2012 Hyundai Accent Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH and turning to the right, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering assist module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ID

11623825

Incident

Sep 10, 2024

Mileage

60,000 mi

When the car stops at a stop sign or traffic light the engine sometimes stalls and the engine and EPS warning light turn on. Also sometimes when trying to accelerate, acceleration is not possible, especially on the highway. This is a major safety risk of rear-end accidents.

NHTSA ID

11475901

Incident

Jul 23, 2022

The electric power steering (EPS) system in my Hyundai Accent 2012 5-door hatchback intermittently stops and starts working, and when it does not work, a dashboard red EPS light comes on. This problem has been occurring on and off for a few months now. When the system is not working, the car becomes very difficult to steer, especially at slow speeds. The problem seems to occur more frequently in cold weather at start up, occasionally occurs in warmer weather, and often resolves itself after driving the vehicle for awhile, but sometimes starts while driving. Because the problem is intermittent and the strength needed to steer at slow speeds is significant, there is a safety risk. Because the problem is intermittent, it has not been reproduced by a dealer or service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer but I plan to have them do this when I take the car in for other recall work. This problem sounds very similar to the one triggering a recall in Hyundai Elantra vehicles in 2015 (recall number 127). I see from online reports that other Hyundai Accent owners and owners of other Hyundai vehicles reporting similar issues and I wonder whether Hyundai should be required to recall all vehicles with similar EPS systems to fix this issue. Thank you for reviewing this report.

NHTSA ID

11445038

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE. I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE SECOND LANE TO THE RIGHT ON A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY - NO PUDDLES OR WATER ON THE PAVEMENT AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR LOST CONTROL BETWEEN THE STEERING AND THE TIRES. I BEGAN TO SWERVE MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD TO FIGHT THE CAR FROM SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL BY PRESSING THE BREAKS AND MANEUVERING THE STEERING MANY TIMES TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE THE CAR WAS SWERVING TO. I WAS NOT AROUND MANY CARS AND THANKFULLY DID NOT HIT ANYONE AND WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO AFTER REPEATED LOSES OF CONTROL TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED. I CALLED FOR HELP AND WHEN FAMILY ARRIVED THEY NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WOULD STOP AFTER I WOULD TURN THE STEERING EVENTUALLY, BUT THE STEERING WOULD CONTINUE ROTATING 2 TO 3 TIMES MORE EVEN WHEN THE TIRES WHERE LOCKED. BECAUSE OF THIS I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND REQUESTED A TOW TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM 6 YEARS EARLIER. AFTER THEIR MECHANICS DIAGNOSED THE CAR THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME, BUT I ADVISED THAT OTHERS SAW THE ISSUE WITH THE STEERING AND TIRES AS WELL. ONLINE OTHER AFFECTED CONSUMERS HAVE MENTIONED THAT THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO THEM AND WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF IT APPEARS AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG BUT IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN SPONTANEOUSLY. I AM NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY THINK I HYDROPLANED BUT I ADVISED I WAS GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THERE WAS NO WATER ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE STEERING WAS LOOSE WHERE OTHER REPORTED THE SAME THING... THAT THE STEERING WOULD CONTINUE TURNING EVEN THOUGHT THE TIRE WERE LOCKED. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR AND DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR COMPLETELY. WAITING FOR CORPORATE TO CONTACT ME BACK AS WELL BUT THIS IS MECHANICAL DEFECT FAILURE!

NHTSA ID

11006801

Incident

Jul 17, 2017

Mileage

67,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT ON OCTOBER 19, 2011. FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BRAKE AT TIMES AND WOULD HAVE BOUTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE WE ADVISED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND EVEN BROUGHT IN OUR VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY KIND OF DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID THAT I WAS BEING A PARANOID WOMAN AND NEW MOMS TEND TO WORRY TOO MUCH. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. WE ADVISED HYUNDAI, THE DEALERSHIP AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE ISSUE. EACH TIME WE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE ACTED VERY CAVALIER AS IT WAS "NOT A BIG DEAL" AND WOULD SEND US ON OUR WAY. WE HAD VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS AND HAVE PAPERWORK WHERE THE DEALERSHIP NOTED WE WERE COMPLAINING OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING AND THEN THEY WOULD STATE THEY DID NOT/WILL NOT DO A DIAGNOSTIC. I WOULD NOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE FURTHER AS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS WAS NOT ONLY GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING BUT AS TIME PASSED IT HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY AND CAUSED ME TO FEAR FOR MY LIFE. IN DECEMBER 2013 I ADVISED MY HUSBAND I FEARED FOR MY LIFE. ONE WEEK LATER 12/16/13 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS SLOWLY TURNING, WENT TO BRAKE AND THE BRAKES FELT EMPTY AS THEY DID WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND THE CAR REVVED LOUDLY AND ACCELERATED AT AN EXTREME SPEED. THESE BOUTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ARE DOCUMENTED YET HYUNDAI AND THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WILL NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY,. THEY DISMISSED MY CLAIM STATING OUR FLOOR MAT PROTECTOR WHICH LAYS FLAT AND HAS PLENTY OF CLEARANCE IS THE CAUSE HOWEVER I MUST ADVISE AND HAVE RESPONDED THAT THE FLOOR MAT PROTECTORS WERE NOT PURCHASED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND DID NOT GET PUT INTO THE VEHICLE UNTIL JULY OF 2013 SO THE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WERE MOSTLY BEFORE AND ONE IN JULY 2013 AFTER THEY HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10605008

