21 complaints reported

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Steering

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
21
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was jumping from left to right. The contact stated that the ESC and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the passenger’s side wheel speed sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. Additionally, the steering column housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving, the steering wheel had extensive play. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 6,200.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2023
Dec 2023

Steering wheel sticks and will not turn or adjust until forcefully manipulated , then snaps sharply causing a change in direction of the vehicle. Dangerous to our family while driving.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2023
Aug 2023

The car has a steering defect. The defect causes the car to wonder from lane to lane requiring the driver to constantly make corrections. This is especially dangerous when you are between two vehicles. The car has been back to the dealer numerous times and they state that there is no problem with the steering. Hyundai National claims claims that the defect does not exist.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2023
Aug 2023

The steering is sticky or notchy, it gets stuck like it moves around grooves instead of being linear. Since its not linear, every notchy movement requires a correction towards the opposite side and that results in over correction and this way the car is zig-zaggy. This becomes very prominent as speeds more than 40 mph, and quite significant on highways. Several time reporting to dealer, over the 6+ years of ownership, they have failed to recognize the issue and provide a fix. Several people have reported the same and can be viewed by searching for sticky steering problem and its not restricted to sante fe models. This is highly dangerous on the highways constantly having to correct and overcorrect and increases driver fatigue. Hyundai fails to recognize this hazardous steering issue and provide a voluntary fix or recall.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2018
Mar 2023

While driving the vehicle there is a noticeable “locking or sticking” in the the steering wheel while driving. This issue is most notable at a driving speed over 35 mph. Due to the vehicle not having a steering fluid reservoir, it is not possible to see if the power steering fluid is below the recommended levels.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2023
Mar 2022

While driving the steering wheel stutters and moves the vehicle all over the road. Does this at all speeds. Worse was on the interstate and I nearly ran off the road at 70 mph. Dealer says the vehicle needs a new steering column on March 3, 2022. Under 40,000 miles. This is not due to normal wear and tear or operator use. They claim this is not a warranty issue or recall. This vehicle is unsafe to drive.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2022
Aug 2020

CURRENTLY 42K MILES, "STICKY STEERING WHEEL" OR "ZIG-ZAG" PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 10K MILES AGO. DEALER SERVICE TECHS I'VE DEALT WITH SEEM TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER VERIFYING THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS REALLY EXPERIENCING THE ZIG-ZAG PROBLEM, I LIFTED THE FRONT OF HER CAR SO THAT BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE OFF THE GROUND. WITH THE ENGINE NOT RUNNING, SLOWLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT WOULD REVEAL THE "STICKY" SYMPTOM, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AT SOME POINT THE STEERING WHEEL HANGS FOR SOME REASON AND THEN IT TAKES INCREASINGLY MORE TORQUE APPLIED TO THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL IT BREAKS FREE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE RESULT WOULD BE A SUDDEN CHANGE OF DIRECTION. THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD NEVER OCCUR, BUT SHOULD BE SILKY SMOOTH LOCK TO LOCK. THE ATTACHED IMAGE SHOWS THE SYSTEM FROM THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CONNECTING SHAFT. I HAVE READ REPORTS THAT THE U-JOINTS IN THE CONNECTING SHAFT ARE THE PROBLEM, OR THAT THE MDPS (MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING) UNIT IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. IF I WERE WORKING THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD DISCONNECT THE UPPER U-JOINT AND RERUN THE STEERING WHEEL TEST. IF THE HANGING PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE, THEN THE MDPS UNIT (OR PERHAPS THE STAR SHAPED COUPLING WITHIN THE MDPS) SHOULD BE REPLACED. OTHERWISE, THE COUPLING SHAFT SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR BINDING OF THE U-JOINTS. IF THE JOINTS ARE STICKING, THEN A REPLACEMENT SHAFT IS IN ORDER. IF NEITHER THE MDPS UNIT NOR COUPLING SHAFT ARE AT FAULT, THEN THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM MUST BE SOMEWHERE BELOW THE CONNECTING SHAFT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, AND HYUNDAI DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ANY DESIRE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR TO EVEN ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I AM A FORMER ASE L1 MASTER AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2019
Aug 2020

