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severe Owners of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra have filed 71 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 46,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Elantra | 270 |
| 2014 Elantra | 28 |
| 2015 Elantra | 25 |
| 2016 Elantra | 19 |
| 2017 Elantra (this page) | 71 |
| 2018 Elantra | 15 |
| 2019 Elantra | 9 |
| 2020 Elantra | 19 |
| 2021 Elantra | 5 |
Of the 71 steering complaints filed for the 2017 Hyundai Elantra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
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.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Loss of power steering assist would require higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the worm shaft bearing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the worm shaft bearing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the worm shaft bearing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the worm shaft bearing
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles may develop a bearing noise within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) column worm shaft assembly. If bearing noise is heard, follow the procedure in this bulletin to replace the worm shaft assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of 2017 Elantras describe two main steering problems: loss of electrical power steering assist and mechanical steering component failures.
On the electrical side, the steering system randomly quits—especially at highway speeds and low-speed turns. The steering wheel suddenly becomes difficult or impossible to turn, the EPS warning light comes on, and control is lost for seconds to several minutes. Usually the system recovers after the engine restarts, but it can fail again. Owners report this at 400 miles and all the way to 96,000 miles. A few incidents resulted in crashes.
On the mechanical side, owners hear grinding or clunking from the steering when turning, describe the wheel as feeling loose or jagged, and report the steering wheel locking solid mid-turn. Repairs identified include steering coupler defects and worm shaft bearing wear inside the column.
The bigger issue: Hyundai issued Recall 161 and Recall 17V213000 for steering problems, but many owners say their specific VINs were marked as "not included" in the system even though they're experiencing the exact symptoms the recalls address. Dealers quoted $3,000–$3,400 for steering column replacement, and some repairs didn't fix the problem. One owner noted Hyundai has a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 20-ST-003H-1) that acknowledges the worm shaft bearing problem but hasn't issued a recall for it.
Same Hyundai Elantra steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2020
Complete or partial loss of electrical power steering assist, making the steering wheel difficult or impossible to turn. Occurs unpredictably at various speeds and often resolves after vehicle restart. Some complaints report gradual onset, others abrupt.
When: Variable; reported from ~400 miles to 96,000+ miles. Some at low speed (5-25 mph), others at highway speeds (40-75 mph). Occurs during turns, lane changes, and driving over bumps.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn left or right; Complete power steering loss requiring manual steering effort; Intermittent loss followed by temporary recovery after restart; Electronic power steering warning light illuminates on dashboard; Steering feels stiff or unresponsive; Loss of steering control during turns and lane changes
Codes mentioned: EPS warning light, Electronic power steering fault code (not specified in detail by owners), Check engine light flashing in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealer diagnoses including: EPS motor replacement, EPS connector repair, steering column replacement, torque sensor replacement (~$1,800 noted in one complaint). One dealer quoted $3,400 for electrical column assembly. Many vehicles deemed total loss or repairs incomplete/not performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 17V213000 issued for steering/EPS issues; however, many owners report their VINs were excluded despite experiencing identical symptoms. Recall 161 mentioned for EPS motor problems (dated 3/28/2017). Some owners report manufacturer offered partial assistance (e.g., deducting one vehicle payment). Many complaints note lack of recall coverage or manufacturer communication.
Steering wheel becomes locked in position, unable to turn left or right. May occur suddenly during driving or at rest. Often accompanied by abnormal sounds (clunking, grinding, popping). Can result in loss of vehicle control and crashes.
When: Reported from ~55,000 miles onward, though some early (400-4,200 miles). Occurs at all speeds: parking lot maneuvers, slow turns (5-25 mph), highway driving (35-75 mph).
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes and cannot be turned in either direction; Abnormal clunking, grinding, or popping sounds when steering; Steering feels extremely stiff and difficult to maneuver; Steering wheel becomes unresponsive or stuck in one position; Vehicle difficult to control or steer to safety; Air bags may deploy depending on severity of crash
Codes mentioned: Steering warning light with exclamation mark on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs attempted include: steering column replacement, steering wheel trim replacement, MDC bolt replacement, electrical column assembly replacement (~$3,400). Notably, some repairs did not resolve recurring failure. Mechanics identified steering coupler, worm shaft bearing, and connector issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 17V213000 and Recall 161 mentioned but many VINs reported as excluded. Hyundai TSB 20-ST-003H-1 documents steering column worm shaft bearing issue but no recall issued per owner complaint. Limited manufacturer assistance documented.
Grinding, clunking, clicking, or squeaking sounds emanate from steering system during turning or low-speed maneuvers. Owners report steering feel becomes loose, jagged, or unresponsive. Diagnosed as steering coupler defect and worm shaft bearing wear.
When: Reported from ~36,000 miles onward. Most common during low-speed turns (parking, 5-35 mph) and reversing while turning.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding or clunking noise when turning wheel; Grinding sound when turning at low speed (25-35 mph); Clicking or gravel-like noise during turns; Steering wheel feels loose or jagged; Steering difficult or unsmooth during turns; Sensation of loss of control or slipping feeling; Tightening steering during right turns
Codes mentioned: No specific diagnostic codes mentioned; noise-based complaints
Repairs/costs cited: Identified as steering coupler failure by independent shop; also documented in TSB 20-ST-003H-1 as worm shaft bearing issue. Full steering column replacement recommended in some cases. Multiple dealer visits did not resolve issue in some complaints.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai TSB 20-ST-003H-1 acknowledges worm shaft bearing problem, but no recall issued per owner complaint. Dealers unable or unwilling to diagnose in some cases.
Specific steering column internal components fail, including MDC bolt, electrical connectors, and column assembly electrical issues. Defective connectors can disconnect, interrupting EPS function.
When: Reported across mileage range (~400 to 83,000 miles). Can occur at any time or speed.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn; Complete loss of steering assist; Intermittent steering failures that resolve on restart; Steering warning light illuminates; Engine stalling concurrent with steering failure
Codes mentioned: Damaged electronic power steering connector (identified in recall 161), EPS warning light, MDC bolt identified as failing component
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs include: MDC bolt replacement, steering column replacement (full), electrical column assembly replacement (~$3,400). Recall 161 covered EPS motor replacement for some vehicles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 161 (dated 3/28/2017) addresses damaged EPS connectors with motor replacement; however, many owners report their VINs excluded despite experiencing same symptoms. Some owners offered partial cost assistance.
Synthesized from 71 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Steering wheel is getting hard to turn at times. It feels like it is sticking while driving
The passenger side door will not open from the outside also the passenger airbag light comes on and off by itself also the steering wheel is jerky and movement
It's a meaningful issue. 71 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 18,000 and 61,430 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 61,430. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.