2003 Hyundai Sonata Complaint Log

AFTER DRIVING MY CAR AND SHUTTING ENGINE OFF FOR AS LITTLE AS FIVE MINUTES THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR ELEVEN TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION MY CAR LOST POWER, ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THREE ALTERNATORS AND ONE BATTERY. THEY IS A MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. HYUNDAI WILL NOT REPLACE THIS LEMON. CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW. *NM

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED EIGHT (8) TIMES SINCE JANUARY 2005 WHEN VEHICLE HAD ONLY 24,718 MILES. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAULT AND HAS SIMPLY CHECKED THE SYSTEM AND CONNECTIONS AND RESET THE WARNING LIGHT OTHER THAN A ONE-TIME UNDER SEAT HARNESS REPLACEMENT (>$1000 UNDER WARRANTY) WITHOUT RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. MOST OCCURRENCES HAPPENED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD BUT THE FAULT STILL OCCURS 1-2 TIMES A YEAR. THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ACCORDING TO INTERNET POSTS AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT NOT ONLY CAUSES A SAFETY OF USE ISSUE WHEN THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, IT COSTS THE VEHICLE OWNER AN EXPENSIVE SERVICE CHARGE TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED (TO NO AVAIL FOR THIS COMPLAINANT) AND THE LIGHT RESET. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL BY THE PRENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. *AK.....THE WHOLE DASHBOARD CAME FORWARD AND EVERYTHING INSIDE VEHICLE BROKE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER'S SON COMPLAINED OF BACK/LEG, AND ARM INJURIES, WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. *AK

SOMETHING IS CUTTING THE STEM AND THE TIRE AROUND THE STEM AREA. TWICE THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. THE PROBLEM IS STILL RECURRING. THE DEALER HAS PASSED THIS INFORMATION OVER TO THE MANUFACTURER. *NM THE CONSUMER INDICATED THA THE HUB CAP CUT THE TIRE AND VALVE STEM. HERE HAS BEEN 3 STEMS CUT ALL ON THE FRONT TIRES. *BF *NM

I WAS TRAVELING ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 31ST ON TO AN EVENT ALONG WITH MY GIRLFRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER. AS WE WERE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON (MONTVALE AVE) THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE A MAN PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND TURNED INTO AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF MY HYUNDAI SONATA (2003 LX V6) ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN MY CAR WERE OK SEEING AS WE ALL HAD SEAT BELTS ON. ONE OF THE FAILURES THAT I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED WAS THAT BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE PASENGER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN WE WERE HIT BY THE OTHER MANS 92' BUICK (SILVER). AT PRESENT I HAVE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR AND I AM WAITING FOR THE AUTO SHOP TO COMPLETE ITS WORK THAT HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOV 2004. I AM HOPING THAT BY MAKING THIS COMPLAINT I CAN PERHAPS MAKE THE GOVERNMENT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE IN HOPES THAT THE (HYUNDAI MOTORS) & THE AUTO INDUSTRY WILL BE ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SO THAT NO ONE IN THE FUTURE GETS INJURED AND OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THE DISFUNCTION. THANK YOU. PAUL WITT CONCERNED CITIZEN (MA) 2003 HYUNDAI SONOTA LX V6 OWNER.

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK..... CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN HNEE CAP AND EXTREME TORSO BRUISING. *AK

1.) DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 2.) VALVE STEM CUT, LEADING TO DEFLATION OF TIRE. HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE A WRECK ON THE INTERSTATE. 3.) I HAD TO HAVE UPWARD TO 12 TIRES FIXED OR REPLACED ON THE FRONT END OF MY CAR DURING 1 YEAR. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE TIRE COMPANY TOLD ME TO TAKE OFF MY HUB CAPS (ORIGINAL TO THE CAR) TO SEE IF IT HELPED. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD NO MORE FLATS. *NM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HE RECEIVED POOR SERVICE FROM THE DEALER WHILE HAVING RECALL REPAIRS DONE BECAUSE THE DEALER DIDN'T PROVIDE HIM WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. *NM RECALL# 04V178000. *SC

