2000 Hyundai Sonata Complaint Log

2000 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS V6 RUST AND CORROSION ON SUBFRAME (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL) FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS -WE RECENTLY BROUGHT OUR CAR INTO A LOCAL STRAUSS AUTO TO HAVE A BASIC CHECK UP BEFORE STATE INSPECTION. THEY SPOTTED THE RUST AND WARNED IT IS VERY SEVERE AND NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ASAP! - THEY ALSO STATED THE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS ARE MOST LIKELY OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THE SUBFRAME NOT SUPPORTING THE CAR 100% -WE FEEL THIS IS TRULY A DEFECT BY HYUNDAI AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THEM! *TR

RUSTED FRAME, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

I OWN A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. I TOOK IT FOR AN INSPECTION ON JULY 24TH OF 2008. IT FAILED DUE TO THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER BEING RUSTED OUT. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE RUST. IT WAS A 'FIST-SIZED' RUST HOLE ON THE SUBFRAME. THE CAR HAS 61,800 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER. BOTH THE FIRST OWNER AND I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION TO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS NHTSA ACTION # PE08029. THE HYUNDAI SHOULD TAKE THE ACTION FOR THIS SEVERE DEFECT. *TR

TOOK MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA TO HAVE TIRES ALIGNED ON A FRIDAY MORNING AND WAS TOTAL THE FRAME WAS RUSTED BUT I HAD A BENT TIE ROD AND IT NEEDED FIXED FIRST. LEFT THE TIRE SHOP AND BEFORE GOING 10 MILES I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT AND I COULD HAVE HURT SOMEONE ELSE. WHEN I GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED , MY RIGHT SIDE TIRE WAS BENT OUT I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE TO HAVE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TO HAVE THE TIE ROD FIXED, THE MECHANIC CALLED ME ON MONDAY TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS NOT THE TIE ROD THAT IT WAS THE SUB FRAME THAT WAS RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES, AND I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT. ON WEDNESDAY WHEN I CHECKED ON THE CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE ORDERED, THAT IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A POLICY ADJUSTMENT, I THEN WANTED TO KNOW IF I COULD BE GIVEN A CAR SINCE THIS WAS NOTHING THAT I DID TO THE CAR AND I WAS WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. OF COURSE I WAS TOLD THAT, THAT WAS NOT POLICY AND NO LOANER CAR WOULD BE GIVEN. *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A YEAR 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA V6 GLS. ON THE MORNING OF JULY 17TH, 2008 AT APPROX. 3:45 AM I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A NEWSPAPER ROUTE FOR A LOCAL DISTRIBUTION COMPANY. I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN OFF A MAIN STREET ONTO A SIDE STREET AS I MY STEERING WHEEL JEARKED TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY, AND MY CAR OUT OF THE BLUE WENT OUT OF ALLIGNMENT, TO A DEGREE THAT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT I MUST HAVE CRASHED INTO SOMETHING. BUT I DID NOT. AS TIME WENT ON, MY TIRES BEGAN SHREADING THEMSELVES ONTO THE AREA SURROUNDING THE ACTUAL TWO FRONT TIRES. WHEN I WENT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE TO GET A ALLIGNMENT AND TWO NEW FRONT TIRES, THEY LIFTED IT UP AND INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A PART CALLED THE "SUBFRAME" AND IT WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. AFTER READING VARIOUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET, I DECIDED TO WRITE A FORMAL COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT HYUNDAI DIRECTLY AS IT IS THE WEEKEND, BUT MY INTENT IS TO INFORM THEM ON MONDAY MORNING. THE APPROX. MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE IS 122,000 MILES. *TR

NOISE NOTED WHEN ATTEMPTING RIGHT TURN. DROVE & CAME TO STOP-HEARD LOUD NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT END - CAR PULLED RIGHT & TIRE POPPED OUT. CAR UNDRIVEABLE. AFTER EXAM BY MECHANIC, IT WAS NOTED THE RIGHT FRONT CAR FRAME HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN CAR CRASH - I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. WITH THAT PARTICULAR DEFECT, HAD IT GONE OVER A POTHOLE ON THE INTERSTATE HWY @ HWY SPEED, IT COULD HAVE VERY LIKELY CAUSED A FATALITY ACCIDENT. *TR

