New 2014 Genesis 3.8 sedan owner: one thing that bothers me

[clasys]

Hi everyone

Newly minted owner of 2014 Genesis 3.8 Premium sedan here. I have had the car for few weeks now and put 460 miles on it already. I generally like the car, but one thing is bothering me and I'm looking for input from the fellow owners.

I think I have a problem with steering, but I'm not sure anymore. It's hard to explain, but I will try my best: when I hit the bump, even the smallest one, sometime steering wheel makes this split-second left-right (or right-left) movement and then it centers again. It's like fast "shake", or "jitter", and it happens on even smallest bumps and sometimes on uneven/rough pavement too. It feels like there is this unwanted extra "play" in the steering, and it doesn't appear on totally smooth road. Only when its bumpy, or rough. It also does not appear when turning, turns are smooth and controlled.

I am coming from 2012 VW CC, and this feeling is really new to me. On CC, steering was precise without any of this "play". Wife's Lexus RX350 is the same: rock-steady, steering wheel doesn't move over bumps and there is no "play" in it.

I have not noticed it when test driving dealer's car and it basically took me about a week to notice it. I hopped on internet and read a lot of posts, and I thought that this might be alignment/ wheel balance problem. So yesterday I took the car to dealer's and had them check it. They say everything is perfect, and that's the way it supposed to be. They also said that this is how electric steering works and I just need to get used to this feeling because there is nothing wrong with the car.

So am looking for confirmation. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Is it normal and is it something I just need to get accustomed to? I think I read every thread in here that mentioned steering issues but I haven't seen this exact problem being discussed.

Thanks

 

[homeofstone]

I think its the character of the cars suspension. Others have posted about it. Mine does it too but so did a BMW that I use to have. You my want to check your tire pressure to see if the tires are overinflated. Lower pressure will take some of the shake out.

 

[clasys]

I think its the character of the cars suspension. Others have posted about it. Mine does it too but so did a BMW that I use to have. You my want to check your tire pressure to see if the tires are overinflated. Lower pressure will take some of the shake out.

Hey, thanks for the tip. I checked my pressure, it was 33.5 PSI when cold. I think it's fine. It looks more and more like I just need to accept that Genesis steers this way and just try to enjoy it. I also heard that putting some heavy bags of stuff in trunk can make it better since the car is front heavy and rear-drive at the same time.... Do you guys think this will help?

 

[craigt]

Perhaps I'm numb, but I don't feel the steering shake or jitter when going over anything but large bumps. Almost any car does that, including my former '11 Acura TL SH-AWD and '02 Passat.

The Genesis is pretty well balanced. Last I checked, 52/48.

 

[clasys]

Well, I decided to rebalance wheels on my own at another shop that has Road force balancer (I've read that it's the best one). I'm pretty sure h dealer didn't check balance on a machine, technician just drove the car, according to his comments. Hope this will help.

 

[Gunkk]

What the op describes might be tramlining.

 

[clasys]

To follow up on my rebalancing visit: I went to local tire shop and had all 4 wheels removed and checked on road force machine. Surprise surprise... 3 wheels had to be rebalanced. On one they even had to remove and refit the tire before they could balance it. Rear driver side wheel. Guy said it was completely "crooked". His exact words. How is that even possible on brand new car?

I took the bumpiest road home with most potholes, to see if it helped. I think it did. Steering is not as weird anymore and it's not shaking when hitting bumps. Or maybe it's placebo. I don't know. I gotta do some more driving tomorrow, but for now it looks like the issue is alleviated. I am just so happy I can enjoy my new ride, I'm not even mad at the dealer's for their "yo it suppose to be like that" bs.

 

[427435]

Alignment could also play a part------especially if the castor angle isn't as great as it should be.

 

[Alwaysforward]

To follow up on my rebalancing visit: I went to local tire shop and had all 4 wheels removed and checked on road force machine. Surprise surprise... 3 wheels had to be rebalanced. On one they even had to remove and refit the tire before they could balance it. Rear driver side wheel. Guy said it was completely "crooked". His exact words. How is that even possible on brand new car?

I took the bumpiest road home with most potholes, to see if it helped. I think it did. Steering is not as weird anymore and it's not shaking when hitting bumps. Or maybe it's placebo. I don't know. I gotta do some more driving tomorrow, but for now it looks like the issue is alleviated. I am just so happy I can enjoy my new ride, I'm not even mad at the dealer's for their "yo it suppose to be like that" bs.

First off, welcome to the forum.

Congrats on finding the cause an fixing the problem. That is what makes this forum so great. People helping people...

 

[clasys]

What the op describes might be tramlining.

Alignment could also play a part------especially if the castor angle isn't as great as it should be.

First off, welcome to the forum.

Congrats on finding the cause an fixing the problem. That is what makes this forum so great. People helping people...

Thanks everybody for the tips and info. Unfortunately, the issue persists. Today I filled her up, made sure the tire pressure is fine in all 4 wheels (33 cold) and did some mixed highway/city driving. In a city, under 40 mph it's mostly fine. However, on one of NY pothole-ridden highways at 60-70 mph, I had my steering wheel shaking again. Not always, only on bad stretches of the road. The worst thing is that on one stretch of the road it seems to be fine, and right on the next one I feel it again.

Could it be that I'm just overly sensitive and this is how electric steering suppose to work? (Forgive me if this might sound dumb, but I spoke to my father in law and he made a point about electric steering not having any hydraulic parts to dampen sharp road feedback). What would be my next steps on confirming/rectifying this? I am considering going to dealer's and asking them to take another 2014 Genesis on a highway to see if it how it behaves. Maybe alignment is in order? I am literally at loss here.

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[motorsportsauthority]

Look at the tire psi info sticker. Should be in the driver's the door jam. If not, the owner's manual should say what your psi should be cold and hot. But I'm with everyone noted above.

Balance issue
PSI
Alignment

I don't think alignment is part of their normal PDI procedure, nor is checking the wheel balance.

Good luck.

 

[Retry]

My 2012 with 50k on the clock has never experienced the issue as stated by the OP. Not sure if I have electric assist or not, but steering is tight over bumps. I do have an issue with vibration in the steering wheel when slowly backing out of a parking spot. Others have reported this as well.

 

[joeponds1]

Clasys, I think your being "overly sensitive" If the Genesis does not travel when your on a flat road when you let go of the wheel,and drives straight and true.
It must be that your not used to the electronic steering.
I too do wish it felt like a beemer in the steering dept, Ahh but that's not to be.
The 2015 has a more deferent or shall I say tighter feel to it.

 

[darthspader]

You can try nitogen in your tires to see if it reduces it. I too noticed this since day one in my r spec. I chalked it up to elec steering and r spec suspension.