects

What is Recall?

What is Failure?

What is Defect?