NHTSA Complaint #10547742 — 2006 KIA SEDONA

AS MY WIFE WAS MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VAN LURCHED LEFT AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY. AFTER CHECKING FOR FLAT TIRES AND FINDING NONE, SHE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING TO MUCH TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER. AFTER HAVING THE VAN TOWED TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND CHECKED OUT, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED. I CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAS BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE AT THAT TIME, BUT CHANGED OUR PLANS AT THE LAST MINUTE. THIS VAN HAD ITS ANNUAL NH STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST AND WAS GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. THE SHOP THAT DID THE INSPECTION AND THE SHOP THAT IS DOING THE REPAIR BOTH TOLD US THAT UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY SEE A CRACK, THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO TELL IF THE PART IS COMPROMISED OR NOT. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH METAL FOR 30 YEARS, I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE. LASTLY, I HAVE NOTED SIX COMPLAINTS REPORTED HERE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUST THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT IS TIME FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND RECALL BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS OR (HEAVEN FORBID) FATAL ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM A CONTROL ARM FAILURE. *TR