Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2011)

3,476 consumer complaints on file.

#10474353September 8, 2012
ENGINE
CAR IS NOT STARTING WITH PUSH BUTTON START AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES FOR IT TO FINALLY START. IT IS INTERMITTENT, SOMETIMES STARTS UP RIGHT AWAY, OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474035September 6, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473705September 4, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT I HAVE GONE TO START THE CAR AND IT FAILED TO START BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOW. THE SECOND INCIDENT DID NOT LEAVE ANY CODES FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND A PROBLEM DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DISCONNECTED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473151August 31, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. I HAD MY BRAKE PEDAL STOPLIGHT SWITCH REPLACED A FEW DAYS AGO BY A HYUNDAI DEALER, WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS REPLACEMENT, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF HYUNDAI SONATA OWNERS AND IT WOULD SEEM THAT HYUNDAI HAS NOT CORRECTED THIS ISSUE OTHER THEN TO REPLACE THE OEM SWITCH WHEN IT FAILS. BASED UPON WHAT I HAVE READ, I THEREFORE EXPECT THAT THIS REPLACEMENT WILL FAIL AGAIN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE AND PROBABLY AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME. SINCE IT TAKES ONLY A FEW MOMENTS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH, SOME HYUNDAI OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES HAVE GONE AS FAR AS CARRYING A SPARE SWITCH IN THEIR GLOVE COMPARTMENT IN CASE THE SWITCH FAILS AGAIN AND THEY ARE EITHER OUT OF WARRANTY OR NOT NEAR A DEALER. THE SAFETY ISSUE REVOLVES AROUND THE FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH WHICH RESULTS IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT BEING OPERABLE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER SAFETY SYSTEMS BEING AFFECTED TOO, I.E. TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS. IF THIS SWITCH FAILURE OCCURS WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE GEARSHIFT LEVER CANNOT BE MOVED. IF THIS FAILURE WAS A "ONCE IN A LIFETIME" FAILURE, IT WOULD NOT BE THAT MUCH OF AN ISSUE. BUT AGAIN, THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE CASE AND RESEARCH OF HYUNDAI'S REPAIR RECORDS OR STATEMENTS MADE BY OWNERS OF THESE CARS SHOULD BARE THAT OUT. THE ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH PART IS #93810-3S000. AN ALLEGED UPDATE MAY BE PART # 93810-3K000 BUT THIS PART CAN NOT BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES HAVING THE ORIGINAL PART AND HYUNDAI HAS NOT MADE A RETRO INSTALLATION POSSIBLE IF THIS "K" SWITCH IS INDEED AN UPDATED REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND PRODUCE A RETRO FIT FOR THIS SAFETY RELATED BRAKE SWITCH SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A CONSTANT ISSUE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH WHICH THEN CAUSES, AT THE VERY LEAST, INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472833August 28, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
MY SKID LIGHT WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THEY SAID A BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WAS PULLING A FAULT CODE, SO THEY REPLACED IT. NINE MONTHS LATER MY SKID LIGHT WARNING WAS RANDOMLY COMING ON AGAIN. THEY RAN A TEST AGAIN SAYING IT WAS A FAULTY BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AGAIN. BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN FOR REPAIRS THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR MALFUNCTION ON AUG 14 2012. PICKED UP MY CAR AGAIN AND THE SKID TRACTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN THIS TIME THE TCS LIGHT WAS ON AND THE SHIFTER WAS NOT RELEASING.THEY TESTED THE BRAKE SWITCH CIRCUIT AND FOUND NO POWER TO THE BRAKE SWITCH. THEY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX AND HARNESS CABLE. I HAVE CALLED THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY ALL SAY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH CAUSING THE TCS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON. IF IT IS EFFECTING OTHER CARS THERE MOST BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND HAD IT IN FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OVER EIGHT TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472639August 27, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT UNIT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT UNIT WAS ALSO LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472535August 26, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, WAITING FOR LINE TO MOVE. ENGINE (PUSH BUTTON START) WOULD NOT ENGAGE, THUS CAUSING MAJOR TRAFFIC ISSUES. EVERYTHING DONE ACCORDING TO MANUAL TRYING TO GET STARTER TO ENGAGE. ENGINE STARTER FINALLY ENGAGED AFTER SETTING FOR SOMETIME. THIS IS THE THIRD OCCURRENCE OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. SUSPECT LINKAGE BETWEEN BRAKE SENSOR AND START BUTTON. COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472110August 23, 2012
