2010 Hyundai Sonata Steering Problems

Car has had check engine light on for 3 + years. Have taken it to several mechanics including a Hyundai dealership and none of them can figure out what is wrong. Have replaced water pump, belts x2 in a year (same belt) and thermostat x 3 again (all within 2 years). Dash fuel gage and Dash heating/cooling gage are completely erratic. Cruise control does not work. Due to chronic check engine light and mechanics unable to pin point the problem, car has become hazardous to drive. With that in mind, today (9/10/2025) while exiting the high way, car stalled and behaved like it was in neutral. Steering wheel also locked up at this time. Luckily was able to stop. Had to restart car and then it occurred again while driving on a side street at 35mph. The codes that are still popping up are ones that I have spent thousands trying to fix and find the root cause of the problem. What could the issue be if no mechanic can seem to diagnose and fix the issue?

NHTSA ID

11686499

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was constantly pulling to the right. The contact had to steer to the left to keep the vehicle centered. The failure persisted even after wheel adjustments had been made. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that an alignment was needed. The wheels were aligned. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11577080

Incident

Mar 13, 2023

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED AND SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2010 FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID

11222505

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

162,000 mi

THE STEERING WILL RANDOMLY STICK. ITS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAS ME TERRIFIED OF CURVES. IT CAUSES OVER CORRECTING BECAUSE THE STEERING STICKS AND THEN TURNS LOOSE. I'VE SAW NUMEROUS OVER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE. IT MAKES THE CAR WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. IT MAKES TURNING AT LOWER SPEEDS VERY DIFFICULT. AND TURNING AT HIGHER SPEEDS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. THEY RECALLED THE LATER SONATAS, THE 2010 SONATAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11209158

Incident

May 19, 2019

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED STERLING MCCALL HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 10505 SOUTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77074, (713) 981-4400) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11203761

Incident

Mar 13, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COUPLING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK WHILE DRIVING. HYUNDAI WAIPIO (94-1299 KAUKA BLVD, WAIPAHU, HI 96797, (808) 679-3400) STATED THAT THE COUPLING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THEY CHARGED $600 IN LABOR FOR A $3 PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11182308

Incident

Jan 30, 2019

Mileage

105,000 mi

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE LOWER STEERING COUPLER BUSHING ON MY 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I SEE THAT MY YEAR MODEL CAR IS NOT HE ONLY CAR MADE BY HUNDAI(KIA ARE ALSO BEING REPORTED TO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM). IT APPEARS THIS PART IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, AND THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL REVISIONS DUE TO IT NOT HOLDING UP TO THE RIGORS OF IT'S JOB. THIS PLASTIC PART COSTS UNDER <$10, BUT THE LABOR COST OF REPLACING THIS IS IN EXCESS OF $200. YOU WOULD THINK THAT ANY CRITICAL PART OF THE STEERING MECHANISM WOULD BE MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT WOULD LAST LONGER. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PLASTIC PIECE, A THUDDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE CAR IS NOT ON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS MAY OCCUR IF THIS ITEM WERE TO FAIL WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING.

NHTSA ID

10899459

Incident

Aug 30, 2016

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY ALIGNMENT AND MY TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING INCREDIBLY UNEVENLY. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I WAS ADVISED TO REALIGN AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND MY TIRES CONTINUE TO BE DESTROYED AND MY CAR CONTRIBUTES TO SHAKE. TODAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING WAS BEING REPLACED FOR AN OPEN RECALL I WAS ADVISED UPON PICK UP THAT MY STEERING COUPLER HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE (NEVER MIND THAT I WAS INFORMED OF THIS ISSUE AFTER MY STEERING COLUMN WAS REASSEMBLED SO I HAVE TO PAY LABOR FOR THEM TO PULL THE ENTIRE UNIT AGAIN!). I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONLINE REGARDING BAD COUPLERS AND SHAKING CARS RUINING TIRES. I WAS ADVISED THAT IF IT BREAKS FURTHER MY CAR WILL LIKELY SWERVE INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC AND BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER.

NHTSA ID

10894444

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

GOING THROUGH A 2-3 INCH PUDDLE OF WATER VEHICLE STEERING LOCKED UP AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. NOW WHEN THERE IS ANY HEAVY RAIN THE CAR STEERING LOCKS UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615162

Incident

Jul 20, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING 55+MPH ON THE HIGHWAY IN A CURVE THAT IS CURVING RIGHT. THE CAR STARTS TO ROCK/SWAY SIDE TO SIDE. SIMILAR TO A GUST OF WIND BLOWING AGAINST THE CAR FROM THE SIDE. PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN OVER 55MPH AND DRIVING THROUGH A CURVE ON A HIGHWAY. CAR SEEMS NORMAL WHEN GOING STRAIGHT OR ON INSIDE ROADS AT LOWER SPEEDS. ALIGNMENT WAS GOOD, AND INSPECTION BY SEARS FOUND NO ISSUES. NOTHING LOOSE ETC. NO RECALL FROM HYUNDAI. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON ICY ROADS. THIS PROBLEM MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT/CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595434

Incident

May 5, 2014

MY 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON ME 2-TIMES IN LESS THAN 5-MINUTES TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING TODAY. I WAS ON MY WAY TO ENTER THE EXPRESSWAY. THE POWER STEERING AND EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN. MY CAR JUST MADE A SUDDEN STOP. THANK GOD I HAD NOT ENTERED THE EXPRESSWAY AND TOOK THE SIDE STREETS HOME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF, THE PASSENGERS RIDING WITH ME AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS, PASSENGERS AND FAMILIES ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAS 53,215 MILES, THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE, I KNOW IT'S OCCURRING IN OTHER SONATA'S AND OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES BASE ON WHAT I SEE IN ONLINE ENTRIES ON THE 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES. MANUFACTURES MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEFECTED PRODUCTS PLACE ON THE MARKET. I KNOW THAT I'M A SMALL VOICE AGAINST A LARGE CORPORATION, BUT IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE I KNOW THAT MY CLAIM WILL BE VALIDATED. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE ARE DEALING WITH INJURIES OR FATALITIES. I AM A FRUSTRATED AND UNHAPPY HYUNDAI SONATA OWNER, LOOKING FOR HYUNDAI TO PUT SAFETY FIRST! *TR

NHTSA ID

10552644

Incident

Nov 17, 2013

Mileage

53,215 mi

DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN VEHICLE ENGINE DIED. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I WAS NEAR HOME SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME WHERE IT STAYED UNTIL I COULD GET IT TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION, GEAR AND LINKAGE ASSEMBLY AND PERFORMED A 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I WAS EXTREMELY BLESSED THAT I WAS NOT ON THE LOCAL INTERSTATE GOING AT THE MAXIMUM SPEED ALLOWED. I NOTE THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING ON THE 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA AND OTHER EARLIER AND LATER YEAR SONATAS. IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550448

Incident

Oct 14, 2013

Mileage

85,768 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED A ONE OWNER 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED FROM DEALERSHIP IN BISMARCK, ND THE CAR HAS 6800 ORIGINAL MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A RUBBING AND CRACKLING SOUND. THE WHEEL IS ALSO LOOSE AS I CAN ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT TURNING WHEEL AND IT IS DEFINITELY LOOSE. MAKES LOTS OF NOISE WHEN DRIVING CRACKLING AND POPPING SOUNDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396102

Incident

Apr 12, 2011

Mileage

6,800 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAS IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.

NHTSA ID

10380219

Incident

Jan 26, 2011

Mileage

29,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO A SECOND LANE TO AVOID A VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO HER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ABNORMALLY STIFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING A STABILIZER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE CUOLD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT THE STABILIZER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO OVERRIDE THE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA ID

10373145

Incident

Apr 15, 2010

Mileage

400 mi