There are 2 stored owner reports matching the steering leading-label group for the 2007 Kia Optima in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 2 of 2 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)EVER SINCE WE GOT THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE RAIN, WHEN I STARTED TO LOOK INTO WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM I NOTICED THERE IS A HOLE IN THE PLASTIC RIGHT BELOW THE OIL FILTER. THIS ALLOWS WATER TO GET ON THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO SHORT POWER FOR THE CAR. THIS IN RETURN CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO CEASE UP MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE CAR, HENCE WHY IT HAS BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS; ONE THAT PUT MY MOTHER IN THE HOSPITAL A FEW YEARS BACK. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS YESTERDAY BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THIS FLAW IS A DEADLY PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PLACED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY SEIZED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE IGNITION KEY BEGAN TO TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.