NHTSA Complaint #10654625 — 2014 ACURA MDX

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS 2 MONTHS OLD WITH ~2,000 MILES, ABOUT ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT STEERING PROBLEM. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN A PARKING LOT OR PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. AS YOU GET TO THE HEIGHT OF THE TURN (READY TO LET THE WHEEL TURN BACK), THERE IS A LOUD RUBBING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TIRE HITTING THE WHEEL WELL. AT THE SAME TIME THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SPIN BACK. I HAVE TO USE FORCE TO SPIN THE WHEEL BACK TOWARDS CENTER. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS FOR 2 SECONDS, AND THEN EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AGAIN. I CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM USING THE SAME EXACT ACTIONS. I HAVE HAD 2 QUITE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS DUE TO THIS. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS: OON THE ROAD WAITING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AS TRAFFIC WAS COMING THE OTHER DIRECTION. SOMEONE COMING THE OTHER DIRECTION FLASHED THEIR LIGHTS AND WAIVED ME TO TURN IN FRONT OF THEM. I TURNED LEFT, AND JUST AS I WAS AT THE PEAK, AND LETTING THE WHEEL TURN BACK TO CENTER, I GOT THE RUBBING, VIBRATION, AND LACK OF STEERING. I QUICKLY TURNED THE WHEEL BACK MYSELF, BARELY MISSING A CAR COMING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. OI WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE OFFICE THAT I WORK AT, AND WAS TAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A STOP OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. AS I WAS AT THE PEAK, AND LETTING THE WHEEL TURN BACK TO CENTER, I GOT THE RUBBING, VIBRATION, AND LACK OF STEERING. WITH THAT, I NEARLY HIT THE CURB ON THE RIGHT WHERE THERE WAS SOMEONE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPRODUCED, AND THEY REPLACED THE CABLE REEL. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FINAL TIME THAT IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO MY LEMON LAW CLAIM. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED, AND MY LEMON LAW CLAIM WAS DENIED. *TR