Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10253157December 30, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE HE "T-BONED A TRUCK AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253164December 30, 2008
EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
REF: NHTSA NUMBER PE08029 I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA AND HAVE A RUSTED CROSS MEMBER HAVE 140,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253293December 30, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOTH TIE ROD ENDS BREAK. REPLACED BOTH. CAR THEN EXPERIENCED BROKEN LEFT AXLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARE WHICH WAS ATTRIBUTED TO CRACK IN SUB FRAME. SUB FRAME REPLACE WITH AXLE AND CONTROL ARM. ARE THERE ANY RECALL ON SUBFRAME FOR 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS? CAR HAS NOT EXPERIENCE ANY FRONT END COLLISION IN HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE. CAR BOUGHT NEW AT DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253028December 29, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS. THEY REMOVED THE SEAT AND SENT IT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED DIM FOR AT LEAST A WEEK. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT RETURN HIS CALL FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253073December 29, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I OWN AN 06 HYUNDAI SONATA AND WAS HEARING A GROWLING NOISE WHICH BECAME LOUDER WITH INCREASED SPEED. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH THE HOPE OF IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM, I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TWO FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS (TO A TUNE OF $1100.00). I AM SHOCKED BY THIS CONSIDERING THIS IS A FARELY NEW VEHICLE. I READ COMPLAINT AND DEFECT REPORTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE WHICH SITED FRAME CORROSION ISSUES IN MODELS UP TO 2002. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE BUT MY CAR IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED OR INCLUDED BECAUSE IT IS A 2006 MODEL. I KNOW THAT HYUNDAI CLAIMS TO HAVE IMPROVED THE ENGINEERING OF THEIR NEWER MODELS; HOWEVER, IT JUST SEEMS IRONIC THAT I AM NEEDING TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING (WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE FRAME) AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES AS OF THIS DATE, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT IF I DIDN'T REPLACE THESE BEARINGS THAT I AM IN JEOPARDY OF THE WHEELS FALLING OFF...WHICH COULD BE DETRIMENTAL AND VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252726December 24, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN A PASSENGER WHO WEIGHED 130 POUNDS OCCUPIED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. THE WARNING LIGHT IMPROPERLY IDENTIFIED A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE FAILURE TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE PASSENGER COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING WHEN NECESSARY. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #08V161000 FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE SEAT AND IMMEDIATELY THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/15/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252172December 18, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT
SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES SUDDENLY AND TURN HIS WHEEL. RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE OF THE ENGINE CRADLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER AND SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN DONE AS OF YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252179December 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OPERATE A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. IT EQUIPPED WITH SHIFTRONIC FEATURE, WHERE YOU ABLE TO OVERDRIVE A REGULAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BY MANUALLY SWITCHING TO DESIRED GEAR. HOWEVER, IT HAS OWN LOGIC NOT TO ALLOW YOU TO SWITCH TO INAPPROPRIATE GEAR LEADING TO OVERSTRESS AND/OR DAMAGE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROAD I USED ABOVE MENTIONED FEATURE TO SLOW DOWN A CAR WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (SO-CALLED ENGINE BRAKE). AT SAME TIME I USED REGULAR BRAKES TOO SINCE ENGINE BRAKE IS NOT SO EFFECTIVE AND IT CAN'T STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY. MY CAR HAS ALSO NO ANTI BLOCKING SYSTEM (ABS) INSTALLED. *** AT THE MOMENT, WHEN ROAD WAS TOO SLIPPERY, FRONT WHEELS WERE BLOCKED FOR SHORT PERIOD. I EASED PEDAL LIKE IT'S NORMALLY REQUIRED FOR CARS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, BUT TRANSMISSION LOGIC ASSUMED THAT CAR IS STOPPED COMPLETELY AND SWITCHED TO THE FIRST GEAR AT SPEED AROUND 40 KM/H (25 MPH) WHICH LED THE FRONT WHEELS TO BLOCK PERMANENTLY AND DUE TO THAT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. *** FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOBODY AROUND AND I ONLY ENDED UP ON THE ROAD'S RIGHT SHOULDER. I REPEATED THIS SITUATION IN UNPOPULATED AREA AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. (THE SHIFTRONIC'S LOGIC IS SWITCHING TRANSMISSION TO THE FIRST GEAR AUTOMATICALLY AFTER CAR IS STOPPED TO AVOID THE ENGINE STALL WHEN YOU START MOVING AGAIN) I THINK, THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF READER AT REAR WHEELS TO DETECT THAT CAR IS STILL MOVING OR ABS SYSTEM TO BE PRESENT AS STANDARD, NOT AS OPTIONAL FEATURE. OR, MAYBE, TRANSMISSION'S BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE UPDATED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252206December 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA AT LOW SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS SPACE FOR ME TO PULL TO THE CURB AND NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF TRYING THE CAR STARTED UP AND I DROVE IT HOME. THREE DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON A BUSY STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH. AGAIN I WAS FORTUNATE AND COULD PULL TO THE CURB. THIS TIME I COULD NOT START IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A "DEFECTIVE EVAP. SOLENOID THAT WAS CAUSING ENGINE FLOODING." THIS WAS A VERY SCARY OCCURRENCE--IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER (DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND MY SUDDEN SLOWING COULD CAUSE REAR-END CRASH. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251931December 16, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
COMPLETE 4 WHEEL BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REQUIRED AT ONLY 27,000 MILES AT A COST OF $825. I AM A VERY SLOW AND CAREFUL DRIVER AND NOT HARD ON BRAKES. DEALER SAID ALL 4 WHEELS WERE METAL TO METAL AND HYUNDAI CLAIMS THIS IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS WAY TOO SOON AND DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251826December 15, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2001 HYUNDAI SONATA V6, WITH UNDER 120K MILES. TIRES REPLACED FOR WEAR AND ALIGNMENT PERFORMED ON WEEK OF 12/08/2008. MECHANIC POINTED OUT ALIGNMENT A MOOT POINT DUE TO RIGHT SUB FRAME, AKA K-FRAME,AKA ENGINE FRAME, AKA RIGHT WHEEL SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS RUSTED THROUGH TO POINT OF BEING ABLE TO ENTER RUST CAVITY WITH ALL FINGERS. THIS RESULTING TO CRACKED SUBFRAME AT WHEEL WELL SIDE WERE SUSPENSION IS MOUNTED. SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORT LEAKING POWER STEERING LINE FROM OVEREXTENDED DISTANCE FROM FRAME STRETCH . THIS ALSO IS A PROBLEM IN SANTE FE. I IMAGINE THE SAME K FRAME BEING USED A COST SAVING MEASURE. I'M NOW WAITING FOR HYUNDAI AMERICA TO RESPOND TO MY CASE #3460531. DON'T YOU BELIEVE ANYONE WHO DISCOUNTS THIS AS BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT COSMETIC BODY RUST THROUGH , BUT A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NHTSA WILL BE ISSUING A RECALL ONCE THE BODY BAG COUNTS BEGIN BEING ATTRIBUTED TO THIS NATIONAL PROBLEM. SOME REPS ARE SAYING IT'S A SALT BELT SALES PROBLEM BUT THIS CONSISTS OF 60% OF THEIR SALES AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE GOOD FOR POORLY ENGINEERED STEEL CONSTRUCTION. IT APPEARS THE SALT WATER ENTERED FRONT OF FRAME BUT NEVER COULD EXIT DUE TO NO EXIT HOLES TOWARDS REAR OF FRAME. OXYGEN EXPOSURE TOOK CARE OF THE REST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251746December 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE BATTERY IS OFTEN DRAINED AND CONTINUES TO DO SO ALL THE TIME I'VE RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET AND MANY OWNERS OF THE 2002 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SWITCH RELAY. MANY HAVE REPLACED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND PROBLEMS CONTINUE. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY DRAINING AND DYING ALL THE TIME I HAVE PURCHASED A JUMP STARTER FOR MY CAR. I HAVE TO JUMP MY CAR EVERY TIME I USE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251625December 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR STALLS OUT IN LOW SPEED DRIVING, IDLING, AND OR WHEN BACK UP. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE OR NOT IN THE VEHICLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE HAD OIL CHANGED, FLUIDS CHECKED, ALTERNATOR CHANGED, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES ALSO CHECKED. THE CAR HAS ALSO HAD FUEL SYSTEM FLUSHED AND PROBLEM WITH STALLING PERSIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251303December 10, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SLIGHTLY RELEASED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY PERFORMED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 01/07/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/12/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251321December 10, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT FORUM FOR THIS ISSUE, IF NOT, PLEASE DIRECT ME WHERE I CAN LODGE MY COMPLAINT. HYUNDAI MOTORS PROVIDED A WARRANTY REPAIR NOTICE FOR MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS STATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR (75 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE), THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNLESS I BROUGHT THE PERSON WHO SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO NOT STAY INDICATED. THE PERSON IS MY DAUGHTER, AND PULLING HER OUT OF SCHOOL JUST TO INDICATE THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS MALFUNCTIONING IS NOT A REASONABLE EXPECTATION SO THAT THE PRODUCE DEFECT CAN BE REPAIRED. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WILL NOT INDICATE CORRECTLY IF THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND MY DAUGHTER SITS IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251188December 9, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUBFRAME BEING SEVERELY RUSTED IN ON SPECIFIC AREA. FRAME FAILURE AT THAT POINT IS LIKELY TO CAUSE A WHEEL/SUSPENSION FAILURE, MOST LIKELY WHILE BEING PUT UNDER THE STRAIN OF TURNING/BRAKING. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DEFECT IF NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251186December 9, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I TOOK MY 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THERE IS A FIST-SIZED HOLE IN THE FRONT RIGHT SUB FRAME UNDER MY CAR. CURRENTLY, I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX MY VEHICLE AND IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION THE NEXT TIME AROUND. I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO PAY FOR THIS DAMAGE BECAUSE A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT BE RUSTING OUT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251054December 8, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 (AIR BAGS). HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 6-7 TIMES AND THEY INSPECTED THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EVENTUALLY SHIPPED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE OCS. THE DEALER REINSTALLED THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY SOON AFTER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE OCS WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,650 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 01/08/09 *BF UPDATED 01/09/09*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250854December 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ENGINE CRADLE (PART OF FRAME WHICH SUPPORTS FRONT SUSPENSION) RUSTED THROUGH ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. FRAME FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES PER HOUR. THIS FAILURE DAMAGED CV SHAFT. TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS $1,270.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250645December 3, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG REMAIN DEACTIVATED (SIGN SHOWS THAT), SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN MY WIFE (120LBS, 5'3) SITS ON IT. HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY SENT THE SEAT TO HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER FOR RECTIFICATION, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS SITUATION IN CASE OF CRASH, AS HAVING PROPERLY WORKING AIRBAG IS ESSENTIAL FOR PASSENGER SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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