NHTSA Complaint #10223110 — 2003 KIA SEDONA EX

VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY UNTIL A RIGHT HAND TURN WAS ATTEMPTED AT A STREET INTERSECTION AT WHICH TIME THE STEERING WHEEL JAMMED AT APPROXIMATELY THE TWO O'CLOCK POSITION. IT TOOK ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO GET THE WHEEL TO TURN PAST THIS POSITION. ONCE ACCOMPLISHED I AGAIN HAD THE SAME DIFFICULTY RETURNING TO THE TWELVE O'CLOCK POSITION. THIS SITUATION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO THE OPPOSITE TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY THE LANE HAD NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE STEERING COLUMN (INTERMEDIATE SHAFT). THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL CASES RECENTLY INVOLVING THE SAME VEHICLE AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD USED UP THE FOUR IN STOCK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON 02 AND 03 KIA SEDONA VEHICLES. THE PART IS CURRENTLY ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF DEMAND. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WAITING FOR PART AVAILABILITY. *TR