Steering complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2020 | 7 | 4% | 1,000 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 4% | — |
| 2018 | 9 | 2% | 41,000 miles |
| 2017 | 173 | 23% | 53,000 miles |
| 2016 | 33 | 5% | 40,000 miles |
| 2015 | 74 | 6% | 63,000 miles |
| 2014 | 65 | 9% | 33,000 miles |
| 2013 | 342 | 18% | 55,000 miles |
| 2012 | 301 | 19% | 72,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1,171 | 35% | 65,000 miles |
| 2010 | 15 | 4% | 68,000 miles |
| 2009 | 26 | 6% | 90,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 1% | 142,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 2% | 100,000 miles |
| 2006 | 35 | 3% | 106,000 miles |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% | 150,000 miles |
| 2004 | 13 | 6% | 133,000 miles |
| 2003 | 9 | 5% | 117,000 miles |
| 2002 | 24 | 8% | 105,000 miles |
| 2001 | 10 | 5% | 119,000 miles |
| 2000 | 8 | 3% | 115,000 miles |
| 1999 | 8 | 5% | 99,000 miles |
| 1998 | 2 | 4% | 91,000 miles |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 1995 | 2 | 3% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Steering wheel makes whining/scrubbing noise when turning. Steering a vehicle is a critical component of safety and being able to avoid dangerous situations. The problem has been reported, inspected, and confirmed by a dealer. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or independent service center. There were no warning messages, lamps, or other symptoms of the problem prior to failure. The problem first appeared when the vehicle was under 15,000 miles. The dealership advised that the worm shaft assembly needs to be replaced.
2020 Sonata......Steering wheel has started to make a raspy, rubbing noise when turned. When researching this problem on U tube, it is apparently a fairly common problem with Hyundai vehicles. The fix requires that a bearing in the steering be replaced. If not replaced I would imagine that the bearing would eventually seize up and the car could not be steered. I checked with local dealership and they were not aware of the problem and couldn't tell me if it would be covered by my warranty. I only have 9500 miles on the vehicle.
The car was stolen, one of the vehicles that Hyundai manufactured without an Engine Immobilizer, making it very easy to steal. Consumers didn't know about this defect, because the corrupt automaker kept us in the dark. I'm fairly certain that by breaking the steering column to expose the port to start the car, that driving the speed limit or having control of the vehicle was on the thieves mind. The safety of my neighbors and anyone they were driving would have had their safety compromised. The vehicle is currently being repaired cosmetically. The Engine Immobilizer will not be installed by the body shop. It was inspected by a certified repair shop of State Farm. No warning lights were illuminated.
after the car is driven for a while in warm weather, the steering can feel sticky after doing a slight turn doing more than 30 MPH. It takes extra force to return the steering wheel to the straight/neutral position. It acts as though the steering wheel is stuck in this slight turn position. The problem is intermittent but does create a safety hazard with the risk of the car being unable to easily remain in its correct lane position. Symptom summary: Intermittent; Worse in warm weather; happens after small steering inputs; Feels like the wheel is "hung up".
I was driving on freeway and all dashboard warning started to flicker on and off simultaneously then my steering wheel locked in place. I was unable to stop or turn wheel and had to maneuver car until it came to a stop. I had to get it towed home. I spoke with dealership and asked me to tow it to them so they can look at it and gave me a report that mention nothing about what I originally told them it did while I was driving but pointed out everything else that was wrong with it that added up to more than $4,500.00 in repairs. Dealership guy got upset that I asked him to email rather than phone calls and didn't want to answer anything through email only phone calls he was refusing service and kept pushing us to approve all the other expenses without telling me anything about why the car did what it did. …
Lost control of the car - the car was brought in to Hyundai Maxon in Union, NJ and were told the steering column was defective and the car is not safe to be driven, needed a steering column replacement. Dropped the car off 12/12/2024 and was quoted for the replacement of the part (with a new one). On January 17, 2025-36 days after the dealership had my car-I was informed that the required part was unavailable nationally, with no ETA for availability. The fact that this critical part is unavailable at a national level raises significant concerns. Is this indicative of a broader manufacturing issue? Hyundai has provided no explanation or transparency regarding why this part cannot be sourced, further compounding my frustration as a loyal customer.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The EPS and ESC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who observed a failure code on the OBD scanner but was unable to duplicate the failure during a test drive. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V190000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel locked, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer reset the steering sensor however, the steering wheel felt loose. Additionally, the steering wheel inadvertently moved to the right and was stiff while making left turns. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but denied the claim since the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Related recalls (3)
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Sonata years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (1,171), 2013 (342), 2012 (301), 2017 (173) and 2015 (74) model years. Steering complaints make up 35% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Sonata steering problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 16V-190 (electric power assist system, Apr 5, 2016); 10V-457 (shaft sector, Oct 1, 2010); 10V-426 (shaft sector, Sep 20, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Sonata steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the column (8 mentions), followed by the rack and pinion (5).
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.