Have a 2016 Kia Sorento LX FWD with about 52K that I bought used from a KIA dealer with 42K. The CARFAX on it stated that the dealership had replaced the steering wheel about 50 mi. prior to selling it to me.
I did not notice it during the test drive (city driving / all pavement), but when I got it back home I noticed that on the short gravel road to my house, and even in my gravel driveway, the steering column makes a fairly loud clunking or rattling noise.
When the steering wheel is turned, I'm not feeling any sticking issues or experiencing control issues as have been reported by many (see NHTSA site:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/KIA/SORENTO/SUV/FWD). There doesn't seem to be any axial play in the steering column, and there's no noise generated simply from turning the wheel through its range of motion.
Only rarely will I hear / feel this on concrete or asphalt pavement. But even on relatively smooth gravel roads, and even at low speeds, the sound and feel of the rattle is fairly intense.
This has me wondering whether it's related to the dealer having replaced the steering wheel (the rattle feels further down). The dealer did not explain why they replaced it--I probably should have asked, but since I didn't notice it on the test drive, I didn't make a point of it.
Just makes me jumpy every time I hear it, because I'm not used to a steering column making rattling noises, and all the worst-case scenarios come to mind.
I know from some YT videos that on some Kia / Hyundai steering systems, there's that little star-shaped rubber / urethane "gear" that sits between the column and the electric power steering motor that gets torn up, but it seems like that always causes noise when the wheel is turned, and I don't have that. I suppose it could be something in my front suspension that is being felt higher up and into the column, too. I've not found any recalls or TSBs that seem relevant.
I'm getting annoyed enough to take it to my mechanic. (Nearest KIA dealer is 75 miles away.) But was wondering if anyone else out there had experienced these symptoms or heard about them.