The warranty coverage for the clock spring has been extended to 15 years with unlimited mileage from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. This warranty coverage applies to both the original and subsequent owners. Refer to the warranty and service parts information outlined in this bulletin whenever clock spring replacement is required.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Hyundai Genesis steering problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
3crashes
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Hyundai Genesis 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 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗STEERING COLUMN TILT AND TELESOPE SWITCH REMOVAL AND UNIT REPLACEMENT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HYUNDAI: STEERING WHEEL POWER TILT REPAIR PROCEDURE. 2009-2011 GENESIS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Genesis steering system shows multiple distinct failure patterns across 21 complaints. Power steering pump failures are the most common recurring issue—owners report sudden loss of assist making the wheel very difficult to turn, with one owner replacing the pump twice in 90 days only to have it fail again within a year. Hyundai declined further coverage and stated their parts don't fail.
Severe pulling to the left or right during straight driving affects numerous owners despite repeated dealership alignments. Independent mechanics confirmed the issue exists, yet Hyundai later claimed inability to reproduce it. This defect emerged within 200 miles of purchase for some owners and persists across multiple 2009 model year vehicles.
Engine stalls combined with loss of power steering assist and brake assist create dangerous situations where steering becomes hard to turn and braking is compromised. One owner drove without functional brakes to the dealership after a crash.
Steering column tilt/telescoping mechanisms fail intermittently, leaving the wheel stuck in positions that obstruct gauge visibility or prevent vehicle exit. Complete electrical shutdowns have also occurred, cutting all power including steering and brake assist.
Brake system failures involving ABS module faults resulted in brake pedal going to the floor with no stopping power. One customer received a serious back injury from the resulting collision.
Same Hyundai Genesis steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Brake Failure with ABS Module Failure
Brake pedal goes to floor without stopping the vehicle. Dealership service records show brake fluid replaced multiple times and ABS module failure. This occurred during low-speed maneuvering (reversing out of community).
When: Within warranty period; one owner driven drivable mileage to dealership after incident
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal went completely to floor; Vehicle did not stop; Steering moved unexpectedly to right during braking event; ABS module fault identified by dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Hyundai dealership replaced ABS anti-lock braking system module, replaced brake fluid three times, test drove vehicle after repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership initially waived repair costs under customer goodwill policy; no recall mentioned
Complete Electrical System Shutdown During Operation
Vehicle loses all electrical power while driving, causing engine stall and loss of brakes and steering assist. Power restored only after manual trunk manipulation. Multiple occurrences reported.
When: Various incidents; one during freeway exit approach, second incident on mountain freeway route planned
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalled unexpectedly; Steering wheel stiffened; Navigation screen went out then back on; All electrical power lost (no alarm, no keyless entry, no lights); Engine would not restart via start button; Brakes not working during stall event; Power restored after manually slamming trunk
Codes mentioned: INITIALIZATION FAILED (USB setting display)
Severe Pulling to Left or Right During Straight Driving
Vehicle pulls strongly to left or right, requiring constant steering pressure (15-degree angle) to maintain straight drive. Persistent after multiple alignment attempts at dealership. Independent shops confirmed the issue, but Hyundai later stated unable to confirm problem.
When: Within 200 miles of purchase for at least one owner; reported across multiple 2009 Genesis owners
Symptoms owners cite: Severe pull to left; Pulling to right; Vehicle veers off during straight driving; Requires constant pressure on steering wheel to drive straight
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple alignment attempts at dealership failed to resolve; independent shops confirmed issue exists
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai blamed tires and performed alignments; later stated unable to confirm problem despite independent verification and customer documentation
Power Steering Pump Failure
Power steering pump fails suddenly and catastrophically, making steering wheel very difficult or impossible to turn. Multiple owners report repeated failures within short timeframes. One owner replaced pump twice in 90 days, failed again within a year.
