Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10239104August 20, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I FOUND THAT I COULD HARDLY CONTROL THE STEERING OF MY CAR, AND THE TIRES WERE SQUEALING EVEN WHEN GOING STRAIGHT. I GOT THE CAR TO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD AND SHOWN THAT THE SUB FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH, MAKING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED USED PARTS DEALERS ALL OVER NY, NJ AND MA AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PART IS IN HIGH DEMAND FOR MY MODEL CAR, BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR. DESPITE THIS, HYUNDAI DEALERS TELL ME IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. IT IS A 9 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 85,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238843August 19, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG NOT DETECTING AN ADULT PASSENGER AND "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" COMING ON. TOOK 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA TO DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY 2008 TO FIX PROBLEM- THEY REFUSED BECAUSE PROBLEM IS NOT CONSISTENT. AFTER RECEIVING RECALL LETTER, TOOK AUTO BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN THEY REFUSED TO HELP US, CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (1888-327-4236) AGAIN NO HELP BECAUSE DEALERSHIP CANNOT CONFIRM PROBLEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238664August 18, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SENSOR DEVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT NO REMEDY WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238732August 18, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TWO OF THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE A SILVER METALLIC FOIL THAT HAS SPLIT AND COME LOOSE. MY SON CUT HIS FINGER OPENING THE DOOR. NOW THE DRIVER DOOR INSIDE HANDLE ALSO HAS THE SILVER FOIL COMING LOOSE. WE HAVE HAD TO PUT TAPE ON IT TO PREVENT GETTING ANOTHER CUT FINGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10238767August 18, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE CRADLE / CROSS MEMBER RUSTED THROUGH ON PASSENGER - SIDE [RIGHT SIDE] OF UNDERCARRIAGE [3 INCHES?] . APPARENT ENGINE LEAK FROM AIR CONDITIONER DESPITE REGULAR [HYUNDAI] MAINTENANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238608August 17, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT
RUSTED FRAME, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238436August 15, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH; HOWEVER, TWO OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THERE WAS NO MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE AIR BAGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER TIME. THE SECOND ACCIDENT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/22/08
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10238075August 13, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
IN 2007 A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WAS BEING PERFORMED ON THE CAR AND IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A 1-2 INCH ROTTED HOLE THE RIGHT SIDE SUBFRAME. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS, SO HE WELDED ON A NEW PIECE OF METAL FOR SUPPORT. TODAY (8/13/08) ANOTHER OIL CHANGE WAS BEING DONE AND IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE IS NOW A 2-3 INCH HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE SUBFRAME THAT WASN'T VISIBLE A YEAR AGO. MECHANIC HIGHLY RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE FRONT SUBFRAME. REF PE08029. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237668August 11, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE "HALF-DOLLAR" SIZED HOLES IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE ALSO CRACKS IN THE FRAME. HE CALLED SEVERAL JUNK YARDS TO FIND A FRAME FOR THE VEHICLE. EACH ONE STATED THAT THEY WERE HARD TO FIND DUE TO THE "TREND" OF RUST AND CORROSION ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATA (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE08029). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237690August 11, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CORROSION OF FRONT SUB-FRAME LET TO SEPARATION OF LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM SUB FRAME. THIS CAUSED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE AND LOSS OF STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237754August 11, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, BUT SHE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE COULD ACCELERATE THAT FAST IS BY HER FLOORMATS BECOMING STUCK TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE REPLIED THAT THE FLOORMATS DO NOT MOVE AND SHE WAS DRIVING UPHILL AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237763August 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIMING BELT; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237787August 11, 2008
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AND RECALLED, CLOSE TO THE 2006 RECALLS. WE OWN A COMPANY AND HAVE PURCHASED OVER 12 TO 14 HYUNDAIS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE SONATA GLS 2005 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SEATBELT RESTRAINT, THE FRONT TIRES ARE CLOSER TO THE BACK & NOT CENTERED ON THE WHEEL WELL (HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASED, BUT THEY DO NOT CORRECT.), HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS & THAT UNIBODY TYPE FRAME & SO ON. IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A TRUCK LEFT THE TAIL GATE DOWN & A LADDER HIT THE WINDSHIELD, THE CAR WAS THEN PARKED, TURNED OFF , THE KEYS TAKING OUT OF THE IGNITION & THEN BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE CELL PHONE THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT INFER ALL THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TO LOCK UP & CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT TO WEAR. HYUNDAI STATES THAT THIS IS NOT WARRANTED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DEPLOYED AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. HYUNDAI HAD A GREAT WARRANTY 10 YEARS AGO. THEY DO NOT STAND UP TO THEIR WARRANTY AS BEFORE & I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME OF THE WARRANTY HAS CHANGED. I HAVE SWITCHED TO TOYOTA. HYUNDAI HAS DONE NOTHING SO FAR TO CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10237593August 10, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STEERING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2008, I BROUGHT IN MY 2001 GLS V6 HYUNDAI SONATA TO BALISE HYUNDAI OF CAPE COD IN HYANNIS, MA. MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 166,500 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. I WAS LOOKING TO GET A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED. DURING THEIR DIAGNOSTICS, WITH THE CAR ON A LIFT, THEY NOTICED TWO THINGS. ONE, A POWER STEERING LEAK WAS OCCURRING MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF A CORRODED POWER STEERING LINE NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME. TWO, IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE SUSPECTED HOSE FAILURE, THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON TWO SIDES OF THE PIECE. THE MAIN HOLE IN THE SUBFRAME IS FIST-SIZE OR LARGER AND THE SECOND IS NOT GOOD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME ISSUE WAS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND WARNED ME OF WHAT COULD HAPPENED SHOULD IT FAIL. THEY ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES THAT REPLACING IT COULD BRING. THEY TOLD THAT THEY WERE HIGHLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ME DRIVING OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR WITH THE SUBFRAME IN THAT CONDITION BECAUSE IT COULD GO AT ANY TIME. WHEN THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY MIGHT DO THE SERVICE ON THE SUBFRAME FOR FREE. THEY HAD TO GET APPROVAL FROM A REGIONAL REP OR SUCH PERSON. HOWEVER, AS OF TODAY, SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALER. TODAY, I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH INTO REPLACING THE SUBFRAME AND FINDING THE PART. WHEN I DID A YAHOO! SEARCH FOR "SONATA SUBFRAME", I CAME ACROSS THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM. I, THANKFULLY, HAVE NOT HAD A FAILURE OR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION, YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237499August 8, 2008
SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT A NEW 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED- I TOOK IT THE HYUNDAI SERVICE IN YONKERS NY TO TEST DRIVE MY NEW CAR . IT SEEMED TO ME THE CAR HAD BAD FRONT SHOCKS ABSORBERS. AFTER BEING DRIVEN BY ONE OF THEIR SERVICE MEN HE AGREED THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. I WAS TOLD TO BRING BACK THE CAR WHEN THE NEW SHOCKS ARRIVE. THE MANAGER AND HIS SERVICE MEN WERE VERY COURTEOUS TO ME AND HANDLED THE SITUATION VERY PROFESSIONALLY. UNTIL THE TIME THE NEW SHOCKS ARRIVE I WILL NOT USE THE CAR, BECAUSE I CONSIDER IT A DANGER ON THE ROAD. I'M HOPING THAT WILL BE THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237254August 6, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP AND IT BEGAN PULLING SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRAMES ON HYUNDAI SONATA VEHICLES, AND THAT MINE EXHIBITED THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS THAT OTHERS HAD REPORTED. HE SAID I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY, AS I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED AND. IN HIS WORDS, "THE FRAME WAS SO BAD I COULD NOT GET BOLTS OUT OF CONTROL ARM, HAD TO CUT FRAME APART AND PRESS OUT BUSHINGS, REPLACE SWAY LINK." THE CONTROL ARM WAS BARELY ATTACHED AFTER THE FRAME FAILED. HE REPLACED THE COMPLETE CROSSMEMBER ASSEMBLY (PART #'S 62405-38101, 54561-38000, 265-2197) AND SUGGESTED I FOLLOW UP WITH HYUNDAI, SINCE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE REPAIRS WERE FINISHED ON 7/2/2008. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI, PROVIDED ALL THE INFORMATION THEY REQUESTED AND I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME WITHIN A WEEK. I HAVE TALKED WITH THEM SEVERAL TIMES, AND EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY ABOUT WHY I HAVE NOT BEEN REIMBURSED YET. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CARS REPAIRED BY HYUNDAI, OR BEEN REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS, AND PROVIDED ONE PERSON'S CASE NUMBER AS AN EXAMPLE. AS OF 8/6/2008, I HAVE YET TO TALK TO THE SAME PERSON TWICE AT HYUNDAI, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN REIMBURSED. THE CASE NUMBER WITH HYUNDAI'S CONSUMER DEPARTMENT IS 3340021. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237295August 6, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TOOK AUTOMOBILE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. MECHANIC DISCOVERED MAJOR RUSTING ON SUBFRAME AND ENGINE CRADLE. RUSTED THROUGH AND HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237299August 6, 2008
AIR BAGS
AUTOMOBILE HAS HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ( MORE THAN 8 TIMES). IN EACH INSTANCE LIGHT IS RESET AND COMES BACK ON SHORT TIME LATER. DEALERSHIP ISSUED ASSURANCE ILLUMINATED AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT INDICATE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHICH IN NOT TRUE. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED NOW AND DEALER NOW WANTS TO CHARGE TO FIX. RECALL ISSUED IN 2002 FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS NEVER REPAIRED. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237213August 6, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
NEW 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA UNLOCKS ALL DOORS ANYTIME CAR IS PLACED IN PARK. THIS FEATURE IS IN THE DESIGN AND CANNOT BE DISABLED. THIS FEATURE PUTS ALL PASSENGERS AND DRIVES AT RISK ANYTIME THE CAR IS STOPPED AND PLACED IN PARK, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE CRIMINALS FIND THIS OUT *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237219August 6, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2009 HYUNDAI SONATA ALL DOORS UNLOCK WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN PARK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY DESIGN PROBLEM AND CANNOT BE DEACTIVATED OR CORRECTED BY DEALERS. THIS PROBLEM IS PUTTING ALL PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS AT RISK, WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN PARK ESPECIALLY ONCE THE CRIMINALS HERE ABOUT THIS DEFECT. HOW MANY CARS WILL BE HIJACKED AND OR ROBBERIES OCCUR BEFORE SOMEONE REALIZES THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS FEATURE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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