Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 18% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% | 11,000 miles |
| 2016 | 11 | 11% | 20,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2014 | 8 | 10% | 109,000 miles |
| 2013 | 8 | 6% | 22,000 miles |
| 2012 | 9 | 6% | 41,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 8% | 87,000 miles |
| 2010 | 7 | 8% | 75,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% | 161,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% | 43,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% | 101,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 4% | 0 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 12% | 2,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2002 | 4 | 3% | 66,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 3% | 114,000 miles |
| 1998 | 3 | 6% | 41,000 miles |
| 1997 | 2 | 4% | 65,000 miles |
| 1996 | 3 | 3% | 26,000 miles |
| 1995 | 4 | 3% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My car, a 2022 Hyundai Accent Sel, left the right lane I was traveling in on a highway and continued into the left lane, then onto the left shoulder, and finally stopped in a ditch. The airbags did not deploy. I am having the steering column checked and airbags checked as I have read on several websites online that this is one of the recalls on my car (the steering column may loosen and may cause a crash). The Insurance changed the at-fault clause to not at fault after they verified the information online about the steering column being defective. My car is still in the auto repair shop, 38 days, still awaiting parts because the car was not made in the USA. The damage is $13,197. I do not see this recall reported on this website. There is a recall for parts missing on the seatbelts, I had that fixed on my last oil change. I do not see this listed here as well. …
Power steering power breaks, acceleration. Head rest, blind spot. Problems. Bought car ,driving to get home mirror was not in place needed to get on left lane to get under bridge crossing traffic was rushing through so fast I could adjust mirror so I turned to right on road the steering wheel glided so fast it frightened me. Wheel turning was slippery. So any way since I didn't know car I just kept going home. On my way I noticed the breaks are very sensitive breaks quick . I found the acceleration on stop and then turn to right it took force on my pressing gas acceleration to make it go very sluggish feeling there was a car behind me tailgating me to go it a while for car to get going..it was very dangerous thank God the other car slowed down or he would of hit from behind .. …
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ESP warning light suddenly illuminated and moments later the steering wheel could not be turned in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. Dealer admitted and wrote car was a factory defect.
The Emergency brake light, ABS light, and esc light all come on while driving & speedometer goes to 0. The speedometer also stops tracking mileage when these lights come on. This used to happen on & off, but now it's almost permanent. Hundreds are reporting the same exact issue online, but mechanics cannot figure out what the problem is. Me and countless others have taken the vehicle to mechanics multiple times with no resolve and thousands of dollars worth of diagnostics that are incorrect and don't resolve the issue. It is dangerous because we don't know how fast we're going, and we don't know if your abs, emergency brakes, & esc are all working properly. This issue is impacting Hyundai Accents years 2015, 2016, & 2017 based on the multiple threads & posts online. …
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the steering wheel had become stiff. The contact attempted to make a turn and the vehicle continued straight and crashed into a ditch. The contact mentioned that she lost control of the vehicle during the incident. The air bags did not deploy. No warning light was illuminated. A police report was not filled. The vehicle was towed to a lot. The driver was injured in the back and neck. The contact received a pain shot for her pains, prescribed ibuprofen, and received a x-ray. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to reach out to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds on several occasions, the steering wheel seized. No warning light was illuminated. The brakes locked up, causing a tire blowout. The contact stated that the tie rod was replaced. The contact stated that a neighbor assisted with freeing the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that, due to the age of the vehicle, the struts and brake pads should be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
When you start the car and touch the steering wheel, it vibrates hard, and the 2 front tires. while driving you can barely keep the car on the road it seems the steering wheel has little or no control. It gets better after you drive a bit, but still vibrates and while parked the steering wheel moves on its on. Lastly after turning the car off the steering wheel and tires still vibrates for about 2-5 seconds afterwards.
This complainant is the Owner of a Hyundai Accent 2013 GLS. The car use to drive fine until about a month ago, while I was stepping on the brake to come to a stop, the steering wheels sharply moved into the other lane. This situation got even dangerous this last week when the vehicle started drifting on the high way. I reported to a MIDAS mechanic who agreed this is a safety hazard. This needs to be checked by Hyundai.
Related recalls (1)
Steering › Column
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Accent vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Accent years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (11), 2012 (9), 2013 (8), 2014 (8) and 2010 (7) model years. Steering complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Accent steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 22V-311 (column, May 6, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Accent steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles; 65% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the steering wheel/handle bar (3 mentions), followed by the column (2).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.