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 ↗2017 Hyundai Sonata steering problems
moderate 172 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
172
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
5crashes
1fire
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 172 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.
Steering accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 Hyundai Sonatas describe a dangerous intermittent failure of the electronic power steering system. The steering wheel locks up suddenly—sometimes without warning, sometimes after a brief change in resistance—leaving the driver unable to turn the wheel. Warning lights (red steering wheel icon, traction control) illuminate and disappear after the engine is restarted. Incidents occur at low speeds during parking maneuvers, city driving, and occasionally at highway speed. One owner lost steering at 70 mph; another at 60 mph. The failure has happened multiple times for individual owners—some report 2–3 incidents within weeks, others more frequently over years of ownership.
Owners also report grinding and crunch noises from the steering column, especially during hard turns, along with asymmetric resistance (hard to turn left, loose turning right). Some describe the steering wheel feeling stiff overall or the vehicle wandering side-to-side at highway speeds.
Dealer diagnostic attempts consistently fail to reproduce the issue, leaving owners unrepaired and fearful to drive. Repair costs when diagnosed run $2,000–$3,400 for column replacement or MDPS unit overhaul. Hyundai extended the MDPS warranty to 15 years/150,000 miles, but owners report warranty denials claiming certain components are excluded. Replacement parts are on backorder with no delivery dates given. The 2015 Elantra and 2015 Sonata received recalls for similar steering defects; the 2017 Sonata has not.
Same Hyundai Sonata steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Lockup/Complete Failure
The electric power steering system loses all assist, making the steering wheel extremely difficult or impossible to turn. The steering wheel may lock completely, rendering the vehicle unsteerable. Occurs intermittently, often without warning, though some owners report a sudden change in steering resistance preceding the failure.
When: Variable; occurs at low speeds (10-30 mph), during turns or parking maneuvers, and occasionally at highway speeds. Some incidents reported after vehicle sits in sun or with engine cold start. Typically within first 1-3 years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks up or becomes extremely hard to turn; Loss of power steering assist; Power steering warning light illuminates (red steering wheel icon with exclamation point); Traction control/electronic stability control light activates; Normal steering returns after engine restart
Codes mentioned: C1102 (low voltage), C1290
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replacement ($2,000–$3,400 reported), power steering unit replacement, motor-driven power steering (MDPS) module replacement. Parts often on backorder. Dealers frequently unable to replicate the issue, leaving repairs incomplete.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai issued extended MDPS warranty to 15 years/150,000 miles for certain components on some vehicles. Service bulletin available but dealers report difficulty diagnosing intermittent failures. Earlier model years (2015 Elantra, 2015 Sonata) received recalls for similar steering issues; 2017 Sonata has not been recalled as of these complaints.
Power Steering Grinding/Crunch Noise with Steering Resistance
Steering system produces grinding, crunch, or popping sounds during turns, particularly full or hard turns. Steering wheel develops increased resistance or kickback, especially when turning left. Sound becomes more frequent intermittently and may precede complete steering lockup.
When: Occurs during turning maneuvers, particularly at 90-180 degree angles or sharp turns. Some owners report the issue is intermittent, becoming more frequent over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding or crunch noise when turning, especially hard left turns; Steering wheel resistance or kickback; Steering wheel stiffness; Clicking noises prior to power steering failure; Steering wheel jolt or sudden kick to one side; Asymmetric steering response (e.g., hard resistance turning left, no resistance turning right)
Repairs/costs cited: Plastic gear in motor replaced; torque sensor replacement (with internal electrical open circuit noted); steering column shaft and assembly replacement. Repairs often incomplete; owners report persistent grinding and motor issues after initial repairs.
Steering Pull/Wander and High-Speed Instability
Vehicle pulls strongly to one side or wanders side-to-side on the highway, particularly at speeds above 50 mph. Driver must constantly correct steering input to keep vehicle in lane. Owners describe it as dangerous and fatiguing, especially at 70 mph. Dealer diagnostics find no mechanical defect; issue may be by design.
When: Most apparent at highway speeds (50+ mph, particularly at 70 mph). Present from early ownership in some cases.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle wanders left and right on highway; Constant steering corrections required; Car pulls to one side; Extreme difficulty maintaining straight-line travel at speed; Issue more apparent in Sport mode or standard settings
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed. Dealers state the issue is 'how the vehicle is designed' and cannot be duplicated as a defect. One owner reported trying Sport mode (stiffer steering) with marginal improvement but then traded vehicle.
Intermittent Steering Unresponsiveness in Parking/Low-Speed Maneuvers
Steering wheel does not respond properly when turning at low speeds, particularly when exiting parking lots or backing out of driveways. Wheel turns but steering wheel has excess play or wheels do not turn as expected. Steering pops or makes noise, creating confusion about whether a collision occurred.
When: Occurs during low-speed turning maneuvers: pulling out of parking lots, backing out of driveways, parking. Some incidents after vehicle sits parked for extended periods.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel unresponsive when turning to park; Excessive steering wheel motion with minimal wheel movement; Popping or clicking noise from steering when turning; Wheels do not respond to steering wheel input as expected
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel, brake, and suspension inspected and found normal. No steering defect confirmed by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai extended warranty covers MDPS to 150,000 miles, but dealers claim specific components (e.g., steering column shaft assembly part 56310-C2700) are not covered. Owners report warranty denial.
Synthesized from 172 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Problem 1: I made a right turn at a red light. As I turned my power steering light turned on and my steering wheel locked up and I lost control of the vehicle. After stopping and turning off the vehicle, I restarted it. At this point I was able to regain control of the car. A few days later the same thing happened again as I made a right turn from a parking lot into the flow of traffic. One…
Was pulling out of a parking space started driving and power steering completely failed second time this has happened in 2 months
My car steering is locking up while driving on highway and regular roads. Resulting almost in not being able to control and crash. I also had a recall for my engine which was already replaced and now having same issue with oil burning and not leaking.
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Hyundai Sonata?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 172 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 53 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 24,977 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,977; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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/2017/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.