Technical Service Bulletin - Drift/Left Pull Issue

[Codger]

^^Yes. In an otherwise fine design and execution it's inexcusable.

[stodge]

Originally Posted by Codger

You're jumping to a hasty conclusion. Now that you're fully alerted to what to look for, why not go back and give it an informed test drive? A test drive should be all the car's dynamic functions-not what you did. The car will either have the problem right away or not at all. It won't 'develop' the problem. You should have gotten that from 180 posts.
Or choose any car you want-just test for more than one function...

Why take the risk? Why should it be up to the buyer to check for such an issue? Kia has had a year to diagnose and solve this problem.

One poster here is technically able to diagnose and discuss the problem (camber etc.), I'm not. I test drove the 2012 Optima EX and it pulled so no way am I going to consider buying one.

I know this is a harsh first post but I'm not anti-Kia or a fanboy of any particular type. I'm just confused why it's still an issue.

Cheers

[Codger]

Originally Posted by stodge

Why take the risk? Why should it be up to the buyer to check for such an issue? Kia has had a year to diagnose and solve this problem.
One poster here is technically able to diagnose and discuss the problem (camber etc.), I'm not. I test drove the 2012 Optima EX and it pulled so no way am I going to consider buying one.

Because that poster indicated he liked the car very much except for that issue. I urged him to learn how to find a car free of the issue.
You're certainly right-no reason they should come from KIA with this issue.
Your money - your choice to walk away.

[stodge]

Originally Posted by Codger

Because that poster indicated he liked the car very much except for that issue. I urged him to learn how to find a car free of the issue.
You're certainly right-no reason they should come from KIA with this issue.
Your money - your choice to walk away.

Ah apologies, I guess I missed how much he liked it. I was trying to speed read to get up to speed!

[MikeStangel]

This is FANTASTIC! Thank you.
The Service Director at Joe Rizza KIA, Orland Park, IL said he and the KIA Corp Rep test drove my car and a 2013, and that the car veering left on the highway was "probably just in my head". I will use this information and pass it along. Thank you!!

[akira410]

I'm having the same issue with my 2013 Kia Optima. We've had the thing a little over a month and it has been in the shop 6 times for this issue. We felt it a little bit when we first test drove the car, but it was a windy day so we assumed it was the wind. I wasn't aware of the issues until after the fact.

The service department keeps flip flopping on what they're telling us. Sometimes we're "imagining it" -- sometimes they "feel it." Once they actually performed some work that made the car weave into other lanes while driving it. We wanted to bring it in but they told us to "wait a couple days and see if it gets better."

I'm losing faith here. I was excited to have a new car and it's been nothing but a nightmare the entire time. It's been in the shop more than it has been out of the shop. I think we've been able to drive it on one little weekend trip and even then it was kind of nerve wracking with the way we were having to fight the weaving.

[vanevenh]

recent purchase of the 2011 Kia Optima EX. I purchased it Monday March 11,2013 evening. While test driving, I noticed a left pull. At the point of purchase I was very specific and even got it in writing that Russ Darrow (appleton,wi) would fix this issue for me. We all assumed it was an alignment issue, so a free alignment was written down (to be done within a week's time) on the paperwork to complete the purchase.

I came in 2 days later, Wednesday, March 13,2013 after driving it a while to be sure it wasn't just the newer car feel. It certainly wasn't. At that time an alignment couldn't be performed, the service dept said they were booked for a while, but suggested coming in after work next week to swap the 2 front tires to see if it was a tire issue. I came in again the following week March 18 and had the two front tires swapped. Afterwards, the technician drove it for a test and still reported a drift to the left. I drove it for a day, and it seemed better initially, but later felt the very same left pull as always. After a few calls, I came back again March 20 and we decided maybe it was a bad broken belt in the front tire and decided to put both fronts on the rear and both rears on the front. While I was waiting I asked for the Car-Fax report as it was a certified used car and I didn't receive one as promised - I thought maybe the car had structural damage which it didn't. The report showed that a full alignment was done on or about March 7, 2013 at Russ Darrow prior to being offered for sale. Also at the time 4 brand new tires were put on.

This all leads me to believe 1) it's not an alignment issue and 2) it's not a tire issue, because no matter where the tires are the very same left pull occurs. The alignment I don't believe is the problem because Eric in service verified Russ Darrow just did it, and he had only seen 1 time in his lifetime an alignment that didn't stick. So it made me ponder and I did what we do now in the 21st century - I Googled it. There is a service bulletin TSB-034 on this very issue... A left pull (never a right) on this 2011 Kia Optima. I read through numerous blogs and information, and it appears there is a problem with the strutsw and camber bolts (or lack there of). Left Pull Fix. Depending upon build date, they will either replace the struts or just add camber bolts. I truly believe this is the problem, but am willing to allow Russ Darrow to do ANYTHING that fixes the darn thing.

.... This letter sent to my dealership - made them JUMP and new camber bolts will be put on this weekend hopefully resolving the annoying left pull. THANKS FOR THIS FORUM!!!!! THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CLUE AS TO THIS TSB... says a lot for "dealerships being the people who know best"... but I disgress....

[Codger]

'Camber bolts' still won't give them enough adjustment. They have to move the front subframe.
And optimize tire pressures.
And center the steering wheel.
And align the rear AFTER the front.
And maximize caster.

Read all my posts in this thread for education.
It's a disgrace when civilians have to tell PAID service people there are TSB's for the model and they have to get tech procedures from some web forum guy...

[WeAreNotAlon]

Originally Posted by Codger

'Camber bolts' still won't give them enough adjustment. They have to move the front subframe.
And optimize tire pressures.
And center the steering wheel.
And align the rear AFTER the front.
And maximize caster.

Read all my posts in this thread for education.
It's a disgrace when civilians have to tell PAID service people there are TSB's for the model and they have to get tech procedures from some web forum guy...

RE: It's a disgrace when civilians have to tell PAID service people there are TSB's for the model and they have to get tech procedures from some web forum guy..


"Dealerships" and TSB's.

It is especially disgraceful for Dealerships to be clueless when:

1: TSB's are readily available to them- punching in VIN will pull up TSB's specific to that model.

2: The model in question is a hot selling item, it is not some obscure low selling model.

3: The model in question is, how should I say this... A model that "techs" /car guys have a interest in... EG: It's not a mini-van.
(Typically techs who service mini-vans have little "passion", or interest in mini-vans... vs a sporty car.)


.

[jsolo_sx2011]

Probably #1 on the list above... The model in question has a long history of these issues, going back to the 2011 models. No dealer should be ignorant on repair procedures for this.