Kia Sportage Steering wheel feels loose Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(318)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(318)

Steering wheel feels loose Inspection Service

How much does a Steering wheel feels loose Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Kia Sportage Steering wheel feels loose Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2012 Kia SportageL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
2010 Kia SportageL4-2.0LService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1998 Kia SportageL4-2.0LService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2010 Kia SportageV6-2.7LService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
2016 Kia SportageL4-2.4LService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
2015 Kia SportageL4-2.4LService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2019 Kia SportageL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
2017 Kia SportageL4-2.0L TurboService typeSteering wheel feels loose InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Kia Sportage Steering wheel feels loose Inspection prices

A steering wheel that feels loose or has “play” in it prevents the driver form getting an accurate interpretation of how the wheels are turned. Any steering setup where you can move the wheel more than one to one and a half inches without moving the wheels is too lose and may have an issue. When the steering wheel feels loose it can be difficult from drivers to accurately know the position of the front wheels. This lack of responsiveness can be dangerous for drivers, especially in heavy traffic or winding roads.

How this system works:

The majority of modern vehicles use two different kinds of steering setup to help control the movement of the car. Rack and pinion steering is typically used on cars, small trucks and SUVs, while recirculating-ball steering is used on large SUVs and trucks. The similarities and differences in the two systems begin to manifest themselves when components fail, causing the steering wheel to feel loose.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Worn Tie Rods: Tie rods serve as the driver’s connection between the steering unit and the tires. Tie rods are present in both rack and pinion and recirculating ball setups. If tie rod ends become worn, they may cause the steering wheel to feel loose. A vehicle with worn tie rods may also squeak as the steering wheel is turned and be out of alignment.

  • Worn Pitman Arm: A pitman arm is only present in vehicles with recirculating-ball steering. The pitman arm connects a gear attached to the steering wheel to the steering rack itself. When the pitman arm becomes worn or the teeth in the gear connecting the pitman arm begin to slip, it can cause the steering wheel to feel loose.

  • Worn Ball Joint: Ball joints connect the vehicle’s wheel hubs to the rest of the suspension components. Depending on the vehicle, one or two ball joints per wheel and may or may not be load bearing. A ball joint that is worn may cause the steering to feel loose and may also create a banging sound, especially when going over bumps.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the reason for the loose-feeling steering. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report outlining the reason for the loose steering and the cost of any repairs that need to be made.

How it's done:

When the mechanic arrives, he or she will first lift the vehicle and remove the wheels so that they can better access the suspension and steering components. From here, the mechanic will be able to assess the reason why the steering has become loose.

If the mechanic suspects that worn tie rods may be the issue, he or she will inspect the tie rod for superficial damage. If the tie rod end had become worn or loose, the mechanic will remove it and replace it with a new one. The mechanic will also ensure after installation, that the new tie rod end is properly lubricated.

If the mechanic believes that the pitman arm has become worn, he or she will remove the pitman arm from the track bar and replace it with a new pitman arm. The mechanic should ensure that the new part is properly tightened.

If the mechanic suspects worn ball joints, he or she will remove the control arm(s) in order to access the faulty ball joint. He or she will then remove the old ball joint and replace it with a new one. The mechanic should also ensure that the new ball joint is properly lubricated in order to ensure longer life.

In the case of all repairs the mechanic will make sure that all the new parts have been installed correctly and are properly lubricated. In order to ensure that the steering is working properly, the mechanic may test drive the vehicle to check for excess play.

How important is this service?

A steering wheel that feels loose may not be giving an accurate indication of the front wheel’s position. Loose-feeling steering may also indicate that a problem has occurred with the steering unit or suspension. If you notice that the steering does not seem to be as responsive, you should stop driving the vehicle and have it inspected by a mechanic.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Kia mechanics

Real customer reviews from Kia owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(318)

Rating Summary
306
10
1
1
0
306
10
1
1
0

Robert

22 years of experience
279 reviews
Robert
22 years of experience
Kia Sportage L4-2.0L - Exterior Door Handle Replacement (Driver Side Front) - North Richland Hills, Texas
It was great! Got here early and got done early.

Joseph

20 years of experience
640 reviews
Joseph
20 years of experience
Kia Sportage L4-2.4L - Car is shaking or vibrating - West Jordan, Utah
Helpful and knowledgeable

Luis

12 years of experience
78 reviews
Luis
12 years of experience
Kia Sportage V6-2.7L - Exterior Door Handle Replacement (Driver Side Front) - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Great

Lee

19 years of experience
113 reviews
Lee
19 years of experience
Kia Sportage V6-2.7L - Coolant is leaking - Glen Allen, Virginia
Lee was very professional, and took the time to find out the exact cause of my coolant leak. He informed me in detail how the repair process works with this company, and what my next step would be. He provided me with a quote for repair right there! I was very satisfied with the service provided.

Excellent Rating

(318)

Rating Summary
306
10
1
1
0
306
10
1
1
0
Number of Kia Sportage services completed
3498+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Kia MECHANICS
1000+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

What Is the Difference Between a Clean Title and a Salvage Title?
When When you purchase a vehicle, you're supposed to receive a title showing transfer of ownership. Several types of titles exist, and you need to understand the difference between a clean title and salvage title before you buy a used...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Fog/Driving Light Bulb
If your fog lights are dim, flickering, or not turning on, it may be time to replace the fog light bulbs.
Rules of the Road For Indiana Drivers
When When driving on the roadways, there are many rules that you have to follow. While many are based on common sense, others are in place for added safety and protection. Even though you are familiar with the laws in...

Sun visors randomly block my view, worried it will cause an accident

The sun visors on you car have a service campaign number SCT64 dated 12/01/2008 to fix visors that will not stay up. This could block your view and be a safety issue. Call ahead and take the vehicle to your...

Brake system malfunction

The master cylinder (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-master-cylinder-replacement) is likely worn out and should be replaced. The rubber cups simply allow the brake fluid to slip past, rather than compress, when the brake pedal is pressed. I would also replace all of your brake...

The wind shield wipers on my 1999 Toyota Camry went out. They worked off and on for a while until they completely stopped working.

Hi there. Sounds like either the wiper motor or wiper motor relay has gone bad. First check to see if a fuse is blown. If the fuse is blown replace it and recheck the system. If not, then check the...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com