The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into an estimated 16,300 2011 Hyundai Sonatas after reports of steering problems.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigations said the complaints "allege either a separation of the intermediate steering shaft assembly upper universal joint resulting in a complete loss of steering capability and/or a cross-threaded pinch bolt that caused stripped-out threads and loosening, but not complete separation of the upper universal joint connection."
Hyundai recalled 5,893 2011 Sonata vehicles on February 24 to fix faulty door latches.
There may be a problem with the steering on some Hyundai Sonatas.
The federal government is investigating possible steering mechanism problems on 2011 models of the car. The investigation stems from two incidents.
In May the Hyundai Sonata was the "most-shopped vehicle" online, according to data from Compete, a Kantar Media company. Sonata was on more shopping lists (130,000) than any vehicle in the industry, topping perennial leaders like Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Ford Fusion according to Compete’s analysis of website traffic patterns.
The vehicle was touted as a "modern approach to the traditional mid-size sedan segment by using only advanced four-cylinder engines, emotional design and luxury features offered with Hyundai’s strong value proposition," according to Hyundai's website.
Since it arrived in Ann Arbor at the beginning of July, editors and friends of the magazine have collectively piled on nearly 8000 miles. In August alone, the Sonata covered 4000 miles, reaching destinations as far as the mountains of North Carolina, as well as the urban jungles of Saint Louis and Chicago.
And unlike our Four Seasons Suzuki Kizashi, we don't seem to be the only ones to appreciate the Sonata's penchant for time on the roads.
"Hyundai seems poised to climb the sales rankings in the megacompetitive mid-size segment."
A recent conversation with Hyundai North America CEO John Krafcik revealed that Hyundai's factories are struggling to keep up with demand. A quick trip to New England confirmed the Sonata's success outside our Midwest home office, according to senior web editor Phil Floraday.
