Hyundai Sonata Complaints (1999)

170 consumer complaints on file.

#10234488July 16, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1999 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS SUB-FRAME RUSTED CAUSING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO COLLAPSE. KEN DIXON HYUNDAI LOCATED IN WALDORF, MD ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST ME $3,500.00 DOLLARS AND THAT THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER HYUNDAIS' 10 YEAR, 100,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. MY HYUNDAI IS LESS THAN 10 YRS OLD AND THE MILEAGE IS WELL UNDER 100,00 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THEREBY HYUNDAI IS CLEARLY FAILING TO HONOR THEIR DEALER WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTEST THIS DECISION AND SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR OFFICE IN RESOLVING THIS SITUATION WITH HYUNDAI OF AMERICA AND THEIR NEGLECTING TO HONOR THEIR OWN WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234339July 15, 2008
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I OWN A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND VEHICLE STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THE BOLTS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. IT WAS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I MADE OVER 30 PHONES TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS MATTER I WAS PREPARED TO GO TO THE MEDIA WITH STORY. THE MANUFACTURER FIXED MY CAR AFTER MANY WEEKS. I DO FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233171July 3, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE CORRODED AND RUSTED INTO TWO PIECES, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO DETACH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232737June 30, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS A RUSTED HOLE IN THE FRAME THAT WENT ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME. I WAS TOLD THAT HYUNDAI WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND TRADED IN THE OLD VEHICLE, AND WAS ONLY GIVEN THE MINIMUM AMOUNT FOR A JUNK VEHICLE INSTEAD OF THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232052June 23, 2008
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1999 HYUNDAI SONATA FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS SEVERED FROM FRAME WHILE MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS A NEW DIVER, WAS DRIVING, FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED. CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE 6 MONTHS AGO TO HAVE FRONT STRUTS REPLACED AND DEALER DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM OR THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS IN OTHER SIMILAR CARS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I CAN SEE THAT THESE CARS HAVE A PROBLEM AND NEED TO BE PULLED FROM THE ROAD BEFORE SERIOUS HARM COMES FROM THIS ISSUE. HYUNDAI SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 96,000 MILES AND HYUNDAI IS REPLACING THE SUB FRAME UNDER WARRANTY, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THEY ARE NOT TELLING ANYONE PRIOR TO FAILURE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231344June 17, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID RUNNING A RED LIGHT. AFTERWARDS, SHE NOTICED THAT SHE COULD NO LONGER PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER THOUGHT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE AND THEY FAXED PAPERS TO THEM, BUT THE CONTACT HAS YET TO RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230004June 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR TIRE WEAR AND SQUEAKING/RUBBING NOISE ISSUE. THE SERVICE STATION THAT CHECKED IT OUT, NOTICED THE FRONT PART OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE/SUBFRAME. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE/SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED OUT SO BAD THAT THE CONTROL ARM JUST RIPPED APART FROM IT. ONLY DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE IS TIRE WEAR, BUT COULD OF BEEN WORSE IF NOT CAUGHT IN TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230018June 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I OWN A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC TO INSPECT A WOBBLING IN THE CAR. WHEN THEY INSPECTED IT, THEY SAID THE SUBFRAME WAS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH AND THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH IT FOR "LIABILITY" REASONS. I HAVE SINCE READ OF OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. I AM GOING TO SPEAK TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER TODAY TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228744May 23, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SAME ISSUE AS EXISTING CASE # PE08029 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WHEN PASSENGER SIDE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE SUPPORT CRACKED AND CAR BECAME UNDRIVABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228543May 21, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
LAST FALL, DRIVING ALONG, ALL WAS FINE, GOING ONLY 15 MPH, HIT SMALL BUMP, CLUNK, THE FRONT FRAME BROKE. THE ENGINE CRADLE AS IT IS COMMONLY CALLED HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN THROUGH ON THE RIGHT SIDE NEAR THE FRONT WHEEL. THE CAR SITS UNDRIVABLE STILL TODAY. CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS - THEY WERE NO HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227689May 14, 2008
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA, AND I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A WHEEL-BEARING PROBLEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC FOR A WHEEL BEARING I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THAT IT COLLAPSED THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE "A FRAME. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE DEALER WANT $ 1700 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CRADLE. THIS IS PURELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR 1999 CAR LITERALLY FALLS APART. THE CONSUMERS OF THIS BRAND WERE SHORTCHANGED. A CAR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 8 YEARS. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET HYUNDAI MOTORCARS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR AND TO COMPENSATE THOSE HARD WORKING FOLKS THAT HAVE LOST USE OF THEIR CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227072May 8, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, STEERING
CAR #1--PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED CREATING A FIST SIZED HOLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STEER AIMLESSLY DUE TO INSTABILITY OF STEERING STRUCTURE: CAR #2--PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED CAUSING WHEELS TO BECOME INOPERABLE AND UNABLE TO STEER CAR IN APRIL 2008. SAME MODEL OF HYUNDAI, 2 DIFFERENT CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227113May 8, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ONE NIGHT ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO I HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND WHEN I DROVE MY 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA OVER A SMALL BUMP WHERE IS A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM HOME. THEN THE NEXT DAY THE STEELING WHEEL SUDDENLY TILTED 45 DEGREE LEFT WHILE I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. WHEN I STOP THE CAR AND CHECK, BOTH THE FRONT TIRES WERE OUT OF POSITION, ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT FRONT ONE WHOSE BOTTOM IS PULLED OUTWARD AND UPPER INWARD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND WHEN THEY LIFT THE CAR TO CHECK THE CONTROL ARMS WE WERE ALL SHOCKED TO SEE A HUGE RUSTING HOLE ON THE RIGHT FRONT SUBFRAME UNDER ENGINE CRADLE, WHILE THE LEFT SIDE SUBFRAME SEEMED INTACT. IT WAS ALMOST BROKEN AND THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THEY NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN 20+ YEARS OF SERVICE AND EVEN THE BODY SHOPS IS DOUBTFULLY CAN FIX THAT. SO I CALLED LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER IN CENTERVILLE, OH FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THESE WAS ALL HAPPENED BEFORE I SEARCHED AND FOUND MANY POSTINGS ON LINE AND AWARE OF THE INVESTIGATION OF NHTSA (PE08029) FOR THIS SPECIFIC CAR FAILURE. THE MILEAGE OF MY CAR WAS AROUND 120,000 WHEN IT OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226112April 30, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I OWN A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. I LIKE MANY OTHERS IN THE 99-2000 MY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE RIGHT SIDE SUB FRAME RUST DEFECT/SAFETY ISSUE. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A WINDING ROAD, COMING HOME FROM WORK. SHE CALLED ME AND SAID CAR WAS DISABLED. SHE STATED CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT ON A CURVE, MADE A LOUD NOISE....AND BECAME DISABLED. FORTUNATELY A COUPLE PEOPLE HAD STOPPED AND HELPED HER GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT THERE THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS ANGLED IN AT THE TOP. IT WAS CLEARLY DAMAGED. THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED OUT AND WHEEL SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE UPPER CONTROL ARM TOO WAS DAMAGED. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE LET ALONE A DEFECT.............I THANK GOD SHE WAS NOT INJURED AND THAT SO FAR IT APPEARS THAT MANY THAT HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#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
