2013 Hyundai Azera

The steering wheel of my 2013 Hyundai Azera malfunctions. It makes a clicking noise when i move the steering wheel either clockwise or anti clockwise. The clicking noise dramatically increases when the road is not smooth. It started since almost a month back. After doing some research I found that this seems to be a common problem on many Hyundai models. There are many youtube videos showing this same problem that I am facing in my car. Here is one such link from youtube, and its description section pointed me about the recall of this part. https://youtu.be/lrkARm38wfc Hyundai had also issued a recall to change the steering coupler that seems to be faulty. The vehicles associated with the recall can be seen here https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/TXX7/MicroSiteTemplate/MicroSiteTemplateVINValidate/2689 It seems Hyundai is covering only Sonata and Elantra models. Since the same problem exists on Azera as well, I request you to please look into this matter as many folks had reported that the steering could fail to respond due to this issue. It is also a safety issue if the steering fails to respond while driving on the road on freeway. I can understand that Hyundai might have not received so much complains as the number of cars sold for Sonata and Elanatra models is significantly higher compared to Azera model. But if this is a safety issue and if the same parts are used in Azera model, I believe the recall should apply for Azera as well. The problem is easily reproducible. There is no warning lights or any messages or symptoms prior to failure.

STEERING WHEEL KNOCKS LOUDLY WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. HYUNDAI HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR SONOTA, ELANTRA, SANTA FE AND SOME KIA MODELS, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AZERA MODEL EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER VERIFIED IT IS THE SAME ISSUE AND PART FAILURE. MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE CONCERNING THE SAME PROBLEM AND SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WHEN PART FAILS. DEALER STATES AZERA IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE LIMITED PRODUCTION CAUSED LESS COMPLAINTS SO IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $448.00. IF NOT REPAIRED, COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR.*DT*DT*JB CONSUMER REFERENCE NUMBER # [XXX] FROM THE DEALER. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI AZERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PARKWAY HYUNDAI LOCATED AT 5920 MARKET ST A, WILMINGTON, NC 28405, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICK/CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. MAKES A LARGE RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVEN OVER ANY BUMPS. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOTS OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL, PULLS THE CAR TO THE LEFT. I LATER LEARNED ITS A FAULTY STEERING COUPLER. HYUNDAI PROVIDES A 10YR/100K WARRANTY ON THIS PART FOR THE ELANTRA AND SONATA. ITS UNFAIR WHEN THE SAME FAULTY PARTS ARE USED ON THE AZERA BUT NOT COVERED AS IT IS ON THE OTHER MODELS.

HAD TO REPLACE FAULTY STEERING WHEEL COUPLER THAT WAS A SUBJECT OF A RECALL IN OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS. LITERALLY THE SAME EXACT PART AND PART NUMBER AS RECALLED MODELS, BUT NO RECALL ON AZERA. BLESSEDLY I HAD IT REPLACED BEFORE IT COMPLETELY FAILED, BUT OTHERS UNDOUBTEDLY MAY NOT RECOGNIZE ISSUE AND CAR WILL EVENTUALLY COMPLETELY FAIL TO STEER. CAR WOULD MAKE ODD CLICKING SOUND FROM STEERING COLUMN TURNING LEFT OF RIGHT JUST OFF CENTER OR OVER BUMPS. *TR