Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10444646January 20, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I PURCHASED A HYUNDAI SONATA IN 2006. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM FROM THE YEAR I GOT IT AND STILL IS. IT STAYS ON ALL OF THE TIME. THE DEALER RESET IT A FEW TIMES AND THEN IN SEP 2008 THEY PUT IN A NEW SEAT BUCKLE. ONCE AGAIN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE DEALER WANTS $125 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC (CODE IS ACTIVE B1706) AND SAID A NEW BUCKLE IS NEEDED, WHICH IS ANOTHER $179 PLUS LABOR. SO EVERY YEAR I AM GOING TO HAVE TO DROP OVER $300 FOR THE LIGHT TO BE TURNED OFF SO IT PASSES INSPECTION. THIS IS A SCAM. THE CONCERN IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH THE DEALER SINCE THE DAY I GOT THE CAR. NOW THEY WON'T COVER IT AND THE LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER ABOUT 2 DAYS FROM BEING RESET. SO EVERY YEAR WHEN THE INSPECTION IS DUE, I HAVE TO PUT OUT THE MONEY OUT FOR A NEW BUCKLE AGAIN. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, I HAVE NO LITTLE KIDS OR CAR SEAT IN USE, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THE AIRBAG GO OFF. NO IDEA HOW A SEAT BELT BUCKLES DIES ON ITS OWN AND ANNUALLY, TOO! THERE IS A RECALL OUT THERE BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE LIGHT GOING ON WHEN KIDS THAT DO NOT WEIGH ENOUGH TO TOGGLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT OFF, SO THE LIGHT STAYS ON. THAT RECALLS # IS08V161000. MANY FOLKS ONLINE AND IN FORUMS ARE REPORTING THE SAME AIRBAG PROBLEM. I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS CONCERN AS IT KEEPS DUPLICATING OVER AND OVER AND OVER. RIGHT NOW, I AM PAYING FOR FIRESTONE TO DO REPLACE THE BUCKLE AND FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE THEY WARRANTY IT FOR 18 MONTHS AND THE DEALER WILL ONLY DO IT FOR 12. I NEED A NEW INSPECTION STICKER. RICHMOND, VA. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444647January 20, 2012
TIRES
COMPLETELY NEW VEHICLE (HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED 2012) WITH NEW TIRES AS SUPPLIED BY MANUFACTURER HYUNDAI. CAR KEPT SKIDDING ON A VERY LIGHT SNOW (LESS THAN HALF INCH OF SNOW), AND TIRES WOULD HOLD NO TRACTION. HAPPENED REPEATEDLY WHENEVER THERE WAS EVEN A LIGHT SNOW. WILL NOT GO UP A GENTLE SLOPE WITH SNOW. HAS TIRES HANKOOK OPTIMO H-431. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444576January 19, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR IS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA AND LAST NIGHT MY CARS' HEADLIGHTS DIM OR SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY, THE FAN SPEED SEEMS TO DROP FOR A SECOND ALSO BUT NEVER SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF. I NOTICED LAST NIGHT MY TACHOMETER WOULD ONLY GO TO A 1 AT THE LOWEST. IT WOULD GO HIGHER AS I DROVE BUT NEVER BACK DOWN TOWARDS A 0 OR 1. YOU COULD FEEL THE HARSH VIBRATION AS I SAT AT A STOPLIGHT WHILE IT RESTED AT 1. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANS IS SLIPPING OR SOMETHING AS I TAKE OFF OR TRY TO TURN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH THIS CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! WHAT IF THE GAS PEDAL STICKS OR THE LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING??? I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND YOU BET I WOULD SUE OR MY FAMILY WOULD ON MY BEHALF IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO US AS A RESULT OF HYUNDAI NOT ISSUING SOME KIND OF RECALL. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ASAP AS TO AVOID ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BY A SIMPLE RECALL. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444600January 19, 2012
