2016 Htrac Steering Issue

[david2u]

I have a 16' Htrac 3.8 that has an issue with tracking/steering.
I've had it back to the dealer 3 or 4 times, and even though they finally acknowledge what I am telling them, they have no idea what to do about it.
While driving on the highway, and usually between 55 and above, when I go to change lanes, the steering wheel is very stiff, and if it's turned to the 2 o'clock position, it will just stay there, continue to turn, unless I pull it back.
Coming off the highway, mainly to the right, if I don't straighten out the wheel fast enough, it will actually continue to turn right, sharper, and sharper.
Also, I have to constantly adjust the steering on a straight road, as it doesn't like to find the "center".
I went on a test drive with the service manager, and he sees what it is doing but, thinks it could just be a "characteristic" of the car.
I've had all wheel drive cars for close to 20 years, and never had a car handle like this.
Any ideas, would be welcomed!

 

[Mark_888]

1. Take another car at the dealer for a test drive and compare it to yours.
2. Contact HMA (Hyundai Motor America) and open a problem.
3. Since this is a safety issue, you should file a report with the NHTSA if you do not get immediate response from HMA (including a loaner while they try and fix your car).
   https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

 

[Nikgen]

I have a 16' Htrac 3.8 that has an issue with tracking/steering.
I've had it back to the dealer 3 or 4 times, and even though they finally acknowledge what I am telling them, they have no idea what to do about it.
While driving on the highway, and usually between 55 and above, when I go to change lanes, the steering wheel is very stiff, and if it's turned to the 2 o'clock position, it will just stay there, continue to turn, unless I pull it back.
Coming off the highway, mainly to the right, if I don't straighten out the wheel fast enough, it will actually continue to turn right, sharper, and sharper.
Also, I have to constantly adjust the steering on a straight road, as it doesn't like to find the "center".
I went on a test drive with the service manager, and he sees what it is doing but, thinks it could just be a "characteristic" of the car.
I've had all wheel drive cars for close to 20 years, and never had a car handle like this.
Any ideas, would be welcomed!

Not a "characteristic" at all - that is an abnormal and dangerous condition and something is wrong. As the service manager appears to be incompetent (how could anyone think that is normal?), I'd stop driving the car and escalate to HMA as a safety issue immediately.

 

[TroyK]

is it possible that lane keep assist is acting up? presuming your car has the feature...

 

[AustinTX]

I have a 16' Htrac 3.8 that has an issue with tracking/steering.
I've had it back to the dealer 3 or 4 times, and even though they finally acknowledge what I am telling them, they have no idea what to do about it.
While driving on the highway, and usually between 55 and above, when I go to change lanes, the steering wheel is very stiff, and if it's turned to the 2 o'clock position, it will just stay there, continue to turn, unless I pull it back.
Coming off the highway, mainly to the right, if I don't straighten out the wheel fast enough, it will actually continue to turn right, sharper, and sharper.
Also, I have to constantly adjust the steering on a straight road, as it doesn't like to find the "center".
I went on a test drive with the service manager, and he sees what it is doing but, thinks it could just be a "characteristic" of the car.
I've had all wheel drive cars for close to 20 years, and never had a car handle like this.
Any ideas, would be welcomed!

I agree with TroyK, check to see if the Lane Keep Assist is on, and turn it off to check if the behavior changes at all. My car feels like what you describe when the Lane Keep Assist is on.

 

[MikeyTG]

Maybe not an htrac issue, instead could be a problem with the electric power steering. In any case it is dangerous.

 

[DubbuD]

Sounds like when my lane keep assist is trying to counteract my steering input because it senses a lane. Is it off or on?

 

[Uchiha madara]

genesis is very complicated its full with 6 computers and 62 modules

let them check the error codes from the computers then they will get it

otherwise just restore the factory programming for Steering ECU and LKAS ECU

 

[BJCaspianBlack]

Sounds a lot like Lane Keep Assist!
Please let us know.

