2013 Hyundai Sonata Steering Issue - Vehicle Wanders
After my first extended highway drive with my brand new 2013 Hyundai Sonata I noticed a problem. Driving in a straight line is near impossible. This seems rudimentary I know; a car should track in a straight line with no issue. But as many others have noticed my 2013 Sonata would not. More noticeable at highway speeds, but also at city speeds, the vehicle requires constant correction to maintain a straight track. In a few words, the car simply 'wanders' or 'drifts' left and right, with no real 'centered' feel to the steering. Maintaining a straight track is impossible and requires constant attention and correction. The vehicle wander creates hazardous driving conditions and driver fatigue, which poses a public safety hazard. The vehicle has been brought to three different Hyundai dealerships for resolution, and all three Hyundai dealerships deny there is a problem. Has anyone else here had this problem? If you have I'd love to hear your story. I've also decided to set up a blog to track my progress in fixing the issue with my Sonata here 2013hyundaisonata.blogspot.com.
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Another thing you should do while at the dealer is ask to drive another 2013 Sonata, and see if it exhibits the same behavior as your car. If so, have the service manager drive with you in both cars so they can see the problem for themselves.
There is another possibility... if this is the first car you've owned with electronic steering, it does have a different feel than hydraulic steering. I've driven many cars with electronic steering so I didn't notice any problem with the Sonata (my '10 Sentra is much worse on steering feel than the Sonata, for example), but if you aren't used to it there could be more correcting and attention needed than what you are used to.
I then had the dealer let me test drive a couple of other sonatas. They all exhibited the wandering problem. This is evidently a problem that Hyundai doesn't want to own up to. I've escalated it up the ladder at Hyundai and have not been able to get any satisfaction. I have 3500 miles on the car and the driving characteristics haven't changed.
If I could get out of the car without taking a loss I would. I am currently reviewing our state LEMON law to see what recourse is available to me.
Just FYI - I have been driving for about 50 years and know how a car is suppose to steer. This ain't it!!!!
But these are terrific cars, and I am not on the highway often enough for the steering to be a major issue. It's just annoying.
But here is the kicker, Hyundai tried to force me to sign a non disclosure agreement to buy back the car. I reported this to the BBB and they were forced to back off on that demand.
If you are going to pursue it under the Lemom Law of your state, contact the BBB Auto line to staqrt the process. Concentrate on the safety issues of the vehicle and the problems you will experience with resale.
Thanks.
Pete
"In Comfort mode, the steering effort is much lighter, with a looser on-center feel. Hyundai says Comfort mode comes in handy for the long boring cruises or for situations when a higher-speed road is heavily crowned."
The service advisor that did fix my steering issue is located at Auffenberg Hyundai in O'fallon, IL, Kevin Quayle. He can be reached at 618-589-1354. Your service advisor is obviously not doing his research. All he would need to do is contact his Hyundai engineer rep and they would tell him the same. Let me know how it goes.
How will making a change in the "software" affect the warranty? or will
everything be OK ? It would seem to me that that change should not make any difference, but if you are speaking as a "company man", I would like to know what you say about it.
van
We had the mode changed to sport, we had the tires checked and the wheels aligned but the problem persists. Its so bad that My drive to NY from Fl was terrifying. Now the dealer is telling me that there is nothing wrong with my car and that they can not help me!
It is less then 30 days since I purchased this vehicle and I want something done about it because I do not feel safe when I am in this car.
I will try to get used to Sonata EPS system. It is most noticeable when there seems to exhibit a "lack of feel" a few degrees left or right from center (hard to describe). If still not comfortable in three weeks, I will ask the dealership to change the mode.
Various posts suggest the three modes are Comfort, Normal, and Sport. Yet there is also a post stating the choices are GLS, GE, and Sport. I assume they are equivalent. Most said the Sport mode provides a tighter grip and do seem to resolve the issue. Would Normal mode also work?
Regardless whether this change from Comfort to Sport is a warranty/repair or modification topic, if the change really does resolve this wandering concern, then it is worth it in my mind.
