Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2011)

3,476 consumer complaints on file.

#10408493June 22, 2011
STEERING
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IN MY 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED. AT SPEEDS ABOVE ABOUT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS RANDOMLY LEFT & RIGHT. THE HIGHER THE SPEED, THE WORSE IT IS. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO VERY SENSITIVE TO WIND AND EVEN THE WAKE OF PASSING VEHICLES PUSHES THE CAR AROUND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ALSO IS HARD TO STEER ON GROOVED PAVEMENT, WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SQUIRM AROUND ERRATICALLY. I AM CONSTANTLY "CORRECTING" THE STEERING TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT TRACK. THE VEHICLE OFTEN PULLS STRONGLY TO THE LEFT. THIS OCCURS ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A "CROWNED" HIGHWAY. PULLS VERY STRONGLY TO THE LEFT, BUT TRACKS STRAIGHT WHEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407448June 19, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A NEW 2011 SONATA. I BEEN HAVING EVERY PROBLEM YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH MY CAR. THIS TIME IT'S MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT, IT WAS LITERALLY HANGING ON BECAUSE OF MY TRUNK. I LOOKED INSIDE WHERE THE LIGHT USE TO BE ATTACHED AND ALL THE PLASTIC CRUMBLED APART. I CALLED HYUNDAI ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A NEW TAIL LIGHT TO REPLACE MINE WITH AND WHEN I GOT THERE FOUND OUT IT WAS BROKEN, SO THEY TOOK A TAIL LIGHT OFF ANOTHER SONATA AND PUT IT ON MINE UNTIL THEY ORDER ANOTHER ONE. MY ORIGINAL TAIL LIGHT SCRATCHED AND CRAVED THE PAINT ON MY CAR IN AND AROUND THAT AREA. IT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF I HAD NOT BEEN SO CAUTIOUS DRIVING AFTER SEEING IT HANGING ON BY MY TRUNK. ONE OF THE SERVICE GUYS TOLD ME THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME HE SEEN THIS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407284June 17, 2011
STEERING
STEERING ON 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA PULLS TO THE LEFT. PROBLEM IS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. TECHNICIAN AT OIL CHANGE SHOP NOTICED FEATHERING OF TIRES @ ~5000 MILES. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN FACTORY SPECS. ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER TIRE NOISE AND HANDLING WERE BAD ENOUGH I TOOK IT BACK. AT FIRST, I WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. COMPLAINED IN SURVEY AND DEALERSHIP CALLED AND ASKED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE PRETTY BADLY CHOPPED UP AT THIS POINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406985June 15, 2011
STEERING
ONE OF MY RELATIVES DIED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN HER NEW 2011 SONATA, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED ON 10/28/2010 BY HYUNDAI MOTOR ALABAMA. THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED ON A COMMUNITY WEBSITE. HTTP://WWW.NORTHJERSEY.COM/NEWS/TRANSPORTATION/RIDGEFIELD_PARK_ACCIDENT_KILLS_WOMAN_CLOSES_ROUTE_80_DETOURED_MILK_TRUCK_OVERTURNS.HTML IN A NUTSHELL, SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE EASTBOUND LOCAL LANES OF ROUTE 80 WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER CAR. THE VEHICLE ROLLED UP ONTO A DIVIDER BETWEEN THE EXPRESS AND LOCAL LANES AND HIT THE END OF THE GUARDRAIL TO THE LEFT OF HER CAR. THE IMPACT SPUN HER VEHICLE INTO THE PATH OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER. THE TRAILER STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, AND SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. THE SUBSEQUENT AUTOPSY REPORT COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING OF 2011 SONATA ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. ONE OF THEM IS THE WEBSITE OF AUTO RECALLS FOR CONSUMERS HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2011/HYUNDAI/SONATA/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX 177 OUT OF 266 COMPLAINTS (67%) ON 6/12/2011 ARE RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, BECAUSE IT PULLS THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT STRONGER AND STRONGER AS THE SPEED ACCELERATES ABOVE 25 MPH. SADLY, THE UNDERLYING CAUSE IS HARD TO DETECT, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING OF THIS VEHICLE IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. THOSE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE OF THIS ACCIDENT. THE POLICE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE CAR RAN INTO THE GUARDRAIL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF ROAD. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) ONCE ANNOUNCED THE HYUNDAI SONATA RECALL ON 9/23/2010 IN CONNECTIONS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE RECALL AFFECTS 2011 HYUNDAI SONATAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 12/11/2009 AND 9/10/2010. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THE DEFECT OF THE POWER STEERING COLUMN AFFECTS SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED EVEN AFTER THIS RECALL PERIOD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10407032June 15, 2011
STEERING
STEERING LEFT PULL - OCCURED BEFORE BUYING WHILE TEST DRIVING DEALER SAID IT WAS AIR NEED FOR THE TIRES. AT PICKUP SAME THING HAPPENED BROUGHT IT BACK REALLIGNMENT WAS DONE 3 TIMES IMPROVED SLIGHTLY BUT CAR FEELS LIKE 'DRIVING A BOAT' HAVE TO KEEP REALIGNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406836June 14, 2011
STEERING
UPON IMMEDIATELY DRIVING MY BRAND NEW 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLS DRASTICALLY AND UNSAFELY TO THE LEFT. IF I LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, I WILL BE IN THE NEXT LANE WITHIN 2 SECONDS. IT IS DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THE ROAD IS CURVING TO THE RIGHT. THEN I WILL BE IN THE NEXT LANE IN LESS THAN 1 SECOND. HAVE BROUGHT IT TO DEALER 3 TIMES, THEY CHANGED TIRES, REPLACED STRUT, REALIGNED, AND DID A SPECIAL WHEEL BALANCE, TO NO AVAIL. THEY SEND A FACTORY ENGINEER TO LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. HE IS LYING. I SENT VIDEO TO HYUNDAI CORPORATE, AND FILED A LEMON LAW CLAIM. I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN AREA MANAGER DRIVE IT WITH ME THIS WEEK.. I HAVE OWNER SEVERAL NEW CARS IN MY LIFE , THIS IS DANGEROUS A RECALL IS NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406061June 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I STOPPED BY THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP AND TURNED OFF MY CAR. AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF "PARK." I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES AND EVEN ASKED THE GAS ATTENDANT TO TRY AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AS WELL. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND PROCEED ON MY WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406673June 12, 2011
STEERING
WITHIN DAYS OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IT WAS NOTICED THAT IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. WE DROVE IT FOR 1,000 MILES THINKING THAT IT WAS WINTER WITH SLUSH ON THE ROADS AND THEREFORE THIS MAY CAUSED THE PULLING. WE TOOK IT OUT ON THE ROAD AND IT DID NOT STOP PULLING TOT HE LEFT. THE PULL WAS CONSTANT AND REQUIRED ONE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO COUNTER THE CONSTANT PULL TO THE LEFT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MEDIATION OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED THE HYNUDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE FIRST TIME I LEFT THE CAR WITH THE DEALER FOR 4 DAYS. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS IN "SPEC" WITH HYUNDAI SPECIFICATIONS. THEY EVEN SAID THE TECHNICIAN DROVE THE CAR AND FOUND NO PULLING TO THE LEFT. I LEFT THE LOT AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNED STATING IT PULLED AS BAD AS BEFORE. I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN AND THEY ROTATED THE TIRE AND BALANCED THEM. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS LAST TIME, THE DEALER PERFORMED A ROAD TEST FORCE BALANCE. THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS PULLING IS ACUTE AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS TO THE POINT THAT I WILL NOT ALLOW MY SPOUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT OF TOWN. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES NOR ADMITS THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER DID INDICATE WHEN HE RODE WITH ME THERE IS A DEFINITE STEERING PROBLEM. I HAVE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY HYUNDAI BEFORE A FATALITY OCCURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406678June 11, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SUSPENSION, STEERING
I HAVE A TURBO LIMITED SONATA. IT HAS A SEVERE LEFT PULL. IF I AM DRIVING ON A FLAT SURFACE AND LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, I WOULD BE OFF THE ROAD TO THE LEFT IN ABOUT 5-6 SECONDS. IF I AM ACCELERATING, I WOULD BE OFF THE ROAD WITHIN 1-2 SECONDS. IT IS A REAL PROBLEM. MY DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE THE SPECS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I CALLED THE NEXT CLOSEST DEALER AND THEY ALSO DO NOT HAVE A FIX. I AM CONSTANTLY ASSURED THAT HYUNDAI IS WORKING ON THE ISSUE, BUT LETS FACE IT, IT HAS BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS. I HAVE LOST FAITH THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX. THE NEWLY SOLD 2011 SONATA LIMITED TURBOS ARE BEING SOLD WITH THE 17" WHEELS, NOT THE 18" WHEELS I HAVE. THEREFORE, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY ARE TRYING TO CHANGE IT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WITH THE 18" WHEELS? DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES BEFORE THIS GETS FIXED? THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME. THERE ARE ALREADY OVER 165 COMPLAINTS AND I HOPE MORE ARE ADDED DAILY. I AM A REPEAT HYUNDAI SONATA BUYER AND VERY DISCOURAGED WITH THE QUALITY OF SAFETY IN THIS CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AND FORCE A RECALL!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405898June 10, 2011
STEERING
CAR PULLS LEFT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45MPH. CONSTANT PULLS MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406449June 9, 2011
SUSPENSION, STEERING
VEHICLE PULLS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 25 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED FROM MY WIFE'S HANDS .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10405602June 8, 2011
STEERING
CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404545June 6, 2011
STEERING
2011 HYUNDAI SONATA SE 2.0 TURBO PULLS TO THE LEFT. DEALER DID A FRONT END ALIGNMENT PER THE TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THAT DID NOT FIX IT. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404482June 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONE MORNING WHEN GETTING READY TO GO TO WORK, I TRIED TO START MY 2011 SONATA. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, WHICH WAS VERY HARD, PUSHED THE BUTTON BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD ALL COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFT COULD NOT BE MOVED. I ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE NEXT 10 MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE. MY HUSBAND TRIED PUTTING JUMPER CABLES ON THE BATTERY TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT START. I WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. FINALLY AFTER ALMOST 20 MINUTES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EASY TO PUSH ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. IT CAUSED ME TO BE LATE TO WORK BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER OCCURRENCE UNTIL ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR SOME TIME AND STOPPED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND ONCE AGAIN THE BRAKE WAS VERY HARD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AFTER MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE NEXT 10 MINUTES, IT FINALLY STARTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10403689May 29, 2011
STEERING
BRAND NEW 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0T PULLS NOTICEABLY TO THE LEFT ON LEVEL ROADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10404762May 27, 2011
STEERING
2011 SONATA TURBO LIMITED PULLS TO LEFT, DEMONSTRATED THIS TO SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER WHO SAYS IT IS THE WAY I AM DRIVING THE CAR. COMPLAINT FILED WITH HYUNDAI, BBB, ETC. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. LOANER CAR THAT THEY GAVE ME DID THE SAME THING. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM WITH 2011 SONATA AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402773May 25, 2011
STEERING
MY OCT. 8 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0T IS A LEFT PULLER. I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. MY DEALER WILL NOT ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND I AM GETTING TIRED OF DEALING WITH IT. SOME DAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS PULLING ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US SOLVE THIS. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402383May 23, 2011
STEERING
2011 HYUNDAI SONATA TURBO PULLS TO THE LEFT, SOMETIMES PRETTY HARD, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES. ANY RELEASE OF TENSION ON THE STEERING WHEEL BY THE DRIVER RESULTS IN THE CAR SWERVING TO THE LEFT. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE ROAD IS FLAT, IT DRIFTS; BUT IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OF CROWN, IT WILL SWERVE LEFT. I HAVE NOT EVER HAD IT PULL OR DRIFT TO THE RIGHT ON ANY ROAD CONDITION. THIS BECAME VERY NOTICEABLE EARLY ON. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 4,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS BEING TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THIS WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402155May 20, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BALANCING OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402133May 19, 2011
STEERING
2011 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED TURBO 2.0L, BOUGHT APRIL 2011, PULLS LEFT. ON LEFT-CANTED LEFT LANE CAR PULLS HARD TO LEFT, NEEDS CONSTANT CW (RIGHT) FORCE EXERTED ON STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT. ON RIGHT-CANTED RIGHT LANE CAR DRIVES STRAIGHT WITH NO DRIVER INTERACTION NEEDED. ON A FLAT ROAD CAR HAS SLIGHT PULL TO LEFT, NEEDING CONSTANT SLIGHT CW (RIGHT) PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN GOING STRAIGHT. HAD DEALER ALIGN FRONT-END . . NO CHANGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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