Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2006)

1,047 consumer complaints on file.

#10167844September 11, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG WAS CALIBRATED TO DEACTIVATE WHEN A PERSON UNDER A CERTAIN WEIGHT SAT IN THE SEAT, THIS POSED A SAFETY ISSUE FOR FRAIL ELDERLY ADULTS AND ADULTS OF SMALL STATURE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE AIRBAG COULD BE RECALIBRATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166449August 24, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY HUSBAND AND I RENTED A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA V6 FROM AVIS CAR RENTAL IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI WHILE ON VACATION. WHILE RETURNING TO KANSAS CITY ON I-70, THE CAR IN THE LANE NEXT TO US BLEW A TIRE, LOST CONTROL, SPUN IN THE ROAD AND HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR CAR WITH THE FRONT OF THEIR CAR, FORCING US OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO THE MEDIAN OF THE INTERSTATE. I WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER DOOR STRUCK THE SIDE OF MY TORSO AS IT WAS CAVING IN, INJURING MY RIGHT SHOULDER AND NECK. ALTHOUGH HYUNDAI ADVERTISES BOTH SIDE IMPACT AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THIS HIGH-SPEED SIDE-IMPACT CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY TO MY SHOULDER. WE DO NOT KNOW THE REPAIR STATUS OF THE RENTAL CAR, BUT HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY AVIS THAT THEY HAVE HIRED ENGINEERS TO REVIEW THE CAR AND DETERMINE WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10165585August 15, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE HAD MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2005. FROM THE BEGINNING I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE SENSOR WILL NOT DETECT MY WIFE OVER HALF OF THE TIME. I AM ON A HYUNDAI FORUM AND THIS PROBLEM IS BEING EXPERIENCED BY MANY MANY OTHER SONATA OWNERS. WE HAVE ALL COMPLAINED TO OUR DEALERS AND ARE BEING TOLD THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE OCCUPANT'S POSITION IN THE SEAT. MOVING AROUND DOESN'T HELP AT ALL. HYUNDAI IS WELL AWARE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165418August 14, 2006
AIR BAGS
1) FRONT AIR BAG PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR RANDOMLY WORKS WHEN MY WIFE IS SITTING IN SEAT (SHE WEIGHS APPROX. 130LBS). IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE IN 06/2006. 2) I HAVE TO KEEP STOPPING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART TO CLEAR OFF LIGHT (AND HOPE IT ACTUALLY IS ON WHEN THE LIGHT IS OUT). CONSEQUENCES IS THAT IF IT DOESN'T DEPLOY IF I EVER HAVE AN ACCIDENT, MY WIFE COULD GET KILLED (OR ANYONE ELSE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT). 3) I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE 3-4 TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY REPLACED THE SEAT CUSHION ONCE AND IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. HYUNDAI WANTS THE SEAT SENT TO THEM (SO THEY CAN "RE-PROGRAM" IT. I WANT A NEW SEAT SENT TO ME AND REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO TO "RE-PROGRAM" IT, BUT IF I EVER TRADE THE VEHICLE, IT MIGHT NOT WORK FOR THE NEW CAR OWNERS (NOT A VERY GOOD SOLUTION). IF THE LIGHT STAYS ON (MEANING THE AIR BAG IS OFF) AND MY WIFE DOESN'T MOVE, I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT, THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF 1/2 THE TIME. THEY BLAME IT ON THE WAY SHE SITS IN THE SEAT. BUT IF IT GOES OUT AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR AND SHE DOESN'T MOVE, THEN THIS DOESN'T HOLD TRUE. INCIDENT DATE IS APPROX FOR FIRST OCCURRENCE. IT HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES TO LIST ALL DAYS (PROBABLY OVER 100 TIMES SO FAR). VIN CAN BE PROVIDED IF NECESSARY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165152August 10, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
THUMPING NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM REAR SUSPENSION ON BUMPY ROADS. FEELS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE IF THE GAS TANK WERE LOOSE, OR EXHAUST HIT UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR, OR IF SPARE TIRE WERE LOOSE IN THE TRUNK. BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE IN WARMER WEATHER, AND AFTER 5000 MILES. SEEMS TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON HANDLING OR STABILITY. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, BUT INSISTED THAT IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF SUSPENSION DESIGN AND NOTHING WAS WRONG NOR COULD ANYTHING BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163503July 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE COOLING FAN SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE HOOD AND FENDERS TO BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE DEALER HAS NOT CALLED HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161854July 7, 2006
