TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: MDPS WARNING LAMP DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION & SINGLE PARTS REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information regarding the diagnosis of Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), also known as Electronic Power Steering (EPS), and parts replacement associated with the âÂÂWarranty Extension Programâ (WTY023) on 2016-2017MY Optima (JF/JFa), 2017MY Optima HEV/PHEV (JF P/HEV), 2016-2017MY Sorento (UMa) vehicles produced in the ranges listed below. The affected vehicles may exhibit the MDPS (also known as EPS) warning lamp âÂÂONâÂÂ. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the MDPS unit due to illumination of the MDPS warning lamp has been extended to 15 years/150
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Kia Optima steering problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Kia Optima have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 35,168 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Optima | 187 |
| 2013 Optima | 212 |
| 2014 Optima | 94 |
| 2015 Optima | 68 |
| 2016 Optima (this page) | 24 |
| 2017 Optima | 11 |
| 2018 Optima | 12 |
| 2019 Optima | 6 |
2crashes
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
WARRANTY EXTENSION: REIMBURSEMENT FORM - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension program launch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the notification to owners of the warranty extension program for WTY023. Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for repairs related to the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) unit, also known as Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit, due to illumination of the EPS warning light for all 2016-2017 MY Optima vehicles from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals of the warranty extension program for WTY023. Kia America, Inc., is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) unit, also known as Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit, from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. The power steering uses a motor to assist in steering the vehicle. If the engine is off or if the power steering system becomes inoperative, the vehicle may be steered, but it will require increased steering effort by the driver. This wa
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WARRANTY EXTENSION: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers of the warranty extension program for WTY023. Kia America, Inc., is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) unit, also known as Electronic Power Steering (EPS) unit, from 5 years/60,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service. The power steering uses a motor to assist in steering the vehicle. If the engine is off or if the power steering system becomes inoperative, the vehicle may be steered, but it will require increased steeri
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Steering failures dominate these 24 complaints. Most common: the steering wheel locks or loses power assistance mid-drive—at 15 mph backing out of a parking spot, at 40 mph on city streets, at 65 mph on an interstate. Owners describe near-total loss of turning ability, not just stiffness. One owner hitting a curb at speed; another ran off the road. Several report clicking or sticking sounds that increase in frequency before the wheel locks solid.
The pattern is intermittent and hard to pin down. Dealerships keep vehicles for 8 days, 2 weeks, even 3 weeks and cannot reproduce the fault. One independent shop did replicate it. Restarting the car temporarily fixes the problem—until it happens again, then again more often. One owner waited a year between incidents; another had three episodes in a year. Owners also report asymmetric steering (loose left, tight right) and constant lane drift on highways.
Separately, one complete electrical blackout locked steering while a car was doing 65 mph on an interstate with a daughter in the passenger seat. Another electrical shutdown caused the same scenario. One owner paid $3,386 out of pocket for steering column and ECU repair after their car was deemed out of warranty. Kia's recalls arrived too late for most owners to claim coverage.
Same Kia Optima steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss / steering wheel lock
Steering wheel locks or becomes unresponsive, ranging from complete lock-up to partial loss of control. Incidents occur at various speeds (15 mph to 65 mph), sometimes while turning, sometimes while driving straight. Owners report clicking or sticking sounds preceding the failure. Restarting the vehicle temporarily restores function, but episodes recur at decreasing intervals.
When: Between 2,843 and 67,400 miles; one incident reported 1 year after purchase; recurring over months to years
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks or becomes immobile; Clicking or sticking noise before lock-up; Power steering warning light illuminates; Traction control warning light illuminates; Steering wheel becomes loose; Steering wheel tight in one direction, loose in the other; Steering wheel allows only minimal movement (approximately one inch); Vehicle veers uncontrollably when steering fails
Codes mentioned: P1326 (engine knock code, mentioned in one narrative)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $3,386 for steering wheel column assembly and ECU repair. Dealerships have kept vehicles for extended periods (8 days to over 2 weeks) but report inability to replicate the issue. One independent service center was able to replicate the failure. Computer reset performed in one instance. Extended warranty may apply in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: KIA letter dated February 2022 regarding a recall, but vehicle was out of warranty at the time of failure. Kia stated no error codes present in one case despite airbag module showing acceleration event. Dealership service departments consistently unable to duplicate the fault during diagnostics.
Complete electrical shutdown with steering lockup
Vehicle experiences total electrical system failure while driving, causing steering wheel to lock, dash lights to go dark, and loss of hazard light function. Vehicle remains locked until restarted. In one case, this coincided with loss of navigation, radio, and power steering on the highway at 65 mph.
When: At 66,500 miles in one case; after battery replacement in another
Symptoms owners cite: All dash lights go out; Navigation and radio lose power; Power steering locks; Hazard lights inoperative; Vehicle uncontrollable until restarted; Electrical system fully non-responsive
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement performed (3-year-old vehicle at time of failure). One owner reported dealership kept vehicle after initial service but issue returned after return.
Intermittent power steering loss at low speed
Power steering unit stops functioning at low speeds (15 mph or less), resulting in near-complete inability to turn the wheel (not just stiffness). Condition preceded by sticking or clicking. Turning off and restarting the car clears the issue temporarily, but episodes recur more frequently over time.
When: Multiple occasions over extended period; one vehicle spent over two weeks at dealer without replication
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering stops working; Near-complete inability to turn wheel; Sticking or clicking before failure; Decreasing time between each episode
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle spent over two weeks at local KIA service department without successful diagnosis or repair.
Steering response inconsistency / asymmetric steering resistance
Steering wheel exhibits unequal resistance in different directions: very loose to the left, very tight to the right (or vice versa). Vehicle drifts across lanes on highways at 55+ mph. One owner with 31,000 miles reported very tight steering with constant lane drift. Suspected rack-and-pinion failure.
When: At 31,000 miles in one case; occurring at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Loose steering in one direction; Tight steering in opposite direction; Vehicle drifts across lane; Requires constant steering corrections; Occurs primarily at highway speeds (55+ mph)
Steering wheel becoming loose during operation
Steering wheel becomes loose and unresponsive while driving at low speed (15 mph). Accompanied by clicking noise when turning. Steering wheel physically moves with excessive play.
When: At 2,843 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes loose; Steering wheel movement restricted to approximately one inch left or right; Clicking noise when turning; Steering wheel eventually seized
Repairs/costs cited: Computer reset performed; dealer checked coupling unit and contacted KIA hotline before identifying solution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership performed computer reset; issue resolved. Manufacturer was notified.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Kia Optima?
It's a meaningful issue. 24 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 23,000 and 89,000 miles, with the median around 35,168. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,000; a quarter make it past 89,000. 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/2016/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.