absolutely no warning light indicator prior to slowing and making a turn into our food store parking lot. just prior to turning the power steering failed. i was able to avoid a collision by using all my strength to turn steering wheel. [XXX] while parked i displayed options and found reset to factory default option and clicked it. power steering was restored. dashboard EPS warning light went on…
2018 Hyundai Elantra steering problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has documented steering issues ranging from intermittent power steering failures and column seizures to persistent highway sway and instability—some occurring as early as 5,200 miles. Dealers often claim these are normal operation or can't reproduce the problems, leaving repairs unfunded or incomplete.
Owners report six distinct steering-system problems on the 2018 Elantra. First: intermittent rubbing or squeaking noises from the Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS) after wet-road driving, with multiple TSBs documented but dealers refusing warranty work. Second: steering wheel seizure that locks up during driving at various speeds and while reversing, with dealers diagnosing a defective steering column and identifying a bad star bushing; in some cases the manufacturer offered only a 60% discount on repairs rather than warranty coverage. Third: power steering failures where the system suddenly becomes difficult or impossible to turn without extreme force, usually accompanied by a warning light and sometimes resolvable by vehicle restart or factory reset. Fourth: persistent highway sway and drift at 60+ MPH that worsens in wet conditions and on lined pavement, unresolved even after new tires and wheel alignment—dealers claim it's normal vehicle behavior. Fifth: steering wheel vibration and loud popping when turning, not diagnosed at multiple dealerships. Sixth: total vehicle electrical shutdown while driving causing steering lockup, suspected to follow recent software patches. Complaints start as early as 5,200 miles and appear across multiple model variants. Hyundai's typical response is either no assistance or partial financial coverage.
Same Hyundai Elantra steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Steering column rubbing noise (MDPS-related)
Intermittent rubbing/squeaking noise originating from the MDPS (Motor-Driven Power Steering) area, triggered by wet road conditions. Sound typically fades after the vehicle sits for 2-3 hours. Multiple TSBs exist for this steering column issue, but dealers have declined warranty repair due to inability to reproduce the problem during diagnostic.
When: After driving on wet roads; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Rubbing/squeaking noise from steering wheel area; Noise occurs in park, drive, reverse, and all steering directions; Occurs after driving on wet roads; No warning lights; Sound disappears after 2-3 hours of sitting
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to replicate; no repair performed. TSBs exist but not applied.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple TSBs documented for steering column; dealer refused warranty repair due to inability to reproduce the fault.
Steering column seizure and lockup
Steering wheel intermittently seizes and fails to turn left or right during driving at various speeds and while reversing. Requires restart of vehicle to restore steering function. Steering wheel warning light illuminates during failures. Dealers diagnosed a defective steering column requiring replacement, but repair was not completed in some cases. At least one case involved a defective star bushing in the steering column.
When: Approximately 80,000 miles and 83,000 miles reported; also at lower mileage (15 MPH event)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locked and unable to turn left or right; Failure during driving at various speeds and while reversing; Steering wheel warning light illuminated; Vehicle requires restart to restore steering; Defective star bushing in steering column (noted by owners)
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replacement recommended by dealers; repair not completed in reported cases. Star bushing identified as defective component.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case: manufacturer offered 60% discount on repair cost instead of full warranty coverage. Other cases: no manufacturer assistance provided.
Power steering failure with warning light
Power steering becomes difficult to operate or completely fails during driving without warning, forcing the driver to apply extreme manual force to turn the steering wheel. Illuminates power steering warning light. Vehicle regains full functionality after restart. In one case, owner reset the vehicle to factory defaults and power steering was restored.
When: At approximately 15 MPH and during normal driving; no specific mileage for all cases
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly becomes difficult or impossible to turn; EPS (Electric Power Steering) warning light illuminates; No prior warning before failure; Full steering function restored after vehicle restart; Factory reset restores power steering in at least one case
Repairs/costs cited: One owner performed factory reset which temporarily restored function. Dealer recommended steering column replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered 60% discount on steering column replacement instead of warranty repair.
Steering instability and sway at highway speeds
Vehicle sways, floats, and constantly drifts left and right during highway driving at speeds 60+ MPH, even with new tires and wheel alignment completed. Problem worsens in wet road conditions, on cement/pavement with surface lines, and with wind. Dealers have stated this is normal vehicle behavior, but owners report it as a significant safety issue requiring constant steering corrections. Problem appears consistent across multiple 2018 Elantras.
When: Highway speeds 60+ MPH; worsens in wet conditions; one case at 5,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Constant sway and float left and right at highway speeds; Hard to steer and maintain lane position; Worse in wet conditions; Worse on cement/pavement with surface lines; Exacerbated by wind; Requires constant steering corrections; Persists after tire replacement and wheel alignment
Repairs/costs cited: New tires and wheel alignment performed with no improvement. Dealers claim vehicle operates as designed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai stated this is normal vehicle handling and refused to repair or investigate.
Steering vibration during turns
Steering wheel vibrates when turned left or right. In at least one case, vibration accompanied by loud popping noises from the steering wheel during turns.
When: During normal driving with steering input; early mileage reported (3,400 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibrates when turned left or right; Loud popping noises from steering wheel during turns
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired at multiple dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer did not assist or provide guidance.
Steering system electrical/software malfunction causing temporary lockup
Entire vehicle system reboot/shutdown while driving lasting a few seconds, causing steering to lock along with instrument cluster and infotainment blackout. Owner suspects recent software security patch as cause. Represents potential loss of all steering control during operation.
When: During normal highway driving; timing unclear
Symptoms owners cite: Steering locked during vehicle system reboot; Instrument cluster went blank; Infotainment system went blank; Engine revved up during event; Systems restored after few seconds
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided; owner suspected software update as cause.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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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 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 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?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 37,964 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2018/Hyundai/Elantra.
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.