TWO BIG PROBLEMS, FIRST THE CURRENT THE ENTIRE FRAME ON THE RIDE SIDE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE BOTTOM FELL OUT OF THE CAR - BEFORE THIS HAPPENED THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND A FRAME IS HARD TO LOCATE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS - A 2000 HYUNDAI SHOULDN'T COMPLETELY RUST FROM THE INSIDE - THERE IS NO RUST ON THE CAR AND IT WAS KEPT IN A GARAGE I AM IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMPANY TO SEE WHAT WILL BE DONE, JUDGING FROM PAS EXPERIENCES - NOTHING SECOND ISSUE: WE HAD MANY PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM THE CAR WOULD GO DEAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE CAR ALARM WOULD GET STUCK AND YOU COULDN'T GET IN THE CAR OR START IT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO IN AND OUT (MOSTLY OUT NOW). *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA AT 15 MILES/HR ON GOOD-CONDITION ROAD WHEN I HEARD A CRACKING NOISE AND FELT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE SINK TO THE GROUND. I DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME, AND THE FRONT AXLE WAS DISPLACED. THERE WAS SERIOUS CORROSION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME WHERE THE POINT OF BREAKING WAS. NO ONE WAS HURT SINCE THE SPEED WAS SLOW. BUT IT COULD BE VERY SERIOUS IF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE FRAME / AXLE ARE ORIGINAL PARTS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. I FOUND SIMILAR REPORTS ONLINE (SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.MOTORAUTHORITY.COM/NEWS/INDUSTRY/HYUNDAI-SONATA-FRAMES-RUST-US-NHTSA-INVESTIGATES/ ). I THINK THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

RUST HOLE IN SUB FRAME FOUND WHILE DOING AN OIL CHANGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC DUE TO A NOISE CAUSED BY THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH SUPPORTED THE ENGINE, WAS RUSTING. THE MECHANIC ALSO NOTICED A HOLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME BEHIND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE FAILURES ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THE ONES NOTED IN INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE08029. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 148,000. UPDATED 07/22/08 *BF UPDATED 07/21/08

I HAVE A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH SEVERE SUBFRAME RUSTING WHICH WAS DISCOVERED WHEN CAR WAS INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT INSPECTABLE.

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. I WAS HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOTIFIED DURING SERVICE THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END SUSPENSION AND FRAME ON MY CAR IS RUSTED OUT. WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, THERE WERE LARGE RUST HOLES APPARENT IN THE CROSSMEMBERS AND EVERY WELD I COULD SEE IS COMPLETELY COVERED IN RUST. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR AN EIGHT YEAR OLD CAR AND THAT IT MAY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT MUCH LONGER FOR FEAR THAT THE SUSPENSION OR FRAME WILL COLLAPSE. *TR

WENT FOR OIL CHANGE AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED EXTREME ROT ON THE FRONT SUB FRAME WHICH HOLDS UP THE ENGINE AND HOLDS THE TIRES AND STRUTS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AWAITING PARTS WHICH I WAS TOLD WERE ON BACKORDER SINCE MAY 19, 2008. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THE DEFECT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2000 HYUNDAI SONATAS. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON JUNE 9, 2008. SHE HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY AND HEARD A POP IN FRONT END OF CAR. CAR SWERVED TO RIGHT AND SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO HIT ANOTHER CAR. DROVE CAR SLOWLY TO HATFIELD HYUNDAI. THEY HAD A LONG WAIT FOR THE PART, AND WE GOT THE CAR BACK ON JUNE 26, 2008. THE SERVICE ORDER SAID "REPLACE THE SUB-FRAME IT WAS VERY RUSTY." THE CAR IS A 2000 SONATA AND HAD 116,844 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS IS IN LINE WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION PE08029. THEY DID NOT CHARGE US FOR THE REPAIR.

