Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2008)

425 consumer complaints on file.

#10421550August 26, 2011
VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE SUN VISORS CONTINUE TO FALL DOWN OR SAG. I'VE HAD BOTH VISORS REPLACED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF. LUCKILY, MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN SINCE THEN, AND NOW MY SONATA IS OUT OF WARRANTY (I HAVE EXCEEDED 60K MILES). MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE VISOR TENSION ROD LOSES TENSION OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY FAILS RESULTING IN VISOR SAG. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT VISORS HAVEN'T BEEN RE-ENGINEERED, THIS ACCORDING TO A HYUNDAI REP. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO SEE THE HAZARD HERE -- THE VISOR CAN BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VIEW OR WORSE SCALP YOU IF IN AN ACCIDENT. WHAT DOES HYUNDAI DO? THEY CHECK YOUR WARRANTY STATUS AND REPLACE IT WITH SAME DEFECTIVE PART, OR WORSE, IF OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY OFFER TO SELL YOU A REPLACEMENT AT $85.00. REALLY!! THE DEALERSHIPS CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY AS DOES APPARENTLY THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION, WHICH SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA FOR FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A RECALL. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? AND WHY ARE HYUNDAI CONSUMERS STUCK PAYING FOR A SAFETY DEFECT THAT IS UNAMBIGUOUSLY CLEAR? IF YOU DON?T BELIEVE ME, TALK TO ANY OWNER OF AN ?06, ?07, OR ?08 SONATA. THIS IS REALLY UPSETTING TO ME BECAUSE I THOUGHT HYUNDAI WAS DOING A GOOD JOB. NOW, I'M HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS. ISSUE A RECALL ALREADY!! THE P/N FOR THE RIGHT SIDE VISOR IS 85202 0A750QDQQH BY HYUNDAI AMERICA. I DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO SELECT THAT UNDER THE EQUIPMENT TAB SO I POSTED IT HERE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418191August 9, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY WITH OR WITHOUT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE THEY WERE NO LONGER HONORING THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418275August 9, 2011
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. FALLS DOWN EXACTLY AT THE HEIGHT OF MY FOREHEAD SO THAT IF I GET IN A WRECK, MY FOREHEAD WILL EXACTLY HIT THE "EDGE" OF THE VISOR AND CRUSH MY FOREHEAD. SINCE THE DIRECTION OF IMPACT AGAINST THE VISOR IS EXACTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WIDTH OF THE VISOR, MAJOR FATALITY WOULD OCCUR. (THINK OF HITTING YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE "SIDE" OF A PIECE OF CARDBOARD - NO HARM DONE. NOW THINK OF HITTING YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE "EDGE" OR END OF THE CARDBOARD - MAJOR DAMAGE TO YOUR FOREHEAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416963August 3, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE ESC OFF LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA COMES ON AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A FEW MILES. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. IF I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE CAR, THE ESC OFF LIGHT IS UNLIT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FUNCTION NORMALLY. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2006 AND 2007 SONATAS FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V280000) THAT INVOLVED A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MY FAMILY. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415462July 28, 2011
VISIBILITY
DRIVER AND PASSENGER VISOR FALLS DOWN AND BLOCKS VISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415092July 25, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414861July 23, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS A "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT THAT LIGHTS UP EVEN WHEN A GROWN ADULT IS IN THE SEAT. I FEAR THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. I TOOK IT TO A HYUNDAI DEALER IN ILLINOIS, AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE, SAYING IT WAS NOT COVERED BY A CERTAIN RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413221July 17, 2011
VISIBILITY
PASSENGER SIDE VISOR STARTED TO FALL DOWN OBSTRUCTING VISION. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VISOR AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR IS DOING THE SAME THING OBSTRUCTING THE VISION OF THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410452July 5, 2011
VISIBILITY
MOVED DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR TO BLOCK SUN AND NOW VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN AND PARTIALLY BLOCKS DRIVER'S VIEW OF HIGHWAY AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH I FELL IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407417June 19, 2011
VISIBILITY
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SUN-VISOR BY PULLING IT DOWN, THE VISOR WOULD NOT MOVE, THEN MADE A POPPING SOUND. THE VISOR THEN SAGGED, AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. AFTER RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, ESPECIALLY IN STATES WITH HOT/HUMID CONDITIONS, SUCH AS WHERE I LIVE (IN MISSISSIPPI). THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN ANY POSITION EXCEPT STRAIGHT DOWN, AND IMPEDES VISIBILITY, AND BECOMES A HAZARD WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406103June 13, 2011
VISIBILITY
THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND IS A DANGER BECAUSE IT HANGS DOWN IN VIEW. ITS IN THE ARM WHERE SOMETHING IS BROKEN, NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406298June 6, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSENGER VISOR PIVOT ARM FAILED TO RETRACT AFTER A FEW USES. VISOR HUNG DOWN SLIGHTLY AND WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. PASSENGER WOULD HIT THEIR HEAD GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE CAR ON THE VISOR. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER SIDE VISOR PIVOT ARM FAILED TO RETRACT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AFTER FEW USES. DRIVER SIDE VISOR HANGS AT AN ANGLE THAT OCCLUDES DRIVER'S LINE OF VIEW, THUS A HAZARD FOR DRIVER SAFETY. ALSO IF A COLLISION WOULD OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD COLLIDE WITH HANGING VISOR THAT POINTS TOWARD FACE, CAUSING HEAD TRAUMA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402551May 24, 2011
