Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2000)

276 consumer complaints on file.

#10226440May 1, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WAS CALLED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC THIS EVENING TO COME LOOK AT MY 2000 SONATA WHILE IT WAS ON THE RACK TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND BELTS. HE TOLD ME I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO COME SEE IT FOR MYSELF. THERE IS A RUSTED OUT SECTION OF THE UNIBODY SUBFRAME ON THE RIGHT FRONT JUST UNDER WHERE THE SWAYBAR ATTACHES. YOU CAN PUSH THE METAL AND IT FALLS APART. IT GOES AROUND, ALMOST LIKE A SEAM, BUT HAS NOT MADE IT ALL THE WAY, YET. THE LEFT FRONT IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SPOT RUSTING. I WAS GOING TO CONTACT A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED AND WAS SEARCHING ONLINE FOR ADVISE WHEN I BEGAN NOTICING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON REPAIRING THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GOT HURT. WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE I NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN NHTSA ODI PRELIMINARY EVALUATION THAT HAS JUST BEGUN CONCERNING REPORTS SIMILAR TO MINE. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER FOR EVALUATION AND NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN SEEN BY A HYUNDAI DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REGIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HYUNDAI WOULD CONTACT ME AFTER THAT. I AM TAKING IT TO THEM ON MAY 2. MY HYUNDAI CASE # IS 3282801. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226081April 29, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR AND I NEED IT TO GET TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224849April 17, 2008
STRUCTURE
I TOOK MY CAR TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC ON 3/19/2008 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS AND IT WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY. HE TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE W/ MYSELF IN THE CAR. IT MADE NO NOISE AND IT DID NOT "PULL". HE REASSURED THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK AT THAT TIME, HOWEVER, IF IT BECAME A PROBLEM TO LET HIM KNOW. THE SQUEAKING RETURNED INTERMITTENTLY. A LITTLE OVER A WEEK LATER ON 3/28/2008, I WAS DRIVING FROM MY HOME IN SCRANTON, PA TO MY SON'S DR'S APPOINTMENT IN PHILADELPHIA, PA. I WAS ON THE PA TURNPIKE FOR A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR, DURING WHICH TIME I NOTED TO MY MOTHER (DRIVING WITH ME) THAT THE CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT, HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT. UPON GETTING ONTO THE SCHUYLKILL EXPRESSWAY I HEARD A SQUEAL ON THE TIGHT LEFT TURN (A VERY DANGEROUS, HIGH TRAFFIC HIGHWAY) AND STAYED ON THAT FOR APPROX ANOTHER 10MILES. I TURNED ONTO ANOTHER HIGHWAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY I STOPPED AT THE FIRST INTERSECTION. AFTER STOPPING I TRIED TO PULL OUT AND THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. WHILE I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION (THE COPS EVEN DROVE RIGHT ON BY), I WAS FRANTIC CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IF HAD HAPPENED SECONDS SOONER, IT WOULD NO DOUBT HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING NOT ONLY MYSELF, MY MOTHER AND MY EIGHT YEAR OLD SON BUT ALSO OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MECHANIC, WHO EVALUATED THE CAR THE PREVIOUS WEEK, STATED THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS "ROTTED AND RUSTED OUT" WHICH RESULTED IN THE AXLE DROPPING OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. HE COULDN'T FIND USED PARTS. THE JUNK YARDS SAID ALL OF THE '99 AND '00 SONATAS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE PUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IN GRAVE DANGER. NO THERE WAS NO CRASH AND NO THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THAT WAS ONLY DUE TO THE FORTUNATE TIMING OF THIS INCIDENT. PLEASE CONTACT HYUNDAI TO RECALL THIS PART NO ONE SHOULD BE PUT IN THIS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223449April 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
VEHICLE BEGAN KNOCKING AS IF SOMETHING HIT IT FROM UNDERNEATH. ALSO, STEERING SUDDENLY WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND FRONT END FELT VERY LOOSE. MECHANIC DISCOVERED A HOLE IN SUBFRAME APPROX. ONE FOOT IN SIZE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION ON PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT MOTOR IS LOOSE AND VEHICLE IS VERY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS THREE TIMES ON THIS MODEL ONLY; ALSO SAID THAT FRAME DESIGN IS SUCH THAT WATER COLLECTS ON TOP AND CANNOT DRAIN. VEHICLE IS 2000 AND ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CERTAIN YEARS, YET NO TSB'S OR RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223128April 2, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
