Hyundai has issued a recall of 139,500 Sonatas over steering issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report identifies the issue says “the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened.” The consequence could be “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.”
The recall affects 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedans built between December 11, 2009 and September 10, 2010. Hyundai’s dealers should begin sending out recall notices in October. They will inspect and re-torque the assembly, and update the steering software too, at no charge.
In the meantime, owners can contact the Hyundai Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-633-5151, or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153).
