NHTSA Complaint #10971826 — 2012 KIA OPTIMA

AT 40,000 MILES THE STEERING BEGAN GETTING 'STICKY' OR 'STUCK' AT THE 12 OCLOCK POSITION. IT WAS PARTICULARLY NOTICABLE WHEN CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT GOT SO BAD THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO OVERCORRECT AND VEER LEFT AND RIGHT (MILDLY). THE DEALER REPLACED A PART CALLED THE FLEX COUPLER AND THE PROBLEM VANISHED. ONE YEAR LATER, AT 51,000 MILES THE CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AGAIN. NOW, HOWEVER, THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (BY A MONTH). THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND THAT WILL COST ME <> 1500 DOLLARS. IF MY EXPERIENCES ARE ANY INDICATION, I WILL BE REPLACING STEERING PARTS EVERY 10,000 MILES??? BAD STEERING IS VERY PRETTY UNSAFE GUYS. THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM.