NHTSA Complaint #10514109 — 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA

I LOST THE ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING WILL "LOCK" AND NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT ALMOST AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED, BUT I HAVE HAD THIS CHECKED AND SINCE IT'S INTERMITTENT, DIAGNOSES IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK FINE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF FIGHTING THE WHEEL THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SNAP BACK AND ALL SEEMS FINE. I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. ONE TECHNICIAN SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A VALVE IN THE RACK AND PINION GOING OUT. I MUST STATE THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND ONLY AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF IT'S A FLAW IN THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM ITSELF. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR FOR THIS IS REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION AT A COST OF OVER $1000. *TR