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SONATA PULLS TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT IN AND TOLD DEALER I THOUGHT IT WAS CAR, NOT THE ROAD -- BUT TOLD ME IT WAS FINE. TOOK IT IN AGAIN BECAUSE IT PULLS HARD TO LEFT GOING STRAIGT TO DITCH IF YOU LET GO OF STEERING WHEEL, THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED IT 2 POINTS AND IT WAS NOT PULLING ANYMORE. LEFT DEALERSHIP AND IT STILL PULLS HARD TO LEFT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444386January 18, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HIS FOOT WOULD SWELL, CAUSING HIM TO PAY LESS ATTENTION TO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT ONLY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10444451January 18, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER HAVING 3 OF 5 RECALL FIXES PERFORMED, BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND SOUNDS ACTIVATED. CAR LOST POWER AT LOW REVS. REQUIRED GIVING FULL THROTTLE TO ENABLE GAS ENGINE TO KICK IN AND GAIN ENOUGH SPEED TO SAFELY STAY WITH TRAFFIC. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING ENGINE OFF/ON, PROBLEM SEEMED TO RESOLVE ITSELF. HAPPENED AGAIN IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHILE ENTERING EXIT RAMP RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND THAT IT WOULD BE REPAIRED. 2 DAYS LATER ISSUE HAPPENED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65MPH WITH NOWHERE SAFE TO CONVENIENTLY PULL OVER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444056January 17, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRUNK WAS OPENING ON ITS OWN INTERMITTANTLY. THIS WAS OUR 55000 MILE SCHEDULED SERVICE SO WE REPORTED IT. THEY CHECKED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG BUT TOLD US THEY GREASED THE TRUNK LATCH AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED. A FEW WEEKS LATER IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. WE THINK ITS AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT, BUT BY THE TIME THEY FIGURE IT OUT WE'LL BE OUT OF WARRANTY. WE DON'T DARE PUT ANYTHING OF VALUE IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444073January 17, 2012
STEERING
THE VEHICLE TRACKS TO THE LEFT. DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT FIXING THE ISSUE THE DEALERS (MORE THAN ONE) CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THIS. HYUNDAI HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON IT (SONATA-TR01) YET THIS 'FIX' DOESN'T RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443912January 16, 2012
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN POITION AND DROPS WHICH BLOCKS VISION. SAFETY ISSUE. MANUFACTURER WILL CHARGE FOR REPAIR BUT THIS IS CLEARLY AN DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE,AS THERE IS A RECALL IF YOU LIVE IN SOUTHERN STATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443979January 16, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES ON MY SONATA STARTED GRINDING AT 25000 MILES. CONTACTED HYUNDAI HEADQUARTERS BY EMAIL AND THEY STATED THE BRAKES WERE OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED BY THEM TO TAKE IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER. SINCE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT THIS MILEAGE I HAD TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO IS STATE CERTIFIED. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. I HAVE KEPT THE EMAIL RESPONSE THAT HYUNDAI HEADQUARTERS SENT TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443845January 15, 2012
STEERING
VEHICHLE PULLS BADLY TO THE LEFT IF STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED. A CONSTANT PRESSURE TO THE RIGHT MUST BE MAINAINED TO KEEP THE VEHICJE IN IT'S LANE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443310January 10, 2012
STEERING
I BOUGHT A 2011 SONATA IN MAY 2010. THIS CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT FROM THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT. NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. IT HAS BEEN ALIGNED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH NO SUCCESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443198January 9, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHILE STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND CLUTCH TO THE FLOOR (DISENGAGED), THE CAR BEGAN TO LURCH AGAINST THE BRAKE. THE CLUTCH BEGAN ENGAGING BY ITSELF BECAUSE THE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER HAD FAILED AT 61,500 MILES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CAR WAS 1,500 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY, TOTAL COST TO REPAIR WAS $1950.00 AND 3 DAYS OF SERVICE. BECAUSE THE LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID "SOAKED" THE CLUTCH, THE $794.00 CLUTCH/PRESSURE PLATE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS WELL. HYUNDAI WILL NOT HONOR ANY "GOODWILL" ADJUSTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443226January 9, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON..THE DEALER SAYS IT'S THE SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH IS A $1,400 REPAIR. WHEN YOU SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG WARNING GOES ON AND OFF BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE RECALL NUMBER IS 08V161000. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY TOLD ME ONLY CARS BUILT IN MAY AND JUNE OF 2006 WOULD BE HONORED FOR THE RECALL. MY CAR WAS BUILT IN JULY 2006 (ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI CORPORATE OFFICE). WHY WOULD THEY ONLY RECALL CARS BUILT IN MAY AND JUNE? OBVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTED DURING THE PRODUCTION OF MY CAR? WHAT MAKES MY CAR SEAT PARTS DIFFERENT FROM THOSE PRODUCED IN MAY AND JUNE? I ASKED IF THEY HAD PART NUMBERS THAT WERE IN THE RECALL AND IF THEY CHANGED DESIGN IN JULY? THEY COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT ANSWER ME. MY BET IS THEY ISSUED THE RECALL TO SATISFY A FEW IF ANY AND TURN-DOWN ALL OTHERS TO SAVE MONEY SINCE THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE SEAT HAS TO BE REMOVED AND SENT OUT TO BE CALIBRATED (COST ESTIMATE $1,400). THE BOTTOM LINE IS MY AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE LIGHT IS ON AND HYUNDAI HAS A LONG LONG HISTORY OF AIR BAG ISSUES. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THEM TO HONOR MY CAR IN THE RECALL? IF I WERE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION MY AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443242January 9, 2012
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP OR IN ANY POSITION RELIABLY. THE SUN VISOR DROPS DOWN CONSTANTLY WITH ANY VIBRATION DURING NORMAL DRIVING. SUN VISOR DROOPS OR DROPS DOWN AT ANY TIME OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442831January 8, 2012
AIR BAGS
I BOUGHT A USED CAR AT TARBOX AND THE CAR AT 60 WAS FEELING LIKE IT WAS SKIPPING THEN AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF BROUGHT IT BACK AND DEALER RESET IT AND SKIPPING STOPPED LIGHT STAYED OFF THEN THE SKIPPING CAME BACK I WAS CHECKING THE FUSE BOX AIRBAG FUSE WAS REMOVED SO I REPLACED WITH THE EXTRA FUSE RIGHT SIZE AND LIGHT STAYS ON BUT DEALER SAYS NOW OVER WARRANTY BUT I TOLD THEM I REPORTED BEFORE THIS AND FUSE WAS REMOVED IS THERE A RECALL THAT WAS OR WASN'T DONE ON THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442764January 7, 2012
STEERING
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW HYUNDAI SONATA (2011) IN MARCH OF 2011 AND THE DAY I TEST DROVE IT I FELT THE CAR PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND HAND TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A BIG ISSUE AND WOULD BE REPAIRED. NINE MONTHS LATER AND THREE TIMES BEING SERVICED FOR THE PULL AND THE STEERING WHEEL ISSUE IT IS STILL FUNCTIONING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED DROVE OUT OF THE SERVICE AREA TO FIND IT WAS STILL WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. WAS TOLD TO OPEN UP A CASE WITH THE REGIONAL OFFICE WHICH I DID, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT PUENTE HILLS HYUNDAI [XXX] SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442638January 6, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A LOUD TICKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/14/12*LJ UPDATED 02/24/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442682January 6, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IN 2006, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER AT THAT TIME, THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A MALFUNCTION. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 02/24/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442684January 6, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE NOTICED AN UNUSUAL PERCENTAGE OF HYUNDAI SONATAS WITH THE HIGH VISIBILITY BRAKES LIGHTS THAT DO NOT OPERATE. I CHECKED INTO HAVING IT REPAIRED AND THE ESTIMATE WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. I WONDERED IF THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE ACCESS TO THE LIGHT IS SO DIFFICULT. I WAS CURIOUS IF OTHER COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED AND IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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