SEATS, STEERING
THE PASSAGE SEAT SHAKES WHEN THE CAR REACHES 70MPH. SINCE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER IN MAY IT HAS BEEN THERE 2 MORE TIMES, THE SECOND TIME THEY ACTUALLY SAW WHAT THEY CALL A VIBRATION. NOW THE PASSENGER SEAT, DRIVERS SEAT, STEERING WHEEL, AND CONSOLE ALL SHAKE, NOT VIBRATE AT 40MPH. HYUNDAI HAS HAD MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND EVERY TIME I CALL FOR A STATUS CHECK THEY HAVE SOME EXCUSE. THIS IS WHY I DID NOT LIST THE VIN NUMBER BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT IN MY POSSESSION. JUST AN FYI: THERE IS NO PROBLEM MECHANICALLY WITH THE WHEELS, TIRE ROD, ETC. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CHECKED BUT THE CAR STILL SHAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471699August 21, 2012
WHEELS
THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED BUT CAN AND PROBABLY HAPPENED TO SOME OTHER OWNER. THERE IS NO SPARE TIRE JUST AN INFLATION KIT WHICH IS USELESS IF THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE SIDE WALL OR RIM. I AM TOLD THAT I CAN CALL FOR HELP AND BE TOWED TO A DEALER IF THAT HAPPENS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT CELL PHONE SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE. IN THE EVENT OF THIS HAPPENING I COULD BE STRANDED ON A RURAL ROAD, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH NO WAY TO GET HELP. WITH A MOUNTABLE SPARE I COULD GET TO A SAFE PLACE. THIS SITUATION IS NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE THAT TRAVELS TO UNPOPULATED AREAS IN THIS COUNTRY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471524August 20, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE ENTIRE LIGHT FIXTURE WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE OR INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470107August 10, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING OVER THE BRIDGE WHEN I HEARD NOISES FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR . THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS HONKING. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER I SAW MY TAILLIGHT WAS HANGING ON BY WIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470198August 10, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CAR WILL NOT START! HYUNDAI REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS A COUPLE TIMES PER WEEK. THIS WILL BE MY SECOND VISIT TO HYUNDAI. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! WE COULD BE WITHOUT NECESSARY TRANSPORTATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469627August 8, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED POOR ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ACTIVATE THE FOG LIGHTS, WHICH SHOULD ASSIST WITH ILLUMINATING THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468801August 1, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
FROM THE INITIAL TEST DRIVE I NOTICED A PULL IN THE STEERING. IT WAS MENTIONED AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT ISSUE. AFTER PURCHASED I ASKED ABOUT THE STEERING. UNFORTUNATELY, (I WAS TOLD) THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE ROAD FORCE BALANCE MACHINE FOR THEM TO PROPERLY TEST THE ALIGNMENT. I WAITED TILL NOVEMBER BEFORE THIS WAS AVAILABLE. THE 2011 SONATA WANDERED THE ROAD AND PULLED CONSTANTLY TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER (WITH NO RHYME OR REASON). AT ONE POINT IT WOULD PULL SO HARD THE VEHICLE WOULD "V-LINE" OFF ROAD ONCE LETTING GO OF STEERING WHEEL. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS (REPLACED STRUTS, CAMBER BOLT KITS, FRONT TIRES AND SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS) THE PULL WAS STILL THERE. THERE WAS NOTHING MORE HYUNDAI CAN DO AND I WAS TOLD "THAT'S JUST HOW THE CAR IS". I HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO ARBITRATION HEARINGS WITH THE BBB AND HYUNDAI STILL CONTINUES TO SAY "THERE'S NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO, THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS IT IS INTENDED TO". NEGATIVE HYUNDAI!!! THE CAR STILL PULLS AND WANDERS AS IT PLEASES AND I HAVE HAD SWAY BAR LINKS BREAK DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. HYUNDAI IS SAYING I HAVE HIT AN "ANIMAL" AND THE IMPACT HAS BENT BOTH OF THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BROKE ONE ON THE RIGHT FRONT. ALL THOUGH THERE IS NO BODY DAMAGE FROM THIS ANIMAL AND NO SCRAPES ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING IN THE CAR AND FEEL THIS BREAKAGE IS DUE TO ADDED PRESSURE ON SUSPENSION/STEERING PARTS FROM ADJUSTMENT MADE BY HYUNDAI TO "TRY" AND GET CAR TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. MY WARRANTY HAS BEEN DENIED AND HYUNDAI REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. SO DON'T LET THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY LET YOU MAKE THE DECISION WHEN BUYING, WHEN THEY CAN DENY YOUR WARRANTY ANYTIME THEY WANT WITH ANY MADE UP EXCUSE. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR WELL OVER 8 MONTHS FOR A REFUND ON THIS CAR AND I'M STILL FIGHTING!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467585July 24, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OPENED MY TRUNK AND THE PASSENGERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS BROKEN LOOSE, AND ONLY BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE WIRES. ALL THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE PLASTIC TAIL LIGHT TO THE VEHICLE WERE BROKEN OFF. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR IMPACT TO THE LIGHT OR VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466720July 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE START PEDAL, IT LOCKS UP AND DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY FOB IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE 2011 AND NOW AGAIN IN JULY 2012. IT LOOKS AS IF I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT IN EVERY YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ESC ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON ALSO DURING THIS ISSUE PERHAPS THE 2 GO HAND IN HAND. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AFTER I PAID 25K FOR THIS VEHICLE. NO MORE HYUNDAIS FOR ME AT LEAST NOT IN MY LIFETIME!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466735July 20, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AFTER DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE I PULLED UP AT MY HOTEL TO VALET MY CAR. WHEN I WALKED TO THE BACK OF MY CAR I REALIZED THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS HANGING BY THE WIRES. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT ALL OF THE PLASTIC MOUNTING TABS WERE BROKEN. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEY HAD SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM BEFORE, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE MINE BECAUSE THE MILEAGE WAS OVER 60K. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM IN MY OPINION CONSIDERING BRAKE LIGHTS/ TAIL LIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466538July 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS, AND THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME - MAYBE ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, USUALLY ON MY WAY TO WORK OR COMING HOME FROM WORK. I REVERSE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME AND REVERSE OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK. I TURN MY CAR ON AND SHIFT MY CAR INTO REVERSE, I HEAR A THUMP AND A VERY SLIGHT LUNGE WITHOUT EVER TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE. WHEN I SHIFT IT TO FORWARD DRIVE, IT SHIFTS AS IT SHOULD. THEN, AS I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL FROM 0-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO LURCH INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT LURCHES AGAIN WHEN I SPEED UP TO 30-40 MPH. AS I TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 40-80 MPH, I CAN FEEL THE CAR LURCH INTO A LOWER AND HIGHER GEARS AS I LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND ACCELERATE. IT IS USUALLY TEMPORARILY FIXED BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. WHEN I SAY "LURCH", IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR DECREASES SPEED FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN RESUMES PROPER SPEED QUICKLY. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, BUT SINCE THE WEIRD GEAR SHIFTING HAPPENS SO RARELY, I DIDN'T THINK TO LOOK IT UP AND DO SOME INTERNET RESEARCH UNTIL NOW. IT APPEARS LIKE A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465924July 17, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE IDLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTE WITH MY FAMILY INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE LEFT FRONT SIDE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DAMAGED TO THE LEFT SIDE FOG LIGHT, ENGINE AREA. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI SERVICES STATION IN NEW YORK (BRONX SERVICES STATION), AND THEM THE NIGHTMARE STARTED. AFTER 14 DAYS AND MULTIPLE CALLS / VISITS TO THE SERVICES STATION, I WAS NOT GIVING A REASON FOR THE INCIDENT. ALL HYUNDAI DID FOR ME WAS WASTE MY TIME AND EFFORT, THEY DO NOT BACK THAT SO CALL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. PS HUYNDAI VEH ENGINEER THAT LOOK AT MY CAR WAS A JOKE, ALL HE DID WAS LOOK AT THE CAR AND STATED "ITS MISSING SOMETHING".HE ALSO REFUSED TO ID HIMSELF... CORPORATE OFFICE WOULD NOT GIVE ANY SOLUTION EXCEPT FOR MY TO GO THRU MY INSURANCE.....DONT BOTHER COMPLAINING JUST GO TO THE MEDIA WITH YOUR ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465782July 16, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT BOTH ILLUMINATED. THE AIR CONDITIONER ALSO WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE WAS INSTALLED INTO THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURES BEGAN TO OCCUR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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