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 ↗2020 Hyundai Palisade steering problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Palisade have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Palisade (this page) | 14 |
| 2021 Palisade | 13 |
| 2022 Palisade | 15 |
| 2023 Palisade | 16 |
| 2024 Palisade | 13 |
3crashes
1injury
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Hyundai Palisade in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
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.
Certain 2019-2022MY Palisade (LX2) vehicles may display a haptic motor check on the cluster. This bulletin provides the procedure to update the Integrated Central Control Unit (ICU) software to resolve this condition.
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
Steering lock-ups dominate this complaint cluster. Owners describe the steering wheel abruptly stopping mid-turn during low-speed maneuvers, particularly when transitioning from eco mode or during startup. One owner discovered the failure can be triggered when eco mode disengages while turning left. Other owners report the wheel feels like hitting a mechanical bump stop before releasing. These incidents often worsen over time and happen without warning lights.
A separate pattern involves multiple dashboard errors (forward collision, lane departure, high beam assist) followed by steering lock while the vehicle is moving. One owner experienced this repeatedly, with the tow truck driver confirming it happened during delivery.
Structural failure also appears: a parked vehicle struck in the rear suffered steering column shear and wheel detachment. Hyundai investigated but denied any defect, despite having an open recall campaign 18V118000 for identical steering column failure on similar model year vehicles.
Owners also report consistent rightward drift during straight-line driving—some drifting 1.5 lanes at highway speed and 3 lanes under acceleration. Dealerships claim this is normal design behavior and refuse repair. Steering noise (whirring, bucking) at full lock or low-speed turning appears in multiple complaints; one owner's worm gear replacement failed within 5,000 miles. One catastrophic report describes 15 simultaneous diagnostic codes and complete steering power loss during rain. Dealerships frequently cannot reproduce issues or decline to fix them.
Same Hyundai Palisade steering reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Electric power steering lock-up during low-speed turns
Steering wheel abruptly stops responding or locks during slow-speed maneuvers, particularly when turning from a stop or at parking speeds. Owners report the wheel feels like it hits a 'bump stop' before returning to center, then allowing further turning. No warning lights display. Incident can be recreated when eco mode disengages and vehicle restarts while turning.
When: Occurs randomly at low speeds; one owner reported reproducible during left turn when eco mode cycles off with concurrent throttle transition
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stops responding mid-turn; Loud noise accompanying lock-up; Wheel feels like hitting a mechanical stop before releasing; Becomes more frequent over time; No dashboard warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic quoted electric rack-and-pinion replacement at $1,600 plus $450 labor. Dealership unable to recreate issue; no repairs attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai dealership unable to reproduce issue on multiple service visits despite owner providing specific recreation method from online forum discussions.
Steering wheel lock and system fault cascade during startup
Upon starting the vehicle or shortly after, multiple dashboard error messages appear in sequence (forward collision avoidance, lane departure warning, high beam assist) followed by steering wheel locking while vehicle is in motion. Lock-up either resolves after power cycle or repeats 7-8 times in succession before clearing.
When: Occurs at vehicle startup or shortly after; intermittent with days between incidents
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning messages displayed simultaneously; Steering wheel locks while vehicle moving forward; Requires vehicle power-off restart to clear; Can recur multiple times in succession; Issue reported by tow truck driver during delivery
Codes mentioned: Check Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist System, Check Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System, Check High Beam Assist System
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership verified concern but unable to determine cause. Owner reports reading multiple online forum posts from other Palisade owners experiencing identical symptoms.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai dealership acknowledged issue but unable to diagnose or repair.
Steering column shear under minor impact
Following low-speed rear-end impact (vehicle parked, struck by sliding vehicle), steering column sheared and steering wheel detached from column. Owner notes Hyundai has open recall campaign 18V118000 on similar models for identical failure mode. Hyundai investigator concluded no defect after inspection despite vehicle built within few months of recalled models.
