NHTSA Complaint #11298071 — 2016 KIA SORENTO

MY 2016 SORENTO (EX) HAS STICKY STEERING. KIA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUES AN UPGRADE TO THE CARS COMPUTER SYSTEM BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, IT INITIALLY STICKS AND REQUIRES EXTRA FORCE TO GET IT TO PROVIDE A STEERING INPUT. ONCE IT GETS PAST THE INITIAL RESISTANCE, IT JERKS THE CAR IN THE DIRECTION YOU ARE TRYING TO GO WHICH REQUIRED COMPENSATION IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. UPON CORRECTION, IT JERKS THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION CAUSING A CONTINUAL NEED TO CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT AND CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN PERFECTLY STRAIGHT TRAVEL. ON LARGE SWEEPING CORNERS, THIS PROBLEM IS EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED AND FEELS DANGEROUS. MY CAR IS OUT OF ITS BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND DESPITE ME HAVING THE CAR INTO KIA DEALERSHIPS TWICE WHILE IN WARRANTY AND THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER "FIX" NOT WORKING, KIA IS NOT GUARANTEEING THAT WHEN I BRING THE CAR BACK THAT IT WILL BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM IS REPLACING THE STEERING RACK OR OTHER STEERING COMPONENTS. THE STICKING ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT BUT WHEN IT IS ACTING UP IT CAN BE FELT WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. THIS INTERMITTENT ISSUE STARTED AROUND 30,000 MILES AND CONTINUES THROUGH 70,000 MILES.I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD OCCUR TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.