Six problems related to steering is loose have been reported for the 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2012 Hyundai Sonata based on all problems reported for the 2012 Sonata.
Steering wheel is loose, vibrates, clicks, very loose steering, not good control seems the steering wheel is defective somehow because there is a lot of play in the steering wether driving straight or turning.
There is something in the steering which is loose and getting worse. At first it was just a bit loose but now it constantly rattles over bumps and the whole steering wheel is loose.
Steering coupling is a known issue with Hyundai for 2012 Sonatas as admitted by the dealer. It is a faulty piece and can cause the steering to buckle while driving making the steering wheel inoperable. The steering wheel is loose, shaking, creating a clunking noise when attempting to turn. It is anytime the car is in motion whether it is city or highway.
Whenever I turn the steering wheel a loud cluck sound happens. It feels like the steering wheel is loose. After doing some research found out that the flexible coupler is the problem. A cheap plastic piece that breaks because it is sandwiched between 2 metal gears, not a good solution.
Clunking sound began to come from the steering wheel at low speeds which just kept getting worse. After about a month the steering became loose and it feels like something is grinding inside the column. Took it to the dealership and they said it would be $120 just to diagnose the problem. A simple google search turned up the problem is extremely common with Sonatas and is this little three dollar plastic wheel that apparently grinds up and falls apart. The dealership still wanted $120 to diagnose was was wrong despite me telling them and then wanted $360 to fix the problem. The car has only 49,000 miles on it but is four months outside warranty. The dealership did agree to sell me the three dollar plastic wheel thing but when I asked if they made one out of metal or something that won't break they apparently do not. I guess I can have a shop put the new wheel in but I will just have to keep replacing it since its the same cheap plastic and will be ground up by normal use and leave me with an unsafe, clunking and loose steering wheel.
Steering wheel is loose, vibrates, clicks, very loose steering, not good control seems the steering wheel is defective somehow because there is a lot of play in the steering wether driving straight or turning.