2018 Kia Soul Steering Problems

Your car suddenly enters limp mode (reduced power mode) and loses power steering without warning. Before this started happening, your battery was boiling and leaking fluid, and you had a bad alternator replaced. The boiling battery poses an explosion risk, and losing steering power while driving is dangerous. The problem persists even after multiple diagnostic checks since January. This issue likely involves the electrical charging system and its ability to properly power your vehicle's steering and engine systems.

Your steering wheel becomes difficult to turn left or right while driving, and occasionally feels loose and unresponsive with no warning lights appearing. A mechanic diagnosed that your steering column gears and nut need replacement, and a dealer inspection found that your steering gears, steering coupler, and steering rack all need to be replaced. This repair involves replacing multiple steering components to restore normal steering control.

My husband [XXX] and I own a 2018 Kia Soul, 102,000 miles, and in February, my daughter was driving to school and the front end of the car became shaking violently. It was so dangerous that my husband would not let my daughter drive it, as it was easy to lose control of the car. We took the car in to the Kia Dealership to be diagnosed. The steering shaft needed to be replaced, a total cost of $941.53, paid 2/19/24. After talking with mechanics and researching this part, it was clear that this part should last the lifetime of the car; in fact, I spoke with a mechanic who said they have never seen this issue, let alone in a 6 year old car. I continued searching online and saw that this was a problem in older models of Kia Souls, and there were recalls on the 2012- 2016 models for the same issue we experienced. So I called Kia to see if there was a recall on the 2018 model. They said no and that since there was not an extended warranty on the car, they would not reimburse or pay for the repair. I sent a message stating my position of outrage, that this repair is unacceptable since the part should last the lifetime of the car, and that obviously there was faulty manufacturing of the part. This posed a danger to my daughter, who is a college student, and Kia should be responsible for the repair. Kia sent my complaint to the escalation department for review, where I have been communicating with Kayla from the Customer Care Unit. I have been corresponding and waiting for a decision for reimbursement since February, and today I was told that my request was denied. My case number is #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FIRST INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON A CITY STREET, THANKSGIVING NIGHT 2018. MADE LEFT TURN AT LIGHT, LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL, RAN UP ONTO SIDEWALK AND BACK INTO THE STREET. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED THE NIGHT BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY 2019, MADE RIGHT TURN AT LIGHT AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AGAIN

THE STEERING WHEEL IS MANUFACTURED OF MATERIAL WHICH CONTAINS A TOXIC SUBSTANCE WHICH HAS CAUSED THE OWNER TO SUFFER A MEDICAL CONDITION OF SEVERE CONTACT DERMATITS. THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE USE OF A COVER OVER THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO FAIL THE MARYLAND STATE SAFETY INSPECTION.