PULLING UP TO A LEFT TURN INTO THE DAYTONA SAM'S CLUB, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND LOWER WISHBONE ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE'S SUB-FRAME AND MY WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SUB-FRAME HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THERE IS NOT A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR! IT WAS BY GOD'S GRACE THAT I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15MPH FOR JUST MOMENTS EARLIER I WAS DOING 70MPH ON I95! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHICALLY DEADLY! IT ONLY HAD ABOUT 58,500 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE SEPARATION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK FOR HYUNDAI THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT BECAUSE HYUNDAI USED RECYCLED METAL TO MANUFACTURE THESE FRAMES WITHOUT USING RUST INHIBITORS. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN STORAGE AND I HAVE CLEAR PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE RUST HOLES WHERE THE WISHBONE BOLTS PULLED OUT OF THE SUB-FRAME AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO YOU. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC DEFECT AND HYUNDAI IS BURYING ITS HEAD IN THE SAND. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEIR ATTITUDE WAS THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM SINCE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER. I CONTACTED THEM TWICE, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY NEVER CALLED ME AGAIN. I HAVE OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE THIS SUB-FRAME AND MAKE THE VEHICLE DRIVABLE; NOT INCLUDING THE BODY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE WHEEL HITTING THE RIGHT FENDER. HYUNDAI IS CONDUCTING ITSELF IN A WHOLLY RECKLESS MANOR AS THIS DEFECT CAN, AND PROBABLY WILL, TAKE HUMAN LIVES AS THESE SUB-FRAMES RUST APART! THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITH OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT NONE I WOULD CONTACT NHTSA OVER THESE SINCE THEY ARE NOT-SAFETY RELATED, BUT HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE HAS A HUGE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222506March 27, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE CAR WAS NOT STEERING CORRECTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT FIXED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE ALIGNMENT BUT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT WILL COST US AROUND $2000 TO HAVE FIXED, AND WE ARE NOT SURE IT WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO BE FIXED. THE MECHANIC SAID WE ARE LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT FALL OUT, THE CRADLE WAS SO RUSTED. AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND, AGAIN WE ARE UNSURE IT CAN EVEN BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221620March 18, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I'VE HAD A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, AND RECENTLY I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS JUST AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INSIDE OF MY TIRES WHERE WEARING OUT TOO FAST. SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE/TRANS CRADLE(SUB-FRAME) WAS ALMOST TOTALLY RUST OUT AND THAT IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME(WHICH ALSO MEANT THAT THE DEALER I GOT THE LOAN FROM SOLD ME THE CAR KNOWING IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE). IT WAS RUSTED OUT SO BAD THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WHERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND THAT THE CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER I GOT THE CAR FROM DOES NOT COVER THOSE PARTS UNDER THE SERVICE AGREEMENT(THE CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WITH OVER 137000 MILES). SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A FRAME SHOP THAT WANTED OVER $1800 TO INSTALL THE CRADLE AND CONTROL ARMS. THE END OF THE STORY IS THAT I'M STILL DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE ITS MY ONLY WAY TO WORK, AND STILL TRYING TO SAVE MONEY TO GET THE THING FIXED. I'M JUST WANDERING WHICH POT HOLE I HIT IS GOING TO KNOCK THE CONTROL ARMS OFF THE REST OF THE WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217559February 10, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME TOTALLY RUSTED RESULTING IN SUSPENSION AND STEERING RACK COMING APART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216583January 31, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I'M SEEKING HELP GETTING HYUNDAI USA MOTOR CO. TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS NECESSARY TO MAKE MY 2000 SONATA SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO TRY AND START AN INVESTIGATION OF THE NEED OF A RECALL ON ALL SIMILAR SONATA MODELS 1999 ' 2001 AND POSSIBLY 2002 ' 2005 AS WELL. THE PROBLEM IS THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH SUFFICIENT CORROSION RESISTANCE AND IS ROTTING AWAY. HYUNDAI CUSTOMER AFFAIRS (1-800-633-5151) STATES THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD AND HAS 120K MILES ON IT THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT AN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER HAS CERTAIN LIABILITIES FOR SAFETY AND THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLES THEY PRODUCE BEYOND THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD. THE FIRST I NEW OF THE ISSUE WAS WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I JACKED THE FRONT OF THE CAR UP THINKING A WHEEL BEARING WAS GONE OR SOMETHING. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THE 'ELBOW' THAT COMES FROM THE FLOORBOARD AREA TO THE WHEEL WAS ROTTED THROUGH ON THE CORNER AND SPLITTING DOWN THE SEAM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS ALSO CORRODED BUT NOT NEARLY AS BAD. I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE SUB-FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST $2300. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS BACK TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS THEY WON'T CHANGE THEIR OPINION THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. SINCE THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS ON OTHER VEHICLES SHOULDN'T THE DEALERS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE CORRODED SUB-FRAME. MY SONATA WAS AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BETWEEN 2003 -2006 AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE DRIVING CARS THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN WEAKENED BY CORROSION AND COULD HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF I HAD HIT A POTHOLE ON THE INTERSTATE INSTEAD OF IN A PARKING LOT, MY WIFE'S LAWYER COULD VERY WELL BE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212347December 19, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT WHERE THE TWO BOLTS WERE ATTACHED TO THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000. UPDATED 01/23/08 *LJ. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205324October 10, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
NOTICED AT LAST OIL CHANGE, POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF FRONT SUB FRAME/ENGINE CRADLE DUE TO RUST OUT CAUSED BY DESIGN THAT ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER AND BE TRAPPED IN SUB FRAME. CARS IN "SNOW BELT" AREAS (OHIO) ARE AFFECTED BY ROAD SALT. SUB FRAME HAS 2.5" RUST HOLE AND SURROUNDING AREA SHOWS FATIGUE AND CRACKING. CAR APPEARS TO BE ONE "CHUCK HOLE" AWAY FROM FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204506September 30, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A NEWLY PAVED ACCESS ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, THE CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE OF MY ROTTED/RUSTED OUT SUBFRAME. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AND BRAKE WORK AND NO PROBLEM WAS DETECTED WITH THE RUSTED SUBFRAME. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SEIZED UP AS THE WHEEL SLAMMED INTO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP AND WAS IMMOBILIZED. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP AND I AM CONTACTING HYUNDAI DIRECTLY REGARDING THE UNLIKELY FACT THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL BE INCREASING DRAMATICALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS THE HYUNDAI SONATA'S 1999-2001 CONTINUE TO AGE. I HAVE NOTED AT LEAST A DOZEN INSTANCES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ALMOST ALL INSTANCES APPEAR TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204291September 27, 2007
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 10 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT SLID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT ROLLERS FAILED. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202830September 12, 2007
STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN 2003 FROM KOEPPEL HYUNDA IDEALER IN LONG ISLAND CITY NEW YORK. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AT ALL. THIS WEEK I BEGAN TO NOTICE SOMETHING NOT FEELING RIGHT IN THE FRONT END, SO I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT I HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THAT. IT SEEMS THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR IS RUSTED AND ROTTING AWAY. HE TRIED TO LOCATE A USED FRAME FROM A JUNKYARD,(BECAUSE THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRENTY), BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET ONE. EACH PERSON HE SPOKE TO AT VARIOUS JUNK YARDS KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED , BUT INFORMED HIM THAT A USED SUBFRAME FOR THE SONATA WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO COME BY BECAUSE ON ALL THE SONATAS THAT WERE JUNKED, THE SUBFRAMES WERE ROTTED THROUGH FROM RUST. I'M BETTING THAT SOME OF THESE CARS WERE JUNKED FOR THAT VERY REASON. APPARENTLY THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE, BUT HYUNDAI IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. WHEN I CALL THEY TELL ME THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. HARD TO BELIEVE. I WAS TOLD A NEW FRAME