Hyundai Sonata Complaints (2013)

2,025 consumer complaints on file.

#10533551July 30, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
CPSC: I1360329. 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING LOCKS AND SHE CANT START THE CAR. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS STRANDED TWICE, BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL, AND START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD RUN IN A ROUGH MANNER. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHE INJURED HERE WRIST, HAND AND ARM, TRYING TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10532707July 30, 2013
STEERING
STEERING SYSTEM ON HYUNDAI SONATA 2013 TOO LOOSE. FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ICE SKATING ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY; REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION AS IT SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEEL IS OVERLY SENSITIVE TO ANY TOUCH. REQUESTED DEALER TO ADJUST DAY TWO OF OWNERSHIP. NO RESPONSE FROM JOHNSON HYUNDAI OF CARY NC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532768July 30, 2013
SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
VEHICLE WANDERS FROM LANE TO LANE REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION. THIS CONDITION CAUSES FATIGUE WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE DRIVER CAN NOT TAKE THEIR ATTENTION OFF THE ROAD FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS, ESPECIALLY IN WINDY CONDITIONS OR HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE WILL WANDER. THIS CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR TIRES MUST BE REPLACED IN AS LITTLE AS 10,000 MILES AND THE COST IS ABOUT 1K FOR ALL FOUR TIRES. PROBLEM TWO. CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET OR CANCEL MUST BE TURNED OFF, OR THE BRAKE DEPRESSED OR THE CONTROL BUTTONS ARE INOPERATIVE PRESSING THE CANCEL BUTTON DOES NOT TURN OFF THE CRUISE AND IF IT DOES, AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE CRUISE WILL NOT RESET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531976July 26, 2013
STEERING
EVER SINCE PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 7/14/13, HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY IN KEEPING THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT AT ALL SPEEDS. IT TENDS TO WANDER IN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. HAVE TO KEEP HOLDING ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT CONSTANTLY TO AVOID DRIFTING INTO OTHER LANES. OVER LONG DISTANCE DRIVING, THIS HAS RESULTED IN DRIVER FATIGUE WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525642July 18, 2013
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), WHEELS
APPROXIMATELY 2 - 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE DISCOVERY MY PROBLEM ESC LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND STAY ON. I CHECKED MY BLUELINK SYSTEM TO SEE IF I HAD AN ERROR, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ISSUES APPARENTLY. I DECIDED TO WAIT AS I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO THE DEALER FOR MY SECOND OIL CHANGE. ON THE DAY IN QUESTION I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A TWO HOUR DRIVE. WHEN I GOT ON TO HWY I HEARD A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM FRONT OF CAR I PULLED OVER, GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT CAR COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, GOT BACK ON HWY, NOISE BEGAN AGAIN. SEEING I WAS NOT FAR FROM A DEALERSHIP I DECIDED TO GO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I EXPLAINED ABOUT THE ESC LIGHT REMAINING ON. THEY TOOK MY CAR IN TO SHOP AND LOOKED AT IT. DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT ALL MY TIRES WERE BALD. I ASKED HOW THIS WAS POSSIBLE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW. I HAD DONE ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD DONE IT PRIOR TO IT BEING NEEDED. DEALER CHECKED RECORDS TO VERIFY THAT REQUIRED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE, WHICH THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I CALLED CORPORATE HYUNDAI WHO STATED IT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE PROBLEM WHICH WAS NOT THEIR ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY WOULD TRANSFER ME TO KUMHO THE MAKER OF MY TIRES. CORPORATE ADVISED ME THAT ONCE TIRE ISSUE WAS CORRECTED IF I STILL HAD AN ESC ISSUE THEN THEY COULD LOOK AT GETTING THAT FIXED. KUMHO WANTED ME TO GET TREAD MEASUREMENTS DONE, FORWARD INFO TO THEM AND THEN THEY WOULD MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE GOING TO POSSIBLY HELP ME OUT ON THE COST OF NEW TIRE. REMEMBER JUST OVER 8000 MILES ON MY CAR THAT WAS BOUGHT AT THE END OF DEC 2012. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ISSUE IF I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED MY TWO HOUR DRIVE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MOSTLY HWY DRIVING. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524669July 13, 2013
STEERING
(TODAY'S DATE: 13JULY2013)..MY 2013 SONATA LE STEERING TENDS TO WANDER ON THE ROAD. IT HAS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN AUGUST 2012. THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG; THEY CAN'T REALLY NOTICE IT. YET I ALMOST CONSTANTLY NEED TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS FOR SMALL UNCOMMANDED DIRECTIONAL CHANGES PARTICULARLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 70 MPH (IT DRIVES BETTER AT 80 MPH). I SEEMS WORSE ON VARIOUS ROAD SURFACES (SMOOTH ASPHALT VS ROUGH/OIL AGGREGATE SURFACE VS CEMENT ETC.). I JUST RECENTLY BECAME AWARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY 2013 SONATA OWNERS. IT ADDS TO DRIVER FATIGUE (TIRING) AND MAKES DRIVING MUCH LESS ENJOYABLE, AND EVEN SCARY, PARTICULARLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. IF YOU BECOME DISTRACTED FOR EVEN JUST A MOMENT, YOU COULD MOVE INTO ANOTHER LANE (OR CAR). IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY COMPENSATING, IT'S LIKE YOUR DRIVING A MOTOR BOAT WHERE YOU'RE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THE CAR HAS THE WORST TIRE NOISE OF ANY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523597July 8, 2013
