2011 KIA Optima steering problems

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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was a notchy feel in the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was linked to TSB Number: CHA060. The mechanic determined that the steering coupler needed to be replaced. The mechanic ordered the part for the repair. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under TSB Number: CHA060; due to the mileage on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

NHTSA complaint #11622770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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1- Steering wheel. Yes 2- Not sure if something was going to happen while driving whether da or night or long distance traveling 3- I spoke with the service center a while back and didn't have a good time to bring it by. 4- No No just loud shaking from the steering wheel. It's been going on for at least a month

NHTSA complaint #11608841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated while reversing, the contact heard a popping sound, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an impendent mechanic, and he reinstalled the inner shaft. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #11498188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the steering wheel seized. After the steering wheel was released, an abnormal sound was heard coming from the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle had previously had the steering column and steering rack replaced at the dealer; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA complaint #11459914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact’s daughter stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would produce a clicking noise and shaking coming from the steering column. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the flex coupler replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 252,000.

NHTSA complaint #11451563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced the steering column however, the repair failed to correct the failure. The contact stated that extra effort was needed while attempting to turn the steering wheel. The traction control warning light illuminated whenever the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11420908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR ON THURSDAY JANUARY 14, 2021THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND TURN IT OFF AND ONE TURNED BACK ON I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD TOLD ME IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM IN A VERY RUDE WAY. SO I ASKED THEM CAN I HAVE THE OWNERS NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME AND IF I KEEP ASKING THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THE POLICE ON ME. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR THE CAR ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME THEY IF THE PART IS COVERED BUT I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT IS ON RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11388743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAS A SHORT GOING TO THE MOTOR, WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, YOU MUST MOVE THE WHEEL NONSTOP OR IT WILL LOCK UP WHICH COULD CAUSE YOU TO WRECK AND DIE. VERY DANGEROUS. AT THIS POINT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND STEER.

NHTSA complaint #11375951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFFING . I LOOKED IT UP TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE.

NHTSA complaint #11337207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING NOISE AND A PLAY. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF.

NHTSA complaint #11329678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN SMOOTHLY AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE VEHICLE RESPONDING WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT PAID TO HAVE THE FRONT END REPLACED AND BELIEVED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, TIE ROD, AND STRUTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED HOW TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE WITH A $2.00 PART FOR THE STEERING PLASTIC COUPLER; HOWEVER, THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS OVER $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11292545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLICKING SOUND WHEN IT IS TURNED, ADDITIONALLY, THE PART BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES A LOT, ALMOST AS IF ITS LOSE. THE CLICKING HAPPENS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AND THE RATTLING HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA complaint #11279652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX STARTED MAKING A LOUD RATTLING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ANY LITTLE BUMP OR DIP MADE IT WORSE AND MUCH LOUDER. THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND THE STEERING FEELS VERY UNSAFE. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11266808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WITH 53,000 MILES. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS TO BE DEFECT FROM A CHEAP PLASTIC PART . I AM READING THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIFE. YOU CAN HEAR THE POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING CORNERS, LEFT AND RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #11265278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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2011 KIA OPTIMA FAVORS A PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH GROWS STRONGER AS THE SPEED INCREASES. THE PERSISTENCE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE IS SUBTLY DECREASED WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BUT QUICKLY RETURNS- RESULTING IN OVER 7 ALIGNMENTS IN 5 YEARS WITH ONLY 70K MILES. 3 SEPARATE KIA DEALERSHIPS HAVE INSPECTED THE ISSUE WITH ONLY A CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT BUT NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL TO FAVOR THE RIGHT PULL TO CORRECT THE FRONT LEFT PULL. A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN INCREASING IN SPEED, THE CAR WILL HEAVILY FAVOR A INSIDE PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH IS WORRYING. I'D LIKE A REGIONAL KIA RM TO HAVE A GO AT THE SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #11256281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON THEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE BATTERY DISCHARGE KEPT POPPING UP ON THE DISPLAY THEN WENT OUT. ABOUT 10 MINUTES FURTHER, I LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO GET TO BASE EVEN THOUGH I RAN A RED LIGHT AND STOP SIGN BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED SPURTTERING AND FEELING LIKE IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. ONCE I MANAGED TO GET TO A PARKING LOT, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BUT I STILL HAD DASH LIGHTS. ALL THE ERROR LIGHTS CAME ACROSS MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE BATTERY TO ADVANCE, THEY SAID IT WAS LOW. THEY CHARGED IT AND SAID IT NEEDED REPLACED. THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS STILL LIT SO I TOOK IT AND THEY CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR AND SAID IT WAS DEAD. I TOOK IT AND HAD IT REBUILT. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK OK.

