WASHINGTON — The 2010 Kia Soul, a boxy vehicle that has been marketed to urban motorists, is being investigated by government regulators for potential loss of steering control.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday on its website that it had received one complaint alleging complete steering loss. The preliminary investigation covers more than 50,000 vehicles.
The complaint said 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.
The government agency seldom opens an investigation based on one complaint but said it was “very concerned about this failure in that it occurred without warning on a new vehicle at low mileage and resulted in a complete loss of steering as well as a compromised brake system.” The owner who filed the complaint had driven the vehicle for two months and had 4,300 miles on it.
John Crowe, Kia Motors America’s vice president for service, said in a statement the company was cooperating with the investigation and trying to determine if there was a manufacturing cause. He said the incident that led to the complaint did not result in an accident or injury.
