The warranty coverage for certain 2015-2017MY Sonata (LFa) and Sonata HEV/PHEV (LF HEV/PHEV) vehicles exhibiting reduced power steering assist and/or motor driven power steering (MDPS) warning lamp has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. Refer to the warranty, service parts information, and diagnostic information outlined in this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Hyundai Sonata steering problems
severe 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 33 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Hyundai Sonata, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 33 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 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.
The warranty coverage for certain 2015-2017MY Sonata (LFa) and Sonata Hybrid/Plug-in (LF HEV/PHEV) vehicles exhibiting reduced power steering assist and/or motor driven power steering (MDPS) warning lamp has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. Refer to the TSB 23-ST-003H (or latest version) for warranty, service parts information, and diagnostic information outlined in the bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The warranty coverage for certain 2015-2017MY Sonata (LFa) and Sonata Hybrid/Plug-in (LF HEV/PHEV) vehicles exhibiting reduced power steering assist and/or motor driven power steering (MDPS) warning lamp has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The warranty coverage for certain 2015-2017MY Sonata (LFa) and Sonata HEV/PHEV (LF HEV/PHEV) vehicles exhibiting reduced power steering assist and/or motor driven power steering (MDPS) warning lamp has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use, whichever occurs first. Refer to the warranty, service parts information, and diagnostic information outlined in this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The rack-mounted dual pinion Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) system components can be replaced separately from the complete assembly. This bulletin provides information on the separate components and the replacement procedure of these components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report steering system failures occurring across multiple failure modes. The most common issue is intermittent loss of power steering assist while driving, forcing the vehicle into manual steering mode that's difficult to control at highway speeds. This happens randomly and is often not reproducible when brought to dealerships. Some owners describe sticky steering that requires constant correction to keep the vehicle in its lane, particularly at speeds above 60 mph.
Complete steering lockup is also reported repeatedly—the steering wheel suddenly becomes immovable, forcing owners to shut off the engine and restart it to regain control. This has happened to multiple drivers in the same vehicle and at different times, sometimes recurring years after dealership repairs. One owner's steering angle sensors were replaced under warranty in 2019, but the same problem recurred in 2023.
A critical issue is parts unavailability. Dealerships report that Hyundai has stopped manufacturing power steering components for 2016–2019 Sonatas, making repairs difficult or impossible. One owner waited 14 months for parts that eventually became unobtainable. One case involved catastrophic system failure where the engine shut down at highway speed, disabling power steering and brakes without activating limp mode, resulting in a crash.
Steering column and shaft structural failures are also documented, with seizures occurring at low speeds during parking maneuvers. One vehicle experienced wheel hub fracture causing wheel separation. Most owners report these failures without warning lights or with lights that disappear after engine restart, making diagnosis inconsistent.
Same Hyundai Sonata steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Steering angle sensor malfunction causing wheel lock
Steering wheel locks up suddenly during normal driving, requiring the vehicle to be shut off and restarted to regain control. Affects multiple drivers in the same vehicle. One owner reported the issue recurring three years after factory replacement of 2-3 steering angle sensors.
When: At various speeds and driving conditions; recurring incidents reported from 2019 through January 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Complete steering wheel lock requiring extreme physical effort to turn; Sudden inability to steer in either direction; Issue resolves temporarily after engine restart; Power steering light may illuminate
Codes mentioned: Steering angle sensor codes (specific codes not named in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Steering angle sensor recalibration performed; 2-3 steering angle sensors replaced under warranty in December 2019; issue recurred in 2023 despite prior repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage for initial sensor replacement in 2019; no resolution offered for 2023 recurrence
Intermittent power steering loss at highway speeds
Electric power steering assist fails intermittently while driving, forcing the vehicle into manual steering mode which is difficult to control. Problem occurs randomly and is not reproducible at dealerships. Sticky steering also reported before complete loss.
When: After several miles of driving; at highway speeds (60-70+ mph); occurs intermittently without predictable pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist while in motion; Steering becomes very difficult to turn (manual steering); Sticky steering that requires constant correction to keep vehicle in lane; Power steering light illuminates when failure occurs; Traction control light may also illuminate; Clicking sound from steering reported in one case
Codes mentioned: Power steering light (EPS light)
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering parts unavailable from Hyundai for 2016-2019 models; dealership unable to source OEM or aftermarket parts in some cases; steering angle sensor recalibration attempted without permanent fix; TSB 23-ST-003H referenced for one case; one owner reported repair took over one year with parts remaining unobtainable as of March 2025
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 23-ST-003H issued; extended warranty coverage available but parts availability is critical issue; dealerships unable to obtain replacement components; one owner on extended warranty denied repair completion
Complete loss of power steering and electrical function during driving
Vehicle experiences total loss of electrical power while driving, resulting in simultaneous loss of power steering and power brakes. Reported in hybrid model where loss of engine power disabled all critical systems without limp mode activation.
When: During highway driving at 70 mph; occurred eight separate times with seventh incident resulting in crash through three trees into a house
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown while driving; Total loss of electrical power; No power steering available; No power brakes available; Dashboard goes black; Door locks inoperative; Limp mode does not engage when power is lost
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replaced once; limp/safe mode failure never corrected despite multiple dealership visits and owner notifications
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit involved; buyback promised after seventh breakdown but never completed; manufacturer continued to ignore safety concerns about missing limp mode despite 20+ owner notifications
Steering shaft and steering column structural failure
Steering wheel seizes or becomes unable to turn due to mechanical failure of the steering shaft or column structure. One case involved front driver's side wheel hub fracture causing wheel separation.
When: At low speeds during parking maneuvers (5 mph turning into lot); at 36,000 miles; at 144,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly seizes and will not turn; Vehicle comes to stop or loses control; In one case, wheel hub fracture caused wheel to separate from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Steering shaft and steering column replacement required (36,000 miles); wheel hub replacement required (144,000 miles)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case resulted in case filing with manufacturer but no assistance provided
Defective steering control module
Steering module malfunction causes steering wheel to seize when attempting to turn in either direction, accompanied by stalling and multiple warning lights.
When: At various speeds during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes when attempting to turn left or right; Vehicle stalls simultaneously; Multiple unknown warning lights flash on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed defective steering module; vehicle was not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case filed with manufacturer; no assistance provided
Electronic Stability Control system malfunction
ESC warning light stays on constantly at low mileage, indicating system-level failure. Occurs alongside steering issues and other electrical malfunctions.
When: At 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic Stability Control light stays on constantly; System failure indicated by persistent warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Not yet diagnosed by dealership
Steering wheel lock mechanism failure in cold weather
Steering wheel lock fails to release during engine start attempt in cold weather conditions, though steering wheel can still be turned by hand.
When: During cold weather
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel lock will not release when turning key to start; Steering wheel can be manually turned despite lock mechanism failure
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
At stop sign to turn left, started and steering wheel would not turn. Felt like loss of power steering. Fortunately, no other cars around, I put gear in reverse to back up before hitting ditch on other side of road. I turned off car, restarted and wheel worked. Stopped on major highway to turn at light, happened again. Manage to get car to pohanka Hyundai svc dept.. Next day, was told it was a…
Vehicle exhibits sticky steering and engine has stalled 3 times. Steering is very difficult to control as it sticks severely when trying to steer or maneuver the vehicle on any local road or highway. Vehicle has stalled 3x already when coming to a complete stop. Vehicle shakes when brake is released moving from a complete stop.
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
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 2016 Hyundai Sonata?
It's a meaningful issue. 33 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 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 28,000 and 86,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 28,000; a quarter make it past 86,000. 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/2016/Hyundai/Sonata.
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.