NHTSA complaint: 1998 KIA SEPHIA — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 7TH, AT 10:30 AM WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE MASS PIKE RT. 90 FRAMINGHAM, MASS. I THOUGHT MY KIA SEHPIA WAS IN ACCELENT CONDITION, BUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN STARTED SHAKING AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. I TRIED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE BUT COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CAR SCREECHED AND WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TO MY IMMEDIATE RIGHT WAS A LARGE RYDER RENTAL TRUCK, I BRACED MYSELF AND HIT THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK. THE REST IS A BLUR, I SPUN AROUND AND THE REAR OF MY CAR HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND I FORTUNATELY STOPPED IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. IT HAPPENED SO FAST, BUT WHAT IS MOST UPSETTING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS A STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM OR A TIRE PROBLEM. ALL I KNOW IS, I WAS DRIVING SAFETLY AND THEN MY CAR WHEN OUT OFF CONTROL. THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY VECHICLE WAS SEVERLY DAMAGED, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation