NHTSA Complaint #11360097 — 2020 KIA SOUL

WHEN PARKED (BUT WITH THE POWER SET TO "RUN" OR THE ENGINE FULLY ON), IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, TYPICALLY TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT, THERE IS A LOUD "CLUNK" OR "CLANK" NOISE COMING FROM THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ONLY TOLD ME THE STEERING WAS "BROKE" AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM UNDER WARRANTY. THE ISSUE STARTED AROUND 2300 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL VIDEOS SINCE THE ISSUE BEGAN. THE CAR HAS TO BE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION (FORWARD OR REVERSE) BUT UNDER 5MPH (ROUGHLY). AFTER WATCHING A FEW YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND DOING SOME FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH PART OF THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE/DAMAGED "COUPLING GEAR" BETWEEN THE POWER/ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING MOTORE AND THE STEERING COLUMN ITSELF. REGARDLESS, IT IS A SEVERE STEERING ISSUE THAT HAS LEAD TO A PREVIOUS RECALL IN OLDER KIAS AND SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.