Steering column making rubbing noise when turning. It felt like a notch was rubbing against something. The car was no reason for this part to deteriorate the way it did. It just all of a sudden started this notch rubbing feeling in steering. I took car to Calavan KIA in Lithia Springs, GA to have it examined. They said the MDPS flexible coupling needed to be replaced. There are other KIA's that…
2014 Kia Optima steering problems
moderate 93 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
93
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 93 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
At any speed above 30 MPH, the steering system has a delayed response. As you torque the steering to hold a position on a crowned road surface, the steering finally recognizes a steering input command and immediately jumps to the new position. Not only is it disconcerting, but depending on the road condition (traffic, lane width, overall speed) these "digital" jumps in positioning of the…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 Kia Optima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2014 Kia Optima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 93 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 36 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 13,000 and 97,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,000; a quarter make it past 97,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Kia/Optima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.