When: Replacement at 90-day interval; failure recurring within less than one year of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering failed suddenly and catastrophically; Steering wheel became very difficult to turn at any speed range; Loss of power steering assist
Repairs/costs cited: Pump replaced twice; parts cost $1100 each, total $2200; rack and pinion also replaced in at least one case but problem persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai refused further replacement, stated 'our parts don't go bad'; Pohanka Hyundai dealership hung up phone on customer
Intermittent Power Steering Failure at Low Speed
Power steering ceases to function intermittently, particularly at low speeds (backing out driveway, parking lot maneuvers). After HECU replacement under warranty, power steering assist absent at low speeds only.
When: After HECU replacement August 2014; as of April 2015 (only 1209 miles driven since replacement)
Symptoms owners cite: No power steering at low speed; Occurs when backing out driveway; Occurs in parking lots; Inability to turn steering wheel easily at low speeds
Repairs/costs cited: HECU (Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit) replaced August 2014 under warranty goodwill coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership covered HECU replacement under goodwill funds but did not disclose recall coverage for the issue
Power Steering Failure During Normal Driving
Power steering fails without warning during highway and parking lot driving. Steering wheel becomes hard to turn. Failures occur at various speeds from 20 mph to 65 mph. One customer unable to diagnose or repair vehicle.
When: At 87,000 miles (one occurrence); at 103,000 miles (another occurrence); recurring multiple times over 18 months in another case
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering failed without warning; Steering wheel became very difficult to turn; Occurred at 20 mph, during parking, and at 65 mph; Occurred multiple times during 18-month period
Codes mentioned: Fault code generated from power steering failure (code not recognized by Hyundai mechanics or corporate)
Repairs/costs cited: One customer: steering column sensor replaced by independent mechanic but failure recurred; another: power steering replaced twice and rack and pinion replaced but problem persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai mechanics and corporate do not recognize fault code; failure unable to be duplicated at dealership in one case
Engine Stall with Loss of Power Steering and Brakes
Engine shuts off unexpectedly during acceleration or traffic approach, causing complete loss of power steering assist and brake assist. Steering becomes difficult and braking compromised during stall events.
When: During traffic operation; while accelerating in traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM dropping then engine shuts off; Loss of power steering during stall; Loss of brake assist during stall; Steering wheel became difficult to turn; Near-collision incidents; Engine restart required to restore power
Electronic Power Steering Assist Failure
Electronic power assist system fails, requiring steering wheel replacement or repair. Dealership diagnostics identified electronic power assist failure.
When: At 79,636 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering failed without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic power assist replaced by dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership diagnosed and repaired under warranty
Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel Malfunction
Steering wheel tilt adjustment fails in both directions. Column sensor replaced but issue persists. Wheel stuck in upper position or only lowers, obstructing gauges.
When: Multiple occurrences reported
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel remains in upper position (similar to bus steering wheel); Cannot be adjusted via electrical positioning button on steering column; Steering wheel only lowers, cannot raise; Obstructs view of gauges, tach, speed, and idiot lights; Difficult to exit vehicle with wheel in low position
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column sensor replaced in one case but malfunction recurred
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Have 2009 Hyundai Genesis and had a big problem with the car pulling to the left and then the right. Has been at the dealership over 5 times, multiple repairs of alignment and can't correct the issue. I even had 3 independent shops evaluate and then confirm issue and now Hyundai states they can no longer confirm problem. They were surprised when I produced the independent opinions. I will not…
Hyundai Genesis 3.8l v6 2009 model 1. Steering pull to left - significant pull despite alignment fix 2. Brake jam at low speeds including at traffic light stops 3. Steering noise - when turning left during car parking and back-up 4. Engine noise like motor cycle when driving at moderate speeds 30-65 miles/hour. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Hyundai Genesis?
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 2009 Hyundai Genesis?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 34,264 and 87,000 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 34,264; a quarter make it past 87,000. 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/2009/Hyundai/Genesis.
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.