WOULD COST ME1300 DOLLARS. THE ONLY THING THE MECHANIC CAN OFFER TO DO FOR ME IS TO WELD STEEL TO THE PARTS OF THE FRAME THAT ARE STILL SOLID AND TRY TO REINFORCE THE FRAME. AT THIS POINT I AM VERY FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE I WORK AT NIGHT AND NEED A CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR A RENTAL FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS AND IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201981September 5, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT HE CALL THE HYUNDAI DEALER. HYUNDAI HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201280August 30, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT ,AND HAS HAD 1 OWNER.VECHICLE IS HOUSED IN CENTRAL N.J. ,VECHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AS TO HYUNDAI'S SERVICE MANUAL RECOMENDATIONS.ALSO VECHICLE HAS RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED JUST BEFORE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED FOR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SERVOS (CAR WAS ON LIFT AT TIME OF SERVICE ).ALSO THIS VECHICLE STILL HAS ORGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM INCLUDING MUFFLER.ON AUGUST30,2007 MY SELF MY CHILD AND MY NEPHEWS WERE DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AT 65 MPH AT APPROXIMATLY 9 PM WHEN THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC LANE WITH VECHICLES APPROACHING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AND SWERVING AROUND ME THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY I WAS TRAPPED IN CAR WITH CHILDREN WE CALLED 911 AND THE STATE POLICE HAD TO PUSH VECHICLE TO A SAFE ZONE WHERE WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK.UPONFURTHER INSPECTION OF VECHICLE IT WAS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY A SEVERLY ROTTED SUBFRAME WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP CAUSING THE AXLE TO BE TORN THROUGH TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BREAK AWAY FROM ROTTED SUBFRAME ALSO(AS STATED EARLIER THE VECHICLE WAS NEVER INVLOVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS NO BODY OR UNDERCARRRIAGE RUST INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS STRUCTUAL PROBLEM AS SUBFRAME CARRIES ENTIRE DRIVETRAIN (MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION AND ALL STERING COMPONENTS).AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY HYUNDAI TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION WE WERE TOLD ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY WE WERE NERER MADE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM AT TIME OF SERVICE AT AUTHORIZED HYUNDAI DEALER. STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM A SUPERVISOR FROM HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196832July 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE SENSOR PLUG ON HER VEHICLE. SHE HAS HAD TO PAY $200 EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. SHE STATED THAT SHE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE POWERTRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED HER VEHICLE TO STALL. SHE HAS HAD TO REPLACE HER ENGINE AND THE BATTERY APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 118,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE CONSUMER STATED REPLACED THE ENGINE 1 TIME AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THE DEALER STATED RADIO JUMPING CHANNELS. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191929May 29, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188447April 20, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS FAULTY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HYUNDAI CAN HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS ITEM IN THEIR KIA OPTIMAS AND SANTA FE 2.5L V-6 ENGINES, BUT NOT IN THE 2.5L V-6 SONATAS. THE LEAST OF THE PROBLEMS IS DIFFICULTY STARTING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CULMINATION OF THE PROBLEM. THE BEGINNING OF THE PROBLEM IS THE LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING, INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOSES POWER. LAST YEAR I SPENT OVER $500 FOR A TUNE UP AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. THE CHECK ENGINE JUST CAME ON TODAY AFTER HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED AS A P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THE REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF $400 FOR LABOR PLUS PARTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188231April 18, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS, WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 134,000 MILES. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD ACCELERATE AT A LOW SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TUNE UP, AND INFORMED HER THAT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE BURNED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING RECALL # 00V259001. AS OF 4-18-07 THE FAILURE OCCURRED 25 TIMES .
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Hyundai Sonata