2013 Kia Forte Steering

Steering column coupler has repeatedly gone bad, causing clicking and play in the steering wheel. There is an open recall for this issue on Kia optima’s, which use the same part. I’ve had this issue diagnosed and fixed by 2 different shops. It is an extremely common issue in these cars.

STEERING WHEEL STICKS AT NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING. FEELS LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN STICKING. *TR

BACKING UP MY CAR UNDER THE CARPORT, AS I WAS PARKED STRAIGHTENING MY WHEELS, I HEARD CLICKING WITH EACH TURN. HUSBAND CHECKED AND FOUND THE SAME CONCERN. TOOK CAR TO KIA DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE SMALL PLASTIC PART IN THE COLUMN. DISCOVERED THEY COULD NOT AND NOW I HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW STEERING COLUMN AT A TOTAL COST OF $1,818.36. OUCH! I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. MY LAST KIA LASTED 13 YEARS WITH NO MAJOR PROBLEMS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING AND UNNERVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.

HIGHWAY DRIVING @ 65 MPH WITH A CROSSWIND GUSTING TO 25 MPH. ACROSS FRONT RIGHT FENDER. THE REAR OF THE CAR IS FAR TOO LIGHT TO HOLD IT TO THE ROAD STRAIGHT. BROADSIDE WIND IS OF COURSE A LOT WORSE. BEING PASSED BY A TRUCK YOU COULD ALMOST GET JERKED RIGHT UNDER IT. THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE A SMALL FIN ACROSS THE TRUNK TO CATCH AIR AND MAKE SOME DOWN FORCE, BECAUSE THE TRUNK AREA IS SO SHORT IT MAY NOT EVEN CATCH AIR IF WIND TUNNELED. 30 YEARS OF DRIVING AND BEING A RETIRED PROFESSIONAL DRIVER TELLS ME THIS IS THE MOST UNSAFE CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. *TR