When it rains my steering wheel locks up when I drive thru a puddle I have brought my car to used car dealer where I bought it from and they say nothing is wrong but steering wheel locks when driving that to me is major problem they checked belt water is getting somewhere and causing a short hence power steering to lock it only happens when it rains
2006 Hyundai Tucson steering problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
What stands out
Among the 16 model years of Hyundai Tucson in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report at least seven distinct steering and suspension failures in the 2006 Tucson. The most serious involves sudden loss of power steering during wet weather—the steering wheel locks up or becomes unresponsive, sometimes accompanied by loss of brakes and engine stalling. Water intrusion under the engine is mentioned as the cause in multiple complaints, though dealership diagnostics find no error codes. One owner identified crankshaft balancer separation on the 2.7-liter engine as the culprit; the elastomeric compound fails, the outer ring slips off, the serpentine belt binds against the engine block, and all accessory power—including to the power steering pump—is lost.
Suspension linkage fails at various mileages: a passenger-side tie rod and control arm gave out at 72,000 miles, and a rear control arm mount separated from the subframe at 65 mph, causing violent shaking and steering loss. Owners report steering column parts falling off during normal driving. At low speeds, the engine stalls during turns or deceleration, making steering extremely difficult and forcing the car to stop abruptly in traffic.
A persistent shimmy through the steering wheel at highway speeds affected one vehicle starting at 23,000 miles; three sets of new tires did not resolve it. Dealership visits were frequent but largely fruitless—no manufacturer recalls or technical service bulletins were mentioned in any complaint.
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of power steering during rain or wet conditions
Steering assistance fails intermittently when driving on wet pavement or in heavy rain. Water intrusion under the engine appears to cause electrical or mechanical failure. Steering locks up or becomes unresponsive until the vehicle is stopped or conditions dry. Some owners report water getting under the engine causing shorts.
When: During or immediately after heavy rain; happens at various speeds including highway
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering stops working mid-turn; Steering wheel locks up; Engine light comes on; Steering becomes very difficult to control; Vehicle drifts without steering assistance; Loss of power brakes accompanies power steering loss
Repairs/costs cited: Hyundai replaced sensors and other components for over $1,000 on at least one vehicle; dealer identified water intrusion under engine but root cause unclear; dealership checks found no error codes or loose wires
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai performed warranty repair in some cases; after 6-year warranty expired, refused additional warranty work; dealer acknowledged sensor issues requiring replacement
Serpentine belt failure from crankshaft balancer separation
The crankshaft pulley (balancer) on the 2.7-liter engine separates due to elastomeric compound failure between inner and outer metal rings. The outer ring slips, causing the serpentine belt to bind against the engine block and accessory brackets. This cuts power to all accessories including the power steering pump.
When: Occurs during normal driving; failure reported at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering; Serpentine belt failure; Loss of drive to all accessories; Engine light illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Requires crankshaft pulley and serpentine belt replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or TSB mentioned in narratives
Tie rod and control arm failure
Front passenger tie rod and control arm fail during normal driving. Owners report this as a material defect in the suspension linkage.
When: At 72,000 miles; reported while driving at 15 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of steering control; Vehicle becomes difficult or unable to steer
Repairs/costs cited: Requires tie rod and control arm replacement; local mechanic identified this as a common failure for the model
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no recall or warranty coverage mentioned
Rear control arm mount fracture
The rear control arm mount breaks away from the subframe during highway driving. This causes immediate violent shaking and steering malfunction.
When: At highway speed (65 mph); vehicle had recently passed WV inspection
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking; Steering malfunction; Loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Required subframe/control arm repair
Engine stall during deceleration or idling
Vehicle stalls when slowing down, idling, or coming to a stop, particularly when making turns. Loss of steering assist and multiple dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously. Creates unsafe condition where driver cannot steer or accelerate.
When: During turns at low speed and once on highway exit ramp
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls; Very difficult steering after stall; Multiple dashboard lights illuminate (check engine, oil, emergency brake); Unable to accelerate after stall; Loss of power brakes
Repairs/costs cited: No repair notes provided in narratives
Steering column structural failure
Part of the steering column fell off the vehicle during normal driving. Associated with repeated airbag light illumination and dealership airbag deactivation.
When: Failure mileage reported as 35 miles; current mileage was 22,617 at time of report
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light illuminates; Steering column component separates from vehicle; Airbag warning persists despite 12 service visits
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership deactivated airbag; front seat and one rear seat track cover replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership handled repairs after multiple visits
Shimmy/vibration through steering wheel at highway speeds
Vehicle develops shimmy and vibration that comes up through the steering wheel at 60 mph and above. Persists despite multiple tire replacements and dealership visits.
When: Starting at 23,000 miles; reported at 30,108 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes; Vibration comes up through steering wheel; Occurs at highway speeds (60+ mph)
Repairs/costs cited: All four tires replaced three times at dealership; problem persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership visited six times; no resolution found
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
While turning into my carport, my engine stalled. Right before I turned, I took my foot off the accelerator and the car hesitated and lurched forward. This could be a potentially dangerous problem if my car stalls on the road and some other driver rear ends me. *tr
2006 Hyundai tucson with several safety issues. Customer states that the vehicle has been worked on for the past 6 months. She also states that the problems are with air bags, seat belts, and other things. *kb there was also a problem with the steering column.*jb
Had steering trouble with your 2006 Hyundai Tucson?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Hyundai Tucson?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 28,474 and 180,000 miles, with the median around 72,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,474; a quarter make it past 180,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Hyundai/Tucson.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.