Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2006)

1,047 consumer complaints on file.

#10176541December 19, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, STEERING, WHEELS
THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED (NO OPTION FOR 2007 WAS AVAILABLE IN DROP DOWN MENU) (ISSUE 1) AT OR AROUND THE INITIAL FEW DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY I BEGAN TO NOTICE ABRUPT VIBRATION AND SHAKING COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL; SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO FEEL IN THE SEAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THE VEHICLE TO BE IN MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATION. NONETHELESS, DEALER ATTEMPTED WHEEL BALANCE AND RADIAL FORCE BALANCE AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE." PROBLEM IS NOW MORE ARTICULATED AND THE ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. (ISSUE 2) ENGINE EMITS A RATTLE NOISE SIMILAR TO LIFTER CLATTER UPON START AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT OPERATION; PARTICULARLY IN COLDER WEATHER. TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS REPLACED AND ONE NOISE WAS RESOLVED BUT THE CONTINUAL NATURE OF THE LIFTER CLATTER REMAINS. DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. (ISSUE 3) FUEL SLOSHING COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CLAIMS THIS TO BE NORMAL AND NOT A SAFETY RISK. SOUND IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT OR AROUND 3/4 TANK. BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND REMAINS UNRESOLVED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175477December 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS CARBON MONOXIDE INFILTRATING IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING HEADACHES TO THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS. THE CONTACT MEASURED 999 PARTS PER MILLION OF CARBON MONOXIDE WITHIN THE CABIN. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10175173December 5, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT REMAINS LIT EVEN WHEN FRONT SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY OTHER OWNERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174262November 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR WORKS NORMALLY EXCEPT UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS CONCERNING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT: 1. PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED - INDICATOR IS OFF. 2. PASSENGER TEMPORARILY LEAVES SEAT - INDICATOR IS ON. 3. PASSENGER RETURNS TO SEAT - INDICATOR REMAINS ON. 4. INDICATOR REMAINS ON UNTIL THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON. OBVIOUSLY, THE PASSENGER IS IN MORTAL DANGER IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF CONDITION ESCAPES NOTICE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I ASKED SERVICE PERSONNEL ABOUT THIS AND THE ANSWER WAS, " OH, THAT'S NORMAL." IT MAY BE "NORMAL" BUT IT IS DANGEROUS DESIGN OR AN ERROR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173938November 21, 2006
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE THREE TIRES ON THE NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE HAD CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SIDEWALL OF TIRE CRACKING WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED. THE TIRES WERE CRACKING AORUND THE RIM. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173670November 16, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL AND CAR IS STOPPING AND ACCELERATING, BUBBLING SOUND COMES FROM THE FUEL TANK. I WENT DEALER BUT THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER SERVICE, THEY SAID FUEL TANK MAKES SOUND BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHANGED MATERIAL OF THE TANK. THEY ALSO SAID OTHER CAR'S FUEL TANK MAKE SAME SOUND.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173417November 13, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I HAVE HAD MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS SINCE OCTOBER 2005. FROM THE BEGINNING I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE SENSOR WILL NOT DETECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT (VARYING WEIGHTS) MANY TIMES THUS NOT ALLOWING THE AIRBAG TO BE TRIPPED IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. A HYUNDAI FORUM FOR OWNERS NOTES 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. A RECALL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ENACTED FOR ANOTHER MODEL BY HYUNDAI WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS BAD SENSORS AND IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED!!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172721November 6, 2006
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM WRITING THIS IN REGARDS TO A SERVICE PROBLEM I AM ENCOUNTERING CONCERNING MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TWO TIMES FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM, AND TWO TIMES NOW I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THAT WHEN MY WIFE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT WORKS PROPERLY WHEN I AM IN THE SEAT. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THIS HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY WITH THIS TYPE VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE AND I WANT THIS DISCREPANCY FIXED. THE HYUNDAI COMPANY PRIDES ITSELF ON ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES. IF THEY DON'T WORK PROPERLY, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD DO ALL YOU CAN TO FIX IT. AS FOR THIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WILL NOT BE RETURNING IT THERE UNLESS IT IS FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. THE LAST TIME I HAD IT IN FOR THIS THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL SOMEONE FOR TECH ASSIST AND GET BACK WITH ME. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER CONTACTED ANYONE, BUT I KNOW THEY DID NOT CALL BACK. BELOW IS MY INFORMATION: JAY MCKAY 2006 SONATA STEVENSON HYUNDAI, JACKSONVILLE NC IF YOU CANNOT HELP ME WITH THIS, PLEASE FORWARD TO APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT, OR LET ME KNOW WHO TO SEND IT TO.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172010October 27, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA IN JUNE 2006. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I NOTICED UPON FILLING UP THE TANK WITH GAS I COULD HEAR A LOT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. IT IS A LOUD SLOSHING OF THE GAS THAT CAN BE HEARD INSIDE THE CAR. IT SPLASHES BACK AND FORTH UPON STOPPING AND ACCELERATING AND IS LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD OVER THE RADIO. IT ALSO CREATES SUCH A NOISE THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES ON THE LEFT SIDE. IT SOUNDS AT TIMES AS IF I AM DRAGGING SOMETHING WHEN STOPPING. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES INQUIRING ABOUT THIS AND HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP. ON OCTOBER 16, 2006 I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO HYUNDAI TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM INSPECTED, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD SUPER SENSITIVE HEARING AND THAT IT IS A AND I QUOTE "A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE" AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I FEEL THAT I PURCHASED A NEW CAR AND I SHOULD NOT HEAR A PEEP OUT OF IT. THIS GREATLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE CAR AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS WHEN I AM GETTING NOWHERE WITH HYUNDAI MYSELF. I AM ALSO CONCERNED SAFETY WISE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS DEALING WITH FUEL. ALTHOUGH THE NOISE STOPS WHEN THE TANK FALLS BELOW 1/2 I SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO FILL MY GAS TANK UP FOR FEAR OF WHAT COULD GO WRONG. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170634October 12, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED INDICATING IT WAS INOPERATIVE ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER WAS SEATED WITH THE SEAT BELT ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE AIRBAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BOTTOM. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170655October 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED INDICATING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DIDN'T LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. UPDATED 11/21/06.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170470October 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ON MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE CHAIN TO GAIN SLACK CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170320October 9, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I NOTICED AROUND THIS TIME THAT THE LATCH HOLDING THE CENTER CONSOLE SHUT IN MY 06 SONATA WAS LOOSE. I TRIED TO PUT IT BACK INTO PLACE, BUT IT THEN BROKE FREE IN MY HANDS. THE CONSOLE WILL FLING OPEN OVER MOST SPEED BUMPS. I'M WORRIED IN A CRASH THAT ANYTHING INSIDE OF IT WILL FLY ALL OVER THE PLACE. PLUS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THIS TO SURPRISE THE DRIVER AND CAUSE A CRASH. A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WILL BE REPLACING THE WHOLE CONSOLE, BUT I WANTED TO FILE A REPORT AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170065October 6, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG ACTIVATION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE, WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND HELD A CONFERENCE CALL WITH A TECHNICIAN FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE SENSOR WAS WORKING WITHIN NORMAL OPERATING STANDARDS. THE SENSOR CONTINUED TO OPERATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169768October 2, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE A PASSENGER WEIGHING BETWEEN 100 AND 250 POUNDS SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE LIGHT WAS RESET, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169569September 29, 2006
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ISSUE FOR 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS V6 (1)DRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO AREA WITH RESPECTING LOCAL TRAFFIC LAWS. (2)SUDDENLY ESC FAILED AND ENGINE LOST ITS POWER. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO 15 MILES/HOUR AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE MORE THAN 15 MILES/HOUR. IT CAUSED A CLOSE CHANCE OF REAR-COLLISION ACCIDENT. (3)DEALERSHIP REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS. LASTED 10 DAYS AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE CONTINUED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR OF CAMMISA HYUNDAI EXPLAINED TO ME, THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE REASONS FOR FAILURES. NO DATE FOR REPAIR HAS BEEN PROMISED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169399September 27, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO THE OR FULL MARK, THERE WAS A CREAKING NOISE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SPARE TIRE WAS LOOSE AND THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED THE SPARE TIRE, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. THE THIRD AND LAST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE THE GAS TANK WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE TANK MAY BE EXPANDING RESULTING IN THE CREAKING NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169316September 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE OF MY TWO-MONTH-OLD 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS. ON THE NIGHT THAT THIS HAPPENED, I HAD DRIVEN MY SONATA THREE HOURS FROM ATLANTA, GA TO ALBANY, GA AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 5:30PM. I SUBSEQUENTLY RAN A LOCAL ERRAND AND PARKED MY CAR FOR THE EVENING AT 7:30PM. THE CAR WAS PARKED ABOUT 2.5-3 FEET BEHIND MY MOTHER'S 1994 CHEVROLET CORSICA. AROUND 12:30 MIDNIGHT, MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WAS BANGING ON MY WINDOW, YELLING, "YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE!" FLAMES SHOT UP 5-6 FEET IN THE AIR AND IGNITED THE TRUNK OF MY MOTHER'S CAR. TREES NEARBY WERE SINGED, AND MELTED METAL AND RUBBER DAMAGED THE DRIVEWAY. THANKS TO MY NEIGHBOR'S QUICK ACTION, THE FLAMES DID NOT REACH THE FUEL TANK OF MY MOTHER'S CAR OR OUR HOUSE, THEREBY AVERTING A REAL DISASTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, MANUFACTURER AND INSURANCE COMPANY WERE NOT THE PARTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE. WIDER CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE NHTSA AND THE COMPLAINT-TO-RECALL PROCESS WILL ENHANCE SAFETY BY ENCOURAGING ALL PARTIES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169206September 25, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
SONATA FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR PROBLEM THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY FOR A 120 POUND PERSON AS A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. IF YOU TURN THE ENGINE ON AND THEN A PASSENGER SITS DOWN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE SENSOR LIGHT ASSUMES NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG WON'T RELEASE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. IF A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SITS IN THE SEAT AND THE CAR ENGINE IS TURNED ON THE SENSOR LIGHT WORKS. BUT IF THE PASSENGER GETS OUT OF THE SEAT WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL ON AND THEN RETURNS TO THE SEAT, THE SENSOR LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AGAIN.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168175September 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT ANY SPEED ON BUMPY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE EXHAUST PIPE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS SECURE AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE HITTING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THREE OTHER VEHICLES WERE TEST DRIVEN AND THE SAME SOUND WAS PRESENT. AN EMPLOYEE WHO WORKED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S FACTORY INFORMED THE CONTACT THE FUEL TANK WAS HITTING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/11/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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