NHTSA Complaint #10594133 — 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE

FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW I HAVE A RANDOM TIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR WHERE THE STEERING WOULDN'T WORK. I WOULD START THE CAR AND TRY TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING LOT OR SOMETHING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN. I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WOULD WORK JUST FINE. I TOOK IT TO A FEW AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND COULD NEVER REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY WOULD TELL ME THAT THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY IGNITION KEY LOCKING THE STEERING. SO I DIDN'T LOOK INTO IT ANYMORE BECAUSE FOR A MONTH OR TWO IT STOPPED HAPPENING. THEN OUT OF NOWHERE TODAY, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AROUND 60-70 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING GOT REALLY STIFF. IT WAS REALLY SCARY BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE STEERING OF THE CAR. SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE STEERING WORKED LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO THE NEXT EXIT WHERE I PARKED AT A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I'M WAITING RIGHT NOW FOR THE REPAIR SHOP TOMORROW TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX. *TR