I’m in a bit of a bind with my 2012 Elantra. Last week, my steering coupler gave out, and I can’t afford to get it fixed right away. I’m really hoping to make it until November when I can save up enough to handle the repair.
The car has 116,000 miles on it, so unfortunately, it’s not covered under the TSB. I’ve been trying to get some clarity from my dealership about whether it’s safe to drive, but they wouldn’t give me a straight answer.
I usually don’t drive much…just a quick 10-minute commute to work and back, occasional trips to the grocery store (also about 10 minutes away), and visiting friends nearby.
I’m really anxious about this, so I’d appreciate any advice or insights. Is it safe to drive with a broken steering coupler, even if it’s just short distances? Are there any signs I should look out for that might indicate it’s becoming dangerous?
You drive your car every day, but only for short trips. Don’t take it to the dealer; they will charge you two to three times more. Just find a local mechanic.
Only drive the car if you’re going to the mechanic.
Absolutely not! No way, no how. The steering coupler is what connects your steering wheel to the steering rack.
It might just be a bad bushing now, but if you keep driving it, the extra stress could cause the connection to break. That means you could lose steering completely, which is really dangerous.
I drove my 2012 elantra for 2 years before I had it fixed. Never had any problem with the steering except for slight clicking sound when turning the steering wheel.
The steering coupler is a rubber bushing-like part that helps transfer the motion from the steering wheel to the steering rack. Over time, just like any bushing, it will wear out and cause extra play in the steering.
Is there a chance you could lose steering? Yes. Would I drive it? Nope…