WHILE DRIVING AT STEADY HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAR EXPERIENCES QUICK POWER SURGES. VISITED DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS NOW THEY TELL ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THAT THEIR COMPUTERS FIND NO PROBLEM. MECHANIC SAYS " PERHAPS THERE IS A PART TRYING TO GO BAD, BUT HASN'T COMMITTED ITSELF YET" WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN? IF YOU ARE JUST BROWSING THIS SITE, DO NOT BUY HYUNDAI! *JB

THIS CAR PRESENTS WITH A LOUD CLICKING SOUND WHICH IS VERY DISTRESSING.ONCE IT BEGINS IT LASTS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES SOUNDING FOR LONG PERIODS AND AT TIMES SHORT BURSTS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN NEITHER IDENTIFIED OR RECTIFIED. UNTIL LAST NIGHT I HAVE BEEN ALONE IN THE CAR WHEN THIS SOUND PRESENTS. LAST NIGHT WHEN IT PRESENTED THERE WERE PASSENGERS PRESENT. ALTHOUGH THE CAR DID NOT FALTER IT WAS NONE THE LESS VERY DISTRESSING FOR MY PASSENGERS AND ME. WE TURNED OFF OUR CELL PHONES AND SHUT OFF THE RADIO TO NO AVAIL. WITH NO RESOLUTION OR INFORMATION AS TO WHAT IS THE CAUSE I AM LEFT WONDERING IF I AM DRIVING TOWARDS SOME MALFUNCTION. THIS CLICKING SOUND ALWAYS PRESENTS WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAYS AT FREEWAY SPEED.*AK

MY CAR DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE BODY REPAIR TECHNICIAN BOTH CONCLUDED AFTER INVESTIGATION THAT THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY DOOR ACTUATOR. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE OR INVESTIGATE THE CONCLUSIONS. I HAD TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM OUT OF MY POCKET. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BY THE DEALER. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. SHE HEARD NOISES, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS NOISES COMING FROM THE ROADWAY. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS WAS AT 13,873 MILE. , THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE GLAZED AND HAD HOT SPOTS ON THEM. THE SERVICE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AT 28,000 MILES, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SUCH AS AN AIRPLANE GOING OVER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $25.00 PER WHEEL TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO HAD LUBRICATED THE FRONT BRAKE SLIDES AND REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE PADS. THIS DID SEEM TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS GOING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE 30,000 MILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO LONGER A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPAIRS.*AK

STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, WHEN TIME TO GO, ENGINE STALLED. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART UNSUCESSFULLY. A/C WAS NOT RUNNING. CAR WAS ABLE TO START AFTER 30 MINUTES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUBLICATE PROBLEM AFTER 15 MILES.*AK

IN APR 04 I PURCHASED NEW TIRES FOR MY 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. INSIDE OF THIRTY DAYS, I HAD THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE GO FLAT WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER TO CHANGE THE FLAT. I WENT BACK TO NATIONAL TIRE & BATTERY (NTB) WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE TIRES. THEY COULD NOT FIND AN OBVIOUS CAUSE FOR THE TIRE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE, AND THREE DAYS LATER, THE TIRE WENT FLAT AGAIN WHILE TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY. I EXPIRENCED TWO MORE FLAT TIRES ON THE SAME WHEEL WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE LEFT TIRE WENT FLAT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS BEING CUT BY THE HUBCAP. NTB SUGGESTED THAT I GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION. I WENT TO POHANKA IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE HUBCAP WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TIRE WHEN THERE SHOULD BE A SMALL GAP SEPARATING THE TWO. THE SUGGESTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS TO CHANGE THE TIRE OR REPLACE THE RIM. I WENT BACK TO NTB, AND THEY CONFERRED WITH BF GOODRICH, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I GO BACK TO THE STOCK TIRE THAT WAS ON THE CAR. I HAD ALSO FILED A CLAIM WITH HYUNDAI, AND THEIR SUGGESTION WAS THE SAME. MY PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THIS, IS FIRST, I SELECTED A TIRE THAT WAS THE PROPER SIZE FOR MY CAR (BF GOODRICH TRACTION T/A 205/65R15). NOWHERE HAD IT BEEN INDICATED BY HYUNDAI OR BFGOODRICH THAT THE SELECTED TIRE WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR MY VEHICLE. SECONDLY, MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS BECAME ENDANGERED BY THIS PROBLEM. THIRDLY, I AM BEING FORCED TO MAKE TIRE SELECTION, BECAUSE NEITHER HYUNDAI, NOR BF GOODRICH HAVE PROVIDED LIMITING INFORMATION ON THE TIRES THAT WILL PROPERLY FUNCTION WITH MY CAR. THIS IS SERIOUS AND NEEDS IMMEDIATED ATTENTION BY SOMEONE, BEFORE THERE IS LOSS OF LIFE OR SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE BECAUSE HYUNDAI'S HUBCAP FOR THE SONATA IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE TIRE SIZE THAT IT HAS INDICATED WITHIN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND THE LABEL ON THE CAR.*AK

MY AIR BAG LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2004. POOR CONTACT UNDER SEAT WAS THE FIRST EVENT. *NM

WHEN I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH THE SPECIFIED SIZE TIRE AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 23,000 MILES, I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE HUBCAPS SHIFTING AND SHEARING OFF THE VALVE STEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE TIRE DEALERSHIP (BF GOODRICH TIRES) AND THEY TRIED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD THEM IT WAS THE TIRES, BUT THAT WAS ILLOGICAL. THEY WOUND UP PUTTING METAL STEMS ON ALL FOUR TIRES AS IT WAS HAPPENING ON THE FRONT TIRES BUT ROTATION WOULD REQUIRE METAL STEMS IN ALL TIRES. THIS KEPT THE HUB CAPS FROM SHEARING THE STEM, BUT THE CAPS WOULD SLIDE UP OVER THE STEMS SO AS TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO CHECK THE AIR IN MY TIRES. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF OF HEADACHE, I FINALLY BOUGHT NEW WHEELS FOR THE CAR. THIS COMPLETELY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. HYUNDAI WOULD NEVER ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND TRIED TO TELL US THAT THE TIRES WERE WRONG. LIKE OTHERS HAVE STATED, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT STATES THAT ONE HAS TO BUY MICHELIN TIRES. WHEN I FINALLY BOUGHT THE NEW WHEELS, THE TIRE DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO MOUNT THE NEW TIRES ON THE OLD RIMS THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND THE TIRE COULD NOT BE MOUNTED ON THE RIM AND HOLD AIR. THERE VERY DEFINITELY IS A PROBLEM WITH THOSE WHEELS BUT HYUNDAI NEVER WOULD ADMIT IT AND ONLY OFFERED TO BUY A NEW SET OF HUB CAPS WHICH DID THE EXACT SAME THING. I LIKE THE WHEELS I BOUGHT BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BUY THEM. HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE WHEELS ON THE CAR. I EXPERIENCED FIVE FLATS ON THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BEFORE THE METAL STEMS WERE PUT IN. VERY POOR DESIGN ON THE WHEELS. *TR

MY CAR IS 8 MONTHS OLD WITH 9300 MILES, AND I HAD TO PUT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN..THE HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMED HE PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN, WHEN IN FACT HE PUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IN. THIS HAPPENED 2 WEEKS AGO. THEN YESTERDAY (04-13-04) MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW SPEED SENSOR. WHAT GIVES? DON'T THEY KEEP PARTS IN STOCK. I PHONED THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND ASKED IF THEY HAD THIS SENSOR IN STOCK AND THEY SAID YES. I ALSO CALLED ANOTHER DEALER IN THE NEXT TOWN AND WAS TOLD THEY ALSO HAD THE PART. SO WHY DID MY DEALER LIE TO ME..