WHILE DRIVING (VEHICLE IN MOTION) THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK REQUIRING ME TO EXERT EXTRA FORCE TO "BREAK" IT LOOSE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I KNOW IT ISN'T MECHANICAL STEARING LIKE I'M USED TO BUT THE SERVO MOTOR SEEMS TO PREVENT ME FROM TURNING THE WHEEL WHEN I NEED TO CORRECT. I CONTINUOUSLY HAVE TO OVERCORRECT FOR THE STICKING/NOTCHY STEERING. VERY ANNOYING AND TIRING AND COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS ON THIS SITE WHO IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS ELECTRONIC DRIVE-BY-WIRE STEERING MECHANISM. LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, PLEASE LET HYUNDAI KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE. I NOTICE THIS MOSTLY WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND I'M EXPERIENCING THE STEERING ISSUE MORE AND MORE NOW. IF MOST DRIVERS ARE NOT TRULY PAYING ATTENTION TO THERE DRIVING AND THIS STICKING THIS WILL LEAD TO CRASHES AND DEATHS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2020
Jun 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OVER STEER. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB BELL FORD LOCATED AT (7125 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061) AND WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2017
Dec 2019

NOTCHY STEERING, FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS, REQUIRING YOU TO USE ADDITIONAL FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THIS CAUSES OVER-CORRECTING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO SWERVING INTO OTHER LANES OR OFF THE ROAD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2019
Apr 2019

STICKY STEERING WHEEL WHEN TRAVELING ON STRAIGHT ROADWAYS AND HIGHWAYS ABOVE 40 MPH. I NOTICED A SLIGHT STICK TO THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY OR ON A STRAIGHT ROAD ABOVE 40 MPH. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT 15,000 MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO STICK WHEN TRYING TO TRACK STRAIGHT WHICH CAUSES ME TO CONSISTENTLY SWERVE WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE AS A BAD MDPS UNIT (STEERING COLUMN SHAFT ASSEMBLY) PART#56310-2W840. WHILE AT THE SHOP, I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND FOUND THAT THIS UNIT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN OTHER MAKES AND MODELS AS A BAD UNIT DUE TO A RUBBER COUPLER INSIDE THE MDPS AND HYUNDAI HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PART BEYOND THE FACTORY WARRANTY FOR THE 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 1 YEAR 11 MOS AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 16261 MILES. NOTES FROM DEALERSHIP TECH: " THE STEERING WAS STICKING. THE COLUMN WAS AT FAULT INTERNAL FAILURE. I WAS UNABLE TO ISOLATE WHAT PART OF THE MOTOR DRIVEN STEERING UNIT WAS THE ROOT CUASE OF THE STICKING. ALL PARTS TESTED GOOD BUT I STILL HAD THE ISSUE. I PERFORMED A STEERING WHEEL CALIBRATION AND RESET THE STEERING FEEL ZERO. I REDROVE THE CAR AND NOTED AFTER DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD AND 40-60 MPH SPEEDS THAT WHEN I MOVED THE STEERING LEFT OR RIGHT THAT THERE WAS A NOTICABLE STICKING. BEFORE THE STEERING FELT LIKE IT HAD ASSIST. I REPLACED THE MDPS COMPLETE UNIT RESET THE TOW VARIANT CODED AND DROVE THE CAR AGAIN"

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2018
Jan 2019

STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO GET HARD LIKE STICKY WHEN TURN IT OVER RIGHT OR LEFT, NEEDING MORE POWER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING ME IN RISK WHEN REACH 60 MILES PER HOUR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2018
Nov 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RATTLING, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROGER BEASLEY HYUNDAI (24795 I-35, KYLE, TX 78640, (512) 262-2020) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2018
Nov 2018