When: Occurred during minor rear-impact collision while vehicle parked
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column sheered off; Steering wheel disconnected from column; No airbag deployment despite collision; No prior warning
Repairs/costs cited: Insurance company planning full steering assembly replacement and repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai investigator concluded no defect present despite open recall campaign 18V118000 for same failure mode on similar model vehicles.
Vehicle veers/pulls strongly to the right in straight-line driving
Vehicle continuously drifts or pulls to the right during normal straight-line driving on highways and local roads. Owner reports vehicle drifted 1.5 lanes right at 50-60 mph and veered 3 lanes right under acceleration within 6-7 seconds. Occurs on nearly all road types, not situational.
When: Occurs consistently during straight-line driving; accelerates under throttle
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to right at highway speeds; Excessive drift under acceleration; Affects steering control and lane stability; Occurs on majority of driving scenarios
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership claims vehicle is designed to pull right and states all Hyundai vehicles exhibit this characteristic. Dealership declined to perform repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai dealership stated this pulling behavior is 'normal' and 'as designed' for Palisade; directed owner to manufacturer.
Whirring and bucking noise from power steering under full lock
Loud whirring sound and mechanical bucking or thud from steering wheel when turned fully to either side. Steering wheel has momentarily locked. Sound indicates electrical or mechanical issue within steering motor or worm gear assembly.
When: Occurs when steering wheel rotated to full lock positions; whirring also reported at slow-speed turning in separate complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Loud whirring noise during steering; Mechanical bucking or thud at full lock; Momentary steering lock; Voltage-related per service notes
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported steering motor replacement within 2 months of purchase. Another owner's service center attributed issue to voltage problem and advised against turning wheel fully.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai service verified bucking issue and advised not to turn wheel fully and to disengage auto idle.
Worm gear wear and early recurrence after replacement
Whirring noise from steering system when turning at slow speeds. Dealership replaced worm gear in steering shaft; noise resolved initially. Same noise returned approximately 5,000 miles after repair, indicating premature worm gear wear or defective replacement part.
When: Initial failure within warranty period; recurred 5,000 miles after replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Whirring noise during low-speed turning; Noise returned post-repair
Repairs/costs cited: Worm gear in steering shaft replaced by dealership. Issue recurred 5,000 miles later.
Electrical system failure cascade affecting steering and vehicle systems
During rainy conditions, vehicle experiences complete electrical system malfunction while driving. 15 diagnostic codes activated simultaneously; all dashboard warning lights illuminated. Power steering failed, emergency brakes engaged involuntarily, transmission unable to shift, climate control stopped, and instrument cluster gauges became erratic. Creates imminent accident risk.
When: Occurred during rainy driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: No power steering available; Involuntary emergency brake activation; Transmission malfunction; A/C failure; Erratic temperature and tachometer gauges; Multiple simultaneous warning lights
Codes mentioned: 15 codes activated (specific codes not listed)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership identified as electrical problem; no resolution reported.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership identified electrical cause but no repairs mentioned.
Lane-centering steering drift and blind-spot warning error
Vehicle steers toward center lane rather than maintaining lane position, requiring constant driver correction. Vehicle drifts toward oncoming traffic lane. Simultaneously, 'Check Blind Spot Collision Warning System' error message appears every trip after 10-15 minutes. Wind noise also present.
When: Error message appears 10-15 minutes into every trip; steering drift consistent
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle veers toward center lane; Unable to maintain proper lane position; Requires constant steering input; Blind spot warning error message; Fatigue from constant correction required
Codes mentioned: CHECK BLIND SPOT COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
'check blind spot collison warning system' error message appears every trip after 10-15 minutes. My palisade also steers toward the center lane and does not stay in the middle of the lane as intended. I feel very unsafe being so close to oncoming traffic, and it causes arm fatigue to keep steering away from the center. Finally, there is a great deal of wind noise coming through the driver's side…
Had steering trouble with your 2020 Hyundai Palisade?
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 2020 Hyundai Palisade?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 3,850 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/2020/Hyundai/Palisade.
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.