Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, the contact noticed the EPS warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive but noticed the steering wheel of the vehicle was very loose causing the vehicle to swerve on the road. The contact lost automatic power steering which caused the contact to crash into a medium wall on the side of the road. The air bags did not deploy. There was no medical treatment at the scene. No one was injured. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as an electric issue with power steering that would need to be repaired by a local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired..The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while her husband was driving 30 mph, the EPS warning light was illuminated, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The driver was able to continue driving to the residence. The contact stated she also experienced the same failure while driving. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed it was an electronic failure. The contact towed the vehicle to local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the electronic steering assembly to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V190000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact's mother stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the EPS control unit replaced however, the vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V190000 (Steering). The vehicle was then repaired but continued to experience the same symptoms. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, an abnormally loud popping sound was heard inside the vehicle and the steering wheel was shaking and vibrating while driving at high speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was diagnosed with an intermediate shaft failure. The contact was informed that the intermediate shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed, causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V190000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) warning light was illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult maneuver. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 161V190000 (Steering). The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 255,000.
The contact's father owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his father was attempting to make a turn, the electric power steering failed, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed as a steering column failure. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,181.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the steering wheel was making an abnormal rattling sound. While making a turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the horn became inoperable and the buttons on the steering wheel became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 17,742.
The contact called for her niece who owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds or while the vehicle was stationary, there was an abnormal clicking in the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
My engine has failed, and my steering wheel column has locked. I had the software update on my engine with Napleton that qualified me for a lifetime engine replacement. I submitted maintenance records for my car and pictures of my valvetrain that are well maintained, and hyundai denied my engine claim for exceptional maintenance neglect on Dec8. On December 14th, after reviewing my oil changes, they still denied me for using low quality oil that's obscured. The problem I am having with my car is oil, not being able to get to the pistons inside my engine. It's not fair when the company know they engines have a manufacture defect. Then they blame the customers for lack of maintenance to have an excuse not to replace the engine. …
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to October 31, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) circuit board may be damaged and result in a loss of power steering assist.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS control unit, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9640.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft sector
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2011 sonata vehicles manufactured from December 11, 2009, through September 10, 2010. On some of these vehicles the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections May have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections for proper assembly and torque. In addition dealers will update the power steering software free of charge.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft sector
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2011 sonata vehicles manufactured from December 11, 2009, through September 10, 2010. On some of these vehicles the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections May have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections for proper assembly and torque. In addition dealers will update the power steering software free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Steering Shaft Separation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is aware of 7 complaints and field reports and 10 warranty claims on the subject vehicles that allege the intermediate steering shaft became loose or in some cases separated from the upper steering column and/or the steering gearbox, causing (or potentially causing) the hand wheel to become mechanically de-coupled from the road wheels resulting in a complete loss of steering…
Steering complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 1,171 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 35% of the model year's 3,378 complaints. The component named most often is gear box › shaft sector (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Hyundai Sonata steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-190 (electric power assist system, Apr 5, 2016); NHTSA recall 10V-457 (shaft sector, Oct 1, 2010); NHTSA recall 10V-426 (shaft sector, Sep 20, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Hyundai Sonata steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 6 fires and 6 injuries and 1 death to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.