8.4
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- No data
- Average Mileage:
- 83,500 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 9 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (9 reports)
Steering goes out in wet weather. Sometimes heavy rain, sometimes mist, sometimes when hit a puddle. No telling when. Seriously dangerous. I am a small woman and can't maneuver the car when it happens. Almost got into serious accidents. Also loud screeching sound that is random when you start the car mostly but can start after your driving a while. I can't let my daughter drive this I often have grand kids in the car not safe.
- G B., Campbell Hall, NY, US
The power steering stop working, and the battery light was on! It happened twice so far. It was raining hard, bad weather... Now I'm scared to use the car and do not know what to do. If anyone as a fix please let me know!!!!
- Alexandre B., montreal, QC, Canada
On three occasions within the last year, I have lost all power steering while driving the vehicle. On one occasion while driving in damp conditions, the engine stalled as well. It was able to be restarted after I pulled over and waited a moment. Twice I lost all power steering while driving on the expressway at 65 mph. The steering wheel is to all intents and purposes useless and immovable when this happens.
Terrifying and potentially catastrophic.
- Arnold J., Chicago, US
Live in rainy Florida,and since July, the steering locks up when I go through water or small puddles. There is noise right before this happens. Just went through tropical storm Hermine, and had to be very careful driving. Work about 15 miles from home and go out to lunch each day, so I am in the car three times a day. I am very paranoid about this car ending up in a crash because of the locked steering. What can be causing this to happen? Is there a recall on the car for this problem?
- mmtarantino, Palm Harbor, FL, US
Vehicle looses power steering while driving in wet conditions. Sometime after going through small puddles and sometimes just while driving on wet roads. Major safety issue as you loose control of your steering for 5-30 seconds while driving. Battery light comes on during this period of time, then after you get control of the vehicle again and the power steering re-engages, a high pitched screeching noise is heard coming from the engine department (possibly the belts). I reported this safety concern to KIA's consumer affairs department today. I explained there is well documented information of this problem online. I also called the local Kia dealership and spoke to a service specialist, he told me all about the "known" issue effecting Kia Sportage and Rondo, and there being nothing they can do to fix it. He added to try and avoid driving through standing water.
I advised Kia that this problem will inevitably cause a crash and could be seriously fatal if the vehicle is traveling at a higher speed. I hope it gets fixed before someone looses their life to an issue that has been well reported. I am no mechanic, but am assuming Kia's engineers could remedy this problem by installing some kind of splash guard in the engine compartment.
- Travis P., Hood River, OR, US
2009 kia rondo automatic 90 k 4 cyl , when i drive in rain or puddle steering becomes difficult (stiff) battery
light comes on , small local garage says difficult to repair because it is intermittent difficult to get pinpointed
for a rainy day ! think kia mentioned last time I visited them that they had to change steering pump and not on waranty so it was not changed still has problem ,,,,,,,,,,,
- Simon D., St-bruno, QC, Canada
When going through puddles, I lose power steering. It first occurred around October, 2014 and I took it to a independent mechanic shop and he replaced the alternator drive belt. This solved the problem until June 2015 when it happened again.
I took it to Lokey Kia in Clearwater, FL to diagnose the problem (along with an air bag problem I was having) and they said it was the AC compressor. I didn't have it repaired that day and went home and called the Kia Corporation and told them about BOTH problems I was having. I also filed a complaint on this website ABOUT THE POWER STEERING ISSUE ONLY. After several days a representative from Kia Called me from the Kia Corporation/Product Reliability department saying that they called me because of my complaint on this website. In the end, they only agreed to fix the air bag problem for free because it was a "safety" issue and that they are doing it in "goodwill."
When I asked what they were going to do about the power steering problem, they told me they wouldn't pay for that because it wasn't a "safety" issue. How is losing my power steering NOT a safety issue? I went today (8/12/15) and got the air bag issue fixed and am now pursuing the power steering problem. I know there are several others with my same year and model that are having the same problems and I am terrified to drive my car when it rains, especially with my grand kids in the car! This needs to be a recall.
Update from Aug 12, 2015: The Kia representative did NOT contact me after posting on this website. It was another website.
- Patricia N., Dunedin, FL, US
I am driving my car and it rained and there were puddles and my battery and my brake light came on and the power steering wouldn't work. I couldn't steer or turn my car. It happened at least ten times trying to get back home. I had my grand daughter and my pregnant daughter in the car.
- pluckie, Jacksonville, FL, US
I see there’s a ton of the exact same issue with other Kia owners here, it’s pretty crazy that Kia would try to not assume responsibility for the problem, at the risk to our safety. This issue could potentially kill someone and needs to be addressed. Is Kia going to ignore this until someone is hurt or killed? My steering failed when driving through a puddle. I know my car isn’t brand new but it’s experiencing an issue that shouldn’t exist under normal conditions and it’s very dangerous. Maybe it’s something that the media needs to be made aware of before Kia will start listening? I dunno, but this is ridiculous.
- Dan C., toronto, ON, Canada