Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10225240April 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CRADLE HAS RUSTED OUT ON 1999 SONATA, ALSO CAUSING DAMAGED CONTROL ARM ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE. REPAIR COSTS ARE OVER $2000. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE AND HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS OR COLLISIONS. WHAT LOOKED LIKE SIMPLE MISALIGNMENT OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE TURNED OUT TO BE A MUCH BIGGER SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225259April 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES, THE REAR BRAKE DISINTEGRATED DUE TO DRAGGING AND I WAS INFORMED IT WAS MY DRIVING. ONLY ONE REAR BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED IN THIS WAY, HOWEVER ALL ROTORS HAD TO BE "TURNED DOWN" AND NEW BRAKES WERE INSTALLED ALL AROUND EVEN THOUGH ALL OTHER 3 PADS WERE LIKE NEW. AT 72,000 THE FRONT BRAKE DID THE EXACT SAME THING AND THE REAR BRAKE WAS CLOSE TO BEING DETRIMENTAL TO THE ROTOR. THE FRONT ROTORS COULD NOT BE "TURNED-DOWN" AGAIN, SO NEW ROTORS WERE APPLIED. THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC, AT A WELL KNOW FACILITY INFORMED ME THAT HYUNDAI'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR WEARING OUT BRAKES AND THEY SEE THIS CONTINUED PROBLEM. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE HYUNDAI DEALER IS QUITE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I AM NOW ON A "WATCH" AT THIS MECHANIC'S SHOP TO KEEP FROM HAVING YET ANOTHER BRAKE ISSUE. SOMETHING CAUSES THE BRAKES TO DRAG AND WEAR QUICKLY AND NOT ALWAYS THE SAME BRAKE. THE BRAKE PEDDLE, AFTER THE FIRST HYUNDAI SERVICE, WENT TO FLOOR AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SONATA IS DESIGNED FOR THE "OLDER" CUSTOMER WHOSE REACTION TIME IS SLOWER AND MORE UNSTEADY, THEREFORE THE BRAKING IS LONGER AND SOFTER. AFTER THE NEW MECHANIC ADJUSTED EVERYTHING, MY BRAKES ARE NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224849April 17, 2008
STRUCTURE
I TOOK MY CAR TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC ON 3/19/2008 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS AND IT WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY. HE TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE W/ MYSELF IN THE CAR. IT MADE NO NOISE AND IT DID NOT "PULL". HE REASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK AT THAT TIME, HOWEVER, IF IT BECAME A PROBLEM TO LET HIM KNOW. THE SQUEAKING RETURNED INTERMITTENTLY. A LITTLE OVER A WEEK LATER ON 3/28/2008, I WAS DRIVING FROM MY HOME IN SCRANTON, PA TO MY SON'S DR'S APPOINTMENT IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. I WAS ON THE PA TURNPIKE FOR A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR, DURING WHICH TIME I NOTED TO MY MOTHER (DRIVING WITH ME) THAT THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT, HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT. UPON GETTING ONTO THE SCHUYLKILL EXPRESSWAY I HEARD A SQUEAL ON THE TIGHT LEFT TURN (A VERY DANGEROUS, HIGH TRAFFIC HIGHWAY) AND STAYED ON THAT FOR APPROX ANOTHER 10MILES. I TURNED ONTO ANOTHER HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY I STOPPED AT THE FIRST INTERSECTION. AFTER STOPPING I TRIED TO PULL OUT AND THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. WHILE I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION (THE COPS EVEN DROVE RIGHT ON BY), I WAS FRANTIC CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IF HAD HAPPENED SECONDS SOONER, IT WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING NOT ONLY MYSELF, MY MOTHER AND MY EIGHT YEAR OLD SON BUT ALSO OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MECHANIC, WHO EVALUATED THE CAR THE PREVIOUS WEEK, STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS "ROTTED AND RUSTED OUT" WHICH RESULTED IN THE AXLE DROPPING OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. HE COULDN'T FIND USED PARTS. THE JUNK YARDS SAID ALL OF THE '99 AND '00 SONATAS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE PUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IN GRAVE DANGER. NO THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NO THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THAT WAS ONLY DUE TO THE FORTUNATE TIMING OF THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE CONTACT HYUNDAI TO RECALL THIS PART NO ONE SHOULD BE PUT IN THIS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224690April 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN SOMEONE WHO 125 POUNDS WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT REGISTER THAT THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 22,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 05/13/08. *LJ AN EXHAUST SHIELD HAD TO BE ORDERED DUE TO A RATTLE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK DID NOT OPEN FROM THE SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. UPDATED 05/13/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224289April 12, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION BROKE LEAVING WHEEL HANGING AND INOPERABLE. COULD NOT MOVE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC LANE. UPON INSPECTION BY THE REPAIR FACILITY IT WAS DETERMINED THAT RUST TO THE SUB FRAME AND RELATED BOLTS CAUSED THE FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING FASTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223804April 9, 2008
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE MY WIFE IS SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT ACTIVATED & IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. WE HAVE HAD THE FRONT CUSHION REPLACED IN NOV 2007 BUT THE PROBLEM HAVE RETURNED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WE HAVE PHOTO'S OF THE LIGHT ON & PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. COMPANY SO FAR IS SENDING ME TO THE DEALER BUT UNLESS THE LIGHT IS ON WHILE WE ARE THERE THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223718April 8, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED/LOCKED WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223449April 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
VEHICLE BEGAN KNOCKING AS IF SOMETHING HIT IT FROM UNDERNEATH. ALSO, STEERING SUDDENLY WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND FRONT END FELT VERY LOOSE. MECHANIC DISCOVERED A HOLE IN SUBFRAME APPROX. ONE FOOT IN SIZE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION ON PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT MOTOR IS LOOSE AND VEHICLE IS VERY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS THREE TIMES ON THIS MODEL ONLY; ALSO SAID THAT FRAME DESIGN IS SUCH THAT WATER COLLECTS ON TOP AND CANNOT DRAIN. VEHICLE IS 2000 AND ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CERTAIN YEARS, YET NO TSB'S OR RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223128April 2, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
PULLING UP TO A LEFT TURN INTO THE DAYTONA SAM'S CLUB, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND LOWER WISHBONE ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE'S SUB-FRAME AND MY WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SUB-FRAME HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THERE IS NOT A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR! IT WAS BY GOD'S GRACE THAT I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15MPH FOR JUST MOMENTS EARLIER I WAS DOING 70MPH ON I95! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHICALLY DEADLY! IT ONLY HAD ABOUT 58,500 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE SEPARATION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK FOR HYUNDAI THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT BECAUSE HYUNDAI USED RECYCLED METAL TO MANUFACTURE THESE FRAMES WITHOUT USING RUST INHIBITORS. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN STORAGE AND I HAVE CLEAR PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE RUST HOLES WHERE THE WISHBONE BOLTS PULLED OUT OF THE SUB-FRAME AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO YOU. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC DEFECT AND HYUNDAI IS BURYING ITS HEAD IN THE SAND. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEIR ATTITUDE WAS THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM SINCE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER. I CONTACTED THEM TWICE, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY NEVER CALLED ME AGAIN. I HAVE OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE THIS SUB-FRAME AND MAKE THE VEHICLE DRIVABLE; NOT INCLUDING THE BODY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE WHEEL HITTING THE RIGHT FENDER. HYUNDAI IS CONDUCTING ITSELF IN A WHOLLY RECKLESS MANOR AS THIS DEFECT CAN, AND PROBABLY WILL, TAKE HUMAN LIVES AS THESE SUB-FRAMES RUST APART! THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITH OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT NONE I WOULD CONTACT NHTSA OVER THESE SINCE THEY ARE NOT-SAFETY RELATED, BUT HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE HAS A HUGE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222970March 31, 2008
STRUCTURE
MY 2001 SONATA ENGINE CRADLE IS SERIOUSLY RUSTED OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE AFT, A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BE ISSUED. I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINT ONLINE FOR THE SAME AUTO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222506March 27, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE CAR WAS NOT STEERING CORRECTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT FIXED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE ALIGNMENT BUT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT WILL COST US AROUND $2000 TO HAVE FIXED, AND WE ARE NOT SURE IT WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO BE FIXED. THE MECHANIC SAID WE ARE LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT FALL OUT, THE CRADLE WAS SO RUSTED. AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND, AGAIN WE ARE UNSURE IT CAN EVEN BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221620March 18, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I'VE HAD A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, AND RECENTLY I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS JUST AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INSIDE OF MY TIRES WHERE WEARING OUT TOO FAST. SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE/TRANS CRADLE(SUB-FRAME) WAS ALMOST TOTALLY RUST OUT AND THAT IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME(WHICH ALSO MEANT THAT THE DEALER I GOT THE LOAN FROM SOLD ME THE CAR KNOWING IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE). IT WAS RUSTED OUT SO BAD THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WHERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND THAT THE CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER I GOT THE CAR FROM DOES NOT COVER THOSE PARTS UNDER THE SERVICE AGREEMENT(THE CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WITH OVER 137000 MILES). SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A FRAME SHOP THAT WANTED OVER $1800 TO INSTALL THE CRADLE AND CONTROL ARMS. THE END OF THE STORY IS THAT I'M STILL DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE ITS MY ONLY WAY TO WORK, AND STILL TRYING TO SAVE MONEY TO GET THE THING FIXED. I'M JUST WANDERING WHICH POT HOLE I HIT IS GOING TO KNOCK THE CONTROL ARMS OFF THE REST OF THE WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220935March 12, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKES BURNED INTO ROTOR ON DRIVERSIDE REAR ONLY,HYUNDAI REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT AS A DEFAULT,HAD BRAKES FIXED AT ANOTHER SHOP AND TAKING HYUNDAI TO COURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220380March 7, 2008
SEATS, SUSPENSION:REAR
OWN 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA SE WITH ONLY 5000 MILES. HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1. REAR SUSPENSION HAD TO REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE 2. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. ONE SEAT RUNNER WAS DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220219March 6, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ON 3/3/08 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO JONES CHAPEL ROAD AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR FULL THROTTLED ON IT'S OWN. I TRIED MASHING THE BRAKES AND IT ONLY SLOWED MY CAR BY 10 MILES AN HOUR OR SO. I FINALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL(THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV VERY HIGH) AND SHUT MY CAR OFF. I HAD ROADSIDE TOW IT AND IT IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FLOOR BOARD AND MY CAR FLOOR MAT IS SECURED BY A PEG. WHEN THE CAR TOOK OFF IT LITERALLY JERKED MINE AND MY DAUGHTER'S HEADS BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220241March 6, 2008
SEATS
WHILE NOT MOVING WAITING TO MERGE, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN IT WAS HIT THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLID BACK AND LAID BACK SO THAT THE DRIVER COULD NOT REACH THE WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220293March 6, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND LEFT SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 230,000. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10219664February 29, 2008
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BECAME UNATTACHED AND FLIPPED OVER. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WERE MISSING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10219253February 26, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2007 HYUNDAI SONATA FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT FAILS TO SHUT OFF WHEN PASSENGER IS SITTING THERE. PROBLEM RELUCTANTLY RESOLVED AND THE SEAT WAS REPORTEDLY REPLACED. THE CONDITION HAS RETURNED WITH THE NEW SEAT. WIFE WEIGHS 125 POUNDS. I HAVE PHOTO'S OF LIGHT ON FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219011February 24, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED CAUSING AN SAFE SITUATION SHOULD IT FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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