[mitchell]

A month ago the traction-control light came on my diesel wagon and wouldnt go out,the next day I took it to the agent where they fixed it.Two weeks latter whilst driving in heavy traffic doing a right hand turn the light appeared again and I lost all power-assist to the steering wich created a potentially dangerous situation,I turned the key off and on again and it came good but only for a couple of klms when it stopped again.I managed to get to the dealer where after a week they replaced the whole steering-column as the electric unit is an integral part,I reckon electric power assist is a step backwards as with hydraulic system you generally got some warning of trouble eg pump noise,slipping belt or oil-leaks and you could allways carry a spare hose if going in a remote area.The next vehicle I get it will be definitely be a question asked.

[accim]

A month ago the traction-control light came on my diesel wagon and wouldnt go out,the next day I took it to the agent where they fixed it.Two weeks latter whilst driving in heavy traffic doing a right hand turn the light appeared again and I lost all power-assist to the steering wich created a potentially dangerous situation,I turned the key off and on again and it came good but only for a couple of klms when it stopped again.I managed to get to the dealer where after a week they replaced the whole steering-column as the electric unit is an integral part,I reckon electric power assist is a step backwards as with hydraulic system you generally got some warning of trouble eg pump noise,slipping belt or oil-leaks and you could allways carry a spare hose if going in a remote area.The next vehicle I get it will be definitely be a question asked.

Interesting. I just wrote about that issue, few days ago, to a Slovenian i30 owner and advised her what to do.

And it wasn't the traction control light you had, because it wasn't the ESP light, it was probably the EPS light  (Electric Power Steering)

You are probably experiencing (ok, I hope you aren't anymore) similar stuff as member described in this thread -> https://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=5352.0

Electric steering is good thing if you ask me, but really bad if something brakes down. I really like that the wheel is light when standing/driving slow and stiffens up, when going faster. It's especially good on highway, if traveling with higher speed. It feels much more solid. Beside that, they had to do it, because of the competition, I guess. What I would advise to Hyundai is, to have all critical i30's checked (recalled in) and if necessary, replace the steering column - of course if they've established when and where the "problematical" i30's built. I know I've read few times, about that issue in i30's and of course in some other cars.. There aren't many owners with that issue, as you can see from this forum, but still.

Last day, I drove my fathers Santa Fe y2009, which doesn't have EPS, and it was so strange, because light touch of the on the wheel, makes the "wobble". Now, when that happens at let's say 180 km/h and with SUV, it's not a moment of joy. I experienced the same with my mom's Volvo V40. It just feels "unsafe" going faster then 120 km/h. Although you get used to it, and non of my previous cars had EPS (we get spoiled so quickly) and there's no problem after few 10 km's, but at first I really missed the EPS.

I think you shouldn't have problems now, when it's replaced.

Off topic: Few months ago, I read that the new i40CW, has really great and "responsive" steering and the people that were testing the car, said it's probably due to the fact, that it doesn't have the EPS, but hydraulic powered wheel, which is interesting (and the same people criticize i30's steering, for not giving enough "feedback" through the steering wheel, about what's going on the road). Anybody have any info on that? (if so, we could continue in i40 thread).

[mitchell]

Thanks for your reply,your right it would be the electric power steering light.I noticed a few others  have had the same problem.I checked with some other dealers and apparently Toyota have electric-assist on the corolla,yaris models whilst Mazda use hydraulic on there small car range.The salesman at Toyota with expected sales talk said Toyota are fussy where they souce there componants from ,I dont know if they had experianced any similar problems the salesman sure as hell wasnt going to tell me.Looking on the the net theres are differant designs of the unit also,my vehicle is an 09 model with 40000 klms up so I hope Hyundai have received some feed back and sorted it out.