STEERING
CAR WILL NOT CENTER ITSELF -IF YOU TURN WHEEL ONE QUARTER INCH TO LEFT IT WILL STAY THERE AND YOU HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO CENTER SAME TO THE RIGHT -THE CAR IS VERY TIRING TO DRIVE THE CONSTANT CORRECTION OF THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN-THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET AND HYUNDAI SAYS ITS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING -I HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING AND NONE THEM HAVE HAD THE WANDERING PROBLEM THE HYUNDAI DOES PLEASE CONTACT HYUNDAI ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE -THX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524414July 5, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, STRUCTURE
THE CHROME OFF THE INDOOR HANDLES PEELED OFF AND CAN CUT YOUR FINGERS WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOORS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522637July 1, 2013
STEERING
MY FIRST TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I HAD TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT THE STEERING LEFT AND RIGHT TO EFFECTIVELY ADJUST THE TRACK AS VEHICLE TENDED TO "WANDER" ON ITS OWN. I DON'T NOTICE THIS ISSUE AT LOWER AROUND TOWN SPEEDS, BUT IT IS CLEARLY PRESENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522476June 30, 2013
STEERING
CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND CAN'T KEEP STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. FEELS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE! REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTIONS OF THE STEERING MAKES DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY STRESSFUL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522412June 29, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
WE RENTED A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA FROM HERTZ ON 8 JUNE 2013. IMMEDIATELY WE NOTED THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY AND TOOK A LONG TIME TO ENGAGE, AS WELL AS THE STEERING DRIFTED RIGHT OR LEFT CONSTANTLY. WE PUT THIS DOWN TO BEING A CHARACTERISTIC OF HYUNDAI, WHICH WE HAD NEVER DRIVEN. WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY. AT THE THIRD STOP/INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE. MY FATHER KEPT TRYING THE BRAKES AND THEY FINALLY ENGAGED AFTER ABOUT 3-5 ATTEMPTS. THEN AGAIN, ABOUT TWO STOPS LATER THE BRAKES AGAIN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO ENGAGE MULTIPLE TIMES. RATHER THAN REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US AT THE STOPLIGHT, HE MOVED INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE, WHERE A VEHICLE HIT US AND THEN SPED PAST US. WE TRIED TO COME TO A STOP BEHIND THE VEHICLE TO CALL THE POLICE AND DEAL WITH THE INCIDENT, BUT THE BRAKES STILL WOULD NOT WORK. WE HAD TO SWERVE BACK TO THE LEFT LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE AGAIN, AND FINALLY CAME TO A ROLLING STOP SEVERAL YARDS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DEALING WITH THE POLICE, WE TESTED THE BRAKES MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WERE ENGAGING, SO WE CONTINUED ON TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AS WE WERE TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE 2013 HYUNDAI SONATAS? WE'RE JUST VERY THANKFUL THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY IF WE HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, TRAVELING AT 75 MPH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521869June 26, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE SIDES INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12 . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520908June 20, 2013
STEERING
JUST BOUGHT A HYUNDAI SONATA 2013 THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND I CAN'T START THE CAR. I NEED ANOTHER PERSON TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT LOCKS SO HARD. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED TWICE WHERE I NEEDED HELP. JUST TODAY I HURT MY WRIST, HAND AND ARM TRYING TO START THE CAR, IT WOULDN'T TURN NEEDED HELP. HYUNDAI WON'T STAND BEHIND FIXING IT, THEY SAY IT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED. HAD IT IN SERVICE A FEW TIMES. I HAVE A CAR THAT WILL NOT RUN. AND WHEN IT DOES IT HAS THE ROUGHEST RIDE OF ANY CAR I EVER HAD, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAYS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. WHAT DO WE DO? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10520755June 19, 2013
STEERING
