NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
33 reportsClear category filter120,000 miles · Jun 14, 2014
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteering
I WAS DROPPING MY SON OFF AT DAYCARE. I ATTEMPTED TURN LEFT AND MY BATTERY, BRAKE, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY STEERING ALSO WENT OUT. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED BACK IT ON. CAR WAS FINE UNTIL I TRIED TO TURN, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WALKED MY SON THE REST OF THE WAY TO DAYCARE. WHEN I RET…
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I WAS DROPPING MY SON OFF AT DAYCARE. I ATTEMPTED TURN LEFT AND MY BATTERY, BRAKE, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY STEERING ALSO WENT OUT. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED BACK IT ON. CAR WAS FINE UNTIL I TRIED TO TURN, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WALKED MY SON THE REST OF THE WAY TO DAYCARE. WHEN I RETURNED I STARTED THE CAR AND HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND. I DROVE IT LESS THAN A MILE BACK HOME AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM. NONE OF MY BELTS WERE MOVING AND CHECKED MY LIQUIDS AND TOPPED EVERYTHING OFF. STILL NOTHING THEN I NOTICED THE PULLEY WAS WOBBLING. WHILE REMOVING THE RADIATOR FAN TO GET A CLOSER LOOK I REALIZED THE PLASTIC NIPPLE THAT CONNECTS TO THE HOSE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND BROKEN OFF. I BOUGHT A NEW RADIATOR AND TIGHTENED THE PULLEY BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. NOW I'VE LEARNED THE THE CRANK PULLEY BOLT HAS BROKEN AND IS GOING TO COST ME 2000 SOME ODD DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER READING THE KIA FORUM I SEE THAT HE RADIATOR AND BOLT IS MORE THAN A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE KIA. I'M ON PROBATION PERIOD AT MY JOB AND WILL MOST LIKELY LOSE MY JOB AND MY VEHICLE. I HOPE ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS SOMETHING BEING DONE TO RESOLVE IT. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10598314
85,000 miles · May 27, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering
THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND NOW YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING. WHEN POPPING YOUR HOOD, YOU FIND THE TWO OF THE THREE BELTS HAVE COME OFF AND THE CAM STABILIZER PULLEY HAS EITHER BROKE OFF AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER RUN…
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THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND NOW YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING. WHEN POPPING YOUR HOOD, YOU FIND THE TWO OF THE THREE BELTS HAVE COME OFF AND THE CAM STABILIZER PULLEY HAS EITHER BROKE OFF AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER RUNNING OR IS WOBBLING AND ABOUT TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE. WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THE PIN HAS BROKE AND THE BOLT HAS BROKE OR IS ABOUT TO BREAK. THIS LAST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, I WAS 80 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD MADE IT HOME WITH MY MOM AND CHILD RIDING PASSENGER IN THE CAR WITH ME. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND WILL END UP CAUSING A WRECK AND POSSIBLY DEATH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10594332
100,123 miles · May 17, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering
COMING HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 2MILES AWAY FROM HOME, I LOST POWER, MY POWER STEERING, AND ELECTRICAL AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET TOWED TO MY HOME. NOT HAPPY CAUSE KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE!!!! *JS
NHTSA ODI #10592094
65,880 miles · May 14, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering
AFTER DOING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE REPLACING TIMING BELT AT 60K THE DRIVE PULLEY BOLT LOOSENED (AFTER THREE HOURS OF DRIVING) AND THE DRIVE PULLEY POPPED OFF THE SHEAR PIN, LOOSING CONTROL TO THE STEERING, BREAKS THAT ARE RUN BY THE SERPENTINE BELT . MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT DRIVE PULLEY, PIN AND BOLT TO CRANK SHAFT. FIV…
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AFTER DOING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE REPLACING TIMING BELT AT 60K THE DRIVE PULLEY BOLT LOOSENED (AFTER THREE HOURS OF DRIVING) AND THE DRIVE PULLEY POPPED OFF THE SHEAR PIN, LOOSING CONTROL TO THE STEERING, BREAKS THAT ARE RUN BY THE SERPENTINE BELT . MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT DRIVE PULLEY, PIN AND BOLT TO CRANK SHAFT. FIVE MONTHS LATER THE SAME HAPPEN. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT RETURNING CALLS. KIA DEALER SAY'S NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES ON THE DRIVE BOLT RECALL. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS SPENDING THOUSANDS TO REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10588333
168,000 miles · May 2, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 55MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BREAK AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN 2006 KIA SORENTO. AT THAT VERY MOMENT, I REALIZED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, MY ONLY COMPLAINT WITH MY SUV WAS THAT I HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE BULBS IN BOTH THE FRONT…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 55MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BREAK AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN 2006 KIA SORENTO. AT THAT VERY MOMENT, I REALIZED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, MY ONLY COMPLAINT WITH MY SUV WAS THAT I HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE BULBS IN BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CAR. ALSO, MY DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING AND SOME OF THE PANEL LIGHTS AS WELL. ALTHOUGH, THAT WAS ANNOYING, I NEVER COMPLAINED BECAUSE IT DID NOT PUT ME IN ANY SERIOUS DANGER. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING COULD HAVE KILLED ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. I KNOW MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THESE CARS SHOULD BE BUILT TO LAST AND NOT PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG I KEEP IT. SHEESH, IF KIA WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT ONCE MY CAR GETS AT A CERTAIN AGE IT WOULD PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER I WOULD HAVE HAD SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PURCHASE. I THINK IT IS SAD THAT THESE BIG COMPANIES ONLY CARE ABOUT MAKING MONEY THAN HUMAN MORTALITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10586104