THE CONSUMER'S HYUNDAI SONATA DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: THE PAINT WAS PEELING, THE SUN ROOF WAS BROKEN, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, THE BRAKES FAILED, THE SEATBELT BROKE, THE ENGINE BLEW UP AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *MR THE ENGINE SURGED. AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE BLOWING, THE RIGHT SIDE DISINTEGRATED. *SC *JB

ABOUT FEBRUARY 2004, TWO MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR THE WINDSHIELD SEAL POPED UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF DRIVERS SIDE. DEALERSHIP PLACED A NEW WINDSHIELD AND SEALED IT BACK. A MONTH LATER THE SEAL CAME OFF AGAIN ON THE SAME SIDE. I WENT BACK, THIS TIME THEY JUST RESEALED IT. THEN, MY SUNROOF BEGAN TO LEAK,THROUGH THE CEILING LIGHTS, I WENT BACK AGAIN, THEY LOOKED IT UP SAYING ITS NOTHING-VENTS NEEDS TO BE CLEARED UP. AFTER THAT PROCEDURE MY WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO LEAK!NOW AFTER EACH TIME IT RAINS, INSIDE OF MY CAR ACCUMULATES WATER-MY RADIO/CD BUTTONS FAILED TO WORK ANYMORE, PLUS THE INTERIOR STARTS TO GET RUINED BY WATER SPOTS. ITS A PROBLEM TO ME , NOT ONLY BECAUSE I'M LEASING THE CAR, BUT 'CAUSE IT TAKES AWAY MY MILLAGE GOING BACK AND FORTH TO FIX IT, PLUS MY TIME. PS. I HAVE A SLIGHT PROBLEM, AT THE TIME OF PURCHISING THE CAR, DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS LEASED TO ONE OWNER (YEAR BEFORE ME), BUT I WENT TO CARFAX.COM AND FOUND OUT IT WAS NOT ONLY LEASED TO TWO OTHER PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS USED AS A RENTAL CAR AT THE VERY BEGINNING. IF I HAD KNOWN THOSE FACTS AS I WAS BUYING THE CAR, I WOULD HAVE NEVER SIGNED PAPERS FOR IT. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE DEALERS WITH THIS INFORMATION, THEY TOLD ME IT WASNT A BIG DEAL AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. I PERSONALY DO NOT LIKE TO FIX PROBLEMS ON THIS "NEW" CAR OF MINE, AFTER OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU SOON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

ABOUT ONCE A MONTH I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT COMES OUT OF GEAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND FOR NO APPARENT REASON.. IT ONLY HAPPENS ABOVE 55 MPH OR MORE.*AK

I HAVE A 2003 SONATA BOUGHT NEW IN JULY 2003, NOW HAS 11000 MILES. 3 WEEKS AGO TEXACO DISCOVERED A LEAK AROUND THE RT. CV JOINT. I TOOK IT TO KEY HYUNDAI WHO SAID THEY FIXED IT. IT WAS STILL LEAKING AS OF YESTERDAY. YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN I HEARD A RATTLE FROM THE REAR. MY ENGINE STARTED TICKING. SUDDENLY THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FELL OUT FROM THE BACK. I WAS ABOUT 100 FT FROM MY DRIVEWAY (THANK GOODNESS THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE INTERSTATE) SO I PULLED IN WITH A TRAIL OF RED FLUID FOLLOWING ME. MY DRIVEWAY IS NOW COVERED WITH THIS FLUID. THE KEY HYUNDAI OF JACKSONVILLE HAD SOMEONE BRING ME A LOANER CAR AND SAID THEY'D CLEAN UP THE SPILL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THEM. NO WORD YET. I TRAVEL THE INTERSTATE BEFORE DAWN DAILY AND HOME AGAIN SOMETIMES VERY LATE. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS OCCURED DURING THOSE TIMES. I WILL NEVER TRUST THIS CAR AGAIN AND REFUSE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. IT SCARES ME. I WANT MY MONEY BACK.