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. I HAVE TO OVER CORRECT THE STEERING AND FORCE THE VEHICLE TO STAY STRAIGHT. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT. HOWEVER; IT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. I'M AFRAID FOR OUR SAFETY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2018
Jul 2018

WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED, STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT GETS STUCK WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN STEERING. AS YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT TRYING TO MAINTAIN LANE IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL CATCHES EACH TIME YOU SLIGHTLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSES YOU TO OVER CORRECT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN LANE. FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE I OVERCORRECTED AND THE CAR VEERED OUT OF ITS LANE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE SO FAR AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE SITUATION, EVEN THOUGH I DROVE THE CAR WITH SERVICE PERSON IN IT AND THE "STICKING" OCCURRED WHILE I DROVE IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2018
Apr 2018

I HAVE HAD 2 INCIDENTS NOW WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN I'VE MADE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE LIGHT SHOWING A VEHICLE ON A HILL POPS ON AND OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT IS REALLY SCARY

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2018
Apr 2018

WHEN DRIVING, AND NOT ALL THE TIME I HAVE TO FIGHT THE CAR TO KEEP DRIVING STRAIGHT. ON HIGHWAYS WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP, THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK, AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM OR FIX. DID NOT START TILL I HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A YEAR. CAR HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2018
Mar 2018

AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING AT OR NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING BECOMES "STICKY" AND REQUIRES THE DRIVER "BREAK" THE "STUCK" STEERING WHEEL AND IT RESULTS IN A FORCED OVERCORRECTION THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE DRIFT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE LANE TO THE OTHER. THIS IS CONTINUOUS PROBLEM ONCE IT BEGINS AS CONSTANT STEERING INPUT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP A VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. AT A MINIMUM, IT IS ANNOYING AND EXHAUSTING ON LONG TRIPS. THE REAL ISSUE IS SAFETY. THE FORCED OVERCORRECTION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON NARROW COUNTRY ROADS AS IT WILL FORCE THE VEHICLE INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE OR CLOSE TO THE DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM WHEN I TAKE IT IN BECAUSE THE PROBLEM ONLY EMERGES AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2018
Feb 2018

WHILE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT WAS IF THE POWER STEERING HAD DISAPPEARED. VERY SCARY. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SAVANNAH GEORGIA, THEY WERE NOT VERY RESPONSIVE. GOING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS FIXED. A GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATED THERE ARE OTHERS THIS HAPPENED TO AS WELL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2018
Jan 2018

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK REQUIRING ME TO EXERT EXTRA FORCE TO "BREAK" IT LOOSE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. BACK AND FORTH I GO CONTINUOUSLY HAVING TO OVERCORRECT FOR THE STICKING/NOTCHY STEERING. VERY ANNOYING AND TIRING AND COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. FOUND ONE OTHER OWNER ON THIS SITE WHO IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM. I HOPE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SOON BUT DON'T HOLD OUT MUCH HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE OF MUCH HELP. PLEASE LET HYUNDAI KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE AND I'M THINKING MOST OWNERS MAY JUST BE IGNORING IT AND CHOOSING TO LIVE WITH IT. I NOTICE THIS MOSTLY WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC.I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR AND ONLY STARTED EXPERIENCING THE STEERING ISSUE ABOUT 6 OR7 MONTHS AGO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2017
Nov 2017

UPON ENTERING FREEWAY ON RAMP 5 7 2017 VEERED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHICH CUT ME OFF. AFTER MOVING BACK INTO LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING IN A VIOLENT MANNER. I CONTINUED TO HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WAS SHAKING LEFT AND RIGHT IN A VERY FORCEFUL MANNER. THE SHAKING STOPPED AND I CONTINUED DRIVING. THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, ROAD CONDITIONS PERFECT AND MY DRIVING SPEED WAS 60 MPH. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 1079 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS IN ANY OTHER CAR. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER ON 5 12 2017 AND HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS VERY DANGEROUS EVENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jul 2017

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe has 21 Steering complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.