SUSPENSION, TIRES
AFTER OWNING THE CAR AND DRIVING IT FOR LESS THAN 100 MILES, THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION ON THE AROUND 60-75 MPH. THE TIRES WERE RE-BALANCED AND THE CONDITION REMAINS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND RE-BALANCED AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN I RETURNED AGAIN TO THE PURCHASING DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR A THIRD TIME, I WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE (GLS V-6) AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT MORE EVIDENT. WHEN I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE, THE PROBLEM REMAINS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161153June 30, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS WITH MICHELIN TIRES. THE TIRES ARE WEATHER CRACKING ALREADY AFTER ONLY HALF A YEAR AND WITH 4350 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160195June 19, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE USING THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IT CUTS INTO HER NECK. THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS MANUFACTURED THAT WAY. UPDATED 7/3/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159377June 9, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES ON MY "NEW" HYUNDAI SONATA IS THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL STOP BUT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL--THE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE AGENCY 5/31/06 AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS CAR !!! DUH !!! BOUGHT THE CAR 5/02/06 HAVE LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT NOW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159333June 8, 2006
AIR BAGS
RE NEW HYUNDAI SONATA 2006 WITH INTERMITTENT WARNING LIGHT WARNING THAT RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE. COMPLAINED TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT 2 DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY. THEY AT FIRST BLAMED HOW MY WIFE WAS SITTING, THEN SUGGESTED THAT SHE DID NOT WEIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE SEAT SENSOR. SHE WEIGHS 135 LB. & IT IS SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE @ 80 LBS. NOW THEY SAY THEY CANNOT REPLACE OR REPAIR ANYTHING IN THE SYSTEM WITHOUT SEEING THE MALFUNCTION. I CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE ON COMMAND! IT IS TOTALLY RANDOM & INTERMITTENT. THEY HAVE MADE NO TROUBLE SHOOTING ATTEMPTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158003May 22, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS LOCK WITH KEYPAD WHILE DOORS ARE STILL OPEN. AFTER SHOPPING I BUCKLED MY SON IN HIS CAR SEAT AND PUT THE GROCERIES IN THE VEHICLE. APPARENTLY I INADVERTENTLY HIT THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYPAD AS I WAS PLACING MY SON IN HIS CAR SEAT. I SAT THE KEYS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, CLOSED THE BACK DOOR AND WENT TO GET IN THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE KEYS WERE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS MY TODDLER SON IN HIS CAR SEAT. I CALLED 911 AND AFTER ATTEMPTING FOR AN HOUR THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CHOICES WERE BREAK A WINDOW TO GET IN (THUS TRAUMATIZING MY SON) OR HAVE A PRIVATE CITIZEN ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO THE VEHICLE. A LOCKSMITH WAS CALLED AFTER MY SON WAS IN THE CAR FOR A 1/2 HOUR AND HE NEVER SHOWED. A PRIVATE CITIZEN HAD TO TAKE TWO SCREW DRIVERS AND PRY THE DOOR OPEN TO BE ABLE TO REACH THE DOOR HANDLE AND GET THE DOOR OPEN, THUS RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS NOT MY CONCERN. THE FACT THAT THE DOORS WILL LOCK WITH THE KEYPAD WHILE STILL OPEN IS THE SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE OWNED HONDA AND FORD IN THE PAST AND NEITHER OF WHICH WILL OPEN WILL DO THE ABOVE. I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE SATURN, TOYOTA, DODGE, AND CHEVROLET AND THESE VEHICLE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYPAD WHILE THE DOORS ARE OPEN EITHER. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THE CAR IS DESIGNED THAT WAY. I LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO FEEL IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN MY OPINION THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF THE WEATHER WERE 90 DEGREES OR IF MY SON WAS AN INFANT CHILD. I FEEL THAT THE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME OR ANY OTHER HYUNDAI OWNER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157418May 12, 2006
STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING AT ANYTIME THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER INDICATED THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS RELEASED IT WOULD STOP. UPDATED 07/05/06 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156891May 5, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES EVERY TIME THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. NO MATTER WHAT THE WEIGHT IS OF THE PASSENGER OR HOW THE SEAT IS BEING SAT IN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, UPON INSPECTION THE CONTACT WAS ASKED TO VIDEO TAPE THE PASSENGER TO ENSURE THE CORRECT SEATING POSITION WAS BEING MAINTAINED. THE VIDEO TAPE WAS OFFERED TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156704May 3, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR SUSPENSION HAS ANNOYING AND LOUD THUMPING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS UNDER 40 MPH. STARTED NOTICING NOISE WITHIN 1000 MILES AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, WHICH WAS ON 10/26/05. MANUFACTURER HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM IN A BBB ARBITRATION HEARING, CASE NO. HYU0641565 DATED 04/27/06 AND STATED IT AS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND OTHERS AS A PROBLEM. TOOK THE PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP, WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE AND DID NOT PUT IT ON THE WORK ORDERS. THEREFORE, I LOST THE ARBITRATION HEARING, EVEN THOUGH THEY TOLD ME PERSONALLY THAT HYUNDAI TOLD THEM NOT TO DO ANYTHING, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN TERMS OF THE THUMPING. WHAT AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER WOULD INCORPORATE A NOISE IN THEIR VEHICLES AS A SELLING FEATURE AND STATE IT'S A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE? IF HYUNDAI DOES NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION NOISE, THEN THEY DO NOT KNOW IF A SAFETY FACTOR IS INVOLVED. THE SUSPENSION COULD AND PROBABLY IS DEFECTIVE IN SOME WAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156494May 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A SUBTLE ODOR IN THE VEHICLE THAT MAKES THE OCCUPANTS ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER DID NOT DETECT AN ODOR, THE DEALER SUGGESTED USING AN AIR FRESHENER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155597April 18, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA MARCH 18, 2006 AT OURISMAN HYUNDAI IN LAUREL, MD. A WEEK LATER, MARCH 25, 2006, HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE OVER HEATED, WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, DUE TO THE FANS NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED A FAN MODULE AND PLACED IT IN MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP ALLOWED ME TO TAKE ANOTHER BRAND NEW 2006 SONATA AS A LOANER UNTIL MY CAR WAS FIXED. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP I DID NOT WANT MY CAR BACK AND TO GIVE ME ANOTHER 2006 SONATA. AFTER DAYS OF CALLING BACK TO SEE IF THEY WOULD, THEY REFUSED. PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006. APRIL 18, 2006 BOUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE A/C WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE FANS ARE NOT WORKING AND THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY ARE RENTING A CAR FOR ME UNTIL MY CAR IS FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154995April 10, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
RF TIRE EXHIBITED BLISTER ON SIDEWALL. AMERICA'S TIRE IN ROSEVILLE, CA STATED IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, BUT THE FAULT OF DRIVER. HENCE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED FREE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT REPLACED AT HALF PRICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154168March 30, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED WITH A PASSENGER, THE AIR BAG LAMP ILLUMINATED COMMUNICATING TO THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DISABLED. THE PASSENGER IS THE WIFE OF THE CONTACT WHICH WEIGHED ENOUGH TO KEEP THE AIR BAG ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS OPERATING NORMAL; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PASSENGER SHOULD CHANGE POSTURE AND SITTING POSITIONS WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. UPDATED 4/17/2006 - THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONS PROPERLY INTERMITTENTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150521February 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA IN OCTOBER 2005. THE VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE AT 60-69 MPH (2,000 RPM). I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY HYUNDAI ENGINEERS THAT THE NOISE COMES FROM A DESIGN FLAW DEALING WITH THE VARIABLE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THEY ARE APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS MATTER BUT ARE DOING NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. THE NOISE IS LOUD ENOUGH AND HIGH PITCHED ENOUGH THAT IT COULD AND DOES CAUSE A DRIVING DISTRACTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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