Hyundai Santa FE Steering Problems
Owners have filed 408 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Hyundai Santa FE across 26 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (95). The words owners use most often: “steering column” (9% of reports).
- 408steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 42%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering column: mentioned in 35 of 408 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Hyundai Santa FE at $1,950, and half of them between $730 and $3,750.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 306 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 408 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 7 an injury.
Hyundai Santa FE steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Santa FE | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2025 Santa FE | 5 | 4% | 11,000 |
| 2024 Santa FE | 3 | 2% | 10,000 |
| 2023 Santa FE | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2022 Santa FE | 4 | 2% | 17,500 |
| 2021 Santa FE | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Santa FE | 6 | 3% | 1,300 |
| 2019 Santa FE | 12 | 6% | 2,000 |
| 2018 Santa FE | 8 | 7% | 8,000 |
| 2017 Santa FE | 27 | 3% | 15,000 |
| 2016 Santa FE | 3 | 1% | 565 |
| 2015 Santa FE | 6 | 2% | 1,750 |
| 2014 Santa FE | 52 | 11% | 28,301 |
| 2013 Santa FE | 95 | 16% | 6,142 |
| 2012 Santa FE | 16 | 5% | 44,332 |
| 2011 Santa FE | 20 | 11% | 44,000 |
| 2010 Santa FE | 8 | 3% | 77,348 |
| 2009 Santa FE | 17 | 5% | 48,186 |
| 2008 Santa FE | 14 | 3% | 96,490 |
| 2007 Santa FE | 38 | 6% | 74,500 |
| 2006 Santa FE | 4 | 4% | 47,364 |
| 2005 Santa FE | 7 | 3% | 51,500 |
| 2004 Santa FE | 11 | 4% | 77,000 |
| 2003 Santa FE | 17 | 6% | 106,000 |
| 2002 Santa FE | 16 | 10% | 151,246 |
| 2001 Santa FE | 13 | 6% | 89,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Model years: 2018
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The steering wheel assembly may break, possibly resulting in the steering wheel separating from the steering column while driving.
Risk: A steering wheel separation while driving can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will check the production lot number of the steering wheel assembly, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 173.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My fiancéeâs Hyundai Santa Fe has been taken in for service multiple times due to a serious and recurring safety issue. The vehicle suddenly begins malfunctioning while being driven: all of the lights on the dashboard start flashing, multiple warning lights come on, the vehicle shuts off, and…
Multiple occasions of the ADAS lane centering system operating unsafely. The worst one was on a gentle left-hand curve on a concrete surfaced bridge at night. The system allowed the vehicle to slowly drift to the outside of the lane. When it was fairly close to the white line, it jerked the wheel…
Vehicle experiences severe, intermittent, un-commanded steering inputs from the Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) system at highway speeds (55-70 MPH). The steering wheel violently jerks toward adjacent traffic lanes/shoulders without operator input, lane drift, or warning, requiring immediate high-force…
Driving at 70 mph on interstate, driver adjusted hands on steering wheel and accidently pulled both paddles, shifting car into neutral. Fortunately, there was little traffic, and the driver was able to move to the side of the interstate, out the car into park and shift back to drive. This was…
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently swerved from side to side. The message âConsider Taking A Breakâ was displayed and the Driver Attention Warning (DAW) warning light was illuminated…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Santa FEs have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 408 owner complaints about steering for the Hyundai Santa FE. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Santa FE steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Hyundai Santa FE?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,950 (half paid between $730 and $3,750), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Hyundai Santa FE?
The most frequent phrase is “steering column”, in 35 of 408 complaints.
Other Hyundai Santa FE problems
- Engine problems (2,428)
- Power Train problems (933)
- Electrical System problems (851)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (756)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (588)
- Air Bags problems (506)
- Service Brakes problems (439)
- Suspension problems (436)
See all Hyundai Santa FE problems.