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SUDDENLY, HE HEARD A UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE; BEING VERY FAR FROM HOME HE COULD NOT STOP BUT THE NOISE GRADUALLY BECAME SERIOUS. HE PULLED OVER, GET OFF THE CAR AND REALIZED THAT THE FRONT TIRE, PASSENGER SIDE WAS WENT BEHIND THE NORMAL POSITION AND TOUCHED THE BODY OF THE CAR. LATER AT THE GARAGE THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR UP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CUR AND IT TOOK OUT THE AXLE. (THE CAR HAD BEEN TOWED TO GET THERE). HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW PART THAT COST $850 AND THE LABOR COULD COST $500. MY SURPRISE CAME WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO SEARCH FOR A CHEAPER PRICE: FIRST OF ALL I DID NOT FIND ONE BUT INSTEAD, I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE NATION, HAVING EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR, SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR. THIS DEFECTION HAS CAUSED PROBLEM TO MY FAMILY: RENTING CAR, TOWING, WE STILL GOING THROUGH DIFFICULTIES AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR NEITHER DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

SUSPENSION SYSTEM SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ON RIGHT SIDE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN PARKING LOT IN FAIRFAX, VA. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT TIE ROD AND ENGINE CRADLE DAMAGED. I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING DURING A RECENT THUNDERSTORM WHEN TREE BRANCHES FELL, BUT NOW I KNOW OTHERWISE. HAVE READ REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF NUMEROUS INCIDENCES LIKE THIS ONE. I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT HEARD A SNAP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS LAYING INWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH THE A FRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. ON MAY 29, 2008, THE CV JOINTS FAILED. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

WHEN I WAS AT THE GRADE SCHOOL PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER, THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH AND THEN STOPPED. I GOT OUT AND THE FRONT TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS TWISTED TO THE SIDE. THE RIGHT AXLE HAD BLOWN OUT. I COULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING BACK TO ILLINOIS AT THE END OF MAY I HAD TO RENT A CAR DOLLY TO TOW THE CAR BEHIND THE U-HAUL. UPON TAKING IT TO OUR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP, HE CALLED US THE NEXT DAY TO SAY THAT THE FRONT RIGHT FRAME CRADLE HAD RUSTED IN HALF. WE WENT TO TAKE A LOOK AND YES IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH THE CRADLE WITH A SPOT THE SIZE OF AN ORANGE THE FRAME HAD BROKEN IN HALF. WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL FIX THE AXLE AND THE FRAME. BUT THE 2 FRONT TIRES ARE NOW NOT ANY GOOD 1 OF WHICH WAS NEW, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE EITHER OF THEM. THEY SAID THAT TIRE DEALER THAT PUT THE NEW ONE ON SHOULD OF NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND SO IT IS THEIR FAULT. ALSO WHEN THE TOW TRUCK WENT TO PULL THE CAR UP ON THE FLAT BED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE GAVE WAY AND BENT UNDER THE CAR IN THE PROCESS DOING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER, THIS ALSO HYUNDAI SAID THAT IT WAS THE FAULT OF THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY TO FIXED IT. AS OF TODAY JULY 9, 2008 I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING TO BE FIXED OR NOT. *TR

GOT THE SONATA IN 2006. WAS DILIGENT WITH THE OIL CHANGING AND THE WORKS. IT GOT TO 127K MILES SO WE TOOK IT IN FOR THE 120MI SERVICE AS WE INTEND TO HAVE THE CAR IN ITS GOOD CONDITION .. SEEMED OK.. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 2 WEEKS MY WIFE RESUMED TO USE IT TO GO TO WORK. SHE SAID ABOUT IT NEEDING ANOTHER ALIGNMENT CHECK COZ IT WAS DRIVING FUNNY. SAID WE'LL HAVE IT CHECK ON HER NEXT DAY OFF WORK. MY WIFE DRIVES 39 MILES TO WORK ON FREEWAY (I-70; 670. US-315), IT IS NO LAUGHING MATTER WHEN SOMEONE IS DRIVING 65 MPH MERGING AND CHANGING LANES DURING RUSH HOUR AND START LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR. SHE WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER BUT SHE COULDN'T EVEN STEER IT AND ONE BIG CLUNK SOUND THE CAR STOPPED, THE FRONT RIGHT TEAR WAS OFF. LUCKILY SHE WASN'T INJURED, BUT SHE WAS SO SHAKEN UP, SHE DIDN'T EVEN REACH THE SIDE ROAD, AND SHE COULD EASILY B STRUCK BY OTHER CARS, POLICE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. AS WITH THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE, MY MECHANIC SAID ITS THE SUBFRAME AND WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THEIR DEALERS WHILE THEY REVIEW THE INCIDENT. IM SO SHOCKED ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE, THIS SHOULD B PUT OUT AND NOT LET PEOPLE GO THROUGH THIS. I WAS THINKING WHAT IF SHE HAS OUR CHILD WITH HER LIKE SHE USUALLY DOES... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ASSEMBLY WAS FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A RUSTED ENGINE CRADLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION AND THEY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE CONTACT STILL HEARD NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE SHOP AND, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE ENGINE CRADLE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND TO BE OUT OF PLACE DUE TO RUST. THE ENTIRE WHEEL ROTATED WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE REMAINED STATIONARY. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE CRADLE TO RUST. THERE IS A CURRENT INVESTIGATION (PE08029) FOR THIS FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 129,358.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I HAD TO SUDDENLY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT. UPON DOING SO, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR. IT WAS TAKEN TO A HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT AND LET EVERYTHING COME DOWN ON MY SUSPENSION. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WOULD BE $1,883.00. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS (1-800-633-5151). I CALLED THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, AND THEY WERE HANDLING THEM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND FORWARDED MY CASE TO THE REGIONAL INVESTIGATOR. WITHIN 2 DAYS, I WAS CALLED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THAT HYUNDAI AGREED THAT IT WAS A MAJOR RUST PROBLEM AND AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE DONE ON MY CAR. *TR

FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR AND I NEED IT TO GET TO WORK. *TR

I WAS CALLED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC THIS EVENING TO COME LOOK AT MY 2000 SONATA WHILE IT WAS ON THE RACK TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND BELTS. HE TOLD ME I HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDED TO COME SEE IT FOR MYSELF. THERE IS A RUSTED OUT SECTION OF THE UNIBODY SUBFRAME ON THE RIGHT FRONT JUST UNDER WHERE THE SWAYBAR ATTACHES. YOU CAN PUSH THE METAL AND IT FALLS APART. IT GOES AROUND, ALMOST LIKE A SEAM, BUT HAS NOT MADE IT ALL THE WAY, YET. THE LEFT FRONT IS ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF SPOT RUSTING. I WAS GOING TO CONTACT A BODY SHOP TO SEE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED AND WAS SEARCHING ONLINE FOR ADVISE WHEN I BEGAN NOTICING THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON REPAIRING THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GOT HURT. WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE I NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN NHTSA ODI PRELIMINARY EVALUATION THAT HAS JUST BEGUN CONCERNING REPORTS SIMILAR TO MINE. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER FOR EVALUATION AND NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN SEEN BY A HYUNDAI DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REGIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HYUNDAI WOULD CONTACT ME AFTER THAT. I AM TAKING IT TO THEM ON MAY 2. MY HYUNDAI CASE # IS 3282801. *TR

I AM UNABLE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED DUE TO DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FAME IS ROTTED. MY CAR WAS DUE FOR INSPECTION IN APRIL. I DON'T FEEL I CAN SELL THE CAR . AND I AM STILL PAYING ON A CAR LOAN WHICH I OWE $2000.00. *TR

THE CAR WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY IT IS A BOLT ON PART, BUT COST WELL OVER $1,000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS OF HEAVIER METAL AND HAD MORE DRAINAGE HOLES THAN THE ORIGINAL. *TR

HELLO. I OWN A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. I TOOK IT FOR AN INSPECTION IN APRIL OF 2008. IT FAILED DUE TO THE SUBFRAME BEING RUSTED. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE RUST. IT WAS A 'FIST-SIZED' RUST HOLE ON THE SUBFRAME. I BELIEVE IT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (NOT SURE). I GOT A QUOTE FOR $1400 FROM A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME. HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVES THEN MADE A 'GOOD WILL' GESTURE AND DECIDED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUBFRAME IN FULL. IT TOOK SIX WEEKS FOR THE SUBFRAME TO ARRIVE AT THE SHOP. ALSO, I WAS TOLD THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SUBFRAME TO FRAME OF THE CAR WERE RUSTED AS WELL, THEY ARE BEING REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 85,300 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I BELIEVE THE FIRST OWNER LIVED IN NEW YORK, I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA. I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED HOW THEIR TIRES WENT BALD QUICKLY AND SEEMED OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE IN THAT THE TIRES WORE UNEVENLY AND CAUSED THE CAR TO VEER SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COULD BE AN EARLY SIGN OF THE WEAKENING OF THE SUBFRAME, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION TO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS NHTSA ACTION # PE08029. *TR