56,000 miles · Mar 25, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANGING AS THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANGING AS THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10574669
99,002 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
I GOT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND 3 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I COULD SMELL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WAS EXTREMELY STRONG, THEN A RUMBLE SOUND UNDER THE CAR FROM THE EXHAUST. A DAY LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR STARTED SQUEALING EXTREMELY LOUD AND THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND. TOOK IT TO THE AUTO DEALER I GO…
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I GOT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND 3 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I COULD SMELL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WAS EXTREMELY STRONG, THEN A RUMBLE SOUND UNDER THE CAR FROM THE EXHAUST. A DAY LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR STARTED SQUEALING EXTREMELY LOUD AND THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND. TOOK IT TO THE AUTO DEALER I GOT IT FROM AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR BELT, DEALER REPLACED BELT AND THERE IS STILL A NOISE OF TICKING AND A FAINT SCREECHING NOISE.. THEY ALSO SAID THEY FIXED THE EXHAUST BUT I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SMELL . THIS WEEKEND I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS AT 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENGINE BOGGED DOWN AND SOUNDED LIKE IT DIED AND CAME BACK ON. I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT ANYMORE PROBLEMS. TODAY I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE MADE A NOISE AND THE CAR BOGGED AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND GOT UP TO 40 MPH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO SOMEBODY. MY CAR IS GOING INTO THE SHOP THURSDAY BUT AFTER READING ALL THE REVIEWS IT LOOKS LIKE I JUST WASTED ALL THIS MONEY ON A PIECE OF JUNK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. I'LL CONTACT HELP ME HANK AS WELL . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10572767
97,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
EnginePower TrainSteering
I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND MY BATTERY LIGHT & E BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARING OFF. ONCE IT WAS FIXED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED…
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I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND MY BATTERY LIGHT & E BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARING OFF. ONCE IT WAS FIXED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON RUMBLE STRIPS. I TOOK IT BACK TO A SERVICE GARAGE AND AFTER REPLACING THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND CRANKBOLT AGAIN THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BENT. THE GARAGE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENTIRE CRANKSHAFT AND BALANCER AND THEN HAVING THE ENGINE REBALANCED OR A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BOTH OF WHICH ARE GREATER THAN $3500 TO REPAIR ON A VEHICLE THAT'S WORTH ABOUT $5500..IT'S BEEN APPROXIMATELY $2000 THAT I'VE ALREADY SPENT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT'S AT A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP NOW, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT FIXABLE AND THEY CAN ONLY RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $6,700 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 71,000 MILES ON IT. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENS ON THESE MOTORS BETWEEN 60K AND 90K MILES THEN FROM DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AFTER REPAIRS ARE DONE THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS APPROXIMATELY 6K-10K MILES LATER. AFTER LOOKING INTO IT, IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND FAULTY PARTS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE OUT OF A VEHICLE SINCE MID NOVEMBER OF 2012. IT'S DISTURBING WITH HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I'M READING ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532771
83,500 miles · Jan 14, 2013
EngineSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR, BRAKE AND TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAN BELT AND THE WATE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR, BRAKE AND TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAN BELT AND THE WATER PUMP TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,500. UPDATED 3/20/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ALTERNATOR AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE AND CAUSED THE STEERING DAMPER TO SHIFT SIDEWAYS, WHICH CAUSED THE TWO BELTS ON THE DAMPER PULLEY TO BE THROWN OFF.
NHTSA ODI #10492934
43,621 miles · Nov 12, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 230 MILES FROM HOME, 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OFF ROAD LOSS OF STEERING POWER. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND BELTS OFF. TOWED TO NEAREST TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CRANKSHAFT (HARMONIC BALANCER) BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF AND BROKEN PIECE …
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DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 230 MILES FROM HOME, 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OFF ROAD LOSS OF STEERING POWER. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND BELTS OFF. TOWED TO NEAREST TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CRANKSHAFT (HARMONIC BALANCER) BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF AND BROKEN PIECE STILL IN CRANKSHAFT. TOWED TO NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP 150 MILES AWAY AND WAS TOLD POSSIBLE CRANKSHAFT/ENGINE DAMAGE. COULD NOT DO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS DUE TO WEEKEND (SATURDAY) AND WILL NEED TO STAY IN TOWN UNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED (NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION). NO LOANER CAR OFFERED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH KIA SORENTO OWNERS THAT THE COMPANY SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT BUT DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS OR COVER COST OF REPAIRS. RECALL ON BOLT FOR 2003 MODELS DOES NOT COVER LATER MODELS BUT DANGEROUS SITUATION STILL EXISTS WITH THOSE LATER MODELS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AFTER IT IS REPAIRED KNOWING THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REOCCUR AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10435357
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.