Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10350013August 17, 2010
VISIBILITY
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR RECENTLY BROKE. MY UNDERSTANDING FROM INFORMATION I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALER AND REPORTS THAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE 2008 SONATA HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. HYUNDAI SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND CORRECT THE APPARENT DEFECT WITH THE SUN VISORS. I HAVE EVEN HEARD OF REPORTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR VISORS REPLACED THAT THE REPLACEMENTS HAVE ALSO BROKEN. IT MAKES FOR VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE WHEN THE VISOR HANGS DOWN, YOUR VISION IS IMPAIRED. EVEN WHEN YOU PUSH IT TO THE SIDE, YOUR VISION IS PARTIALLY BLOCKED. WHAT OTHER RECOURSE DO CONSUMERS HAVE TO ENSURE THE MANUFACTURERS ARE SELLING MERCHANTABILITY GOODS. WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE NO WAY OF INSPECTING THE SUN VISOR MECHANISMS TO KNOW IF THEY ARE WORKING OR WILL WORK PROPERLY WHEN A CAR IS PURCHASED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350082August 17, 2010
AIR BAGS
I OWN A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR THE LAST 2+YEARS. I ONLY HAVE ~44,000 MILES ON IT NOW. I CHECKED THE FUSE, ITS NOT BLOWN. I HAD MY CODES CHECKED. THEY STATE I HAVE TO BRING IT TO A DEALER/MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSES OF AIRBAG SYSTEMS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 05/06 SONATA'S, WHICH COST UPWARDS OF $1500 TO DIAGNOSE/REPAIR. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPARE TO FIX A CAR - WHICH IS ONLY WORTH ABOUT $4000 IN THE FIRST PLACE. MEANWHILE, I WONDER IF MY AIRBAGS WILL WORK IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT. I HOPE SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THE AIRBAG PROBLEM WITH THE 05/06 HYUNDAI SONATAS. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349631August 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AT 10K MILES REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE GLAZED FROM STICKING BRAKE PADS; ROTORS WERE MACHINED AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED. AT 26.8K MILES THE REAR BRAKES WERE "METAL TO METAL" AND BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY WORN DUE TO DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE PAD BEING SEIZED INTO ROTORS (DEALERS LANGUAGE). DEALER ATTRIBUTED BRAKE FAILURE TO INCREASED CORROSION DUE TO OUR MAINE LOCATION. NONE OF THE OTHER VEHICLES WE HAVE HAD EXHIBITED THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT I HAVE BEEN OPERATING THE CAR FOR AN INDETERMINATE TIME WITH NO REAR BRAKES. THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED DURING A NORMAL TIRE ROTATION. I SUSPECT HYUNDAI ENCOURAGES TIRE ROTATION AT EVERY SERVICE INTERVAL IN ORDER TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE REAR BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349700August 16, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE SUN VISORS HAVE BROKEN TWICE ON MY 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THIS BLOCKS MY VISION. VERY UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349726August 16, 2010
VISIBILITY
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT REMAIN IN PLACE AND OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VIEW. IT STARTED TO SAG JUST A LITTLE A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND NOW WILL NOT STAY UP. I HAVE TO PUSH IT FORWARD AND IT WILL STAY PUSHED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD FOR NOW. IF IT FAILS ANY FURTHER IT WILL OBSTRUCT MY VIEW ENTIRELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349476August 15, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
OWN A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE AIR BAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON AND WON'T RESET. DEALER SAID IT COULD BE SEVERAL THINGS ... REPLACE SEAT BELT OR THE SEAT AT A VERY HIGH PRICE. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON AGAIN AFTER MAKING THE SO-CALLED REPAIR. THEY COULDN'T EVEN TELL ME IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD FUNCTION WHILE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON IN MY CAR. I'M PRETTY MUCH AT A LOSS ON THIS ONE. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SAFETY FIRST?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349504August 15, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA 3.3. I STARTED MY CAR ONE MORNING AND HAD NO ACCELERATION IN THE GAS PEDDLE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF GOT HUSBAND AND WE RESTARTED IT AND HAD NO PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK A TRIP TO HOUSTON A FEW WEEKS LATER AND AGAIN HAD THE PROBLEM HAPPEN TO ME A FEW TIMES THERE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HAD TO RETURN HOME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN HOUSTON AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $100 DOLLARS OR MORE TO JUST SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. MY HUSBAND SAID TO BRING IT HOME AND WE WILL CHECK ON IT. ON MY TRIP HOME THE ESC OFF LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND I LOST ACCELERATION WHILE IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE 10. THIS HAPPENED TO ME MANY OF TIMES ON THE RETURN TRIP HOME. WHEN IT WENT OUT ON ME, SEVERAL TIMES I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND 3 TIMES NEARLY GOT HIT IN THE REAR AND 1 TIME WAS SERIOUSLY ALMOST RAMMED IN THE REAR WHILE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LETTING THE CAR REST BEFORE RESTARTING IT. THE MOST TERRIFYING MOMENT WAS GOING OVER THE BRIDGE IN BATON ROUGE, LA. AND THE ESC OFF LIGHT KICKED IN AND I LOST ACCELERATION AND THERE WAS NO SIDE ROAD TO PULL OVER ON. I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT 3 TIMES BEFORE THE ESC OFF LIGHT WENT OFF AND I AGAIN HAD ACCELERATION. THEN ABOUT 20 MILES OUTSIDE OF METAIRIE, LA. WHERE I WAS HEADING, IT STARTED SPUTTERING. THE RPMS WOULD GO DOWN AND THE CAR WOULD PULL BACK, THEN THEY WOULD JUMP UP AND THE CAR WOULD JERK FORWARD. I FINALLY MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION WHAT IS NORMALLY A 4 1/2 HR DRIVE TURNED IN TO A VERY STRESSFUL AND FEARFUL 8 HR DRIVE. I DID LOOK UP ON GOOGLE ABOUT 2006 SONATA'S AND ESC OFF LIGHT AND FOUND MANY OFF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM PUTTING THE CAR IN THE SHOP TOMORROW MORNING. I READ OF A WOMAN HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND HER CAR ACCELERATING ON HER AND PLUNGED INTO A TREE. THIS SOUNDS TO ME A SERIOUS MATTER AND SEEMS IT IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY HYUNDAI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349191August 13, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IT STARTED ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE DRIVER SAID THE RPMS INCREASE TO ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY EXCESSIVELY. HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO SLOW IT DOWN AND DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. HE THEN DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. HYUNDAI WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE OWNER DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 3,000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/14/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349266August 13, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
INTERMITTENT REAR BRAKE NOISE ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR OVER 1YEAR. TWICE INSPECTED AT DEALERS SHOP, NO PROBLEM FOUND AND ALL DISC BRAKE PADS WITHIN SPECS. I NOTICED RECENTLY AT 42,000 MILES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STEEL REAR WHEEL WAS GETTING EXTREMELY HOT DUE TO REAR BRAKES OVERHEATING. MY DEALER STATED THAT PASS. SIDE REAR BRAKE PAD HAD WORN DOWN ALMOST COMPLETELY DUE TO "BRAKE PAD SLIDES STICKING ON CALIPERS". NEW SET OF REAR BRAKES WERE INSTALLED AT COST OF 240.00 . MY DEALER AND HYUNDAI CORPORATION BOTH STATED THAT REPAIR WORK WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY! I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF REAR BRAKE PAD PREMATURE FAILURE BUT THE UNKNOWN EFFECT ON THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS DUE TO OVERHEATING OF BRAKES/WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349048August 12, 2010
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FELL DOWN. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGERS HAVE HIT THEIR HEADS ON THEM AND THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR ALSO FELL DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS FACE, OBSCURING HER VISION WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. HYUNDAI WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 66,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. LJ UPDATED 12/29/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348711August 11, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. IT SEEMS THAT THE BRAKES ACT FUNNY (DON'T WORK RIGHT/LONGER STOP TIME) WHENEVER IT IS WET OR COLD OUT. I HAVE HAD WORK DONE ON IT BY THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FROZE UP AND ONLY HALF WORKING. THEY WANTED $45 TO CLEAN THEM FOR ME. INSTEAD I HAD MY NORMAL MECHANIC DO THE CLEANING WHEN HE REPLACED MY REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. HE DID THE CLEANING FOR FREE. ABOUT A MONTH LATER ON MY WAY HOME, DRIVING THROUGH THE RAIN I CAME UP TO A STOP LIGHT WITH 3 OR 4 VEHICLES STOPPED AT IT, I PRESSED THE BRAKE WITH ABOUT FIFTY FEET BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND THEIRS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH AND THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I USED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN BUT STILL HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. NO ONE WAS HURT. I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR MY CAR... IT HIT AN SUV. THE SUV HAD MINOR DAMAGE BUT MY CAR'S FRONT END WAS DESTROYED, AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO MY MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS AND TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THE BRAKES WERE STICKING A LITTLE BUT ALL HE COULD FIGURE OUT IS THAT THE CALIPERS NEED MORE CLEARANCE. THE BRAKES WORKED FOR HIM WITH NO FIXING BUT HE ALSO DROVE IT IN FAIR/SUNNY WEATHER. TO SUM UP THE INFORMATION I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES HARDLY, IF AT ALL WORK IN COLD AND WET WEATHER. AND NOTHING IS REALLY BEING DONE EVEN AFTER I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP HE SAID IT WAS COMMON FOR THIS CAR TO HAVE BRAKES FREEZE UP DUE TO RUST BUILDUP AND OFFERED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM CLEANED (ONCE AGAIN FOR $45) THERE IS ALSO A PART AVAILABLE FOR EXTRA MONEY OF COARSE THAT IS A NEW CALIPER SLIDE ASSEMBLY WITH ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE. THIS TELLS ME THAT HYUNDAI KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348828August 11, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. KEEPS FALLING DOWN OR WILL ALWAYS BE DOWN IN FIELD OF VISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348835August 11, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ON MY VEHICLE BROKE AND WILL NOT STAY UP. IT HANGS IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S VISION NOW. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE PART COSTS $101. HOWEVER, IT IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348855August 11, 2010
AIR BAGS
2006 SONATA. JUST AFTER WARRANTY ENDING 60,000 MILES ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T GO OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348606August 10, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2004 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS DIES RANDOMLY WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR TURNING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THEN STARTS RIGHT UP AND MAY NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR A MONTH OR A FEW DAYS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND VEHICLE RUNS GREAT BESIDES DYING IN TRAFFIC WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348318August 9, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY IN THE FIXED POSITION. INSTEAD IT HANGS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE OBSCURING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347985August 8, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
I NOTICED THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND DRIVING OFF AT NIGHT. I HAD TEST DRIVEN IT FOR A LONG PERIOD IN THE DAYTIME, BUT NOT AT NIGHT. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EITHER FAULTY OR A PRODUCT WITH VERY POOR ENGINEERING. THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT HORIZONTAL LINE DIVIDING DARKNESS AND LIGHT WHERE HEADLIGHTS SHINE. THAT LINE JUMPS UP AND DOWN AS BUMPS IN THE ROAD ARE CROSSED WHILE DRIVING. VISION WITH LIGHTS AT NIGHT IS SO POOR THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWER THAN THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT. IT IS VERY SHADOWY WITH BLOTCHY AREAS OF DARKNESS TO LIGHT IN THE RANGE OF VISION. SHADOWS SEEM TO BE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE; THE DISTRACTION AND LACK OF CLEAR VISION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS FRIGHTENING AND VERY DANGEROUS. THE ONLY WAY I FEEL CONFIDENT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT IS WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY EYES BEFORE VARIOUS OTHER PEOPLE WITH ME CONFIRMED THIS WAS OCCURRING. I WON'T DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348050August 8, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HYUNDAI 2000 SONATA SUBFRAME RUST CAUSED WHEEL FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347894August 7, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SYSTEM IN 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA IS NOT FUNCTIONING DUE TO DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT MAT. 1. NO EVENTS LED TO FAILURE - IT JUST FAILED. 2. FAILS 100% OF TIME, RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. 3. DEALER MECHANIC REPORTED THAT PASSENGER SEAT MAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AND THAT ONLY MEANS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION IS BY REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT AT COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347934August 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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