2001 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAM POSITION POSITION SENSOR FAILED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE ENGINE HARNESS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000. UPDATED 11-25-08 *BF UPDATED 11/26/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR THE PART, NOT THE LABOR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY. CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED THREE SEPARATE TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. ONCE AT 32,000 MILES. NEARLY LOST CONTROL AROUND A 90 DEGREE BEND. SECOND TIME OCCURRED JUNE 9TH, 2005 AT 83,000 MILES AFTER TURNING OFF A HIGHWAY. THIRD TIME IT OCCURRED WAS JULY 15TH, 2005. I WAS IDLING AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE TO PROCEED FORWARD. I HAD IT TOWED TWICE IN THREE DAYS TO DEALER. EACH TIME, THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE LAST TWO TIMES THE CRANK BLADE WAS ALSO REPLACED. NONE OF THE TIMES DID I EXPECT THERE TO BE ANY PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NOW I AM WORRIED A LOT. THE SECOND TIME, I COULD TELL IT WAS HAPPENING SINCE THE RPM NEEDLE DROPPED TO ZERO AND THEN IT SHUT OFF.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. SINCE ITS 80,000 MILES MARK THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE FIXING THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS DEFECT CAUSES MY CAR TO STALL IN ONGOING TRAFFIC AND CAUSED IT TO COME TO A ROLL AND STOP. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR 2 WHOLE MONTHS WHERE IT HAS BEEN TEST DRIVEN AND NOW HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. *NM

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. LESS THAN 4000 MILES AGO, I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT A "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CONDITION, WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT AT THE MILEAGE THE CAR WAS AT I NEEDED ROUTINE SERVICE ON THE TRANSMISSION UNDER TERMS OF THE WARRANTY. THIS WAS DONE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY SERPENTINE BELT AND SPARK PLUGS WERE DUE TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT REMINDED THAT MY TIMING BELT HAD TO BE INSPECTED BEFORE 60000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND THAT SINCE I NOW HAD 60255 MILES ON THE CAR, AND HAD NOT HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED, THE 100000 MILE WARRANTY WAS VOID AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY DAMAGE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR WAS MORE THAN $5000 AND HYUNDAI WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THAT COST. HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AFTER ONE WEEK, STILL HAS NOT ANSWERED MY PHONE CALLS. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE JUST DIED. THE VEHICLE JERKED TO A STOP, THEN LATER DROVE NORMALLY. LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, AND IT BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, BUT THE CONSUMER $135.00 FOR CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK ON 8/24/04, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD GRINDING METAL SOUND, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS THE TRANS AXLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY WERE GUESSING JUST TO GET HER OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *SC *JB

ENGINE MISSES AND BACKFIRES THROUGH THE INTAKE. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS IN PARK, OR IF YOU ARE DRIVING IT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS SITTING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATOR WENT UP TO 4200 RPM BY ITSELF WITH NO FOOT ON THE PEDAL. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD TO TAKE IT OUT OF DRIVE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE ENGINES RPMS CHANGE A LOT NOW AND WILL NOT IDLE RIGHT AT ALL; THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE ENGINE PROBLEMS; AND SHOULD NOT BE ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD A PENNSYLVANIA CERTIFIED INSPECTION MECHANIC LOOK AT AND DRIVE THE CAR; AND HE SAID THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE; AND IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DUE FOR STATE INSPECTION THAT IT WOULD HAVE NOT PASSED; BUT FAILED AND WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO DRIVE. *JB

LOWER OXYGEN SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO STAY ON. I HAVE BEEN RETURNING TO THE SUNTRUP DEALERSHIP IN MISSOURI EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AND THE PROBLEM IS ALWAYS THE OXYGEN SENSORS. I HAVE A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS OVER AND OVER. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WITH THE CAR FOR $1,300.00 AND I FIND OUT ON MY LAST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE WARRANTY COMPANY FILED BANKRUPTCY. SO NOW I HAVE NO WARRANTY ON MY CAR AND I HAVE LOST MONEY FOR NO REASON.*AK

