On August 3, 2013 a clunking sound was made every time I turned the wheel while stopped. I took it to Rick Case Hyundai. They said the clunking noise was because of a small part in the steering column that wears down and Hyundai doesn’t offer just that part (a little black rubber piece that probably costs $5) so I’d need to replace the whole steering column. The Service Manager Mark Perry was very accommodating (because my car was out of warranty at 87,000 miles) offering a one-time good will where I would only pay for the labor and not the steering column. Still I had to pay $270. The steering column is another $800 dollars (which the dealership covered) and who knows if in another 80,000 miles that little black gasket will wear out again (at which point the repair would be roughly $1,100)! I was also told this was such a common problem that the parts have recently been on backorder. I was also told by a technician to expect to see a recall because of the problem being so common (to date I’m unaware of a recall). This would have been covered under warranty but with 87,000 miles on my car, I instead had to pay $270. I wrote a letter and followed up with phone calls to Hyundai of North America. I told them I didn’t think a car that’s bought brand new and with under 100,000 miles should have all the problems I’ve had (see below). I still love my car and Hyundai but they refused to reimburse me the $270 I had to pay for the labor of installing an entire steering column for a failed $5 rubber gasket! As a side note and more of a reason for Hyundai to have shown me appreciation for being a loyal customer, 4 months before this steering column issue, I spent $1,050 on 4 brand new Hankook tires bought from Hyundai. Now here are the fixes I’ve encountered so far:
February 9, 2011 – The Brake Switch is replaced because the car doesn’t register it’s in park.
February 22, 2011 – The Shift Lever Assembly is replaced because the car still doesn’t register it’s in park
February 28, 2011 – I have to go back in because the parts have now arrived for the Shift Lever Assembly
August 11, 2011 – The driver’s window would stick in the middle of going up or down. They lubed the parts.
November 4, 2011 – The Shift Lever was replaced again.
December 19, 2011 – The Brake Switch is replaced for a second time because the car won’t start because it won’t register that it’s in park.
February 25, 2012 – The car’s Battery is dead after just two years of service.
May 2, 2012 – The Driver’s Window is still sticking. The Front Window Regulator switch is replaced.
June 28, 2012 – The Right Paddle Shifter has to be replaced because it no longer pulls back like normal.
March 3, 2013 – The vehicle won’t register it’s in park again and the Brake Switch has to be replaced a Third Time.
May 3, 2013 – The Brake Switch is replaced a Fourth Time because of a Recall.
