Hyundai is recalling nearly 44,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the steering wheel may detach from the steering column while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the chance of a crash.

The recall covers 43,941 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport crossovers, covering 12,574 Santa Fe vehicles produced between June and December in South Korea, 13,749 Santa Fe Sports produced between July and October at Hyundai's Alabama plant and 17,618 Santa Fe Sports produced between August and October at Kia's Georgia plant.

Another 8,456 vehicles in Canada also were recalled for the potential defect.

There have been no injuries or accidents linked to the defect, or incidents where the defect was discovered while a vehicle was in motion.

The steering wheel assembly may break, which may result in the steering wheel detaching from the steering column while the vehicle is being driven, according to NHTSA's recall report. 

"These vehicles may contain defective steering wheel assemblies from a certain suspect production lot from the supplier," Hyundai reported. "No other Hyundai or Genesis vehicles not mentioned in this report use the same steering wheel assembly or contain steering wheel assemblies from the suspect production lot."

The company said the "mold temperature may have increased during the molding process" and therefore may have caused damage to certain steering wheel assemblies.

In one case in the U.S., a driver was reaching for his wallet and using his steering wheel as leverage, Hyundai spokesman Michael Stewart told Automotive News. The steering wheel became loose, but the vehicle was not moving, he said.

Dealerships will examine the steering wheel hub assemblies and replace the steering wheel assemblies if necessary. The company will notify owners by mail starting by mid-March, Stewart said.