Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10413962July 21, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN AIR BAG FAILURE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413684July 20, 2011
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR FAILED AND NO LONGER WILL REMAIN UP. IT IS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND POINTS DIRECTLY DOWNWARD. THIS IS CAUSED BY A DESIGN AND/OR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VISOR OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVERS VIEW. IN AS MUCH AS THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND IS COSTLY TO CORRECT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OUT-OF-WARRANTY, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR AT A MINIMUM BE PROVIDED WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY BY THE MANUFACTURER. MY VEHICLE IS STILL IN WARRANTY. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413722July 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2010. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY RECORDED THE CODE AND THEN SAID IT WAS THE AC. I WAS ASKED TO WAIT 15 SECONDS BEFORE TURNING THE AC ON AFTER STARTING CAR. SO I DID THAT. ABOUT A WEEK OR SO LATER, THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. TAKE IT BACK TWICE AFTER THIS, THEY RECORD THE CODE AND THEN THE SWITCH IS REPLACED. I MAINTAIN MY CAR WITH ALL MAINTENANCE REQUESTED AND I DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE TIRE LIGHT COME ON A FEW MONTHS LATER - WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TEMPERATURE. THAT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF. NEXT WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT YET AGAIN. THIS TIME IT OCCURRED AFTER I TOOK THE CAR IN ON JUNE 17TH FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THEY TOLD ME A RECALL WAS ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY DID THE RECALL UPDATE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS UPDATE, THE CAR DROVE TERRIBLY. VERY LOUD, VERY ROUGH. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THIS UPDATE, THE CAR BREAKS DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT. IT HAS DONE THIS NOW ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES SINCE JUNE (TODAY IS JULY 20TH). I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD I NEED THE ENGINE LIGHT ON IN ORDER TO REPAIR. THE LIGHT NEEDS TO COME ON TWO OR THREE TIMES BEFORE HYUNDAI WILL REPLACE. THE ENGINE LIGHT SOMETIMES COMES ON, SOMETIMES DOES NOT, BUT IT IS GUARANTEED TO BREAK DOWN. IT IS MOST DEFINITELY THE TRANSMISSION AS IT WILL STALL AND THEN HESITATE. THE LIGHTS ON THE GEAR SHAFT GO AWAY COMPLETELY AND THE DASH LIGHTS GO AWAY SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA IF YOU ARE IN PARK, REVERSE, ETC. LAST TIME MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WENT BACK OFF THAT NIGHT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND HYUNDAI CAN'T SEEM TO FIX. I READ ONLINE FROM A GENERAL SEARCH ON THIS CAR THAT THIS IS A RESOUNDING ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD WITH OTHERS AS WELL. I AM FRUSTRATED AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. I CALLED CORPORATE AND GOT NOWHERE. I CONTINUE TO GET THE RUNAROUND. THEY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THEIR TRANSMISSION ISSUE/LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF THEIR DRIVERS. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413787July 20, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A CRACKING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN ONE LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000. UPDATED 2/21/12 *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413794July 20, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND PROGRESSED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OCCUPANCY SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413553July 19, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
NHTSA ACTION # EA08016 MY 2003 SONATA WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN NY OPERATED THERE UNTIL 06/2008 WAS NOT RECALLED UNDER THE ABOVE ACTION #. I FEEL THIS IS A MISTAKE AS THIS CAR IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL # 09V124000. I CALLED HYUNDAI AMERICA WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413316July 18, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZEN CAUSING METAL ON METAL CONTACT AND PREMATURE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF REAR PADS AND RIGHT REAR ROTOR. FRONT PADS WERE HARDLY WORN. CAR MILEAGE AT 17,000 MILES WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413345July 18, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I BROUGHT MY 2009 HYUNDAI IN FOR 16,500 MILE CHECK AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY REAR BRAKES FAILED AND THE BRAKE SHOES AND ROTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I TOLD THEM I HAD NOT NOTED ANY SYMPTOMS OF OR SOUND OF BRAKE FAILURE AND WOULD GET A SECOND OPINION. AT 18,701 MILES I NOTICED NOISE WHILE BREAKING AND RETURNED TO THE DEALER THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY DRIVING WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I TOLD HIM THAT I DO NOT EVER NEED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK AND SURELY DIDN'T DRIVE WITH IT ON! HE THEN SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY RUST. I WOULDN'T EXPECT REAR BRAKES TO FAIL AT 16,000 MILES. AFTER CHECKING ON-LINE I FOUND IT IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH SONATA. I HAD TO PAY $423.00 TO REPAIR WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413406July 18, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CHROME ON INTERIOR - DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS ERUPTED IN ONE SPOT PRODUCING A PIERCING SHARP NEEDLE-POINT WHICH CAN PIERCE THE FINGER OR HAND WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. CARE IS REQUIRED TO AVOID SKIN PIERCING INJURY. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413441July 18, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE HORN BUT IT WOULD NOT SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413250July 18, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HAVE OWNED THIS 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS NOW. FOR THE FIRST TIME, I OPERATED THE CAR AT NIGHT. I WAS NOT AWARE OF AN OBVIOUS AND CONSEQUENTIAL DEFECT WITH THE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM AIMING ON THIS AUTOMOBILE. WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AFTER DARK, THERE IS A SHARP BOUNDARY BETWEEN HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION ON THE LOWER AREA AND DARKNESS ABOVE. ON ALL BUT LEVEL ROADWAY, THIS HAZARDOUS DEFECT IS APPARENT. MANY ROADS WHERE I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE TWISTING AND HILLY. TRAVERSING THOSE ROADS WITH THIS SONATA USING THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. WHEN THE FRONT OF THE CAR DIPS INTO EVEN A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE, ROAD AHEAD IS ILLUMINATED TO ABOUT 40 FEET IN FRONT OF CAR. LINE OF SIGHT THROUGH WINDSHIELD HAS AT LEAST HALF THE VIEW ABOVE UNLIT. SEEMS THAT THE VIEW ZONE BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATED BELOW, THE EYES TRY TO COMPENSATE FOR CONTRAST. CONSEQUENTLY, THE TOP HALF SEEN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE IN COMPLETE BLACKNESS. ASIDE FROM THE IMPAIRED ROAD ILLUMINATION, WHILE DRIVING ON CURVING ROADS, THERE IS AN ANNOYING HYPNOTIC EFFECT CAUSED. DUE TO THE HARSH LIGHT AND DARK CONTRAST, I FIND IT CONFUSING TO NAVIGATE BETWEEN THE PAINTED LINES DUE TO THE LOW BEAM PROBLEM. LAST NIGHT WHILE ON THE WAY HOME OVER ONE OF THE WINDING ROADS, I NEARLY HIT A DEER. THE ANIMAL WAS STANDING IN THE ROAD BUT I COULD NOT SEE IT. BECAUSE OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY SONATA, I NEARLY CRASHED. FORTUNATELY, THE DEER JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY IN THE LAST SECONDS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CAR. TO ME, THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT PROBLEM IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION. UNTIL THERE IS A SOLUTION, FOR MY OWN PROTECTION, I NOW DRIVE ON THOSE ROADS WITH THE HIGH BEAMS, AT NIGHT, ALL THE TIME. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A SERIOUS AND VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO LIFE AND SAFETY. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413256July 18, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN SUPPLIED WITH THIS VEHICLE IS SO LOW IT CAN NOT BE HEARD BY OTHER DRIVERS. *KB
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
#10413166July 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE BACKING UP MY CAR AT A SLOW SPEED THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED AS IF I HIT A BRICK WALL AND MADE A LOUD CRASHING SOUND. THE INDICATOR LETTERS IN THE DASHBOARD WERE BLANK AND THE SHIFTER GEARS LETTERS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. CAR WAS ABLE TO GET INTO DRIVE AND WAS PARKED, I TURNED THE MOTOR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME AND WILL CALL THE DEALER ASAP. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413173July 16, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS IS WHAT I WROTE TO HYUNDAI: RENTED A SONATA. LOVED THE CAR EXCEPT: SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CAR LEAPED AHEAD SEVERAL TIMES AFTER I HAD APPLIED THE BRAKE (BECAUSE I WAS GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME) AND WAS TEMPORARILY HANDLING SPEED WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL. NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT ON TWQ SUCH OCCASIONS. THEN I FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE "RESUME" BUTTON IS SO CLOSE TO THE RIM OF THE WHEEL, AND SO EXPOSED, THAT THE HEEL OF MY RIGHT HAND WAS TOUCHING IT INADVERTANTLY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL REENGAGED WHEN I DIDN'T WANT IT TO AND DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HAPPENING. IMHO, YOUR BUTTON NEEDS TO BE RELOCATED OR PROTECTED BY A RIDGE. IMHO, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU AGREE. IF NOT, I WILL CONTACT THE NTSB. THANK YOU. HYUNDAI DID NOT AGREE THAT IT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, SO I AM WRITING TO YOU. I NOTICED ON YOUR SITE THAT THERE WERE TWO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SONATA'S SPEED CONTROL, ONE OF THEM SIMILAR IN SYMPTOM, ALTHOUGH THE COMPLAINANT DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE CAUSE. PLEASE NOTE, THIS WAS A RENTAL, NOT A PURCHASE, BUT TO GET THROUGH YOUR FORM I HAVE TO SAY, LATER, THAT IT WAS A PURCHASE. I ALSO INVENTED THE MILEAGE, AS I DO NOT RECALL THE MILEAGE ON THE RENTAL CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412251July 14, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, FUEL WOULD SPILL OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EVEN IF THE FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE TOO SMALL TO ALLOW THE FUEL TO ENTER THE FUEL TANK. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412273July 14, 2011
VISIBILITY
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA SUN VISOR ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE AFTER 60,000 MILES AND APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS MAKING IT JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR NOW HANGS LOOSELY AND DOES NOT RETAIN ITS POSITION OUT OF THE WAY OF DRIVER'S VISION. VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE PROPERLY WITH THE BROKEN SUN VISOR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. IN A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH, THIS IS A _VERY_ COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THE HYUNDAI 2006 - 2008 SONATAS. THIS CONDITION CAUSES REDUCED VISION TO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS. IF HYUNDAI READS THE FORUMS, THEY ALREADY KNOW THIS IS A PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. IF THEY TRACK THE SERVICE INCIDENT RATE OF REPLACED SUN VISORS ON THIS MODEL, THEY WOULD ALSO KNOW THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412338July 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK, TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT DISPLAY READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE UPDATES WERE PERFORMED ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE UPDATES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/22/11*LJ UPDATED 3/08/2012 *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412357July 14, 2011
AIR BAGS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS LIT ALL THE TIMES. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS INACTIVATE THE AIR BAG. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. SHOULDN'T THIS PROMPT A RECALL SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412097July 13, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OR MORE THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED AND ALIGNMENT TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, STATED THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AND THAT IT WAS ALSO DRIVING WITHIN THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE DEALER INFORMED THEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING WITHIN THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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