National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) is investigating reports of a possible steering loss in the 2010 Kia Soul, a popular, affordable “2010 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars“ box-shaped car. The investigation is prompted after the report of only one vehicle experiencing serious loss of steering control. The complaint alleges the steering shaft detached from the steering wheel, leading to a complete loss of steering, and the shaft fell into a position that interfered with the driver’s ability to brake.
While the NHTSA typically does not launch an investigation into a vehicle following one complaint, it is particularly concerned because ‘the steering shaft de-coupled from the hand wheel resulting in a complete loss of steering capability…’the de-coupled steering shaft reportedly fell into a position that interfered with brake pedal application.’ NHTSA says it’s ‘very concerned’ because the alleged steering failure occurred without warning on a 2-month-old vehicle with just 4,300 miles on the odometer — and compromised braking capability at the same time.”
Kia responded in a statement that it is “actively cooperating” with federal investigators and that “although the investigation is based on a single incident that did not result in an accident or injury, the entire Kia Motors organization — including our supplier base — is reviewing manufacturing processes with the goal of quickly determining if there is a manufacturing cause and preventing the issue from reoccurring.”
The box-shaped Soul is known as a fast-selling small specialty car, outselling Mini Coopers and Volkswagen Beetles. Approximately 50,000 Kia Souls are on the road. Kia calls its Soul an “urban passenger vehicle” and has built an energetic advertising campaign using computer-animated hamsters to sell the car:
Kia’s sales have risenby more than 16% through the first seven months of this year to more than 205,000 vehicles, according to Autodata Corp. Its market share has edged up to 3.1% from 3.0% in the same period a year earlier.
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