[quadbike]

When one the car's critical systems has a serious defect and the fact that the steering malfunctioned in the middle of traffic, with me barely avoiding an accident(Link to post describing that incident & Hyundai's pathetic response here : Team-BHP - The Definitive Indian Car Community (Hyundai i20 1.2 Asta - A rattled up one year of ownership)), I certainly am not happy and surely regret the decision to buy the i20. It is shameful that a supposedly "responsible" car company like Hyundai treated the incident and steering complaints in the i20 so lightly.

So, unless they completely redesign the steering system in the i20, I am afraid the same issue will continue in the new facelifted i20. I mean look at the number of failed experiments to fix the issue - steering rack change, magnetic transparent grease, yoke plug/spring, steering rack/column tightening at a particular torque setting and what not!!!!. Umesh Yadav will have better odds of scoring a test century than Hyundai ever finding a permanent solution to steering issues in the i20 !!!

I agree that you have had a torrid time. Till now I have considered the steering rattle as a minor annoyance having driven Marutis which rattle all over the place I do not find it that big an issue. Infact I havent even bothered turning the car in for the 3rd Steering rack replacement, because I know that the rattle will be back and I have learnt to live with it. I am thinking may be the guys at your A.S.S screwed up the steering even more that caused the above problem in your car, I haven't heard of a similar experience in this forum from anyone else.

Truth be told as happy as I am with the i20 (IMO its still a great car) I will be buying a Maruti as my next car, simply because almost every other car maker has their A.S.S screwed up (A while back a friend of mine wanted a diesel swift I showed him the Ford Figo review in Team Bhp, and he bought that instead only to have a disastrous after sales experience at Kairali Ford, now whenever we talk he always brings it up!).

[comet]

Originally Posted by sidindica

Its really sad that i10 and i20 end up as nothing short of crappy products with so many design flaws...most importantly the steering and suspension, both dreadful. Sell off the car and get a jazz. It will be available off the shelf from may onwards.

Wanted to replace my esteem with an i10 Automatic Sportz Kappa 2 this month but with these comments on EPS and quality of workshops, Guess i have to check out A-Star now :(

[skanchan95]

An Update:

Just about a week back I was informed by Hyundai RO(Ahmedabad) & workshop(Rajkot) that to address the steering rattle issue in my car, a new solution is now available. A "new" steering rack is now being used in i20s, for which no complaints have been received so far. They would install this new steering rack in our car.

I asked for details, specifically, what are the changes and what is the guarantee that the new steering rack would get rid of the problem *permanently*(I needed a written guarantee for the same). I received a reply stating that By Nov 2011, a new(design) steering rack was being installed on i20s, for which no complaints were received so far. The changes being new material was being used in the construction of steering rack and the yoke plug( no details of "type" of material was given).The same steering rack is now being used on the facelifted i20, which is to be launched soon.

Those who have been following this thread would recall that I was given the same type of assurance when the steering rack was changed for the second time in my car in mid-2010. At that time I was told, "new" steering racks were being installed on BSIV face-lifted i20s and that the problem has been solved. The same rack was installed in our car and the problem, to this day, persists. What if the history repeats itself after the "new" steering rack change?

I still have not received any concrete written guarantee that the problem has been addressed permanently. To the question of what if the problem recurs in our car after this new steering rack in installed, I have received no answer. The steering rattle issue and subsequent EPS malfunction were some of the reasons for which we went to the consumer court. Our lawyer too has received some communication regarding this "new" steering rack and that it needs to be installed on our car. I am in Mangalore for some work and only after going back to Veraval and speaking to the lawyer, will we decide the future course of action.

I am curious at the timing of this latest steering rattle "fix", as this is so close to the facelifted i20's launch.

[CARDEEP]

NOM, but, I guess you are being finicky, unless they are charging you for the same.

I bet it is better to get the same changed rather than keeping the vehicle under wraps & loosing on the resale/ comfort (if any). Pressurize them to install it FOC...

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by CARDEEP

NOM, but, I guess you are being finicky, unless they are charging you for the same.

I bet it is better to get the same changed rather than keeping the vehicle under wraps & loosing on the resale/ comfort (if any). Pressurize them to install it FOC...

Its not an issue of being finicky. Its about getting it in writing and having a guarantee that the issue will not recur.

If you had been in mine or other troubled i20 owners shoes, you would understand what its like being cheated again and again in the name of steering rattle fixes and then being insulted. I do not like what I am doing, but knowing how Hyundai has treated me over the past three years, I think I deserve atleast a written guarantee that the issue has been fixed, before proceeding with another unsure experiment to fix the steering rattle issue. I have enough proof to prove that the car has the dreaded rattle issue and that Hyundai has failed miserable to fix the issue (so far).

[skanchan95]

In one of the threads someone questioned why such a fuss was being about the i20 steering rattle. Well, it was becasue the steering is a critical part of the car and it is not supposed ot rattle like that.

The i20 has another rattle from the front passenger seat( when no one is sitting on it).

i20 front seat rattle - YouTube

It is not from the seat belt, it is the backrest vibrating badly when no one is occupying the front seat. unfortunately in my video, you cannot see the backrest vibrating and these vibrations cause this rattle. No mater which recline angle you place the backrest, it vibrates( it less when the backrest is tilted to its maximum possible position backwards though ).This is another issue which cannot be solved, but am not making an issue of it. Why? because it will not harm anyone in anyway, whereas the rattle from the steering could.

P.S. One can hear steering rattle in the background. It can be heard clearly too, pointing to how bad it has become.

[Pancham]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

The i20 has another rattle from the front passenger seat( when no one is sitting on it).


It is not from the seat belt, it is the backrest vibrating badly when no one is occupying the front seat. unfortunately in my video, you cannot see the backrest vibrating and these vibrations cause this rattle. .

Kanchan, I hear the same rattle from the passenger seat. I took the car to SC a couple of weeks back but I dont think they did much. Will get it rectified during the 3rd service.

[Harshavarthan]

Originally Posted by Pancham

Kanchan, I hear the same rattle from the passenger seat. I took the car to SC a couple of weeks back but I dont think they did much. Will get it rectified during the 3rd service.

I too have this front passenger seat rattling issue. Started within a week after buying my i20 CRDI. Now it's a year and half, done 36k in odo and I've learned to live with it :-D.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Pancham

Kanchan, I hear the same rattle from the passenger seat. I took the car to SC a couple of weeks back but I dont think they did much. Will get it rectified during the 3rd service.

This seat rattle issue is another issue that is not rectifiable in the i20.

People bash Maruti saying how their cars are rattle queens. Atleast those rattles in MS cars are fixable, unlike rattles in the uber rattler i20

[Rodeo]

I gave my i20 crdi for 30k servicing. It costed me close to 10k and steering rattling sound is still not fixed. Who said only skodas are costly to maintain. This is after I am ignoring AC issue.

Will never ever buy Hyundai again.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Rodeo

I gave my i20 crdi for 30k servicing. It costed me close to 10k and steering rattling sound is still not fixed. Who said only skodas are costly to maintain. This is after I am ignoring AC issue.

Will never ever buy Hyundai again.

Didn't you write to Hyundai Customer Care about the issue? No response from them?

[Rodeo]

I wrote to them and no response. Frustrating part is i have complained about this and sent the car for at least 10 times, right from 1st month of ownership. Every time they said whole unit is replaced. Now this time when i said the problem still exist they say car is out of warranty. My frustration is that this was complained while car was in warranty.

Its a shame. Best part is i have been mailing Hyundai customer car and Service guys but no response from Hyundai at all.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Rodeo

Now this time when i said the problem still exist they say car is out of warranty. My frustration is that this was complained while car was in warranty.

This is what many of us were afraid of.
What s the workshop telling you now? Change the steering rack again?

[Pancham]

Thankfully I am "satisfied" with the A.C. It does take a lot of time to cool the cabin but I travel alone most of the time. So I think it works for me. Regarding the seat rattling, the Service Center guys hammered the rails and didnt do much. I will keep my fingers crossed.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Pancham

Thankfully I am "satisfied" with the A.C. It does take a lot of time to cool the cabin but I travel alone most of the time. So I think it works for me. Regarding the seat rattling, the Service Center guys hammered the rails and didnt do much. I will keep my fingers crossed.

In my car, I can actually see the whole backrest vibrating. May be it has nothing to do with the railings.