VEHICLE BEGAN KNOCKING AS IF SOMETHING HIT IT FROM UNDERNEATH. ALSO, STEERING SUDDENLY WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND FRONT END FELT VERY LOOSE. MECHANIC DISCOVERED A HOLE IN SUBFRAME APPROX. ONE FOOT IN SIZE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION ON PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT MOTOR IS LOOSE AND VEHICLE IS VERY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS THREE TIMES ON THIS MODEL ONLY; ALSO SAID THAT FRAME DESIGN IS SUCH THAT WATER COLLECTS ON TOP AND CANNOT DRAIN. VEHICLE IS 2000 AND ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO THIS MAKE/MODEL OF CERTAIN YEARS, YET NO TSB'S OR RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH MEANS THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DEACTIVATED. THE DEALER TURNED OFF THE INDICATOR WITH THE USE OF A COMPUTER; HOWEVER, THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TURNED OFF THE LIGHT WITH THE COMPUTER AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V347000 REGARDING THE AIR BAG INDICATORS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

THE CAR WAS NOT STEERING CORRECTLY AND WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT FIXED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE ALIGNMENT BUT THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT, BUT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT WILL COST US AROUND $2000 TO HAVE FIXED, AND WE ARE NOT SURE IT WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO BE FIXED. THE MECHANIC SAID WE ARE LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT FALL OUT, THE CRADLE WAS SO RUSTED. AT THIS POINT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND, AGAIN WE ARE UNSURE IT CAN EVEN BE FIXED. *TR

MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING 10-15 M/HR RETURNING HOME FROM WORK AND HAS SHE TURNED ONTO OUR STREET OUR 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA HAD A COMPLETED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSE/SEPARATION FROM THE CAR. UPON INSPECTION AT OUR LOCAL GARAGE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A RESULT OF COMPLETE SUBFRAME RUSTING OF MY SONATA. THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSE REPAIR (MAT'L COSTS ALONE WERE $1,600.00) AND MORE IMPORTANT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY HYUNDAI. I'M NOT SURE WHAT ACTION I CAN TAKE ON THIS (LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE) BECAUSE OF THE HIGH MILEAGE (117,049 MILES), BUT A CAR SUBFRAME SHOULD NOT RUST OUT LIKE THIS IN 8 YEARS. *TR

I'VE HAD A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, AND RECENTLY I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS JUST AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INSIDE OF MY TIRES WHERE WEARING OUT TOO FAST. SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE/TRANS CRADLE(SUB-FRAME) WAS ALMOST TOTALLY RUST OUT AND THAT IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME(WHICH ALSO MEANT THAT THE DEALER I GOT THE LOAN FROM SOLD ME THE CAR KNOWING IT WAS IN BAD SHAPE). IT WAS RUSTED OUT SO BAD THAT THE CONTROL ARMS WHERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF AND THAT THE CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER I GOT THE CAR FROM DOES NOT COVER THOSE PARTS UNDER THE SERVICE AGREEMENT(THE CAR IS OUT OF MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY WITH OVER 137000 MILES). SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A FRAME SHOP THAT WANTED OVER $1800 TO INSTALL THE CRADLE AND CONTROL ARMS. THE END OF THE STORY IS THAT I'M STILL DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE ITS MY ONLY WAY TO WORK, AND STILL TRYING TO SAVE MONEY TO GET THE THING FIXED. I'M JUST WANDERING WHICH POT HOLE I HIT IS GOING TO KNOCK THE CONTROL ARMS OFF THE REST OF THE WAY. *TR

