2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, noticing an excessive amount of understeer. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the steering column. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11583265

Incident

Apr 16, 2024

Mileage

80,000 mi

CAR GETS VERY WOBBLY WHEN GOING 79 MPH.. I CAN HEAR A RATTLING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP. STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AND DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ID

11229115

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

FIRST INCIDENT, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018. WHILE DRIVING, CAR SUDDENLY FLASHED WARNING LIGHTS, WITH MESSAGE PERTAINING TO THE BATTERY. CAR DECELERATED EXTREMELY RAPIDLY AND BECAME HARDER TO STEER. PULLED CAR OVER OUT OF STREET AS IT LOST POWER. IT STOPPED. LIGHTS REMAINED ON. TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON. IT CRANKED UP AND COULD BE DRIVEN AS IF THE INCIDENT NEVER HAPPENED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING MESSAGE WHEN THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. SECOND INCIDENT, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2018. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AGAIN, THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED AGAIN, AND AGAIN IT BECAME HARD TO STEER. THIS TIME DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER; IT STOPPED IN THE STREET. DRIVER TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT REGISTER ANY CODE THAT THEY COULD DETECT. THEY HAD A TECHNICIAN DRIVE IT FROM WORK TO HOME EACH DAY AND THE VEHICLE NEVER GAVE ANY PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AT ALL WITH THE VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED SERVICE OR REPAIR. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2018. THE DEALERSHIP WAIVED THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSIS A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TRADED-IN. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED TO HYUNDAI MOTOR CORPORATION.

NHTSA ID

11139292

Incident

Sep 9, 2018

Mileage

111,600 mi

UPON OBTAINING MY STATE INSPECTION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AROUND 60K MILES, MY MECHANIC POINTED OUT A SLIGHT "THUNK" WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND SAID TO CHECK FOR RECALLS. SINCE THEN IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY MORE NOTICEABLE. IT "THUNKS" OR CLICKS JUST TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT OF CENTER. FIRST I ONLY NOTICED IT WHEN PARKED, NOW I NOTICE IT WHEN DRIVING AND THE STEERING COLUMN RATTLES VERY LOUD WHEN I GO OVER EVEN A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS GETTING WORSE AND TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I SEE WHERE THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE 2011 MODEL AND NOW IS STARTING WITH THE 2012 AROUND SIMILAR MILEAGE. CLICKING AND RATTLING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, NOT ONLY WHILE TURNING, BUT SMALL BUMPS WILL MAKE IT RATTLE. HOPE HYUNDAI ISSUES A RECALL SOON!!!

NHTSA ID

11119278

Incident

Jul 22, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE STEERING COLUMN CLICKS WHEN TURNED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CAR RATTLES LOUDLY WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER COVERED MAN HOLE COVERS, BUMPS, OR ANYTHING THAT'S NOT LEVEL PAVEMENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARING BUT MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR YESTERDAY AND ADVISED IT IS THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ID

11112388

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY BREAK LIGHTS 8 TIMES SINCE JANUARY. BOTH MY REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LAMPS KEEP BURNING OUT CONSTANTLY, EVEN THOUGH I'VE REPLACED THE BULBS MANY TIMES. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED 2 WARNINGS ABOUT IT. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO HYUNDAI AND AFTER A LOT OF FRUSTRATION THEY DO A TEMPORARY FIX THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS IS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS BRAKE LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW, AND IF THEY AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY, THEY POSE A HUGE RISK TO DRIVER AND THOSE AROUND. OTHER SONATAS ARE ON RECALL FOR THIS BUT I AM BEING TOLD MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY. IN ADDITIONS I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY STEERING COUPLER. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS SINCE 96K MILES ON THE CAR AND AGAIN MY VIN IS NOT COVERED AND THEY WANT 500 TO FIX A $4.00 PART.

NHTSA ID

11110316

Incident

Jul 9, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL MAKE CLICKING, THUMPING SOUND AND FEELS WOBBLY WHEN STEERING. INDEPENDENT GARAGE FOUND STEERING COUPLING ASSEMBLY AT FAULT DURING A OIL CHANGE AND REPLACED THE PARTS ON 11/19/26. REPLACE AT A COST OF OVER $500. UNIT WAS REPLACE AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE BACK AGAIN. THIS LOOKS LIKE A DESIGN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11079758

Incident

Nov 19, 2016

Mileage

49,523 mi

STEERING IS VERY "LOOSE" AND MAKES ALARMING CLUNKING SOUNDS ON TURNS OR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH

NHTSA ID

10938996

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

18,500 mi

A LOUD RATTLE STARTED SOUNDING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN GOING OVER EVEN SMALL BUMPS. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE "PLAY" IN IT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE "STEERING COLUMN FLEXIBLE COUPLING" FREE OF CHARGE. I SAW A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ON THIS ISSUE AND FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A NOTICE (RECALL?) ABOUT THIS SINCE IT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10854541

Incident

Apr 2, 2016

Mileage

52,000 mi

WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO US, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WOULD BE $250 +TAXES AND FEES TO REPLACE. THERE IS A TSB AND AFTER INVESTIGATION OF SAME ON THE INTERNET THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF FAILURE OF THIS PART AND IT IS A SAFETY RELATED PART AND FAILURE COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. I FEEL THAT A RECALL OF THIS PART SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

NHTSA ID

10743494

Incident

Jul 22, 2015

Mileage

66,500 mi