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE VISOR IMPAIRS VISIBILITY SIGNIFICANTLY. THE VISOR HANGS DOWN IN DRIVERS VIEW AND STAYS THERE. WE HAVE HIT OUR HEAD ON THE VISOR MANY TIMES, WHICH HURTS AND CAUSES MORE DISTRACTION FROM DRIVING. WE HAVE NOT HAD LUCK IN FIXING IT AND DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO REPLACE IT DUE TO JOB LOSS AND HIGH MONTHLY PAYMENTS. WHEN I SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, I GET THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT WHICH COMES ON RANDOMLY AND I AM WAY OVER THE LIMIT IN WEIGHT FOR IT TO HAPPEN. I HAVE SAT CORRECTLY AND STILL DO AS TOLD BY MY DEALER. (WHICH WAS TOLD TO ME WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT ON/OFF RANDOMLY). THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON RIGHT AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE EX. LETTING OFF EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND PLACING IN 1ST GEAR. THIS CONTINUES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS MAYBE A MONTH OR MORE, THEN WILL RANDOMLY GO AWAY. THIS IS A DANGER AS WE RELY ON OUR CAREFUL DRIVING AND THE ESC WHICH HAS SAVED US MANY TIMES IN OUR OTHER VEHICLE. THE PAINT STARTED WEARING A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR (WHICH WE BOUGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR AND IT ONLY HAD 32 MILES ON IT) AND "WARRANTY" DOES NOT COVER IT. WE NOW HAVE A POLKA-DOTTED CAR. IT CONTINUES TO RUST AND PEEL AND MAKES US EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH OUR CARS LOOKS AS WE WERE SO PROUD TO HAVE BOUGHT OUR 1ST BRAND NEW CAR. THE PAYMENTS ARE PAINSTAKING BUT WE SAID, "IT HAS SUCH GREAT REVIEWS AND IT IS A SAFE CAR FOR US AND OUR SON, SO IT'S WORTH IT" BUT YOU CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON SAFETY AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE IMPAIRING A SAFE DRIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN MY HUSBAND HAS TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO WORK EVERYDAY-YES, ONE WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402254May 21, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT
OUR 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA , AT AROUND 25000 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE INTENSE SCREECHING FROM REAR BRAKES. LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED US HYDRAULIC PISTON WAS STUCK/RUSTED OPEN AND WAS WEARING BRAKES TOTALLY DOWN. HE WAS ABLE TO GREASE AND DO PAINSTAKING REPAIRS TO PISTONS . HAD TO REPLACE SHOES/ROTORS. NEITHER VISOR WILL STAY UP THEY HAVE SAGGED TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE ESCORTED TO INDUSTRIAL VELCRO TO KEEP THEM UP.THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399302May 6, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES DUE TO THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MYCARSTATS.COM. OFTEN WHEN I GET THE CAR SERVICED BY THE DEALER I HAVE MENTIONED THAT THEY SHOULD CHECK THE REAR BRAKES. THIS TIME WAS THE 45000 MILE SERVICE AND I BROUGHT A PRINTOUT OF THE 26 EXISTING COMPLAINTS. THE SERVICE MANAGER ASSURED ME THAT THEY ALWAYS CHECK AND CLEAN REAR BRAKES, CALIPERS, ROTORS, ETC TO PREVENT AN EARLY FAILURE. SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE CAR, THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLS ME TO SAY THAT INDEED THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT AND NEEDED REPLACING. I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT THAT IT SHOULD BE UNDER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THESE SONATAS. HE SAID BRAKES ONLY HAD A 1 YEAR WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. THERE WAS NO SOUND OR WARNING IN ADVANCE. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MYCARSTATS.COM WEBSITE, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN TO KEEP ASKING. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE FINE AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. DRIVING IS MOSTLY HIGHWAY. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THIS YET? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396501April 14, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VISIBILITY
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WAS PULLED DOWN, THE VISOR COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO THE UP POSITION. THE VISOR IS IN LINE OF SIGHT OF THE DRIVER. I REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR IS DOING THE SAME THING. A WEEK AGO THE ESC OFF LIGHT TURNED ON AND NOW IT TURNS ON RANDOMLY BUT RESETS IT SELF WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394000April 1, 2011
VISIBILITY
I OWN A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN I WAS GETTING IN TO MY CAR, THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE POPPED AND BROKE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOT ONLY DOES IT OBSTRUCT MY VIEW IN THE WINDSHIELD BUT IT ALSO BLOCKS A PORTION OF MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I HAVE HAD IT REPLACED ONCE BEFORE AND IT BROKE AGAIN ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. THE PART IS EXPENSIVE, DIFFICULT TO FIND, AND EVEN THE DEALERS HAVE TO PLACE A BACK ORDER ON THE PART. NO MATTER WHAT OTHER OPTIONS I TRY TO USE, THEY ALL FAIL SO I AM RELUCTANT TO TRY ANYTHING ELSE AT THE RISK OF IT FALLING, HITTING ME IN THE HEAD, AND CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393580March 29, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENGAGING THE BRAKES IT PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392549March 22, 2011
AIR BAGS
2008 HYUNDAI SONATA RED AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. PROBLEM BEGAN ON 11/28/10 AT APPROX. 61000 RECORDED MILES. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD TO BE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL FOLLOWING THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR (NEW). LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON AT 68,000 MILES AND WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. DEALER WANTS $124.00 TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386320March 3, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKES WERE GRINDING ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORN AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKES AND PADS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,279 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ UPDATED 04/05/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Hyundai Sonata