| Issue ID | 918122 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10456774 |
| Manufacurer | KIA MOTORS CORPORATION |
| Brand | KIA |
| Model | OPTIMA |
| Model Year | 2012 |
| File date | 28/04/12 |
| Component | STEERING |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | I just purchased a brand new 2012 optima from a dealer in coral springs, fla. Other than one important problem, i love this car. Here is the important safety issue: when you get over 40mph, the car will not go straight- it continues to move out of the lane you are driving in. No matter how small of a steering correction you make- when you hold the steering "completely still"- the car still moves to the left, then to the right when you inch it back- the car steering mechanism seems to not let the car travel straight ahead. The steering will not keep the car going straight, so this is a safety issue because the car keeps automatically taking you out of your lane!!! When i was on the fla turnpike heading home from the dealer today, this situation must have occurred a hundred times. I have owned more than 50 cars over the years, of all makes and sizes- and this issue has never occurred before. I hope you can help get this "safety issue" resolved asap. I will go back to the dealer tomorrow to discuss the problem. Thank you. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 125 |
| Number of Occurences | 1 |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | WELLINGTON, FL |
| VIN pattern | 5XXGM4A78CGXXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| 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 | 4 |
| Drive train type | |
| Transmission type | |
| Vehicle speed | |
| DoT tire identifier | |
| Tire size | |
| Location of tire code | |
| Type of tire failure code | |
| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
| Type of restraint | |
| Dealer's name | |
| Dealer's telephone number | |
| Dealer's city | |
| Dealer's state code | |
| Dealer's ZIP code |