On 8-26-20 I purchased a pre owned 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe w/ 34,200 miles w/warranty. Full size, V-6, 3.3L, 290 hp, tow pkg. fairly loaded. Good price, lease car, one owner, from Echo Park Tampa (a national used car chain). Test dive went well at 50 mph max in rain. On the way home (20mi.) I noticed pulling to left. I figured an alignment problem. I had a Car Fax with no neg. history. I found Car Complaints and found complaints about steering problems.

I found Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin (20-ST-001H2). I waited for a month+ w/ zig- sag, side to side catch and dead spot and pull. It traveled worse sometimes and then would work well. I found all the problems described on the Car Complaints great site. I took it to local my nearest dealer, Fitzgerald Hyundai in Clearwater, Fl. I gave them the service bulletin #. Got a loaner and they replaced the steering column and recalibrated it. Picked it up and drove over the weekend and the problem came back. Picked up 2nd time and did not get out of parking lot and still pulled. They said it keeps loosing calibration.

I picked it up 3rd time and 3 dash lights were on. (One for EPS steering wheel, EBC downhill brake, and ECS stability control). Left it again but this time Hyundai nationwide computer system went down due to a hack. A week later they got approval to replace steering column again with the control modal (as the TSB recommended) this took almost a month but a week in and it is working. The dealer did great but did not fallow all the TSB guidelines until the end. All was free w/ a loaner car the entire time.

The problem with sticky steering column started almost an year back, roughly an after an year of purchase, at around 15k miles. When I observed it then, I reported it, they said wheel alignment would fix it. It was very mild then, so I could not tell whether it fixed it or it was still present. Then I did not drive the car for an year, since its my wife's DD. Last week I drove it, and the steering is dangerously sticky, causing one to correct the position, and as a result end up over correcting it, causing the car to move in the direction it was swaying to. And the constant battle continues, that it is such a displeasure to drive it on the highway.

My wife for some reason assumed this is the way it is since it got progressively bad probably, and she kind of ended up adjusting to it, though she has complained from time to time that her Odyssey was better even when it was huge to handle. Now I get what she was referring to.

My 8 yr old Honda with 110k more miles still has a problem free steering. And when I searched on google, i found that there many forums in which people are complaining about this very same issue.

Hyundai should release a general fix for this, instead of letting people handle it with their dealer and the dealer recommending nonsense fixes like wheel alignment for a sticky steering. I was thinking about a Veloster N when it was time to replace my Honda, but now I am not so inclined!

While driving on highways I feel the steering wheel stick like its stuck in a notch. I constantly have to correct the car so it stays straight. I had leased a previous Santa Fe in 2015 and never had any issues so I got another one. Started noticing this issue right away but thought it was just tight steering I had to get used to. It wasn't until my husband drove the car that he asked me what was wrong with the car. I'm bringing it in the Hyundai of New Port Richey Monday the 4th of February. I have a long drive up there so I'm going to hope we can duplicate the issue - as with most computer related issues (my brother repairs cars) do not turn off the car when you get to the dealership- this resets the computer and more than likely the issue. Let's make sure Hyundai finds the problem and fixes this. I hate driving my car long distances.

Update from Feb 5, 2019: Went to dealership with car and tech tried to tell me it was normal electric steering complaints! I just had the same car a year ago and it didn't do this so he said he would connect it to the computer and lower the torque to zero. This did make it feel less tight but it still sticks. Bringing it back to see what other people think.

Update from Feb 8, 2019: The dealership was able to replicate the issue and is replacing the steering column. Hopefully this fixes the issue.

I noticed recently that when the car drifts some, when I try to correct the steering wheel resists the pressure initially and then the pressure is released and the steering is over corrected. I did an online search and see that others have this problem but that Dealers can't re-create the problem. Isn't that funny? It seems Hyundai hopes the issue goes away but I have real concerns. I don't know if it is the power steering, rack and pinion or a steering column issue. I'm taking to my dealer on Feb 14th for them to look at. I hope that if someone has had the issue resolved they will share the fix.

Update from Mar 2, 2019: I took to my dealer. They replaced the steering column and it fixed the problem.

vehicle swerves or sways left and right

I bought a brand new Santa Fe Sport 2.4 on Tue, Mar 15. I drove the car home, about 5 minutes from the dealership. All seemed well. The next day, I went on a road trip from Kennesaw to Savannah, GA, which is about 300 miles. The car drove mostly okay. While driving 55+ on the highway, I noticed constantly having to correct the steering wheel as the car wanted to veer left or right. It wasn't horrible just yet. I arrived late night in Savannah, very excited about my new car. It was a fun drive aside from the odd steering that wouldn't stay straight. I parked the car at my mother's house (who lives in Savannah). Savannah is a walking town, so NO need for the car while I was there. I did not drive the car again until Sunday, March 20, when I returned to Atlanta. The first 20 minutes of the trip was about like the drive down from Atlanta. I had to keep the steering wheel in check. VERY ANNOYING. But soon, it started feeling worse, more drastic pulling. I felt like the wind was blowing me around, but it wasn't that at all. Tire pressure was about the same as it was coming down. I checked that several times. I did notice driving down it was 51 psi. Then when I started the trip back, I saw 48psi save one tired at 49psi. Odd. Then 15-20 minutes later into the trip, it was back up to 50 psi on all 4 tires. Odd. Either way, I stayed around 60-65 mph speed limit because the swerving was getting scary. I did about 75-80 on the trip down to Savannah, and about that starting back until the swaying/swerving got worse. I had my 8 month old baby daughter in the car, so I was stressed the entire 5 hour trip back home, paranoid I would lose control. I was emotionally drained when I got home. I was distraught and depressed after realizing I just bought a gigantic LEMON! And I hardly expect the dealership to do a thing! This has all just happened, so we will see how HYUNDAI OF KENNESAW decides to HANDLE this one. I will go in person later today to see if they will do anything to make this right.

Update from Mar 30, 2016: The dealership has been working with me beatifully on this. Too bad the Hyundai brand steering is so strange. The swerving issue has not recurred; but the car cannot maintain a straight line without constant correction of the wheel. I am getting used to it now; but I would not choose this car or Hyundai brand again. My dealership, though, restored my faith in good business ethics for now. Though they did lose a set of my new car keys. But they are going to replace them.