Incident

Dec 16, 2013

Mileage

21,577 mi

I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM THE STORE MAY 3RD 2014 AND CAME INTO A CURVE ON ROUTE 20 BETWEEN PRINCETON AND ATHENS W.V.. THE CURVE WAS TO THE RIGHT IN A LOW BUT STEEP BANK AT 40 MPH AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CALIPER GRABBED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED AND CAUSED MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL BUT REGAINED AS SOON AS THE CALIPER RELEASED WHICH WAS IN APPROXIMATELY TWO SECONDS. FORTUNATELY NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS AROUND OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN MESSY. THE WHEEL WAS FEELING SLUGGISH AFTER THE INCIDENT AND I'M NO LONGER HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE, IT IS TO DANGEROUS. THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY MAY 4TH 2014. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586425

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

40,537 mi

I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, STEERING AND SUSPENSION WHICH STARTED WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM PICKING MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL DEC. 21 2012. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE ROAD AND I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE BUT THE BRAKES CAUSED THE CAR TO JUMP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND FAST ENOUGH AND THE SUSPENSION FELT LIKE WE WERE RIDING ON METAL RIMS. I ALMOST HIT A TELEPHONE POLE BUT WE SLOWED IN THE SOFTER SNOW WHICH WASN'T BEAT DOWN YET. EVER SINCE THEN WHEN THERE IS SNOW OR ICY ROADS ESPECIALLY UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA I TEST THE BRAKES, STEERING AND SUSPENSION ON THE ROAD I LIVE ON BEFORE GOING ON THE HIGHWAY. OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT IF YOU SHOULD BE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HIT A POTHOLE IT DOES THROUGH THE CAR TO THE RIGHT IF YOUR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CATCHES IT AND IF YOUR LEFT FRONT WHEEL CATCHES ONE IT WILL PUT YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEARS. *JS

NHTSA ID

10579465

Incident

Dec 21, 2012

HELLO MY NAME IS[XXX], I HAVE 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT AND THE STEERING ON THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY STUPID AND LAME AND FRUSTRATING. WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY YOU GOTTA CONSTANTLY KEEP TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING STRAIGHT. I HAVE READ SOMEWHERE THAT THIS CAR IS WITH ELECTRIC STEERING OR SOMETHING... I'M NOT FAMILIAR BUT THERE IS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM. I HAVE READ IN THE FORUMS THAT IT COULD BE STEERING COLUMNS... BUT I THINK HYUNDAI SUPPOSE TO COME OUT WITH A RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THEM LIKE 5 MONTH'S AGO I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE WHOLE SITUATION THEY SAID THAT THEY GONNA GIVE ME A CALL BUT THEY NEVER DID. SO PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE THIS CAR DRIVES ME CRAZY! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10563233

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IN A 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT SCHOOL ZONE, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL MY CAR ON WHAT COINCIDENTALLY WAS A CURVY ROAD AFTER HAVING JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN. THEREFORE AS I HAD JUST BEGUN TO PICK UP SPEED, HAVING TO FOLLOW A CURVE ABOUT 500 YARDS THEREAFTER, MY STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IN THE POSITION I HAD PLACED IT IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE CURVE, LOCKING IMMEDIATELY AFTER. IN LOSING CONTROL OF MY CAR, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO TRY TO SHIFT MY STEERING WHEEL BUT AS IT DIDN'T BUDGE, I HIT ABOUT 2 OR 3 CONCRETE MEDIAN BLOCKS, AT ABOUT 15 MPH. THE CONCRETE BLOCKS WERE LINED ALONG A CURVY ROAD THAT WAS BLOCKING OFF AN UNEVEN FIELD OF GRASS THAT MY CAR DRIFTED INTO; LUCKILY, THERE WAS A SEWAGE MANHOLE JOLTING OUT FROM THE GROUND THAT MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN MY CAR BEFORE I MANAGED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BREAK. LUCKILY, AS I CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE ON MY LUCK, BECAUSE THAT IS SIMPLY HOW I FEEL, IF THIS WOULD'VE OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER SCENARIO SUCH AS AN EXPRESSWAY, OR ANY HIGH TRAFFIC VIA, THERE COULD'VE BEEN SEVERAL CASUALTIES INCLUDING MY OWN. *TT

NHTSA ID

10425707

Incident

Sep 15, 2011

Mileage

1,800 mi