Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2025 | 5 | 4% | 11,000 miles |
| 2024 | 3 | 2% | 10,000 miles |
| 2023 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 2% | 18,000 miles |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2020 | 6 | 3% | 2,000 miles |
| 2019 | 12 | 6% | 2,000 miles |
| 2018 | 8 | 7% | 8,000 miles |
| 2017 | 27 | 3% | 15,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2015 | 6 | 2% | 3,000 miles |
| 2014 | 52 | 11% | 29,000 miles |
| 2013 | 95 | 16% | 10,000 miles |
| 2012 | 16 | 5% | 44,000 miles |
| 2011 | 20 | 11% | 54,000 miles |
| 2010 | 8 | 3% | 105,000 miles |
| 2009 | 17 | 5% | 48,000 miles |
| 2008 | 14 | 3% | 96,000 miles |
| 2007 | 38 | 6% | 75,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 4% | 52,000 miles |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% | 58,000 miles |
| 2004 | 11 | 4% | 77,000 miles |
| 2003 | 17 | 6% | 112,000 miles |
| 2002 | 16 | 10% | 151,000 miles |
| 2001 | 13 | 6% | 89,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while stopped and making a left turn from a cross street, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and traffic allowed the contact to make the turn; however, the steering wheel jerked to the right, and the vehicle jumped over a median strip. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the right front passenger's side tire rolled over the median strip, and then the rear passenger's side tire next. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped in a parking spot on the side of the street. The contact shifted the vehicle to park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The contact observed that the right front passenger's side tire was flat. …
Multiple occasions of the ADAS lane centering system operating unsafely. The worst one was on a gentle left-hand curve on a concrete surfaced bridge at night. The system allowed the vehicle to slowly drift to the outside of the lane. When it was fairly close to the white line, it jerked the wheel back to the left and then released the steering to my control while pointed hard into the oncoming lane. It will do similarly during the day when approaching a center turn lane on the highway. Sometimes it will decide that it should be in the turn lane, will make a rapid input, and then return control to me, now pointed at the oncoming lane. When the vehicle returns control to me, it indicates it by making the steering wheel and lines in the HUD grey, no chime, no warning icon, just green to grey and release the wheel in whatever direction it's pointing. …
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently swerved from side to side. The message "Consider Taking A Break" was displayed and the Driver Attention Warning (DAW) warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the Automatic Emergency Braking activated while driving near a vehicle or object, slamming the vehicle to a stop and causing the cruise control to deactivate. The message "Keep Hands On Steering Wheel" was displayed even though the contact's hands were on the steering wheel. The contact also stated that the front and rear driver's side doors were vertically bent from a manufacturing defect. The contact stated that his girlfriend feared for her safety while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
I was driving on the freeway at 70MPH it was dusk. The traffic was light and I was exiting the freeway. Two lanes exit and then split each direction. There is a car next to me but is not coming into my lane and nobody in front of me. Suddenly a collision alarm starts going off the vehicle brakes and the emergency steering notification lights up on the dash and the vehicle swerves to the left almost hitting the median. After this occurred the transmission started having issues at speeds under 15mph with shifting. It would rev up to about 3500rpms then lunge.
May 5th 2023 my car was broken in to.The back passenger window was broken out and the steering column was tour out .The car was undrivable. The car was towed May 18th to Nalley Hyundai.I just got my car back today Aug 11. I understand Hyundai is suing TikTok I was given a number.She said when they go to court.When .
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In addition, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was almost involved in three crashes due to the failure. The contact had to drive the vehicle onto a curb to avoid a crash on one occasion. The contact stated that during the failure, the rear hatch switch became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer replaced several unknown sensors; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure had occurred six times. …
My fianc e's Hyundai Santa Fe has been taken in for service multiple times due to a serious and recurring safety issue. The vehicle suddenly begins malfunctioning while being driven: all of the lights on the dashboard start flashing, multiple warning lights come on, the vehicle shuts off, and both the steering and accelerator become disabled until the vehicle can be restarted. This has occurred twice while driving on the interstate at speeds of 70+ mph, creating an extremely dangerous situation. Unfortunately, the issue occurred again today and resulted in my fianc e driving into a ditch when the steering locked up while she was making a right turn. Thankfully, she was not injured and was able to restart the vehicle and safely get out of the ditch. The vehicle has been brought in for service multiple times by different hyundai dealerships in an attempt to identify and repair the issue. …
While driving, the engine catastrophically failed without warning, causing an immediate loss of power-assisted braking and steering. The failure occurred while traveling downhill. I was unable to slow or control the vehicle properly and was forced to proceed through a school bus's flashing lights to avoid a potentially catastrophic collision, resulting in a traffic citation. My son was in the vehicle at the time. A sudden loss of engine power, braking assist, and steering assist while driving presents a serious safety defect. Vehicle was towed to Fred Beans Hyundai in Doylestown where it has been confirmed engine failure. This failure happened immediately and without warning.
Related recalls (1)
Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The steering wheel assembly may break, possibly resulting in the steering wheel separating from the steering column while driving.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will check the production lot number of the steering wheel assembly, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 26, 2018.
NHTSA investigations
Steering Shaft Universal Joint Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE12-029 based on one complaint alleging that a fastener became loose in the steering shaft of a model year (MY) 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle and related Early Warning Reporting field report data.In it's response to ODI's information request letter for PE12-029, Hyundai identified a total of four incidents of steering shaft universal joint failure in early production…
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Santa Fe years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (95), 2014 (52), 2007 (38), 2017 (27) and 2011 (20) model years. Steering complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Santa Fe steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 18V-118 (steering wheel/handle bar, Feb 17, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Santa Fe steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles; 53% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hydraulic power assist system (4 mentions), followed by the rack and pinion (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.