#10214772January 14, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, STEERING
ON 1/7/08 WHILE DRIVING '99 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS TO WORK, PULLED RIGHT PROCEEDING DOWN ROAD. POSSIBLE LEAK FROM BRAKE CYLINDERS/ BRAKE LINES, NOTHING. RETURN TRIP, VEHICLE EXTREMELY ERRATIC STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER OF PURCHASE (BB HYUNDAI, SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ). DELIVERED ON 1/07/08 BY DRIVING VEHICLE. VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER/ CONTROL, DRIVING SPEED 25-30 MPH. VEHICLE DELIVERED TO BB W/96062 MILES. SERVICE MGR (LC) TOOK INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEM - DIAGNOSTIC COST OF $95 +TAX. AGREEMENT MADE TO DETERMINE FAILURE. INFORMED BY SERVICE MGR OF PROBLEM - SUB-FRAME RUSTED AWAY - COST IN EXCESS $3400. WHY NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY (10 YR OR 100,000 MILES) -"RUST' WAS COVERED. TOLD AUTO NOT ALLOWED ON ROAD. QUESTION ABSENCE OF WARRANTY SINCE SUB-FRAME REQUIRED PART OF FRONT DRIVEN AUTO. RESPONSE GIVEN - BUY A NEW CAR. REFUSED AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE SUB-FRAME. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA CORPORATE CS (J) PROBLEM CONVEYED /WHY NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. REPLY-"YOU MUST LIVE BY WATER,YOU ARE IN NJ, WHY IT RUSTED OUT". TOLD ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. REC'D CALL (LC) CONTACT FROM HYUNDAI, REP TO REVIEW NEXT DAY, WITH CALL FROM LC. ON 1/11/08, NO RESULTS FROM LC, TO CALL BACK. LC CALL AT 1PM, HYUNDAI, AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE, TO COVER COST OF SUB-FRAME, NOT LABOR; COSTS UNKNOWN. RECALL HYUNDAI(D) "I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM!', TRANSFER TO J -ADVISED TO 'JUMP ON OFFER". RECALL LC, COST UNKNOWN. COSTS REQUIRED BY DIR/PARTS/ HYUNDAI. RECALL HYUNDAI (T)"HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF PROBLEM - RUSTING SUB-FRAMES, WORKING ON SAME". REQUEST SUPERVISOR, COMPANY POLICY DIRECTIVE, PARTS DIRECTOR WITH AUTHORITY. CONTACT BBB, 1/12/08, CALL LC, NO COST VALUE FROM MAINTANENCE SUPERVISOR COST. LC CALL@ 4 PM - COST $850, NEED OKAY TO CONTINUE. RECALL LC 5 PM - OK. INFORMED NEW SUB-FRAME WOULD NOT ARRIVE UNTIL 1/16-1/17/18. REQUESTED OLD SUB-FRAME UPON PAYMENT OF LABOR - UNABLE TO COMPLY WAS THE ANSWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214421January 10, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE AN 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA MY ALIGNMENT WAS OFF FROM A POT HOLE. SO I TOOK IT TO GET IT REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE ARM CAME OUT OF IT. THEY SAID IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT ONLY HAS 85,225 MILES ON THE CAR TO REPLACE THE CRADLE IT IS 1,800.00. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI THEY SAID MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT. I FOUND THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF SONATA. ITS HAS CAUSED ONE WRECK THAT I NOW OF. THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CRADLE. THERE IS ONLY ONE HOLE IN THE FRONT TO LET WATER IN AND OUT SO IF THE WATER GOES IN THE AIR BLOWS IT TO THE BACK AND THERE'S WHERE IT STAYS AND THAT'S THE RUST STARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213249December 31, 2007
STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER IF SHE WAS ACCELERATING OR BRAKING AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AS IF AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE ROTTED AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO SLIP. THE SHOP REPAIRED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FRAME RAIL, REASSEMBLED THE SUSPENSION, AND REINSTALLED THE AXLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,900. UPDATED 01/29/08 UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209264November 18, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
HI, I BOUGHT MY 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA FROM A PRIVATE PERSON NOV.2007. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO THE STORE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WENT BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE TO LIFT IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS SO ROTTED THAT MY HALF SHAFT PULLED OUT AND BROKE. THE CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF THE CRADLE. THIS IS WHAT I CAN PLAINLY SEE AS A SAFETY HAZARD. I COULD HAVE HAD A WRECK HAD I BEEN GOING ANY FASTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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