THE CENTRAL STEERING LINKAGE THAT CONNECTS THE TIE RODS WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS DEFECT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. FORTUNATELY THE STEERING LINKAGE ROD FAILED AS I TURNED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. I SAVED THE ROD FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS IF YOU WISH TO RETRIEVE THE ROD. THE AUTO SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SEEN THIS DEFECT, AND IT APPEARED THAT THE ROD WAS MANUFACTURED ABOUT 80% SEPARATED. DESPITE THIS, IT REQUIRED ALMOST 6 YEARS FOR THE ROD TO FRACTURE. THE 80% THAT WAS NOT SOLID WAS NEVER COMPLETELY FORMED. MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE , I WAS RETURNING FROM THE HOSPITAL, AND THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 55 MPH. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE ROAD I WOULD HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC STEERING FAILURE AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY MUCH WORSE. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES COULD HAVE THIS DEFECT AND LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, AND OR FATALITIES. *LA