Hyundai Sonata Recalled for Power Steering Issue

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is being recalled to address a potential power steering hazard.

A total of about 173,000 units are affected by the recall, with the affected vehicles having a potentially defective power steering system. According to the recall notice, the affected vehicles were made from late December 2009 through late October 2010 and may have a damaged circuit board that could cause the loss of power steering.

If power steering is lost in the affected 2011 Hyundai Sonatas, it could increase the risk of a crash, particularly at low speeds, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

No crashes or injuries related to the 2011 Hyundai Sonata recall have been identified. The recall comes after a number of warranty claims due to lost power steering triggered an internal investigation. The investigation began March 2015 and earlier this year, the Korean automaker identified the problem that is attributed to the supplier upgrading the protective coating on the circuit board, potentially causing the boards to be damaged over time.