One problem related to steering rack and pinion has been reported for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Hyundai Sonata based on all problems reported for the 2002 Sonata.
Steering problem. The car would difficult to turn and then it would steer fine. This went on for a couple of days. I moved the car one morning and there was a bolt on the ground which looked as if it was from the car. Had the car towed to a repair shop. The diagnosis was the bolts on the rack and pinion were loose and one of the bolts was the one I found on the ground. The rack and pinion coming loose is a serious problem.