NHTSA Complaint #10345265 — 2004 KIA SEDONA

2004 KIA SEDONA. STEERING THIS VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN EXECUTING TURNS, ESPECIALLY EXITING FROM HIGHWAYS. STEERING FEELS AS IF IT IS BINDING AND ABOUT TO SEIZE. STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DRIVER EFFORT. THE PROBLEM IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. KIA SIMPLY ADVISED ME THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE STEERING MECHANISM IS NOT PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATES THE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION MECHANISM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN NJ AND IT HAS BEEN USED PRIMARILY IN NJ AND THE NORTHEAST; THE VEHICLE IS USED AS THE FAMILY CAR WITH MOST DRIVING DONE LOCALLY WITHIN TOWN. MILEAGE IS APPROX 63,000. THE PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID OR PUMP. THE STEERING MECHANISM IS ABOUT THE MOST BASIC AND CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM ON A CAR NEXT TO THE BRAKES. PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS LISTED ON THE NHTSA SITE MENTION A PROBLEM RATE 11 TIMES HIGHER IN SALT BELT STATES (MY VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED FOR THIS ISSUE VIA A SAFETY RECALL). IT SEEMS THIS IS SOMETHING THE CAR MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO RECONSIDER. *TR