No steerage issues with either.
Khumos & Michelins
Trip 1--Zero calibration done w/ front tire switch (l to r, I presume). Improved the steering 50-60%.
2000 miles later after another highway trip where I was still bothered by the "drifting," the steering was adjusted to the SPORT setting on my 2013 GLS (NOT the sport model). It is totally satisfactory now.
Assuming the 4 wheel alignment is correct on the vehicle, run the two rear tires at a two pounds higher pressure than the front tires. (If you are running the front at 30psi, run the rear at 32psi.) This might help the steering problem in a straight line!
Best regards! ------- Dwayne
Found the solution online from a post from other forum and gave it a shot at the local dealership and it solved the issue. I found out that there were some people went back to the Hyundai dealerships and requested that their settings on the electronic steering system (EPS) be changed to "Sport" setting. The setting on my Sonata was "GLS", and it was the most sensitive mode for the steering wheel. "Soft" is the next mode for lesser sensitivity, "Hard" mode is even lesser sensitive mode and "Sport" mode is the lowest sensitive setting.
I went to my local Hyundai dealership, got a very understanding service rep from the service dept. He called in the lead technician at their place and they both listened to me about the safety concern about the steering wheel was way too sensitive. It did take me 5 minutes to convince both of them to hear me out. At first they both gave me "need to get used to it" speech, but I told them I just don't want to kill somebody on the road someday when I over correct my steering wheel due to the sensitivity level. And I showed the lead technician the print-out of those blogs about EPS, he agreed that the EPS setting can be changed and he pulled the GDS computer out and changed the mode to "Sport" setting for me in less than 3 minutes.
Test drove my car with him and my car doesn't wander on the freeway anymore and I don't have to constantly correcting the steering. The lead technician was helpful and happy about that now I don't have the safety concern anymore. Heard story about people will need to go to many dealerships just to get the EPS setting changed because those dealerships refused to do such thing. I must be very lucky that I can convince the people at the dealership at my first attempt and resolved the steering issue.
Tested my car for another 50 miles freeway run the next day and confirmed that the problem has been eliminated.
The feeling now is definitely improved.
By the way, I have a co-worker who recently bought a 2013 Santa Fe. According to him, it is a standard option on that model to allow the driver to change the settings themselves. In his words, "I changed it to Sport mode and never look back."
Reading a magazine last week (I think it was the Consumer Report on the 2014 cars), it indicates the 2014 GLS will allow the drivers to change their own EPS settings
Below is what I have found concerning the 2011 Sonata steering recall.
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Recall number: 10V457000
Recall date: 10/01/2010
Problem Summary:
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 2009, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 2010. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT CONNECTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN EITHER IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED OR INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.
Consequence:
IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OR INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE CONNECTIONS COULD RESULT IN A COMPLETE SEPARATION OR COMPROMISED ATTACHMENT OF THE CONNECTIONS, SUCH THAT THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF, OR REDUCTION IN, STEERING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective Action:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT CONNECTIONS FOR PROPER ASSEMBLY AND TORQUE. IN ADDITION DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWER STEERING SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AT 1-787-999-3333.
The manufacturer first notified owners of this recall on 10/11/2010.
This recall affects vehicles manufactured between 12/11/2009 and 09/10/2010.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
Recall number: 10V426000
Recall date: 09/20/2010
Problem Summary:
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 11, 2009, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 2010. ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT CONNECTIONS MAY HAVE BEEN EITHER IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED OR INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.
Consequence:
IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OR INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE CONNECTIONS COULD RESULT IN A COMPLETE SEPARATION OR COMPROMISED ATTACHMENT OF THE CONNECTIONS, SUCH THAT THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF, OR REDUCTION IN, STEERING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective Action:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT CONNECTIONS FOR PROPER ASSEMBLY AND TORQUE. IN ADDITION DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWER STEERING SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
The manufacturer first notified owners of this recall on 10/15/2010.
This recall affects vehicles manufactured between 12/11/2009 and 09/10/2010.