Attn : i20 owners. Steering rattling noise

Sandesh thanks for the update and the pictures.

If the issue is inherent to the i20 then i wonder why they went ahead and replaced the same. Maybe there was a mechanical issue with the system, as you are not facing the issue now(you are not right?).

No, I am not facing the issue now after repalcing the steering rack. Actually a friend of mine who owns a Grey i20 Asta which he had bought an year earlier than me does not have the issue( he lives in same locality, drives on the same roads). So its not common to all i20s. As mentioned in my earlier post, as per the showroom guys, my i20 was the first case of steering rattling complaint that they came across.

Hello Sandesh and all concerned,

I just want to give my experience in this issue. The problem is not only in i20s but also in i10s, while driving over the rough patches of the road, particularly on gravel roads.

I own a i10 Sportz which was also having exactly the same issue. After informing Hyundai Coustomer care, I really appreciate their concern as they promptly replaced the steering column. But before that, like yours, the yoke pad and a slightly longer spring were tried first at the bottom part of the column to rectify the problem.

The dealer showed the documents of replacing the steering column, although I was not an eye witness, trust it was done properly. I test driven the vehicle before signing off and found that the sound subsided a great deal, but a hint was still there. To become more sure I drove their demo car, which is also having a similar sound. So I accepted the replacement.

And now one month after the replacement, the sound started to pronounce itself again. I am at a loss what to do now. I test driven 4 i10's and one Ford Ikon near my area, out of which 3 gave the same sound. One i10 Era and the Ikon produced absolutely not sound.  Another guy who got his steering column replaced at the same time as mine, is absolutely satisfied with the current status.

It also seem to me that some drivers even do not pay any attention to these kind of sounds and take it for granted that some sounds are bound to come on bad roads.

If this is not a problem and is rather a symptom common with power steerings, I believe the car manual should mention it, as Hyundai has included even the very very small "whining sound" of the steering motor which is only audible while manuevring the vehicle at very very slow speed. This is just a humble appeal from me to Hyundai.

Right now I am driving the vehicle with the sound still there, just with the hope that no major concerns were reported on this beloved car in all over India till now. And I must also say to the tune of SRK, that "the i10 really does not move, but glides", even on average roads, where it is a real delight to drive. 

I hope there will not be any terminal issues in future because of this problem. I believe there will be very few who will not accept that that purchasing a car spending 4 lakhs is "once in a lifetime purchase" for many people.

Anu,

Sorry to hear about your experience. The Ikon will not have that sound as it has Hydraulic Power Steering. As you said, some drivers don't care about that sound and have learned to ignore it. A friend of mine has a white i10 Era which has the same sound, he says he doesn't care. For me, the sound has not come back, yet, after the steering rack replacement and I hope it stays that way. Have you spoken to the dealer? What was their reaction?

Hi Sandesh,

I am going next week to check with the dealer again. I don't know whether a second replacement will be done or not. Just wishing that the issue is solved permamently or at least a clarification from the manufacturer that this is a not a problem indeed, since dealer is also unsure whether this is a problem or not. Their typical reply is "Thora to sound karega hi". But what kind of sound this "thora" is nobody is sure.

Anupom,

Tell him "thoda thoda" complaint against the dealer would do? This sort of stupid answer from the workshop fellows must be met with stern warning. Let us know what the dealer says.

Hello Friends,

Finally the problem seems to have been settled. As I was informed by the dealer, Hyundai has accepted this manufacturing defect in the steering columns present in a few batches of the cars and trained the dealers for fixing this particular problem.

My steering column has been fixed without a need for further replacement and the 'kat kat kat' sound is no more there.

I have to thank Hyundai India for finally detecting the problem and arranging to fix the problem in every car.

-Anu.

Anupom,

Nice to know that sound has been taken care of. What did they do to fix it? Any guarantees from your dealer that the sound will no return?

Actually I haven't asked for any guarantee, but the dealer assured that it is fixed and also asked to come immediately if the sound appears. I tested heavily by driving the vehicle on bad roads and got satisfied.

I was told that the problem was inside the power steering block due a gap between two of its components. It was discovered in a few batches of i10s and not all. Automobile Machinists from every dealer were given special training at Hyundai to fix the problem as normally the power steering block is treated in entirity and not de-assembled by at dealers.

I was also informed that a little bit of sound always remains there in "collapsible" form of power steering because of its design in the form of 3 separate parts, which caueses sound when got touched to each other on heavy jerking.

I had nothing to say about that as I am not an expert in this field. But surely I will study these things for basic overview, rather than remaing in the dark about a thing which I will be using everyday.