In most cases, you should be able to fix a locked Kia steering wheel by jiggling your steering wheel and your car key until the vehicle can start, releasing a locking mechanism. If that doesn’t solve your problem, it’s possible your Kia may have an underlying mechanical issue.

For obvious reasons, a functional steering wheel is essential for being able to safely control your vehicle—so when you hop into your vehicle and realize it’s locked, it can be quite worrying. In many cases, it’s simply the result of an anti-theft locking mechanism, but in others, the cause could be related to more serious issues with your steering system or other components.

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How to unlock your Kia steering wheel

If your Kia steering wheel is locked while parked, it’s possible that the cause could be an anti-theft measure in action.

If you turn your Kia’s steering wheel too much without a key in the ignition, this could trigger a locking mechanism in the steering wheel. In theory, this would prevent someone from hotwiring your vehicle and driving off with it since a would-be thief wouldn’t be able to properly control the vehicle to drive off with it.

When this is the case, the fix is pretty easy: with the turn of your key, the locking mechanism should release and your steering wheel should loosen up again. If that doesn’t work, you may need to move your steering wheel back and forth with your key at the same time. The steering wheel will typically have a little more give in one direction than the other, so you’ll want to steer in that direction if that’s the case.

Once your wheel and key hit the right spot, you should be able to start your vehicle and steer freely again.

If you’re still having difficulty, it’s possible you could have a more serious mechanical problem on your hands, in which case you may want to have a certified mechanic or Kia service center inspect your vehicle.

MORE:

Are Kias expensive to maintain?

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Why your Kia steering wheel lock might engage

In addition to that protective security measure, there are a number of additional causes that could cause your Kia’s steering wheel to lock up. According to Kia, the following are some of the most common reasons a steering wheel lock happens.

If your steering wheel locks while parked

Other than anti-theft measures, a locked steering wheel while your Kia is parked could be connected to an ignition problem, since some of its components work in combination with your steering wheel.

If your steering wheel locks while driving

A locked steering wheel that occurs while you're driving is usually caused by a serious mechanical failure with your steering column or other steering components, part of your power steering system, or part of your vehicle’s suspension.

Hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you, but if it were to occur, you’d ideally want to begin braking as soon as it's safe to do so and use whatever steering capability you have to safely pull off to the side of the road if you can. Remember to keep your hands on the wheel to maintain as much control over your vehicle as possible.

Once it’s safe to do so, you can call for help—and having

roadside assistance

towing and labor coverage

can provide major relief in a situation like this.)

MORE:

What to do and how to stay safe if your car breaks down

If your steering wheel is usable but stiff

If your steering wheel isn’t necessarily “locked,” but it does feel like it’s getting more difficult to turn, there may be a problem with some aspect of your power steering system.

The fix could be as easy as having your power steering fluid changed, while more serious mechanical issues, like a faulty

power steering pump

or a power steering fluid leak could require more extensive repairs.

If you make too many sharp turns

Making a habit of taking sharp turns is hard on your vehicle for a number of reasons—like the damage it could cause to your transmission or steering components, for example. Another one of its consequences could be a locked steering wheel.

If your engine control unit fails

Your engine control unit (ECU) is essentially your vehicle’s onboard computer. While not very common, it’s possible an ECU malfunction could result in a locked steering wheel.

If you suspect there’s a significant mechanical problem that’s causing your steering wheel to lock up, you should have your vehicle inspected by a certified mechanic as soon as possible so you can confirm whether it’s safe to drive.

How to save on Kia insurance

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After making a switch—which we can also help you with—the average Jerry user saves an average of more than $800 on their annual

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