When the car is cold, the steering resists very strongly a turn to the right in the first 10-20 degrees of steering wheel turn to the right of straight. The strength of resistance is variable, depending on the speed of the vehicle. Sitting still, there is a slight "hitch? or nothing at all. As vehicle speed increases, the amount of resistance increases to a max at about 20-25 mph, where it takes an ?arm wrestle? force to move the steering to the right. It resists, fights back, then with a lot of muscle ? pops through this resistance and feels perfectly normal. The hard muscle pull to the right, and subsequent release makes the track of the car tend straight, and then jerk right. When the car has this malfunction, it requires the most physical power to pull the steering to the right the first time. Successive turns to the right are easier and easier, until after about 4-5 cycles to the right, the steering is ?normal." Symptoms are gone within 1 mile of driving. This malfunction occurs usually when the vehicle is cold and has not been driven for several days. It also is more prevalent when the outside air temperature is cold. There are exceptions to both. It resisted turns to the right in the morning, and equally as much that evening returning home from work. It has shown up in the summer, but more often in the winter. It does not do it every day. I describe it as permanent, persistently intermittent. Vehicle has been to the dealer three times, and left days and weeks at a time. At the last incident, the dealer replaced the steering position sensor. Frequency of malfunction decreased, but the problem has not been resolved. The fact that the vehicle will not take normal steering commands is in itself hazardous. On slippery surfaces, the likelihood of loss of control is severe.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA