Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2002)

320 consumer complaints on file.

#10226588May 4, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
IN A RECENT VISIT TO HYUNDAI DEALER RELATED TO ANOTHER MATTER I LEARNED THAT MY 2002 SONATA WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A RUSTED OUT ENGINE CRADLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE YET TO GET THIS FIXED DUE TO THE PRICE (EST. $2500) AND YET AT THE SAME TIME I REALIZE THE SITUATION WILL ONLY GET WORSE. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET WHERE YOUR AGENCY IS INVESTIGATED THIS MATTER AND ALSO ON THE INTERNET I LEARNED OF MANY OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS DUE ENGINE CRADLE FAILURE. THE SUSPENSION GIVES WAY AND WHEELS FALL OFF, ETC. IN MY OPINION HYUNDAI USED INFERIOR METAL IN THEIR ENGINE CRADLE AND INCORRECTLY DESIGNED THE ENGINE CRADLE SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS AND OWNED MANY MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES BUT NEVER HAVE I BEEN FACED WITH SUCH A SITUATION. I REALIZE MANY PARTS HAVE A LIMITED LIFE SPAN BUT THE ENGINE CRADLE SHOULD HAVE AN EXTENDED LIFE. MY WIFE HAS A 1999 SUBARU WITH MORE MILES THAN OUR SONATA AND WHICH HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON THE SAME ROAD CONDITIONS WITH LESS CARE THAN WE HAVE GIVEN THE SONATA AND YET HER CAR DOES NOT HAVE SUCH AN OBVIOUS AND COMMON SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS IMPORTANT MATTER. I TRUST THAT YOU WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO REQUIRE HYUNDAI TO CORRECT THIS MATTER BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE PUT IN JEOPARDY AND LOST DUE TO THEIR OVERSIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225889April 28, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BROUGHT MY WIFE'S CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND SHE HAD COMPLAINED THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE THAT HAD JUST STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. I WAS INFORMED WHEN WE WENT TO PICK IT UP THAT THE FRAME CLOSE TO THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS RUSTED WITH A HOLE AND LOOKED IT WAS CRACKING. MY WIFE IS A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER AND WE TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT DUE TO ANY KIND IF IMPACT, BUT IT HAD JUST RUSTED AT THAT SPOT. *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
#10213810January 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
DOORS LOCK REMOTE WONT UNLOCK CAR IF I USE THE KEY TO THE DOOR ALARM GOES OFF AND I CANT SHUT IT OFF. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205616October 14, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON 10/10/07 MY WIFE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED HER 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA IN THE GARAGE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER SHE NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE HOUSE, AND RETURNED TO THE GARAGE TO INVESTIGATE. GAS WAS POURING FROM THE GAS TANK FILL DOOR ON THE CAR. THE GARAGE FLOOR HAD A 6' DIAMETER PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. SHE OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR AND BACKED THE CAR OUT ONTO THE DRIVEWAY AND POSITIONED A CATCH PAN UNDER THE CAR. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 GALLON OF GAS WAS IN THE PAN AFTER SHE OPENED THE FILLER CAP TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 3/4 TANK OF GAS AT THE TIME. WE DELIVERED THE CAR THE DEALER THAT NIGHT FOR REPAIR. THEY RETURNED THE CAR ON 10/12 AFTER REPLACING A CANISTER AND VALVE ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, WITH THE FIRST TIME BEING APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS EARLIER, ALSO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A LIKELY EVENT WITH THE AMOUNT OF RAW GAS AND FUMES IN THE GARAGE HAD WE HAD A GAS WATER HEATER. IT IS NOW FOUR DAYS LATER AND WE STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE SMELL OF GASOLINE OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GARAGE. MY WIFE IS ALSO AFRAID TO PARK THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. JUST TO ADD TO THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE, THE SERVICE WRITER WAS RUDE TO MY WIFE WHEN SHE PICKED UP THE CAR, AND WE NOW HAVE A DENT IN THE LEFT REAR DOOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202484September 11, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA THE FINISH IS PEELING OFF THE DOOR HANDLES AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CUT AS IT PEELS IT IS VERY SHARP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10202224September 7, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 09/04/07 I BOUGHT A USED 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA AND ON 09/05/07 THE CAR LOST 1ST AND 4TH GEAR IT SEEMED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WERE GOING OUT , BUT WHEN I STARTED REVIEWING OTHER CONSUMER RELATED ISSUES I NOTICED OVER 900 CONSUMERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HYUNDAI'S , BUT THE CAUSE ENDED UP BEING THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR. WHICH IN SOME CASES TOOK CONSUMERS UP TO 6 MONTHS TO LOCATE ONE. UNFORTUNATELY I FINANCED THE CAR AS IS WITH NO WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200077August 19, 2007
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
THE INSULATED PIECE OF TUBING THAT COVERS A SMALL PORTION OF THE POWER STEERING LINE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A BREATHABLE TYPE OF PRODUCT. MY POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING AND IT IS NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE. THAT PORTION OF INSULATION ON THE POWER STEERING LINE RETAINS MOISTURE, THEREFORE IT CAUSES THAT PORTION OF THE POWER STEERING LINE TO RUST AND THE FLUID LEAKS OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR HAS ONLY 59,200 MILES ON IT. EVERY TWO DAYS I PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID UNTIL I GET AN ANSWER IN REFERENCE TO THE WARRANTY. THIS LINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199633August 15, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DOOR HANDLES ARE PEELING (SILVER COATING) AND IT HAS CAUSED SEVERE CUTS TO ANYONE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, BOTH ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS FRONT SIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10189661May 3, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND REMAINING ON AT CERTAIN TIMES. CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN MARCH 2007. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND WAS NOT COVERED SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG HAD NOT EVER DEPLOYED SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO NAPLETON HYUNDAI IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 WITH THE SAME AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM AND WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECH. THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186146March 26, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND HAD REMAINED ON IN THE 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL 02V145000. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT. THE DEALER WANTED TO DO SOME EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE AIR BAGS, BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF HER OWNPPOCKET. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,283.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184634March 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC ,WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CRANK SENSOR, CAM SENSOR, AND THE TIMING BELT. THE MECHANIC MADE THE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THE NEXT DAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE CRANK SENSOR, CAM SENSOR AND THE TIMING BELT. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MODULE ASSY- TIMING AND ALARM SYSTEM WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE MODULE ASSY- TIMING AND ALARM SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THIS REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD 74000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183091February 20, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY 2002 HUNDAI SONATA BLK 4 DOOR AUTOMATIC. I STARTED TO GET IN THE CAR THURS MORNING 2/15/07 AT 4AM. THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WOULD NOT GO IN. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. HE DID ADVICE TO PUT A NEW BATTERY IN THE CAR. HE SAID IT WAS TIME FOR A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO HIM FOR SOME TIME. AND FIND HIM VERY REPUTABLE IN THE AREA. HOWEVER, THE TOW MAN ALSO COULD NOT PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AT HIS SHOP THE KEY WENT IN. BATTERY WORKS GREAT. SO THE NEXT MORNING 2-16-07 THE IGNITION WOULD NOT GO IN AGAIN. I CALLED MY DEALER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THERE. THEY SAID IT DIDN'T DO THAT FOR THEM THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. THEY TRIED THE KEY ALL DAY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE TIME OF TESTING THE SITUATION THERE. THE CAR IS UNDER A POLICY OF WARRANTY FOR 60,000.00 MILES. HOWEVER, I COULD GIVE THEM $160.00 TO OPEN UP THE IGNITION TO THE TUMBLER. I FEEL THAT IF ITS UNDER WARRANTY THAT THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THERE ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO TOW IT AGAIN IF IT PERSISTS. I SAID WHAT IF I GET STRANDED, AND YES, I HAVE NO CELL PHONE. THEY SAID JUST CALL THE 800# ANWAYS FOR TOW. SO I WASN'T SATISFIED AT GRAPPONIES IN CONCORD NH. SO I ASKED AUTO FAIR IN MANCHESTER, THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I THINK THAT ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE TOW MAN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MYSELF. AND THAT WE HAVE TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS FOR THEM, THAT THEY WILL REPAIR AT NO COST AT THAT TIME. WHEN ITS' UNDER THE WARRANTY. MY FEELING IS THAT BOTH DEALERSHIPS THAT ARE LOCAL DON'T WANT TO EAT THE PART FOR INVENTORY, IF THERE IS NOTHING WRONG W/THE CHIP IN THE TUMBLER. SO I GUESS I HAVE TO JUST CROSS MY FINGERS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. GRAPPINE DID MAKE ME A NEW KEY FOR THE IGNITION. SO I'M A FRUSTRATED CONSUMER IN MANCHESTER, NH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182525February 13, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE METALLIC TAPE FINISH ON THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE IS PEELING OFF, CREATING SHARP EDGES. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL CUTS TO HAND AS IT SLIDES OVER THE RAZOR SHARP EDGE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10178661January 14, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE PEELING AND LEAVING JAGGED EDGES THAT CUT THE HANDS. TWO PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED CUTS FROM THIS DOOR HANDLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10177370December 29, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE FILED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LATEST COMPLAINT I HAVE IS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THIS BROKE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL GARAGES INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP AND NO ONE HAS EVER REPLACED AN UPPER CONTROL ARM EXCEPT ON A VEHICLE THAT IS VERY OLD AND THEN VERY SELDOM. MY SON WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FELL SIDEWAYS. UPON LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM WE DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BROKE. THIS SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE NOT HAPPENED ON A 2002 VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176916December 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1) ENGINE LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH 2) FAN KNOB FOR HEATING/AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK ON 1 OR 2, IT WILL ONLY WORK ON 3 OR 4. THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176896December 25, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
HYUNDAI SONATA 2002 OUTSIDE AND INSIDE PAINTED DOOR HANDLE PEELING CAUSING INJURY TO HANDS. INJURY MORE CAUSE BY INSIDE DOOR HANDLES DUE TO SLIVER PAINTED DOOR HANDLES. BECOMES VERY SHARP ONCE PEELING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10176168December 14, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT LEFT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR CAUSE ON 2/22/2004, WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER AT 2 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER, BUT THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE AIR BAG. ON 6/5/2006, A NHTSA RECALL LETTER # 02V145000 FOR THE AIR BAGS: SIDE/WINDOW WAS ISSUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND SALES/SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175276December 6, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WAS HARD TO SHIFT. ALSO, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK, THE GAS SPILLED OUT WHILE PUMPING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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