ENGINE MISFIRING

TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. HAD VEHICLE INTO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES AND WITHIN 8,000 MILES SECOND (REBUILT -BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HYUNDAI REPLACES NEW TRANSMISSIONS WITH) TRANSMISSION ALSO BEGAN SLIPPING. SLIPPAGE IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE COLDER TEMPS. ON ONE OCCASION, REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER DROVE VEHICLE AND ACKNOWLEDGED SLIP. HE THEN SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE VEHICLE INCLUDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THIS WAS CANCELLED THE DAY BEFORE APPOINTMENT WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT I HAD FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT. FROM THAT DAY ON, HYUNDAI HAS REFUSED TO SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION AND I AM NOW AWAITING LEMON LAW HEARING. MOST RECENTLY, IN THE COLD WEATHER, TRANSMISSION NOT ONLY SLIPS BUT MAKES LOUD METALLIC POPPING NOISE WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 3RD GEAR.*AK

HUBCAPS ARE SLICING MY VALVE STEMS (HAD TO BUY THREE TIRES) AND PAINT ON BUMPER (WHICH TOOK THEM THREE TIMES TO MATCH) IS PEELING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WE PURCHASED A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA (BASE MODEL) AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. WE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK AND AGAIN NOTED THAT IT STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT. RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THIS TIME THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT CONFIRM OUR COMPLAINT. WE WERE TOLD THAT VEHICLE NORMALLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT UPON ACCELERATION AND THAT THE DESIGN OF THE ROADS CAUSED IT TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AS WELL. *NLM

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT HOLD. CONSUMER WILL SET IT FOR 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, AND IT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO GO UP TO 85 MPH BEFORE THE CONSUMER NOTICED IT. THE SPEED INCREASED GRADUALLY, WHICH WAS WHY THE CONSUMER DID NOT NOTICE IT AT FIRST. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT LEAST 6 TIMES, AND ALWAYS ON A LEVEL ROAD. IT HAPPENED IN VARIOUS CONDITIONS, AND AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO TOLD HIM HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO REPLACE IT. WHEN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE OFF BY 5 MPH +/-. THE CONSUMER MECHANIC TO HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF BY 7 MPH BELOW THE SET SPEED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT. THIS WAS THE ONLY SAFETY ISSUE THE CONSUME HAS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT. THE DEALER REPAIRED BOTH PROBLEMS. *NM

2003 HYUNDAI SONATA, PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS UP AND CONTINUES TO TIGHTEN AT EACH BRAKING, NEVER RELEASING CAUSING PAIN TO PASSENGER AND AN UNSAFE CONDITION OF HAVING TO UNBUCKLE SAFETY BELT WHILE IN MOTION TO RELIEVE INCREASING PRESSURE ON PASSENGER. DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK AT HARD BRAKING AT ALL. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS SOLD 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE ADDING TO PROBLEMS GETTING DEFECTS CORRECTED. NEW DEALER, POWAY MITSUBISHI-HYUNDAI SERVICED VEHICLE ON 11/19/2003. TO CORRECT PROBLEM AND OTHER ISSUES (INVOICE #22524) BUT DID NOT CORRECT THEM. BOTH DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNCOOPERATIVE WHEN ADDRESSING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *LA

