Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10430699October 18, 2011
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A STATE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE STEERING WHEEL/CAR SUDDENLY STARTING SHAKING EXTREMELY VIOLENTLY AND IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO MAINTAIN CONTROL LONG ENOUGH TO PULL OVER AND STOP/INSPECT THE VEHICLE. IT WAS REMARKABLE AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR AND IF MY CHILD, A NEW DRIVER, HAD BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, I AM CERTAIN AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKED. THE SENSATION I EXPERIENCED WAS VERY MUCH LIKE THAT DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 10V426000. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ULTIMATELY CONCLUDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BRAKE SWITCH WHICH CAUSED POWER STEERING TO STOP WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRAKE SWITCH, CONCLUDING THAT MY 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA, MANUFACTURED ON 3/11/11, WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL INVOLVING STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT CONNECTIONS. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING THE CAR, ALTHOUGH I DO SO RELUCTANTLY, PARTICULARLY WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE I DO NOT KNOW IF THESE SITUATIONS ARE RELATED, ON 9/11/11 MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE STARTER WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. AT THAT TIME A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER, BUT REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT MY VEHICLE AND THIS SITUATION HAPPENING TO OTHER DRIVERS WHO MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS I WAS. I REMAIN HOPEFUL HYUNDAI WILL BE AGGRESSIVE AND PROACTIVE IN THIS PROCESS, BUT IT SCARED AND CONCERNED ME ENOUGH I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO PURSUE THIS SITUATION WITH A REGULATORY BODY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430743October 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I EXPERIENCED A LARGE JOLT WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNEXPECTED SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION GEAR WHERE MY SPEED OF APPROX. 65 MPH AT 2000 RPM DROPPED TO 45 MPH AT APPROX 3800 RPM. HAD THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC NOT BEEN LIGHT AT THE TIME, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR SHOWED IT WAS IN "D", THE GEAR WAS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 2ND GEAR. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND SHIFTED FROM D TO R TO N TO P, HOWEVER IT SEEMED THAT IT WAS LOCKED IN 2ND GEAR. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT IN THAT GEAR TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER. HOWEVER ONCE THE ENGINE WAS SHUTOFF AND RESTARTED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS BACK IN ITS NORMAL GEAR AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THAT EVENT. IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, THE COMPUTER SHOWED NO PROBLEMS. AFTER DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430442October 17, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON IT IN 2004 FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE AND FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY. ACCORDING TO THE HOME OFFICE THE VALVE FIX WAS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE IN 2005, I HAVE NO RECORD OF THE INSTALLATION. IN 2011 MY VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE FUEL PUMP, SO I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A NEW FUEL PUMP I PURCHASED AT AN AUTO SUPPLY SHOP. AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW FUEL PUMP MY VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO START, THE GAS WAS TAKING TO LONG TO GET TO THE INJECTORS. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL NOT REMEMBERING ANYTHING ABOUT IT OR HAVING A VALVE INSTALLED. MY QUESTION IS ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT RECALL WHY ISN'T THERE NOTICE AT THE AUTO SUPPLY STORES ON VEHICLES AND PARTS ON RECALL. A RAISED FLAG IF YOU WILL, SO WHEN I (SOMEONE) GO TO PURCHASE THE NEW FUEL PUMP A NOTICE WOULD HAVE COME UP ABOUT THE RECALL. NOW THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION REFUSE TO FIX THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITHOUT COST TO ME. I THINK IT IS HYUNDAI RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE WORD OUT IN EVERY AVENUE AVAILABLE OUT THERE ABOUT THE RECALL. THEY KNEW THE FUEL PUMP WAS BOUND TO FAIL ONE DAY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. GOING BACK TO THE DEALER (WHO WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL) IS AN OPTION NOT THE ONLY OPTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430579October 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OUTAGE INCLUDING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DIMMING LIGHTS, RADIO TURNS OFF/ON, AC SHUTS OFF/ON, DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND EVENTUALLY TURN ON (ENGINE, ABS LIGHTS, ETC...). THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR, 4-5 TIMES IN A 10-15 MINUTE DRIVE. USUALLY HAPPENS AT LOWER SPEEDS, WHEN DECELERATING/ACCELERATING, BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR LAST 3 MONTHS. AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUES COUPLE YRS AGO AND TOOK TO DEALER FOR RECALL ISSUE, ATTRIBUTED TO A SENSOR ISSUE, WHICH SEEMED TO FIX IT UNTIL RECENTLY. HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 MONTHS AGO, WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. 3 MECHANICS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY CAUSE. VERY FRUSTRATED! OTHERWISE CAR HAS DONE WELL. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED, AS I'VE NOTICED MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430271October 14, 2011
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
DEFECTIVE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM. DURING A 5 MONTH CYCLE WITH A DISTANCE DRIVEN OF 4500 MILES, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED 7 SEPARATE TIMES DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. CHECKS WITH A PRESSURE GAUGE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ACTIVATION SHOWED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS WITHIN 1 PSI OF THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE. ON EACH OCCASION THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR WARNING LIGHT RESET WITHOUT ANY MANUAL INTERVENTION. IT WOULD TAKE FROM 20 MILES OF DRIVING UP TO 200 MILES OF DRIVING TO RESET. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD INSPECTED THE SYSTEM FOLLOWING THE INITIAL ACTIVATION AND SUSPECTED RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE AS BEING THE CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430098October 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6,500 MILES INTO VEHICLE USE, VEHICLE FAILED TO START UP WHILE PARKED. UPON ENTERING VEHICLE, PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL, AND PUSHING START ON PUSH-BUTTON START, SCREEN WOULD DISPLAY "PUSH BRAKE PEDAL TO START VEHICLE." THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING PRESSED. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF CONTINUOUSLY PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSING START BUTTON, VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STARTED. APPROXIMATELY 5 ADDITIONAL FAILURES TO START OCCURRED BEFORE I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO SELLING DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, WHICH MY RECEIPT LISTS AS A FAULTY BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. TECHNICIAN REMOVED AND REPLACED BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER VEHICLE WAS "FIXED," THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START IN THE SAME FASHION AS HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP AGAIN DIAGNOSED SAME PROBLEM AND REPLACED SAME PART (BRAKE LAMP SWITCH) AS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS SINCE LAST (SECOND) REPAIR. I WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND REPORT IF ISSUE APPEARS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429565October 12, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS LOCATED IN MIDDLE OF THE REAR WINDOW FAILED AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLACE THE BULB WITHOUT REMOVING THE REAR SEAT BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,00. UPDATED 11/03/11 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST A 4140 TO REPLACE THE BULB DUE TO ITS LOCATION. UPDATED 11/18/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429580October 12, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO REPAIR BECAUSE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN, THE LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT WHEN THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429622October 12, 2011
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LAMP RANDOMLY TURNS ON AND OFF. PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED ONCE BUT AFTER SEVERAL DAYS SAME TROUBLE RETURNED. AS I UNDERSTAND, IF THE AIR BAG LAMP IS LIT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS WOULD SEEM LIKE A MANDATORY RECALL FOR A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429640October 12, 2011
STEERING, SUSPENSION
MY 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA SE 2.0T HAS BEEN TRACKING AND PULLING TO THE LEFT AND HAS A SIDE TO SIDE MOTION THAT HAS CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO BECOME NAUSEOUS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW ON AUGUST 1, 2011. I WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. BOTH DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT PULLS TO THE LEFT AND THE SIDE TO SIDE MOTION. BOTH HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS. HYUNDAI HAS DONE A VOLUNTARY TSB CAMPAIGN (#927) TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SO FAR THE ALL THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE DONE IS BALANCE THE TIRES AND ALIGN THEM AND THAT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE CAR FEELS UNSAFE BUT HYUNDAI DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. I TRIED CALLING THEIR HYUNDAI USA TOLL FREE NUMBER BUT HAVE NOT HAD ANY HELP FROM HYUNDAI USA. I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A FULL RECALL TO HAVE HYUNDAI CORRECTLY ADDRESS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I'VE SPENT ALMOST TWO MONTHS AND THREE TRIPS TO DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THEM MICKEY MOUSE AROUND AND TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A "SIMPLE BALANCE PROBLEM" OR A "SIMPLE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM" WHEN CLEARLY THE CAR STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT AND MOVES SIDE TO SIDE. IT SEEMS TO BE THAT HYUNDAI DID NOT DO PROPER ENGINEERING BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS ONLY WITH THE 18" WHEEL AND TIRE PACKAGE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429923October 12, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429558October 12, 2011
STEERING
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY HYUNDAI SONATA GLS FROM DAY 1 (PURCHASE DATE 8/31/11) WITH REGARDS TO THE STEERING ALIGNMENT. THE CAR WILL EITHER DRIFT OR PULL TO THE RIGHT. I RETURNED IT FOR SERVICE 3 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY "FIXED THE ALIGNMENT". I RETURNED THE CAR ON 10/10/11 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT HYUNDAI RECENTLY ISSUED A RECALL JUST A "COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO" WHICH I CANNOT FIND AND THAT HYUNDAI HAS FOUND A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT AND SAID IT WAS "SPOT ON" AND THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE TIRES. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE CENTER THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR STILL DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429398October 11, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN A DEPRESSED POSITION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE UNTIL THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CABLE WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429423October 11, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DURING BRAKING, BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AND RESULTED IN DIFFICULTY BRAKING. GRINDING NOISE NOTICED FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR. UPON CHECKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WITH SONATA'S ONLINE, I DETERMINED THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT ISSUE WITH SONATA BRAKE ROTORS PREMATURELY WEARING AWAY. AGAIN, IN 9/2011, I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME REAR ROTORS, AND WILL HAVE TO GET THIS REPLACED. INITIAL COST WAS VERY HIGH, AS THE AUTO SHOP NOTED THAT THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS WERE BEYOND REPAIR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429232October 9, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES WORE OUT. FRONT BRAKES 'LIKE NEW'. SHOULDN'T FRONT BRAKES WEAR OUT FIRST AS THAT IS WHERE THE ENGINE WEIGHT IS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429178October 8, 2011
STEERING
VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT, SMOOTH SURFACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428947October 6, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED CORROSION NEAR THE SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428966October 6, 2011
VISIBILITY
ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA - FIRST MY PASSENGER SIDE AND NOW MY DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN POSITION. NO MATTER HOW YOU MANIPULATE THE VISORS (ALL THE WAY UP, OR ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK THE SUN) IT FALLS TO THE SAME POSITION WHICH IMPAIRS THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD TO SAFETY PIN MY VISOR TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR, WHICH IS UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO REMEDIATE THIS PROBLEM, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR. I'VE ALSO READ THAT EVEN IF YOU GET THEM FIXED, THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428991October 6, 2011
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT MODULE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429007October 6, 2011
STEERING
LOOK AT THE PROBLEM IN THIS VIDEO. SERIOUS STEERING MALFUNCTION. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PJ9OD6OYDVY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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