NHTSA Complaint #11176067 — 2012 KIA SOUL

KIA FLEXIBLE STEERING COUPLER 56315-2K000FFF COMPLETELY FAILED 12/2018. SAME COMPLAINT AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF 2012 KIA SOULS. PLASTIC STEERING COUPLER COMPLETELY FALLS APART CAUSE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PLAY AND BAD BANGING WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. GOING OVER ROAD HOLES, SPEED BUMPS AND EVEN ROAD REFLECTORS CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION AS WELL AS DRIFTING ISSUES. DEFECTIVE PART WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE BREAKDOWN OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT. KIA DEALERSHIP IN LAKE WALES, FL QUOTED $450 TO REPLACE THE $10 STAR SHAPED COUPLER STATING THE COSTS ARE MAINLY IN LABOR. THESE REPAIR COSTS SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. THE PART SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS A POOR DESIGN ON THE PART OF KIA. THE 2012 SOUL SHOULD BE INCLUDED ALONG WITH THE 2014-2016 RECALLS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT FOR THE EXACT ISSUE. I ALSO OWN A 2015 SOUL AND HAVE RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE COUPLER REPAIR. (WE ALSO OWN A 2017 SPORTAGE) WHY ARE THE 2012 OWNERS BEING LEFT OUT AND DISREGARDED? THE PART IS THE SAME, THE LABOR IS THE SAME AND THE POTENTIAL DANGER AND FURTHER DAMAGE IS THE SAME. KIA SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS FILED AND COST THEM A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT MORE. KIA'S LACK OF CUSTOMER CARE, CONCERN AND COMMITMENT TO THE 2012 OWNERS IS DISRESPECTFUL AND SHAMEFUL. I TRULY AND SINCERELY HOPE KIA WILL TAKE NOTICE OF OUR COMPLAINTS AND PLEA AND HELP US. *TR