ENGINE MAKING LOUD TICKING NOISE/LOSES POWER/QUITS. REPEATED REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIPS (JIM ELLIS HYUNDAI-770-458-6811) FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761399

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER RESET BOTH SYSTEMS ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS ,BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED A SENSOR THREE TIMES.*AK

WITH LESS THAN 1300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO BUCK AND SURGE IN TRAFFIC AT 65MPH, AND THE TACHOMETER BEGAN SWINGING WILDLY FROM 0 TO 2500RPM. AFTER GETTING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD QUICKLY, WHERE IT STALLED AGAIN AND AGAIN, I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW TO THE DEALER. THEY EXAMINED AND DROVE THE CAR, AND TOLD ME IT WASN'T ACTING UP FOR THEM, AND SUGGESTED I TAKE IT HOME WHILE THEY ORDERED AN EXHAUST PURGE VALVE PER A 2.4L ENGINE PROBLEM SERVICE BULLETIN FROM HYUNDAI. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TOWARD HOME, IT BEGAN BUCKING AND THE TACHOMETER WAS SWINGING WILDLY AGAIN, SO I GOT OFF TO THE SIDE, WHERE IT REPEATEDLY STALLED, AND AGAIN I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY RENTED A CAR FOR ME, AND OVER THE NEXT WEEK REPLACED THE PURGE VALVE, BUT THE CAR ALSO DIED ON THEM, SO THEY DID A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS, WHICH SHOWED A FAILED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH CAUSED IGNITION SPARK FAILURE. AFTER REPLACING THAT, THEY CALLED ME TO COME GET THE CAR AND TAKE IT HOME. THIS TIME IT FAILED JUST AS I REACHED MY DRIVEWAY, AGAIN BUCKING AND STALLING WITH THE TACHOMETER SWINGING WILDLY UP AND DOWN. FOR A THIRD TIME, I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW TO THE DEALER, WHICH PROMISED A SEARCH TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES, INVOLVEMENT OF THE DISTRICT MANAGER, AND AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A DIFFERENT SENSOR MODEL IN CASE THE BATCH OF AVAILABLE SENSORS WAS "BAD". SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT PRODUCED ANY ANSWER AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES, DELAYS IN OBTAINING A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT PART, AND SO FAR, A TOTAL OF 18 INOPERABLE DAYS FOR MY NEW CAR. THIS FAILURE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE; A PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT "OTHER (HYUNDAI) VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM" ONE OF WHICH WAS THERE WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALER WAITING FOR MY SECOND RENTAL CAR. I REPEAT; THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE; SUCH SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN TRAFFIC CAN HAVE FATAL RESULTS! *AK

THE MAIN PULLEY CAME DISCONNECTED AND FELL OFF ONTO THE STREET WITH NO WARING WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY I WAS PREPARING TO TURN LEFT AND WAS STOPPED IN THE LEFT TURN LANE. THERE WAS A BAD THUNK AND SHAKE AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. HAD I BEEN MOVING, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT STORY, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT IS A BRAND NEW CAR, I JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED. EVERYTHING WAS FINE, I THOUGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO YOU.

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A COKING SOUND LIKE IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. WITH NO PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ALSO, AFTER CUTTING OFF, VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP. *AK

ENGINE FAILED AT 1633 MILES GOING 65 MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO HYNDAI SERVICE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SLEEVES IN EARLY PRODUCTION ENGINES. SLEEVES COME LOOSE CAUSING PISTONS TO SMASH SPARK PLUGS. NEW ENGINE INSTALLED, BUT DID NOT RUN PROPERLY. HYUNDAI SERVICE ORDERING SECOND NEW ENGINE. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED QUICKLY DUE TO ANOTHER 2001 SANTA FE WITH 3900 MILES IN SHOP WITH SAME PROBLEM. PEOPLES HYUNDAI IN FOLSOM, CA WERE VERY HELPFUL.*AK

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. *NLM