NHTSA Complaint #11471022 — 2019 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY

Suddenly, one morning on my way to work the steering became extremely heavy and the handling became very dull. The steering wheel still turned the wheels, but it required a vast amount of effort where the previous day the steering wheel could have been turned with one finger. There were no noises coming from the steering column, or warning lights associated with the defect. No smells associated with friction from parts rubbing together, either. Totally silent. I consulted the manual and no mention was made re: what was happening. It had advised to call an authorized dealer to have it inspected. A trip to the dealership confirmed that the steering gear assembly (a $5,000 part) had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealership did not make mention of this issue being common, or even having happened recently with a similar model/year. There is almost no power assistance coming through the steering, and I am worried about what could happen as a result. Perhaps the steering itself will become impossible? The dealer was uncertain as to whether it posed a greater issue or was just "an annoyance".