2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Steering Problems

Steering column sensor issue reported by Hyundai dealership. This has happened a several times before causing the steering wheel to “lock up” when driving making it very hard to turn my wheel. I have had to pull over, stop, and turn off the car and then back on again, which resets it, and I’m able to drive as normal, until it happens again. This most recent time, 6/2026, I was able to take it in to a dealership when the warning lights were on. He did a recalibration, however, later when driving, the same issue arose at high speeds, on the fwy, causing me to exit and pull over. * I noted 2- 3 warning lights came on during the malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11746272

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

I am the current owner a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. While I was driving my SUV on the highway at highway speeds at 60mph, the oil pressure and the check engine warning light illuminated all of sudden after around 1 hour of smooth ride. In the meantime, suddenly the vehicle lost motive power, the steering wheel seized and smoke came immediately. Losing motive power in running conditions and smoke coming out during failure could have endangered our lives. The smoke came out due to leakage of engine oil probably. The vehicle was stuck in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then after Hyundai Dealership. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,245 only. Before reporting to NHSTA I have seen numerous complaints about high oil consumption and burnt valves on Theta II engines around 2017 santafe sport model and very similar occurrence of events happening to all while driving the vehicle on highways. Hyundai must need to provide support to this year model and make vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11681321

Incident

Aug 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was started; however, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was stuck in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ID

11647974

Incident

Mar 7, 2025

Mileage

84,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel began to turn independently to the left and right. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park the vehicle on the side of the road and she started to smell a burning odor. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11496292

Incident

Dec 3, 2022

Mileage

110,000 mi

STICKY STEERING WHEEL, HARDER TO KEEP VEHICLE STEERING STRAIGHT WITHOUT EXTRA FORCE, STEERING WHEEL DASH LIGHT AND TWO OTHER LIGHTS COME ON PERIODICALLY THEN GO OFF.

NHTSA ID

11377609

Incident

Nov 19, 2020

Mileage

81,000 mi

I WAS MAKING A LOOP AROUND UNDER THE FREEWAY. IT WASN'T RAINING AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. IT WAS DAYLIGHT AND I WAS NOT GOING FAST. AS I MADE THE TURN, THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL BOTH LOCKED UP. I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OR BRAKE. I HIT THE MEDIAN AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A POLE. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE OR SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11197179

Incident

Apr 16, 2019

Mileage

24,300 mi

THIS INITIALLY STARTED AROUND 3K MILES. WE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE ADJUSTING TO OUR DRIVING PATTERNS; HOWEVER OVERTIME IT BECAME A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. & THEY'D NOT HEARD OF THIS OCCURRING. IT'S GETTING MUCH WORSE AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED SEEMS TO EITHER GET STUCK IN A GEAR OR TRY TO STALL TURNING LEFT, RIGHT (DRY CONDITIONS) OR AS I'M ON THE HIGHWAY MOVING LANES; NO SPECIFIC MPH. (THIS IS A DRIVING DEATH MACHINE AND FOR SAFETY PURPOSES I REFUSE TO PUT OTHER LIVES AT RISK) THERE'S A 2-4 SEC. DELAY, FORCING ME TO PUNCH THE GAS (MY GRANDFATHER OR FATHER WOULD HAVE STATED; "SOUNDS LIKE SAWDUST IN YOUR ENGINE") TO GET MY VEHICLE TO MOVE; ULTIMATELY A NEAR MISS OF A FATAL INCIDENT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND BECOMING VERY CLOSE TO GETTING T-BONED DUE TO THIS DANGEROUSLY "UNPREDICTABLE & EXTREMELY UNSAFE" VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND WAS FED UP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP.WE PROVIDED DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF OUR EXPERIENCES. YESTERDAY RECEIVED BACK FROM SERVICE TECH OUR INVOICE OF SERVICE WORK AND THEY STATE NO PROBLEMS; & UPDATE CAUSE TO RESOLUTION :TSB 17-BR0002 TCS UPDATE. IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FROM 5 MPH TO 20MPH THE RPMS SHOULDN'T SUDDENLY INCREASE TO 5K WITHOUT FORWARD MOTION. THIS OCCURS IN NORMAL, ECO, AND SPORT AT SPORADIC TIMES. MY VEHICLE HAS 10,223 MILES THIS MORNING.I SPOKE WITH HYUNDAIUSA & INQUIRED OF A BUYBACK FOR VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY AND BECAUSE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE'S NO FIX NOW OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AN ENGINEER FROM HYUNDAI CORP WOULD HAVE TO COME AND THERE'S NO IDEA WHEN (?). SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS SAFETY. IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL OF PREVENTING LOST LIVES OF CHILDREN AND BABIES, PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

11078270

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

3,007 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 (NA) HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND A RED STEERING WHEEL AND EXCLAMATION MARK ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER (HYUNDAI OF NEW PORT RICHEY 3936 US-19, NEW PORT RICHEY, FL, 34652) DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSMITTING DATA TO THE STEERING MECHANISM; HOWEVER, THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS UNABLE TO READ AND CORRESPOND. THE STEERING MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200.

NHTSA ID

11010221

Incident

Jul 22, 2017

Mileage

200 mi

WE BOUGHT OUR 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT USED; IT HAD ONLY 11,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHUDDER VIOLENTLY WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, AND AS THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO CENTER AFTER A TURN. THIS MAKES IT CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL, AND NEARLY GOT ME INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS SUGGESTS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN OR WORSE; THE STEERING RACK. IF THERE IS SLIPPING GOING ON IN THE STEERING COLUMN OR RACK, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS, AS THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY STEERING, OR LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER COMPLETELY WHEN IN DRIVE. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH AN ISSUE WHILE DRIVING ANY OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11005894

Incident

Jul 17, 2017

Mileage

11,000 mi