I'M SEEKING HELP GETTING HYUNDAI USA MOTOR CO. TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS NECESSARY TO MAKE MY 2000 SONATA SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO TRY AND START AN INVESTIGATION OF THE NEED OF A RECALL ON ALL SIMILAR SONATA MODELS 1999 ' 2001 AND POSSIBLY 2002 ' 2005 AS WELL. THE PROBLEM IS THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WAS NOT DESIGNED WITH SUFFICIENT CORROSION RESISTANCE AND IS ROTTING AWAY. HYUNDAI CUSTOMER AFFAIRS (1-800-633-5151) STATES THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD AND HAS 120K MILES ON IT THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT AN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER HAS CERTAIN LIABILITIES FOR SAFETY AND THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLES THEY PRODUCE BEYOND THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD. THE FIRST I NEW OF THE ISSUE WAS WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING I JACKED THE FRONT OF THE CAR UP THINKING A WHEEL BEARING WAS GONE OR SOMETHING. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THE 'ELBOW' THAT COMES FROM THE FLOORBOARD AREA TO THE WHEEL WAS ROTTED THROUGH ON THE CORNER AND SPLITTING DOWN THE SEAM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS ALSO CORRODED BUT NOT NEARLY AS BAD. I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE SUB-FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST $2300. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS BACK TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS THEY WON'T CHANGE THEIR OPINION THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. SINCE THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX THIS ON OTHER VEHICLES SHOULDN'T THE DEALERS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE CORRODED SUB-FRAME. MY SONATA WAS AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BETWEEN 2003 -2006 AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE DRIVING CARS THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN WEAKENED BY CORROSION AND COULD HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF I HAD HIT A POTHOLE ON THE INTERSTATE INSTEAD OF IN A PARKING LOT, MY WIFE'S LAWYER COULD VERY WELL BE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE INSTEAD OF ME. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME TOTALLY RUSTED RESULTING IN SUSPENSION AND STEERING RACK COMING APART. *TR

MY SON WAS GETTING ON THE ON RAMP TO I-35 TURNING TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS GOING ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE CAR MADE A NOISE AND STARTED GRINDING. HE PULLED IT OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALLED ME. I CALLED MY OTHER SON WHO IS A MECHANIC TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, HE SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A BEARING HAD WORN OUT AND CAME APART AND IT NEEDED TOWED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A TRUSTED SERVICE STATION THAT PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND SAID THE FRONT SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE CONTROL ARM AND CV AXLE TO COME APART. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WELL OUR CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE SERVICE STATION FOR EIGHT MONTHS WAITING FOR A USED SUBFRAME THAT ISN'T RUSTED THROUGH. THEY THE SERVICE STATION HAS ORDERED 4 USED SUBFRAMES AND ALL HAVE BEEN RUSTED THROUGH. MY BROTHER RUNS A BODY SHOP IN N.C. AND HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ONE FOR US AND CANT FIND ANY THAT AREN'T RUSTED. SUPPOSEDLY AS SOON AS THERE IS ONE THAT ISN'T RUSTED ITS SENT TO "THE SALT BELT" FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT NEED IT. OUR FAMILY HAS 2 CARS ONE 13 YEARS OLDER THAN THIS SONATA AND ONE 16 YEARS OLDER THAN THIS SONATA. THEIR FRAMES AREN'T RUSTED THROUGH BOTH HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE SALT AND SNOW MORE THAN THIS SONATA. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THIS PART SHOULD BE THE LAST THING TO RUST THROUGH ON A CAR. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS HYUNDAI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. HYUNDAI WANTS 13 HUNDRED DOLLARS JUST FOR THE SUBFRAME AND ITS ABOUT THE SAME FOR LABOR. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED OUT WHERE THE TWO BOLTS WERE ATTACHED TO THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND HE CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000. UPDATED 01/23/08 *LJ. UPDATED

MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE PULLED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. UPON EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED APART. IT WASN'T DRIVABLE, HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND LOOK AT IT AND HE SHOWED ME WHERE IT WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO FIX IT HIMSELF BY TAKING OFF THE ARM AND COMPLETELY REDOING IT. NOT SURE OF DETAILS BUT HE WELDED IT BACK TOGETHER AND FIXED IT. *TR

