NHTSA Complaint #10954435 — 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA

ON 9/29/2016, I REPORTED AN ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP (JIM BURKE AUTOMOTIVE) WITH THE STEERING MAKING A LOUD THUMP WHEN TURNING (SLIGHTLY). THE SERVICE PERSON REPORTED "CAR NEEDS MDPS COUPLING" AND THE CHARGE WOULD BE $350(!). I EXPRESSED A CONCERN THAT THIS WAS NOT A RECALL OR COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE IT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE SEEN MANY POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE PART INVOLVED HAS BEEN REDESIGNED 2 OR 3 TIMES. ADDITIONALLY, A RESPECTED LOCAL REPAIR (ROBE MANNS) REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. I ALSO UNDERSTAND (ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER) THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IF THE CAR HAD UNDER 50,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ISSUE STARTS WELL BEFORE 50,000 MILES BUT DOES NOT SEEM SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS SO SUBTLE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS A REPORTED PROBLEM ON THE 2011 MODEL YEAR AND MAY HAVE HAD A RECALL - IF SO, THE 2012 SHOULD ALSO BECAUSE IT IS STILL A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT ANY SPEED OR EVEN STOPPED WHEN TURNING.