NHTSA Complaint #10860902 — 2006 KIA SEDONA

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD. THE WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN CAREENING LEFT TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND EXIT SAFELY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WERE POINTING IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS MOVED SIGNIFICANTLY BACK IN ITS WELL TOWARD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY CLEAR THAT THE FRONT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL (CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V550000) ON THE LCA FOR THIS VEHICLE, LOCATED IN MICHIGAN, AND THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED BY A DEALERSHIP. THIS FAILURE WAS AFTER THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. APPARENTLY THIS LCA DIDN'T MEET THE CRITERIA FOR REPLACEMENT, AND WAS "RUSTPROOFED" INSTEAD. THE RUSTPROOFING DID NOT PREVENT THIS LCA FROM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 104,000 MILES. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING FASTER, OR HAD THERE BEEN AN ONCOMING CAR, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE OR EVEN FATAL. I DID RECEIVE A MILD INJURY TO MY RIGHT WRIST WHEN THE WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE TENDON IS HYPER-EXTENDED AND REQUIRES THAT I WEAR A WRIST BRACE.