2000 Hyundai Sonata Body & Structure Problems

RUST REAR CONTROL ARM BROKE FROM SUBFRAME, MADE NOISE ENOUGH TO TAKE TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND PROBLEM WHY IS IT THAT ONLY FRONT SUBFRAME & FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE INCLUDED IN RECALL? THE REAR PARTS ARE ALSO RUSTING.... PARTS ARE MADE FROM SAME MATERIAL = SAME PROBLEM ... THE RECALL SHOULD INCLUDE BOTH THE FRONT AND THE BACK. WHY WOULD ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE CAR RUST AND NOT THE OTHER RIDICULOUS!! *TR

2000 HYUNDAI SONATA, VIN: [XXX]MFG DATE: 06/18/1999 SUB-FRAME FAILURE. CONDITION FOUND BY TIRE RETAILER DURING INSTALLATION AND ALIGNMENT. LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM SUB-FRAME. FORTUNATELY, CONDITION FOUND BEFORE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. LESS THAN 1 WEEK PRIOR TO DISCOVERY, EXPERIENCED DRIVE AXLE FAILURE. RIGHT DRIVE AXLE REPLACED BUT TECHNICIAN FAILED TO NOTICE OR MAKE ME AWARE FOR SEPARATION OF SUB-FRAME. THIS WAS THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE DRIVE AXLE FAILURE. THE SUB-FRAME SEPARATION ALLOWED THE DRIVE AXLE TO SHIFT AND SLIP FROM TRANSMISSION CASE. LOWER CONNECTION FOR CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM SUB FRAME. THE CONDITION THAT OCCURRED IS IDENTICAL TO RECALL ON 2001-2004 HYUNDAI SONATA MODELS AND THE RECALL ISSUED FOR 1999 AND 2000 MODELS IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HEAVY WINTER WEATHER HERE IN VA OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. LARGE AMOUNTS OF SALT HAVE BEEN USED ON OUR ROADS. THE RICHMOND AREA HAS EXCEEDED SALT USE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE! BUT SALT ISN'T A REQUIREMENT FOR A CONDITION SUCH AS THIS. THE BUILD UP OF WATER ALONE WILL CREATE THIS CONDITION! RUST OCCURS ANY TIME THAT WATER WITH NO DRAINAGE COMBINES WITH STEEL/IRON. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN DEALER SERVICE HAVING THE SUB-FRAME REPLACED! HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL CONDITION, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO RESOLVE IT BEFORE IT THREATENED PERSONAL INJURY TO ME. I CAN ONLY THANK THE STAFF AT MERCHANT'S TIRE FOR FINDING IT BEFORE IT FAILED ON THE ROAD! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF THE SUB FRAME DUE TO CORROSION ON THE SUB FRAME, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE SUB FRAME REPAIRED UNDER THE SUSPENSION RECALL (09V124000). PREVIOUSLY THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE SUB FRAME INSPECTED, AT THE TIME THE MECHANIC DID NOT FIND ANY RUST OR CORROSION ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER NEVER INFORMED HER ABOUT THE SUSPENSION RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I AM WRITING IN REGARD TO MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA AND ITS SUB FRAME CORROSION AND THE FRUSTRATION I AM FEELING FROM THIS SITUATION. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON FRIDAY AUGUST 27TH AROUND 520 A.M. AND HAD BEEN ON THE I-10 FREEWAY ABOUT 5 MILES GOING AROUND 65 MILES AN HOUR, THE ROAD SOON HAS A SPEED LIMIT OF 75 MPH ' IT'S A 25 MILE STRETCH OF DESERT AND VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED BY 18 WHEELERS MAKING THE HAUL TO CALIFORNIA (LOS ANGELES). ANYWAY, I HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI AND WAS ABOUT TO PASS ANOTHER (WITH ONE BEHIND ME) WHEN I FELT SOMETHING LIKE METAL ON PAVEMENT AND THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE... I DID ALL I COULD TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY (ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE) THE SEMI BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES ON THEIR WAY TO WORK ' ALL I HEARD WAS HORNS, TIRES SQUEALING, AND SAW PEOPLE FLIPPING ME OFF ALL WHILE I WAS TRYING TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD (BARELY OVER THE YELLOW LINE). I TRIED TO LOOK AT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE BUT THE CAR WAS SO CLOSE TO THE FREEWAY I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO STAY IN THE CAR OR STAND OUTSIDE (IF THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT EITHER WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY). A POLICE MAN CAME BY ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AND ASKED IF I WAS OKAY AND HAD ME TRY TO START THE CAR ' THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AS IF THE GEARS WERE GONE ' HE USED HIS PATROL CAR TO MOVE THE CAR FROM THE ROADWAY AND DOWN INTO THE DESERT MEDIAN. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT WE TOOK A LOOK AND COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FACING OUT APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES WITH WHEEL HOUSING AND FENDER DAMAGE. I CALLED A FRIEND, AND A TOW TRUCK AND WENT TO WORK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC'S HOUSE AND I WAS TOLD AFTER HIS INSPECTION THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY SEPARATED/DETACHED FROM THE SUB FRAME, WITH CHUNKS OF THE FRAME STILL ATTACHED TO THE CONTROL ARM HARDWARE (NOTICEABLE SEVERE RUST/CORROSION) WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE SUB FRAME. *TR

HYUNDAI 2000 SONATA SUBFRAME RUST CAUSED WHEEL FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD THUMP. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY DECREASE IN SPEED BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED AND HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,150 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,200.

2000 HYUNDAI SONATA- FRONT SUBFRAME WAS RECALLED DUE TO DETERIORATION FROM ICE AND SALT. I LIVE IN MAINE. MY ENTIRE SUBFRAME, FRONT AND REAR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND DETERIORATED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT, BUT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STRUCK BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY AT SPEEDS BELOW 50 MPH, HE WOULD HEAR AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED THAT THE FRAME WHICH CONNECTS THE REAR TIRES AXLE HAD SEVERE CORROSION. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

OUR 17 YR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 35-40 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THE ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR WAS NON EXISTENT. SHE FOUGHT WITH THE STEERING TO TRY TO GET IT OFF THE VERY BUSY ROAD WITHOUT SUCCESS. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT. THE CAR THEN HAD TO BE TOWED AT OUR EXPENSE TO THE DEALER. WE NOW HAVE TO RENT A CAR FOR THE DURATION THE SONATA IS IN THE SHOP. HYUNDAI IS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR TOWING OR RENTAL EXPENSES, OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED IN APRIL OF 2009, IT IS NOW OCTOBER 2009, WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS VERY SERIOUS RECALL? THANK HEAVENS NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED TO OUR DAUGHTER. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS I FOR ONE FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT BROUGHT UPON HYUNDAI AND COVER EVERY CAR IN ALL STATES REGARDLESS OF "SALT" AND MAKE RESTITUTION FOR ALL EXPENSES INCURRED, SUCH AS TOWING, CAR RENTAL AND ALL OTHER VEHICLE EXPENSES THAT WERE CAUSED AS A RESULT OF TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. BOTTOM LINE, THEY ARE NEGLIGENT BY NOT SENDING ALL OWNERS OF RECORD A RECALL NOTICE!!!! WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR, SAME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE ON RECORD IN THEIR DATABASE... WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED???? THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. SHE WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT WHEN SHE FORCED THE STEERING WHEEL IN THAT DIRECTION. SHE EXPECTED THE FAILURE TO BE RELATED TO THE ALIGNMENT; HOWEVER, A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COVERED WITH RUST, AND COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARMS WERE ALSO SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. SHE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO NOTIFY THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKES MY DRIVING AXLE SEPARATED FROM MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. AFTER THAT HAPPENED A MECHANIC LIFTED MY CAR UP AND WE SAW THAT THE FRAME WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY COVERED WITH RUST. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER FOR THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME IS UNDER RECALL AND IS TO BE REPLACED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE BOLTS HAD SEIZED TO THE FRAME BECAUSE OF THE RUST AND THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE THE FRAME WOULD BE TO CUT THE BOLTS OFF. BY DOING SO OTHER PARTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED RESULTING IN FEES COMING TO A TOTAL OF $3500, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS UNDER RECALL, I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTING FROM THE RECALLED FRAME WOULD BE COVERED BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO COVER THE PARTS AND LABOR RESULTING FROM THE RUSTY FRAME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. HE NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WAS BENT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED HOLES IN THE FRAME NEXT TO THE WHEEL. THE TIRE SHOP REPLACED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS SAME FAILURE AND ARE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