 

[david2u]

Here's the latest update.
Took the car in again, and they kept it for two weeks.
They checked all the codes, and said nothing showed up.
Went out with the head tech, and showed him what was happening.
He said that he's seen this before, and basically there is no fix for it, at this time.
He said that he drove a brand new one, and it did the same thing.
When I am changing lanes, at highway speeds, if I turn the wheel back to center, the car still goes in the direction of the "turn" for a few seconds, before it finally straightens out. I think at this point, I have to lemon law it.

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[celltech]

I have been thinking about this and my guess is the steering angle/torque sensor is malfunctioning and telling the MDPS to not turn the rack. Remember that these cars do not have a power steering pump like a traditional car. They have a big DC motor that turns the wheels in response to your commands. If the sensors don't think you have moved the wheel, then she just sits there. It could also be the ECU that hangs on the motor as well not reading the inputs correctly...

 

[david2u]

I think you hit it on the head. That's exactly what I thought as well but, since there are no errors or codes coming up, they can't fix it. A friend of mine was a service manager for Hyundai, up until three months ago, and he told me that he spoke with an engineer about the same issue, one of his customers was having, and they told him that even though there isn't a fix for it yet, he thought it had something to do with the communication between the engine controller, and the steering. Since there is not a lot of complaints about this, I was told by the dealer that it's "obviously not a priority", in terms of figuring it out.

 

[BJCaspianBlack]

Are you able to drive the car? Please keep us informed as to the resolution of your issue. It would seem that the potential for a serious situation and liability is just around the corner!

 

[SkiNH]

I have the same issue with my 2016, and it started fairly suddenly a few months ago. I've taken it to the dealer three times, and have been told that there's nothing wrong each time. The first time, they said it was bad tires, but it still happened after installing four new ones. It doesn't happen every time, but it's fairly frequent - generally, it happens above 35 mph but is really unpredictable. I don't have lane keep assist, and the steering angle sensor was reset at least once (the last time I took it to the dealer). It's pretty distracting, because I can never be sure that even the slightest steering correction will not result in this sticking. Now that we are hitting the fall, I'm wondering if it will have an impact on winter driving.

 

[MikeyTG]

"When I am changing lanes, at highway speeds, if I turn the wheel back to center, the car still goes in the direction of the "turn" for a few seconds, before it finally straightens out. I think at this point, I have to lemon law it."

If you turn the steering wheel and the car does not react immediately there is something seriously wrong with the steering hardware. This system is not "fly by wire"; there is a direct connection from the steering wheel to the front wheels of the car. The electric power steering only provides assist to your turning efforts. Like hydraulic power steering if it goes out you can still steer the car, only with more effort. I doubt the problem is with the htrac system.

They CAN fix this, at least by replacing the car. This is not some small irregularity but a fundamental problem with one of the most important systems. I'm appalled that they are even letting you drive this car.

 

[SkiNH]

I have the same issue with my 2016, and it started fairly suddenly a few months ago. I've taken it to the dealer three times, and have been told that there's nothing wrong each time. The first time, they said it was bad tires, but it still happened after installing four new ones. It doesn't happen every time, but it's fairly frequent - generally, it happens above 35 mph but is really unpredictable. I don't have lane keep assist, and the steering angle sensor was reset at least once (the last time I took it to the dealer). It's pretty distracting, because I can never be sure that even the slightest steering correction will not result in this sticking. Now that we are hitting the fall, I'm wondering if it will have an impact on winter driving.

An update on this issue: I had a passenger film while I was driving, so that the sticking wheel was clearly visible. When I showed the video to the dealer, they immediately determined that it was an issue with the steering rack, and replaced it under warranty. Now, the issue is resolved.

 

[david2u]

I forgot to update and I know it was a few years ago but had an engineer from California come out and look at the car. He plugged something into the OBD and called me over. He showed me a graph with spikes all over it. He said, “that’s your car making steering wheel inputs, and we’re not touching the car, you’re not driving this car until it’s figured out”. They replaced the steering motor and the complete steering rack, and that was the fix. Two years later I was parked in a Starbucks parking lot on Long Island and a woman jumped the curb on the main road right in front of me, and totaled the car.

 

[odixson]

Same problem. 2016 Htrac. Dealer said it will cost $6000.