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 ↗2021 Hyundai Palisade steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have filed 13 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
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Palisade | 14 |
| 2021 Palisade (this page) | 13 |
| 2022 Palisade | 15 |
| 2023 Palisade | 16 |
| 2024 Palisade | 13 |
| 2025 Palisade | 9 |
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
Owners describe a range of steering failures on the 2021 Palisade: power steering loss or seizure while driving at various speeds, with the steering wheel locking up completely in several cases. Warning lights accompany these events. One owner experienced steering failure twice in a couple hours; another reported the steering wheel sounding like sandpaper after transmission service, with subsequent jerking when the auto-off system re-engages.
Multiple owners report the vehicle pulling hard to the right at all speeds, especially at highway speeds, forcing constant steering correction. Two independent wheel alignments failed to resolve this issue. A related complaint involves lane-keeping assistance oscillating the vehicle violently between lane edges instead of smooth corrections.
Steering wheel shaking appears in early mileage, and one owner found research indicating the worm gear shaft is a known Palisade concern that can lead to complete loss of steering control. Several electrical failures cascaded into power steering loss—one owner lost steering, navigation display, flashers, turn signals, and the vehicle's locking system simultaneously on the highway. Dealerships have been unable to replicate some failures or, in one case, claim the jerking and noise are normal. Most failures have not been inspected by the manufacturer.
Same Hyundai Palisade steering reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss or seizure
Complete loss of power steering or steering wheel lockup while driving. Owners report the steering wheel becoming immobile or extremely difficult to turn, sometimes with warning lights illuminated. One complaint notes the failure recurred intermittently at highway speeds (45–55 mph). Another owner experienced power steering failure twice within a couple hours, with warning messages appearing when the steering failed.
When: Occurs intermittently while driving at various speeds (25 mph, 45–55 mph); one instance at 102,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes or locks up; Power steering warning light illuminates; Extremely difficult or impossible to turn steering wheel; Loss of power steering while in motion; Warning messages appear when steering fails; Vehicle becomes difficult to control
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in most narratives; one owner had vehicle towed but no dealer repair documented
Steering wheel noise and binding
Steering wheel produces grinding, noise similar to sandpaper or plastic rustling, and exhibits binding behavior during turns. One owner reported steering wheel sounding like sandpaper being scraped every time they turned after transmission replacement. Another describes noises as if a plastic bag was being moved. A third notes worm gear shaft making noise, with research indicating this is an ongoing Palisade issue that can lead to complete loss of steering control.
When: Occurs during normal turning and steering operation; one instance following transmission service work
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding or sandpaper-like noise during turns; Squeaking or rustling sounds from steering wheel; Steering wheel stiffness or binding; Jerking abruptly to the side when auto-off reengages; Loud thinking noise when steering auto-off reengages
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership acknowledged sandpaper-like noise after transmission replacement but repair status unclear; one owner reported dealer unable to rectify jerking/noise issue, claiming it is normal
Vehicle pulling right with constant correction needed
Vehicle exhibits persistent rightward pull at all speeds, most pronounced at higher speeds, causing the driver to make constant steering corrections. Dealership confirmed the issue. Two independent wheel alignments failed to resolve it. Abnormal tire wear on all four tires was noted prior to vehicle purchase, but no pulling right was documented in prior service records.
When: Continuous during operation; most significant at higher speeds; tire wear noted around 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to the right constantly; Pulling worse at higher speeds; Requires constant driver correction to keep vehicle straight; Pulling persists with and without lane-keeping assistance; Driver fatigue from continuous correction
Repairs/costs cited: Two independent wheel alignments performed without resolution
Lane-keeping assist malfunction or over-correction
Lane-keeping assistance system exhibits erratic behavior, oscillating the vehicle back and forth across lane boundaries or failing to respond quickly to minor lane deviations. One owner describes the system over-correcting to center the vehicle, then over-correcting again on the opposite side, causing the vehicle to oscillate out of lane on both sides before the driver could regain control. Another notes the system fails to respond quickly to slight lane curves.
When: During lane-keeping assistance operation while driving on highways
Symptoms owners cite: Lane-keeping system does not respond quickly to lane deviations; Excessive over-correction to center vehicle in lane; Oscillation back and forth across lane boundaries; Loss of driver control due to system behavior; Unintended lane violations
Electrical system failures affecting steering and safety systems
Cascading electrical failures that impact power steering and multiple warning systems simultaneously. One owner experienced loss of power steering, blank navigation display, multiple warning icons, disabled emergency flashers and direction indicators, and inability to lock vehicle or detect key fob. Another reported repeated electrical malfunctions tied to alternator issues, including false blind spot warnings, intermittent crash avoidance failure, and loss of cruise control. These failures occur during motion, creating unpredictable hazardous driving conditions.
When: Occurs intermittently during operation; one major incident at 55 mph; alternator diagnosed at separate occasion
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering during electrical event; Navigation display goes blank; Multiple warning icons displayed; Emergency flashers and direction indicators disabled; Vehicle fails to lock or detect key fob; False blind spot collision warnings; Intermittent crash avoidance system failure; Loss of cruise control functionality
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced in one instance; multiple dealership attempts to diagnose failed to identify root cause in other case
Steering wheel jerking on auto-off re-engagement
When the vehicle's auto-off feature re-engages, the steering wheel jerks abruptly to the side accompanied by a loud noise. Owner reports this behavior is startling to the driver and was able to replicate at the dealership with video documentation. Dealership claimed this is normal vehicle behavior and declined to rectify it.
When: Occurs when auto-off system re-engages
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel jerks abruptly to the side; Loud thumping noise during re-engagement; Startling to driver; Consistent reproducibility
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership claims this is normal behavior and unable to rectify
Steering wheel shaking or vibration during driving
Steering wheel shakes or vibrates, making it difficult for the driver to keep the steering wheel straight. One owner reported shaking at low mileage (around 250 miles), with the dealer unable to duplicate the failure despite multiple visits. Another describes shaking between speed changes, though this appears related to broader transmission issues.
When: Occurs intermittently during normal driving; one instance at approximately 250 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes or vibrates; Difficult to keep steering wheel straight; Shaking during speed changes
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; dealer unable to duplicate failure
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
when driving along, and trying to turn the steering wheel, the wheel locks up and won't allow it to be turned. It's almost like the steering wheel has been hydraulically blocked. It has happened numerous times over the past 2-3 months. usually, at slower speeds or coming out of a stop light on surface roads.
Had steering trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Hyundai Palisade?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 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 13 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 102,000 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/2021/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.