NOTICED AT LAST OIL CHANGE, POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF FRONT SUB FRAME/ENGINE CRADLE DUE TO RUST OUT CAUSED BY DESIGN THAT ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER AND BE TRAPPED IN SUB FRAME. CARS IN "SNOW BELT" AREAS (OHIO) ARE AFFECTED BY ROAD SALT. SUB FRAME HAS 2.5" RUST HOLE AND SURROUNDING AREA SHOWS FATIGUE AND CRACKING. CAR APPEARS TO BE ONE "CHUCK HOLE" AWAY FROM FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A NEWLY PAVED ACCESS ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, THE CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE OF MY ROTTED/RUSTED OUT SUBFRAME. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AND BRAKE WORK AND NO PROBLEM WAS DETECTED WITH THE RUSTED SUBFRAME. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SEIZED UP AS THE WHEEL SLAMMED INTO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP AND WAS IMMOBILIZED. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP AND I AM CONTACTING HYUNDAI DIRECTLY REGARDING THE UNLIKELY FACT THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL BE INCREASING DRAMATICALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS THE HYUNDAI SONATA'S 1999-2001 CONTINUE TO AGE. I HAVE NOTED AT LEAST A DOZEN INSTANCES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ALMOST ALL INSTANCES APPEAR TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN 2003 FROM KOEPPEL HYUNDA IDEALER IN LONG ISLAND CITY NEW YORK. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AT ALL. THIS WEEK I BEGAN TO NOTICE SOMETHING NOT FEELING RIGHT IN THE FRONT END, SO I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT I HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THAT. IT SEEMS THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR IS RUSTED AND ROTTING AWAY. HE TRIED TO LOCATE A USED FRAME FROM A JUNKYARD,(BECAUSE THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRENTY), BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET ONE. EACH PERSON HE SPOKE TO AT VARIOUS JUNK YARDS KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED , BUT INFORMED HIM THAT A USED SUBFRAME FOR THE SONATA WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO COME BY BECAUSE ON ALL THE SONATAS THAT WERE JUNKED, THE SUBFRAMES WERE ROTTED THROUGH FROM RUST. I'M BETTING THAT SOME OF THESE CARS WERE JUNKED FOR THAT VERY REASON. APPARENTLY THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE, BUT HYUNDAI IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. WHEN I CALL THEY TELL ME THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. HARD TO BELIEVE. I WAS TOLD A NEW FRAME WOULD COST ME1300 DOLLARS. THE ONLY THING THE MECHANIC CAN OFFER TO DO FOR ME IS TO WELD STEEL TO THE PARTS OF THE FRAME THAT ARE STILL SOLID AND TRY TO REINFORCE THE FRAME. AT THIS POINT I AM VERY FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE I WORK AT NIGHT AND NEED A CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR A RENTAL FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS AND IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 10 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT SLID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT ROLLERS FAILED. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT HE CALL THE HYUNDAI DEALER. HYUNDAI HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT ,AND HAS HAD 1 OWNER.VECHICLE IS HOUSED IN CENTRAL N.J. ,VECHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AS TO HYUNDAI'S SERVICE MANUAL RECOMENDATIONS.ALSO VECHICLE HAS RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED JUST BEFORE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED FOR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SERVOS (CAR WAS ON LIFT AT TIME OF SERVICE ).ALSO THIS VECHICLE STILL HAS ORGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM INCLUDING MUFFLER.ON AUGUST30,2007 MY SELF MY CHILD AND MY NEPHEWS WERE DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AT 65 MPH AT APPROXIMATLY 9 PM WHEN THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC LANE WITH VECHICLES APPROACHING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AND SWERVING AROUND ME THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY I WAS TRAPPED IN CAR WITH CHILDREN WE CALLED 911 AND THE STATE POLICE HAD TO PUSH VECHICLE TO A SAFE ZONE WHERE WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK.UPONFURTHER INSPECTION OF VECHICLE IT WAS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY A SEVERLY ROTTED SUBFRAME WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP CAUSING THE AXLE TO BE TORN THROUGH TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BREAK AWAY FROM ROTTED SUBFRAME ALSO(AS STATED EARLIER THE VECHICLE WAS NEVER INVLOVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS NO BODY OR UNDERCARRRIAGE RUST INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS STRUCTUAL PROBLEM AS SUBFRAME CARRIES ENTIRE DRIVETRAIN (MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION AND ALL STERING COMPONENTS).AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY HYUNDAI TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION WE WERE TOLD ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY WE WERE NERER MADE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM AT TIME OF SERVICE AT AUTHORIZED HYUNDAI DEALER. STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM A SUPERVISOR FROM HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