BRAKE ROTORS VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING . *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE BOUNCES AND SHAKES. DEALER STATES ROTORS ARE WARPED. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 DEMO HYUNDAI SONATA IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTHS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY I EXPERIENCED A HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND A FEELING AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS INTO OWNERSHIP I EXPERIENCED A LOAD NOISE WHEN TURNING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND MY RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS SHOT. THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BUT THERE IS STILL A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS AND I AM NOW EXPERIENCING A STRONG VIBRATION UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED NEW PADS AND ROTORS ALL THE WAY AROUND. I SAID THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND I SHOULD NOT BE NEEDING NEW BRAKES ALL THE WAY AROUND JUST YET. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER VIEWING CARSTATS WEB SITE I BECAME AWARE THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AS WELL AS WITH THE HESITATION AND THE FEELING AS IF THE CAR IS ABOUT TO STAHL. THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING ARE MULITFACETED, WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE AS A CONSUMER?*AK

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS TOO BIG AND OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW OF THE CONSUMER. TWO ACCIDENTS ALMOST OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN INFORMED.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FUEL SPILLAGE AS DESCRIBED IN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE/FMVSS301 RECALL 04V178000. BUT THIS OCCURRED NOT IN A ROLL OVER SITUATION, BUT WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK WITH FUEL AT THE GAS STATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILLS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO REPAIR AND TO MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD A TANK OF GAS BEFORE GOING UP A HILL. *AK *CB *JB

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE.*AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEAVY VIBRATION, THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *JB

AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN CONSUMER PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS LOST OF VACUUM TO THE POWER BOOSTER. THE CAUSE WAS A BLOCKAGE IN THE VACUUM HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK *JB

THE ENGINE DOES RELIABLY ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED. SOMETIMES THERE IS UP TO A 3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS TO COMMANDS FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT TIMES THE ENGINE ALSO ACCELERATES VERY SLUGGISHLY COMPARED TO OTHER 2003 4-CYLINDER. HYUNDAI SONATAS THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED. HYUNDAI HASN'T CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM DESPITE MANY ATTEMPTS. *LA

WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR OVER SIX HOURS , THEN UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD STALL .VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM IS RECURRING.*AK

THE TRANSMITION SLIPS AND THEN SOMETIMES IT JUST REVS UP WHILE DOING THIS. ONLY HAD ABOUT 2600 MILES ON IT. DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM HE HAS TO DRIVE IT LIKE I DO. I HAVE HAD 35 YEARS IN BEIN A MECHANIC AND I KNOW IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD GET RESOLVED VERY SOON AS I NEED MY CAR TO BE DEPENDABLE.

TRANSMISSION MADE LOUD CLUNKING NOISES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER, "COULDN'T DUPLICATE" (TYPICAL RESPONSE), THEN I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE LEAKING, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 1500 MILES, STILL HAD BAD SHIFT PATTERNS AND HANG UPS IN GEARS, MORE SO AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALSO HAD ALL SORTS OF FRONT END NOISE THAT NATURALLY GOT WORSE AFTER THEY TORE HALF OF THE FRONT END OUT TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

RECENTLY TOOK DELIVERY ON A 2003 HYUNDIA SONOTA. WONDER WHEN HYUNDIA IS GOING TO GET WITH THE SAFETY FEATURE OF DRIVING LIGHTS? AM NOW DRIVING AROUND WITH PARKING LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IDLE SPEED AND VEHICLE WILL STALL. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WILL START LOOSING POWER ON HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS IS A INTERMEDIATE PROBLEM AND UNLESS HYUNDAI SENDS OUT A LETTER OR SOMETHING THAT STATES THE PROBLEM THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. TS

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED REAR VIEW MIRROR GIVES POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO MIRROR NOT BEING ADJUSTABLE.*AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CONSUMER HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SOON AFTER THAT. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN SITTING AT IDLE AND MORE WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB

CONSUMER INSISTED THIS VEHICLE QUALIFIED UNDER RECALL TO REPLACE THE CURRENT SPARE TIRE WITH A LARGER TIRE ALTHOUGH VIN DID MEET THE CRITERIA. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE. *AK *LA