NHTSA complaint #11246278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES WERE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO KIA OF BEDFORD (440-735-4000, LOCATED AT 18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA complaint #11217754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE VEHICLE SOLELY BEING STATIONARY. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST HAD MORE GIVE BEFORE IT WOULD ENGAGE THE TIRES. IT'S CONSISTENTLY GOTTEN WORSE TO WHERE NOW, WHILE DRIVING, HITTING A BUMP ON ANY KIND OF ROAD CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND LOUDER. IT SEEMS TO BE LESS EXTREME IF YOU HIT A BUMP WHILE TURNING. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #11196176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL KIA OPTIMA 2011. I BEEN HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALL JACK UP. THE PROBLEM IS THE PARTS THEY PUTTING IN THE CAR ARE CHEAP PARTS YES YU GET WHAT YU BUY. BUT KIA HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB REPLACING PARTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW CHEAP THEY ARE. NO ONE SHOULD BE RIDING AROUND THE CITY AND THE CAR MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN YOU HIT I HOLE IN ROAD OR EVEN A MAN HOLE ITS SOUND CRAZY. ITS LOUDER THEN MY RADIO. MY RADIO STAY ON MAX SO I TOOK MY KIA TO KIA WEST IN CLEVELAND OHIO. THE MECHANIC CALL BACK THIS MORNING 03 12 2019 STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK/ ASSEMBLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTOOD WHY IT NEEDED REPLACE. NOT BECAUSE I WEARED IT OUT . THE STEERING COUPLERS WAS START OF THIS PROBLEM. WITH A QUALITY PARTS THESE PROBLEMS WOULDNT COME UP. THE REPAIR BILL WAS 1035 WITH OUT LABOR COST. KIA HAVE TO DO RIGHT THING BY THE PEOPLE. THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL NEED TO BE PUT UNDER RECALL. OR SOMEONE GOING BE KILLED BY THIS ISSUE. WE ALL KNOW NO ONE WANT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEATH

NHTSA complaint #11186160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE STEERING COUPLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BADLY WHEN STOPPING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA complaint #11161379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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BAD PART IN STEERING COLUMN , THE PLASTIC COUPLER IS BROKEN AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND AND WITH THAT PART BEING BAD IT COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. I FIRST HEARD THIS NOISE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY

NHTSA complaint #11141500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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BAD PART IN STEERING COLUMN , THE PLASTIC COUPLER IS BROKEN AFTER 39400 MILES . THIS HAPPEN ON MANY KIA 'S AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS YET?

NHTSA complaint #11120682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON IN APRIL 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. HAD TO PULL OVER TURN CAR ON AND OFF. LIGHT TURNED OFF AND CAR WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN. LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF BUT RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. TOOK IT TO KIA AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (SEE PAPERWORK). IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #11113473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE FIRST HEARD IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO WHERE THE STEERING BOX FLEXIBLE COUPLER IS BRAKING APART INSIDE THE STEERING BOX. IF THIS WAS NOT FIXED IT COULD BE A TOTAL FAILURE TO WHERE YOU COULD LOSE YOUR STEERING ALL TOGETHER. KIA IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS FIXING IT FOR FREE. WHY ISNT THIS LISTED ON YOU SITE AS A RECALL AS SOMEONE'S LIFE COULD BE IN JEOPARDY OVER THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11110820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHILE DRIVING,STEERING COLUMN STARTS RATTLING. GETS WORSE GOING OVER BUMPS. HAD STEERING COLUMN REPLACED 11 MONTHS AGO. THIS WEEK 7/1/8, THE COLUMN STARTED RATTLING AGAIN. MECHANIC STATED IT MIGHT BE A COUPLING IN THE COLUMN GOING BAD AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11110627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE ABOUT KNOCKING AND BANGING NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I NOW HAVE THIS IN MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 WITH 48K MILES. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL? IT SEEM TO ME ITS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE SO OFF THE THE DEALER I GO TO EMPTY OUT MY WALLET.

NHTSA complaint #11104942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I WAS DRIVING IN HIGHWAY IN JULY 2017. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DRIFTING AND SLIPPERY. IT WAS ABOUT 84,000 MILES IN IT. SO, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN KIA DEALER. THEY SHOWED ME WORN OUT STEERING COUPLING. I ASKED THEM TO CHANGE STEERING COUPLING ONLY BUT THEY CHANGED WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND CHARGED ME $1,402. HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT KIA EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE IN 2016. I AM NOT SURE WHY THEY CHARGED ME FOR STEERING ISSUE. I COMPLAINED KIA MOTORS AMERICA AND SENT ALL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE INCLUDING THE BILLS. THEY DID NOT RESPOND ANY LETTER YET. I LIKE TO HAVE MY MONEY BACK. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I FOUND IN MAY 2018 WAS FAST ENGINE OIL BURN OUT. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN HIGHWAY AND ENGINE OIL WARNING SIGN WAS BLINKING. SO, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED ENGINE OIL LEVEL. IT WAS ALMOST GONE AND SO DARK. THE DEALER JUST CHANGED ENGINE OIL A FEW MONTHS AGO AND LESS THAN 3,000 MILES DRIVEN AFTER THAT. I FILLED UP 3 QUARTS OF BLENDED ENGINE OIL AND CHECKED EVERY OTHER DAY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, IT LOOKS THE LEVEL OF ENGINE OIL WAS WAY LOWER (ABOUT 1 AND HALF QUARTS WERE GONE). I CALLED THE DEALER THAT THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY ENGINE OIL BURNING ISSUE NOT ENGINE FAILURE. THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT COVER BY RECALLS. I CHECKED LOTS OF COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE ISSUE FROM THE INTERNET. BASED ON THAT IN MANY CASES THE ENGINE OIL BURN OUT ISSUE HAPPENED BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE. I STRONGLY THINK THAT KIA SHOULD INSTALL NEW ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALLS BECAUSE I REALLY CONCERN ABOUT ME AND FAMILY'S SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #11099327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. SNAIL KIA IN GREENSBURG, PA 156601 WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SCHEDULED THE CONTACT FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA complaint #11076306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THIS HAPPENED TWICE.THE FIRST TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO AUSTIN TX ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH.THE WE HAD THE CAR TOED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER HE CHECKED THE MOTOR WE WERE INFORMED THE MOTOR SEIZED UP.I PURCHASED A USED MOTOR AT A JUNK YARD WITH 22,000 MILES AND THE MECHANIC INSTALLED IT. DEC.26 2017 WE SPENT CHRISTMAS IN AUSTIN TX AND WAS ON OUR WAY BACK ON I10 AROUND SEALY TX THE MOTOR SHUT OFF.I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR UP AGAIN.I FOUND A KIA DEALER IN KATY TEXAS AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR THERE, IT WAS ABOUT 8 MILES AWAY HOWEVER WE DIDN'T MAKE IT.I STAYED IN THE RIGHT LANE DRIVING REALLY SLOW 55-60MPH AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND THEN SMOKE THE MOTOR LOCKED UP.THE CAR IS AT THE KIA DEALER BUT I AM STILL WAITING FOR AN AUTHORIZATION TO GET HE ENGINE REPLACED,

NHTSA complaint #11057900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE DURING THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS, THE STEERING COLUMN JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA complaint #11054812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.