ON AUGUST 25TH, 2007, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY. THERE WAS QUITE SOME TRAFFIC (STOP-AND-GO KIND OF THING) SO WE WEREN'T AT A HIGH SPEED. WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME HAD TO STOP SHORT, I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, AND THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL OF MY CAR SUNK, AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE METAL SCRATCHING AGAINST THE PAVEMENT . AFTER I FINALLY MANAGED TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER, AND CHECKING TO SEE IF MY WIFE WAS OK, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR JUST TO FIND OUT THAT MY FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS IN AN ALMOST HORIZONTAL POSITION. AFTER TOWING THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP, MY MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT THE AXLE AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE BECAUSE THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED, AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NO SUPPORT FOR THE AXLE AND THE CONTROL ARM TO SUSTAIN THE WEIGHT AND PRESSURE OF THE SUDDEN STOP. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I BELIEVE THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED, OR TO CAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE AN INJURY. THE REPAIRS WERE COSTLY, BUT I HAD TO DO IT. I NEED THE CAR TO WORK, AND WE LIVE IN A PLACE WERE THE CAR IS AN EVERYDAY NECESSITY. THE CRADLE FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY AT A COST OF $2,897.22. WE ALSO INCURRED THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES DUE TO THE CRADLE FAILING WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY ON AUGUST 25TH, 2007: TOWING CHARGE OF $168.37, CAR RENTAL CHARGES OF $164.53. A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FROM A LOCAL BODY SHOP FOR $996.59 SHOULD BE ADDED TO COVER THE BODY DAMAGE SUSTAINED WHEN THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE AND RIGHT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM CRACKED, CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEEL TO BEND THE RIGHT SIDE BUMPER COVER. MY MECHANIC KEPT THE OLD CRADLE UP TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WHEN AFTER DEALING WITH THE LOCAL DMV OFFICE AND EXPLAINING THE SITUATION THEY INFORMED US THAT "A DMV JUDGE WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THIS CASE". I DO STILL HAVE PICTURES OF THE RUSTED CRADLE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE FIST-SIZED HOLES IN IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. SHE CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V347000 (AIR BAGS) AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $900 REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

PULLING UP TO A LEFT TURN INTO THE DAYTONA SAM'S CLUB, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND LOWER WISHBONE ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE'S SUB-FRAME AND MY WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SUB-FRAME HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THERE IS NOT A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR! IT WAS BY GOD'S GRACE THAT I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 15MPH FOR JUST MOMENTS EARLIER I WAS DOING 70MPH ON I95! MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHICALLY DEADLY! IT ONLY HAD ABOUT 58,500 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE SEPARATION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK FOR HYUNDAI THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT BECAUSE HYUNDAI USED RECYCLED METAL TO MANUFACTURE THESE FRAMES WITHOUT USING RUST INHIBITORS. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN STORAGE AND I HAVE CLEAR PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE RUST HOLES WHERE THE WISHBONE BOLTS PULLED OUT OF THE SUB-FRAME AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO YOU. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC DEFECT AND HYUNDAI IS BURYING ITS HEAD IN THE SAND. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEIR ATTITUDE WAS THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM SINCE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER. I CONTACTED THEM TWICE, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY NEVER CALLED ME AGAIN. I HAVE OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS TO REPLACE THIS SUB-FRAME AND MAKE THE VEHICLE DRIVABLE; NOT INCLUDING THE BODY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE WHEEL HITTING THE RIGHT FENDER. HYUNDAI IS CONDUCTING ITSELF IN A WHOLLY RECKLESS MANOR AS THIS DEFECT CAN, AND PROBABLY WILL, TAKE HUMAN LIVES AS THESE SUB-FRAMES RUST APART! THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITH OTHER PROBLEMS, BUT NONE I WOULD CONTACT NHTSA OVER THESE SINCE THEY ARE NOT-SAFETY RELATED, BUT HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE HAS A HUGE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND WHILE SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTOMOTIVE CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED A SHORT WHILE LATER. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF PADS AND ROTORS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

THE SUBFRAME ON MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS RUSTED AND BROKE IN HALF CAUSING MY HALF SHAFT TO BRAKE APART AND CAUSING THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT TIRE TO COME DETACHED AND MY CAR WAS STUCK AND NOT DRIVABLE! *TR

I HAD TO REPLACE MY SUBFRAME IN JUNE 2007 (2000 HUNDAI SONATA GLS V6). LUCKILY IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED. IT VERY OBVIOUSLY WAS DUE TO PROBLEMS THE SAME PROBLEMS LISTED IN CAMPAIGN 089. WHY AM I NOT BEING OFFERED A FULL REFUND FOR MY DAMAGE AS WELL? BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY SISTER, THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTEE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2005 AND IT HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB