While the new-gen Sonata nabbed the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick Plus award, its predecessor has been subjected to a recall.
Announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the new safety campaign covers certain Sonata vehicles from the 2011 model year, which have a potential problem with the circuit board of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS).
In extreme cases, affected cars can suffer power steering assist loss and extra steering effort will be required to maneuver the vehicle, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. Hyundai told the NHTSA that it has not identified any crashes or injuries related to this condition, as Reuters reports.
The issue has been discovered after a number of warranty claims due to lost power steering triggered an investigation, which concluded that cars made between December 11, 2009, to October 31, 2010 suffer from this problem.
As usual, owners of the affected Sonata models will be notified by Hyundai and an appointment will have to be made with the local dealer who will replace the EPS control unit free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on May 30.
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