RUSTED SUBFRAME ON HYUNDAI SONATA GLS CAUSED CV JOINT TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, COMPANY ONLY PAYING TO FIX SUBFRAME, HYUNDAI NOT PAYING FOR TOW OR RENTAL CAR. *TR

WE TALK TO CONSUMER AFFAIR AND GAVE THEM THE VIN # AND THEY TOLD US THAT THE CAR WAS NOT COVER IN THE USA THAT THE CAR WAS MADE OUT SIDE THE USA AND THAT WE NEEDED TO CALL CANADA OR NEW MEXICO TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO, SUB FRAME RUST UNDER OUR 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA RIGHT WHEEL IS ALMOST OFF AND WE HAVE NOT FIXED THE CAR WE ARE NEEDING TO FIND WHAT WE NEED TO DO ON THIS MATTER PLEASE EMAIL ME TO LET US KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

WHEN I BROUGHT CAR IN FOR INSPECTION, WAS TOLD FRONT SUB-FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THERE IS A SIX INCH HOLE IN IT. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, IT HAS LOW MILES, AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE ROTTED OUT LIKE IT HAS ALREADY. IF I HAD KEPT DRIVING IT THE ENTIRE WHEEL COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF, POSSIBLY HURTING OR KILLING ME AND MY FAMILY. HAVE NOT CORRECTED IT, AS IT'S AT LEAST A THOUSAND DOLLAR FIX. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. AT FIRST IT WASN'T TOO BAD BUT I TOOK IT IN TO GET THE ALIGNMENT FIXED. THE MECHANIC ASKED ME TO COME LOOK AT THE CAR. WHEN I WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THERE WAS A GAPING HOLE IN THE SUB FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT IF HADN'T COME IN WHEN I DID THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE KILLED ME. WORST OFF IS THAT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO NOW THAT I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I CAN'T USE AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. MY FATHER AND THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR SAID THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD COME OFF AFTER LOOKING FURTHER WE NOTICED THE SUB FRAME HAD BROKEN APART DUE TO ROT. THIS CAR WAS WELL CARED FOR AND IM FINDING IT HARD TO ACCEPT THIS AS NORMAL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I HAVE SEEN THIS TO BE COMMON ON THIS MODEL. MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF WERE EXITING A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SEEMED TO BE PULLING. WHEN I GOT ON A SECONDARY ROAD IT GOT WORSE. WITHIN A FEW MILES THE CAR JUST STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED SATURDAY AND IM CALLING HYUNDAI MONDAY. WITH LUCK THEY WILL DEAL WITH IT. *TR

WE HAVE A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND NEARLY THREW MY STEPSON (AGE 23) UNDER A TRACTOR TRAILER. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, THE NEW TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORE OUT WITH METAL STICKING OUT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE SONATA WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY IN TWO. THIS IS A DEVASTATING CONCERN BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE COST MY CHILD A LIFE. THE SONATA ACTUALLY BELONGED TO MY SIXTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER! AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, I FIND THAT THERE IS AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN WHICH NO ONE HAS BOTHERED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES AND GET THEM OFF HE ROAD! VERY CONCERNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY DAUGHTER OR STEPSON COULD HAVE LOST THEIR LIFE!!!!! NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE RESEARCHED TO FIND THERE IS MANY ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM SAME PROBLEM!*TR

AFTER TAKING MY 2000 SONATA TO TOWN FAIR TIRES TO REPLACE A DAMAGED TIRE I WAS TOLD "YOU HAVE A HOLE IN YOUR FRAME...YOU SHOULD GET THAT LOOKED AT" ...SO THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT TOWNFAIR TIRES NEVER SHOULD HAVE LET ME LEAVE THE LOT. MY A-FRAME HAD A 6" PIECE COMPLETELY ROTTED AND MISSING, NEAR MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE. HE SAID ONE GOOD POTHOLE AND MY WHEEL WOULD HAVE COME OFF. I'M TOLD IT WILL COST $1,000 TO FIX. AND IF I DECIDE TO DO THIS, I'M OUT OF A CAR FOR A WEEK!! AND WHILE I WAIT I'M STILL OUT OF A CAR ANYWAY! I'M HEARING MORE AND MORE STORIES OF OTHER SONATA OWNERS HAVING THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I'M LUCKY THAT I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60MPH AND HAD MY WHEEL FALL OFF. *TR

SUB-FRAME CORROSION RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE DISABLEMENT DUE TO WHEEL COLLAPSE. *TR