I HAVE NOTICED THE FOLLOWING STEERING RELATED ISSUES FROM DAY ONE OF MY PURCHASE. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO ELECTRONIC STEERING THAT IS PRESENT IN NEW CARS AS SOME DEALERS WILL CLAIM. I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL OTHER 2013 MAKES-FORDS, NISSAN AND TOYOTA, ALL WITH ELECTRONIC STEERING THAT DO NOT DISPLAY THESE PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT WITHOUT CORRECTION BY THE DRIVER. THE CAR WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. STEERING DOES NOT SELF-CENTER/RETURN TO CENTER. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A CENTER SPOT ON THEIR STEERING GEAR THAT ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO COMFORTABLY STEER IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN RETURNING FROM A LANE-CHANGE OR A TURN. PULLS TO THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS A PRONOUNCED PULL TO THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING CONSTANT DRIVER CORRECTION. DOES NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT. AS AN OVERALL, THE VEHICLE REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION BY THE DRIVER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND STRESSFUL TO DRIVE THE 2013 SONATA. I URGE THE USDOT ET AL TO HOLD HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FAULTY MANUFACTURING AND IMPLEMENT A RECALL THAT WILL FORCE HYUNDAI TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THIS ACTION IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL HYUNDAI SONATA OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520438June 18, 2013
STEERING
I PURCHASED MY 2013 SONATA LTD WITH STANDARD ENGINE 08/17/12. AFTER THE FIRST 300 MI OR SO I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE "DRIFTS", WHICH REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTION TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE FASTER THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING THE MORE PROMINENT THE DRIFTING, SO AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS CAN BECOME TIRING, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL MOMENTARILY, WITH SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. THIS VEHICLE IS DESIGNED WITH ELECTRIC STEERING THAT FUNCTIONS NORMALLY FOR TURNING BUT THERE IS AN INHERENT DESIGN ERROR IN THE STEERING CONTROL THAT ALLOWS THERE TO BE PHYSICAL ?PLAY? IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS ?PLAY? IS SIMILAR TO AUTOS THAT HAVE MANY MILES ON THEM. THEY WOULD HAVE RACK TO PINION WEAR OR BAD STEERING BUSHINGS CAUSING A GAP IN THE STEERING MOVEMENT LEFT AND RIGHT FROM CENTER. THE SONATA'S ?GAP? ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE STEERING IS OFF CENTER DURING VEHICLE TURNING AND HAS TO BE PASSED THROUGH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON TRACK. THE GAP ON THE SONATA IS ABOUT 1/3?. THIS CAUSES THE "DRIFT". BY CONTRAST, I ALSO OWN A 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH CONVENTIONAL POWER STEERING AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PLAY IN THE WHEEL, THUS THE VEHICLE GOES EXACTLY WHERE POINTED WITHOUT DRIFT. IN VA. WHERE I LIVE, GIVEN A SCENARIO WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS OLDER AND GOING THROUGH A STANDARD ANNUAL INSPECTION, THIS STEERING ?PLAY? WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE REJECTED AS HAVING A SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE REPAIRED. THE NHTSA SHOULD WITHOUT DELAY REQUIRE HYUNDAI TO RECALL AND REPAIR THIS ISSUE BY REMOVING THE STEERING ?PLAY?. HOW MANY OWNERS DOES IT TAKE WHO ACTUALLY COMPLAIN BEFORE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN? I WOULD VENTURE A GUESS THAT THIS ISSUE AFFECTS EVERY SONATA OF THIS DESIGN. I NOTED THIS SAME PROBLEM BEING REPORTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS OF THIS DESIGN AFTER THE RECALL WITH SOME REPORTS DESCRIBING POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. THAT'S A LOT OF CARS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520527June 18, 2013
STEERING
WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AFTER YOU TURN OFF THE CAR, A FAIR PERCENTAGE OF TIME YOU CAN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO START THE CAR. IT SOMETIMES LOCKS DOWN SO HARD YOU NEED TWO PEOPLE TO TURN IT. I WAS STRANDED IN 105 DEGREE HEAT TRYING TO GET MY CAR STARTED, I AM 86 YEARS OLD IF MY SON DIDN'T COME BY I WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS. HYUNDAI VERIFIED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK THE CAR TO START IT BUT THEY ALL DO IT. I HAVE A CAR NOW I CAN'T DRIVE. WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK. SAFETY ISSUES THAT SHOULD INSTILL A RECALL ON THIS STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515880June 9, 2013
STEERING
CAN'T KEEP CAR GOING IN STRAIGHT LINE. CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CORRECT STEERING, BUT CAN'T KEEP CAR FROM WANDERING INTO OTHER LANES. THIS IS EITHER GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IN CLOSE PLACES OR PROVOKE A POLICE STOP FOR DRUNK DRIVING. I NOW HAVE 3,117 MILES ON THE CAR, AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS WORSE IN FLORIDA DUE TO THE 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE I 75. UNCONTROLLABLE AT LEGAL SPEEDS. FOUND THAT HYUNDAI HAD THIS PROBLEM ON 2010 MODELS. WHY DOESN'T NHTSA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEW MODELS THEY ARE BUILDING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513873May 28, 2013
STEERING
CAR DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT. CONSTANT NEED FOR CORRECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513344May 23, 2013
STEERING
LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS IN RURAL AREAS. ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING PULLS IN BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AT DIFFERENT TIMES, NOT LIKE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE THAT IT WOULD PULL TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MY TIRES HAVE BARELY ANY TREAD ON THEM FROM 18,000 MI TO NOW WHICH IT HAS ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. I NEED NEW TIRES BEFORE IT WILL PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512569May 17, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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