10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 10 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 9 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 40,753 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
When the steering wheel locks after you turn off the car, a fair percentage of time you can't turn the steering wheel to start the car. It sometimes locks down so hard you need two people to turn it. I was stranded in 105 degree heat trying to get my car started, I am 86 years old if my son didn't come by I would have had serious problems. Hyundai verified that there is a problem with turning the steering wheel to unlock the car to start it but they all do it. I have a car now I can't drive. We want our money back. Safety issues that should instill a recall on this steering problem.
- Banning, CA, USA
I purchased my 2013 Sonata ltd with standard engine 08/17/12. After the first 300 mi or so I noticed while driving at any speed the vehicle "drifts", which requires constant steering correction to maintain a straight line. The faster the vehicle is traveling the more prominent the drifting, so at highway speeds this can become tiring, which could cause loss of control momentarily, with severe consequences. This vehicle is designed with electric steering that functions normally for turning but there is an inherent design error in the steering control that allows there to be physical "play? in the steering wheel. This ?play? is similar to autos that have many miles on them. They would have rack to pinion wear or bad steering bushings causing a gap in the steering movement left and right from center. The Sonata's ?gap? also occurs when the steering is off center during vehicle turning and has to be passed through to keep the vehicle on track. The gap on the Sonata is about 1/3?. this causes the "drift". by contrast, I also own a 2013 Hyundai elantra with conventional power steering and there is absolutely no play in the wheel, thus the vehicle goes exactly where pointed without drift. In va. Where I live, given a scenario where the vehicle was older and going through a standard annual inspection, this steering ?play? would cause the vehicle to be rejected as having a safety issue, which would be required to be repaired. The NHTSA should without delay require Hyundai to recall and repair this issue by removing the steering ?play?. how many owners does it take who actually complain before action will be taken" I would Venture a guess that this issue affects every Sonata of this design. I noted this same problem being reported in previous years of this design after the recall with some reports describing potential accidents. That's a lot of cars!
- Midlothian, VA, USA
Can't keep car going in straight line. Constantly have to correct steering, but can't keep car from wandering into other lanes. This is either going to cause an accident in close places or provoke a police stop for drunk driving. I now have 3,117 miles on the car, and it is dangerous to drive at highway speeds. This is worse in Florida due to the 70 mph on interstate I 75. Uncontrollable at legal speeds. Found that Hyundai had this problem on 2010 models. Why doesn't NHTSA do something about the new models they are building.
- Punta Gorda, FL, USA
Car drifts left and right. Constant need for correction.
- San Antonio , TX, USA
Lots of play in the steering driving at slower speeds in rural areas. On the highway the steering pulls in both left and right at different times, not like an alignment issue that it would pull to one side or the other. I called my dealership service dept and they say that they have not had any complaints regarding this issue. My tires have barely any tread on them from 18,000 mi to now which it has only 23,000 miles on it. I need new tires before it will pass inspection. There is definitely a problem!
- Mifflintown, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle would not steer in the desired direction and wandered out of lane. The failure occurred numerous times when driving over 45 mph. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 150.
- Columbus, OH, USA
This is an update to my complaint filed a couple of weeks ago. Just a heads up for all of you that do not like the awful steering sensitivity of the 2013 Sonata gls. I was able to get my dealer to change the steering sensitivity to sport mode which they say will tighten it up.
- Fairview Heights, IL, USA
The car is brand new limited 2.0T. I bought it when it had 385 miles on it. I did not test drive on the highway. After driving a few days, I realize the car just would not stay in a straight. A tiny bit of turn on the wheel to either left of right, it would continue to go in that direction. Then I realized when I was driving on a stretch of highway with a slight left curve, I can just turn the wheel a bit and let go of my hand and the car will continue on the curve without turning back straight. This is not how I drive for 30 some years.
- Vancouver, WA, USA
The vehicle is extremely hard to control (drifting) at interstate speeds which is more than likely contributing to my premature tire wear. I was told that it is due to the fact that it has electronic steering. I have driven vehicles with electronic steering before and have never experienced such maneuverability problems in any other vehicle like I do in the Sonata. I inquired to see if something in the computer could be reset to decrease the sensitivity and was told that there is not. I feel that this is a very serious safety issue.
- Fairview Heights, IL, USA
Car wonders in lane. Impossible to hold a steady line while steering car. In windy situations car can make entire half lane shifts, before being able to correct situation. On very rutted roadways, you never know which way car is going to move. Can not anticipate car movement which causes over steering.
- Newburgh, IN, USA
Vehicle wanders from left to right on freeways when going over 60mph. Vehicle also overcorrects when steering. Current mileage 8,000.
- Thornton, CO, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle would independently veer from left to right while the contact was driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the failure was similar to driving when there were severely high winds. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was advised that the vehicle was operating as designed and that the contact would have to become used to the way the vehicle operated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 11 and the current mileage was 461.
- Amenityville, NY, USA
Vehicle wanders dangerously from speeds of 35 mph to 60mph. I have other friends with Sonata have same problems.
- San Diego, CA, USA
While driving the cars steering tends to oversteer requiring constant wheel adjustment. The feel is similar to the wind blowing the car back and forth on the highway. It can be felt at lower speeds but is more prevalent at higher speeds. I took the car to the dealer on 3/26/13 and was told its the electronic steering and that it is operating as it should. They told me it, S different the hydraulic steering and it may take some time to get use to it.
- Dallas, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the steering wheel felt loose. The steering progressively became very sensitive and difficult to keep straight. The vehicle had not been examined by a mechanic. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 200.
- Glendale, CA, USA
At highway speeds, the vehicle wanders left and right, similar to alternating cross winds. Maintaining a straight track is difficult and requires constant attention and correction. Vehicle wander creates hazardous driving conditions and driver fatigue, posing public safety hazard. Vehicle is also unable to track smoothly around curves, again requiring constant correction. Vehicle has been brought to three different Hyundai dealerships for resolution. Hyundai dealerships deny there is problem.
- Foxboro, MA, USA
Vehicle drifts left and right at interstate highway speeds, requiring constant attention and correction by the driver, which is distracting and contributes to driver fatigue. Unable to track smoothly around curves. Similar to alternating cross winds, even when there are none. Situation very aggravating in actual cross winds. Any police officer would be justified in issuing a ticket for "weaving". dealer technician drove the car and acknowledged that this is a negative characteristic of electrical steering and nothing to be done for it. He supposedly changed some setting from "hard" to "soft', but that had no effect after I left the dealer, maybe even being worse. I complained to Hyundai on their website, with no response to date. I am a professional engineer (mostly aviation) and suspect that some damping needs to be applied to the steering system. At this time, I am noticing that about half of the 2013 Sonata complaints concern the steering system. NHTSA should take action before accidents begin occurring due to this obvious safety defect. Updated 05/23/13 updated 09/10/13 updated 01/02/14
- Sadieville, KY, USA
The day after I purchased the vehicle I drove it on the freeway at 65 mph for a distance of 40 miles. I noticed that in order to keep the vehicle within the freeway lanes I was constantly adjusting the steering. If I did not adjust the steering constantly I would drift into another lane. After about 40 minutes of driving I was frustrated and exhausted from the efforts to keep the vehicle in the same lane. I took it into the dealer and the service manager acknowledged that there was definitely a problem with the steering but there was nothing that he could do to correct the problem. He indicated that this was an electric steering system and that this was normal for this car. I called the corporate offices of the Hyundai corporation and spoke with one of their consultants and they also confirmed that this was normal for this vehicle and that they had no plans to correct the problem.
- Laguna Woods, CA, USA
While driving straight down the interstate which is flat and straight my 2013 Hyundai Sonata wanders left and right. When small corrections are made, I can feel the steering sticking. When it releases with a little pressure, it causes a jerky movement in the direction of the correction. It is a constant battle to keep the vehicle driving in a straight line down the road.
- Blackwell, OK, USA
- Phoenix, AZ, USA