The US NHTSA vehicle safety agency has opened an investigation of 2011 Hyundai Sonata vehicles after reports of 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.
“The subject vehicles cited in the EWR field reports were manufactured during the same month and had fewer than 600 miles of service at the time of the alleged incidents. A preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the alleged defect in the subject vehicles,” the agency said on its website. About 16,300 vehicles are affected and the agency did not note any crashes or injuries.
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The agency has been focusing on steering issues recently, opening investigations after receiving only a small number of reports. It started looking at the steering system of Hyundai Motor sister company Kia’s Soul after just one complaint of the steering shaft separating from the steering wheel.
Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor told the Detroit News the company wasn’t aware of any accidents or injuries connected to the Sonata issue and was fully cooperating with NHTSA in its investigation.
The Sonata for the US is assembled in Hyundai’s plant in Alabama.
He said Hyundai had reports of two vehicles with a steering problem connected to the upper universal joint and both were repaired.
“No defect has been identified. It’s too early to draw any conclusions about anything,” Trainor said.
