2004 Hyundai Sonata Complaint Log

I currently own a 2004 Hyundai Sonata with a severe sub-fame deterioration, Unfortunately it does not fall under the so called salt belt states, That being said I don't know how Kansas does not fit that especially north east Kansas. Wondering if there's some way that they could reconsider on this matter and maybe get some help. I know the cars almost 20 yrs but it's in good shape with only 108000 miles on it. Thanks for any help with this matter. I was just informed by Hyundai that they would not do anything with it so I guess my only option is to drive it at my own risk and hope for the best. Regardless I'm very upset with there decision and that there okay with a persons life knowing this was a issues with many sonatas that probably didn't make the recall list.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED IN HER VEHICLE AND DOES NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS LOOSE OR A SHORTAGE WAS PRESENT. HYUNDAI STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,700.

RE: HYUNDAI '04 SONATA - BOUGHT NEW AT KEY HYUNDAI BRANFORD CT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE RE RUSTING SUBFRAMES. ISSUES I'VE HAD OVER LAST 12 MONTHS: STEERING WHEEL PULLING TO ONE SIDE - ALIGNMENT WAY OFF - FIXED, PROBLEM RECURRED. INTERMITTENT NOISES COMING FROM ?WHEELS STEERING COLUMN, ESP.WHEN TURNING CORNERS - SEEMS TO BE TWO SEPARATE DISTINCT NOISES. RECENTLY STEERING WH. WITH RHYTHMIC SHIMMY, INTERMITTENT. TOOK CAR INTO KEY H.FOR INSPECTION - TOLD IT NEEDS NEW SUBFRAME (6 HR.JOB) BUT NO ALIGNMENT WILL BE DONE, NO LOANER OR RENTAL WOULD BE GIVEN. CALLED HYUNDAI CUST. CENTER. TOLD THAT AN ALIGNMENT, RENTAL "..WASN'T PART OF THE DEAL" THEY PUT THE ONUS ON NHTSA - SAYS YOU DIDN'T TELL THEM THEY HAD TO DO ANY MORE THAN REPLACE THE S.F. MY REGULAR MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS WORRISOME THAT NO ALIGNMENT WILL BE DONE. "HOW CAN THEY DO ALL THAT FRONT END WORK AND NOT REALIGN THE WHEELS?" REGARDING A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FOR THE DAY, CONSIDERING THE SUBFR. HAS TURNED OUT TO BE MAJOR 'LEMON', YOU'D THINK AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL, HYUNDAI WOULD PAY ANOTHER $25 - 30 FOR A RENTAL. THEIR CUST. ASSIS. CENTRE IS A JOKE. THE GIRL HANDLING CALLS KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT MECHANICS, HAS NO AUTHORITY AND JUST KEEPS SAYING SHE'S SORRY BUT THIS IS NHTSA'S DEAL, NOT HYUNDAI. ANOTHER ISSUE- WITH THE S.F. RECALL NOTICE, I RECEIVED A 2ND NOTICE RE: CHROME HANDLES PEELING ON INSIDE DOOR. MINE PEELED THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE CAR - ABRASION TO MY FINGER. I TAPED THE HANDLE AND DIDN'T COMPLAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER LAST WEEK TOLD ME RECALL GOES TO '03 MODELS (WHY DID I GET THE NOTICE?) AND SAYS I CAN PAY $90 FOR CHROME REPLACEMENT. AND BY THE WAY, ALSO HANDED ME $2500 WORTH OF OTHER WORK I NEED - I DON'T, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. GUESS H. TRYING TO RECOUP MONEY SOME WAY, SINCE THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE S.F.FREE. BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS MY 2ND H. AND MY LAST-LOST FAITH& WORRIED THAT THEY WILL NOT DO PROPER JOB ON RECALL WORK.WILL PAY FOR RENTAL AND ALIGNMENT MYSELF. ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. BUILT IIN FEBRUARY 2004, THE CHROME PLATING OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CAME LOOSE. OUR HANDS HAVE BEEN CUT SEVERAL TIMES BY THE SHARP EDGES OF THE CHROME THAT IS PEELING BACK. FINALLY HAD TO PEEL THE CHROME OFF AND SAND THE EDGES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. IN FEBRUARY 2009, THE TOP EDGE OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DEVELOPED CRACKS. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE INJURED HERSELF WHILE OPENING THE DOOR. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WOULD COST $70.00. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. HER MODEL YEAR WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL# 09V171000 & 09V317000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.

CHIPPING PAINT ON DOOR HANDLES ESPECIALLY ON THE ONES THAT ARE LESS USED. PAINT NOT MATCHING WHEN REPAIRS ARE DONE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA AT LOW SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS SPACE FOR ME TO PULL TO THE CURB AND NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF TRYING THE CAR STARTED UP AND I DROVE IT HOME. THREE DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON A BUSY STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH. AGAIN I WAS FORTUNATE AND COULD PULL TO THE CURB. THIS TIME I COULD NOT START IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A "DEFECTIVE EVAP. SOLENOID THAT WAS CAUSING ENGINE FLOODING." THIS WAS A VERY SCARY OCCURRENCE--IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER (DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND MY SUDDEN SLOWING COULD CAUSE REAR-END CRASH. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

I OPERATE A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. IT EQUIPPED WITH SHIFTRONIC FEATURE, WHERE YOU ABLE TO OVERDRIVE A REGULAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BY MANUALLY SWITCHING TO DESIRED GEAR. HOWEVER, IT HAS OWN LOGIC NOT TO ALLOW YOU TO SWITCH TO INAPPROPRIATE GEAR LEADING TO OVERSTRESS AND/OR DAMAGE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROAD I USED ABOVE MENTIONED FEATURE TO SLOW DOWN A CAR WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (SO-CALLED ENGINE BRAKE). AT SAME TIME I USED REGULAR BRAKES TOO SINCE ENGINE BRAKE IS NOT SO EFFECTIVE AND IT CAN'T STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY. MY CAR HAS ALSO NO ANTI BLOCKING SYSTEM (ABS) INSTALLED. *** AT THE MOMENT, WHEN ROAD WAS TOO SLIPPERY, FRONT WHEELS WERE BLOCKED FOR SHORT PERIOD. I EASED PEDAL LIKE IT'S NORMALLY REQUIRED FOR CARS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, BUT TRANSMISSION LOGIC ASSUMED THAT CAR IS STOPPED COMPLETELY AND SWITCHED TO THE FIRST GEAR AT SPEED AROUND 40 KM/H (25 MPH) WHICH LED THE FRONT WHEELS TO BLOCK PERMANENTLY AND DUE TO THAT I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. *** FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOBODY AROUND AND I ONLY ENDED UP ON THE ROAD'S RIGHT SHOULDER. I REPEATED THIS SITUATION IN UNPOPULATED AREA AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. (THE SHIFTRONIC'S LOGIC IS SWITCHING TRANSMISSION TO THE FIRST GEAR AUTOMATICALLY AFTER CAR IS STOPPED TO AVOID THE ENGINE STALL WHEN YOU START MOVING AGAIN) I THINK, THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF READER AT REAR WHEELS TO DETECT THAT CAR IS STILL MOVING OR ABS SYSTEM TO BE PRESENT AS STANDARD, NOT AS OPTIONAL FEATURE. OR, MAYBE, TRANSMISSION'S BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE UPDATED. *TR

2004 HYNDAI SONATA STALLS ON HIGHWAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WERE COMPLETELY SMASHED IN AND THE FRAME WAS BENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO HER LEFT SHOULDER. THE PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE UNINJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS OPERATED IN THE MANNER THEY WERE DESIGNED; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

THE CHROME PLATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE AS WORN TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS CRACKED AND LEFT A SHARP EDGE ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THIS CAUSED A RECALL OF 2002-2003 HYUNDAI SONATAS 09V-171. *TR

BATTERY, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACE IN 12/05/05, THEN AGAIN IN 10/05/06, ON 7/31/08 THE BATTERY THIS TIME DIE WITH NO WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. BOTH TIME THE BATTERY WAS REPLACE BY RICK CASE HYUNDAI, STATED BAD BATTERY. *TR

CHROME COVERING IS PEELING FROM HANDLES AND SHIFTER RESULTING IN PIECES BEING STUCK IN MY HAND AND CUTS. *TR

+THE INTERIOR DOOR LEVERS CHROME IS PEELING OFF CAUSING THE LEVERS TO HAVE SHARP EDGES WHICH CUT YOUR FINGERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IS STILL OCCURRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

HYUNDAI SONATA, 5 SPEED, 2005, 4 CYLINDER, 47,500 MILES, APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS OLD. THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE CLUTCH, BUT IT STILL ENGAGED. ONCE ENGAGED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO BUILD UP SPEED. TOOK IT TO KEY HYUNDAI, THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. WAS IMMEDIATELY TOLD THAT THEIR 5 YEAR, 60,000 MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE IN EFFECT BECAUSE THIS WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR-AND-TEAR. THEY NEVER DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION TO LOOK AT THE INTERNALS. THEY GAVE ME THE CHOICE OF $1,100 FOR REPAIRS, AND $2,500 IF A NEW FLYWHEEL WAS NEEDED. SINCE IT WASN'T COVERED BY A WARRANTY, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION AND NOTED THAT THE FLYWHEEL CAME LOOSE FROM THE SHAFT IT WAS ATTACHED TO AND CAUSED WEAR TO THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HOUSING. THE FLYWHEEL AND OTHER PARTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FLYWHEEL ALONE WILL COST $1050, AND THE ENTIRE JOB ABOUT $2300. NO AFTER MARKET FLYWHEELS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE HONORED THEIR WARRANTY. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE AT KEY HYUNDAI PLUS HYUNDAI USA CUSTOMER SERVICE. KEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE WARRANTED AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD ONLY REFER ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. NO ONE COULD GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT AN AVERAGE LIFE FOR THE CLUTCH. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA - SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE 2002-2003 LISTED BELOW - THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CLOSED. RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V171000 HAS 1 RELATED INVESTIGATION(S) NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE08071 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): HYUNDAI / SONATA 2002 MANUFACTURER: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: DECEMBER 15, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: MAY 29, 2009 SUMMARY: THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL NOTIFICATION AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION. THE RECALL AFFECTS 91,202 MY 2002-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JANUARY 28, 2002, THROUGH MARCH 22, 2003. THE VEHICLE RECALL POPULATION WAS DEFINED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S USE OF A NEW SUPPLIER FOR THE CHROME PLATING PROCESS BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2002, AND A PRODUCTION CHANGE IN MARCH 2003 TO IMPROVE ADHESION OF THE PLATING TO THE DOOR HANDLE. VEHICLES BEING RECALLED REPRESENT 59 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MY 2002-2003 PRODUCTION, BUT ACCOUNT FOR 91 PERCENT OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RECEIVED. THE PROCESS CHANGE FOR MY 2002 VEHICLES RESULTED IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS (1200 PERCENT ON A PER UNIT RATE BASIS). MY 2003 VEHICLES BUILT AFTER MARCH 2003 PRODUCTION CHANGE SHOWED A SIMILAR DECLINE IN THE COMPLAINT RATE. BASED ON THE MANUFACTURER'S ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. *TR

INCIDENT: 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA LX LEFT REAR SEAT FOLDABLE SEAT BACK RELEASE BUTTON DOES NOT SNAP BACK AFTER BEING PRESSED FOR FOLDING DOWN THE SEAT BACK. THUS, WHEN SEAT BACK IS FOLDED INTO THE UPRIGHT POSITION AGAIN, LOCK DOES NOT SNAP AND ENGAGE, LEAVING THE SEAT BACK LOOSE. IN CASE OF BREAKING OR FRONT CRASH SEAT BACK MOST CERTAINLY WILL FOLD DOWN. *TR

DROVE CAR 3 MILES FROM POINT A TO POINT B. IT WAS PARKED AT POINT B FOR APPROX 45 MINUTES. THEN DRIVEN 300FT TO POINT C. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I SMELLED SOMETHING UNUSUAL BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE AUTO SHOP NEXT DOOR. WHEN I WENT INTO THE STORE, AN EMPLOYEE LOOKED THROUGH THE GLASS WINDOW AND SHOUTED "SOMEONE'S CAR IS ON FIRE." I LOOKED AND SAW IT WAS MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. THE CAR NO LONGER STARTS. I WILL WRITE AGAIN TO UPDATE ON DIAGNOSIS FROM HYUNDAI. *TR

TIRE VALVE STEM FAILED ON 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THERE WERE DEFECTIVE WHEEL COVERS. ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE ON 11-10-2006. MILEAGE WA S37,063. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR TIRE ROTATION ON 6-21-2007. *AK ON 6-26-2007 WHILE TRAVELLING AT 70+ MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. TOOK THE TIRE TO THE VENDOR. DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS A BROKEN VALVE STEM. VENDOR STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HYUNDAI WHEEL COVERS. AFFECTED TIRE WAS UNUSABLE DUE TO THE TIME IT TOOK TO GET STOPPED FROM 70+MPH AND WAS REPLACED. AFTER THAT EVENT, I BEGAN WATCHING THE WHEEL COVERS AND OBSERVED THAT THE WHEEL COVERS ROTATE ON THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING, AND BEND THE VALVE STEM WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE. I FREQUENTLY REMOVED AND RE-INSTALLED THE WHEEL COVERS TO RELIEVE THE FORCE ON THE VALVE STEM, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD RE-OCCUR WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES OF DRIVING. I BECAME CONCERNED AND WORRIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS DUE TO THE POSSABILITY OF A POTENTIAL CRASH DUE TO THE RAPID LOSS OF AIR SHOULD ANOTHER VALVE STEM BREAK. CONSULTED THE INTERNET (GOOGLE) AND SEACHED FOR "HYUNADI SONATA VALVE STEM PROBLEMS." OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, FOUND THIS PROBLEM BEING INVESTIGATED ON 2002 - 2003 HYUNDAI SONATAS. SEE NHTSA "PE05-059 2002 - 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA TIRE VALVE STEM FAILURES 07-NOV-2005 " NOTE: TODAY, I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL HYUNDAI WHEEL COVERS WITH FTERMARKET WHEEL COVERS PURCHASED FROM AUTO ZONE. THESE WHEEL COVERS HAVE A CLOSE APPARENCE TO THE ORIGINALS AND APPEAR THAT THEY CANNOT BIND THE VALVE STEMS. A $29.95 FIX. MY OPINION IS THAT THE FACTORY HYUNDAI WHEEL COVERS ARE IMPROPERLY DESIGNED AND REPRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. HAD I NOT BEEN AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND PAYING ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE, I COULD HAVE EASILY WRECKED AT 70 MPH.

SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DOOR HANDLES...WE HAVE FLAKING OF THE CHROME FINISH ON OUR 2004 SONATA AS WELL, PRIMARILY DRIVER'S DOOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SENSOR DEVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT NO REMEDY WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD WERE MELTING IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED. AS A RESULT, THE INSULATION IS MELTING FROM THE WIRES AND CAUSING THEM TO BECOME BARE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE MIRRORS ARE LOSING CLARITY IMPAIRING VISION. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *NM

ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA, THE CHROME DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN PEELING AWAY SINCE 2007, RESULTING IN A SHARP, JAGGED EDGE THAT I HAVE CUT MY HAND ON NUMEROUS TIMES. I NOTICE THAT THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ORDER FOR THE 2003 SONATAS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE UNDER ACTION #PE08071, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE 2004 MODEL IS DOING THE SAME THING, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT MODEL TO BE ADDED TO THIS RECALL AS WELL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO ARIZONA FROM TEXAS ON INTERSTATE 10 IN A RAIN STORM WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL. I THOUGHT IT WAS HYDROPLANING, BUT IT WAS SOON TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND I STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. MY CAR STARTED SPINNING AND SPUN ACROSS THE 15 FOOT GRASSY MEDIAN WHICH SLOPED DOWN ABOUT TWO FEET, PROCEEDED ACROSS THE TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, CONTINUED DOWN A THREE FOOT SLOPED GRASSY MEDIAN ABOUT THREE FEET WIDE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD. MY BACK TIRE HAD GONE FLAT!! WHEN I GOT TO ARIZONA I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO DISCOUNT TIRE (WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE FIRST TWO TIRES) TO HAVE THE RIMS AND TIRES CHECKED. THEY CHANGED THE TIRE BUT COULD FIND NO NAIL OR ANY REASON FOR THE TIRE GOING FLAT. THE OTHER REAR TIRE ALSO HAD TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE TIRE (THE 2 REAR TIRES HAD 20,000 MILES ON THEM). I WAS TOLD THE RIMS WERE DAMAGED, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TWO FRONT TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAD BUBBLES. I BELIEVE I RECEIVED FOUR DEFECTIVE TIRES WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR BECAUSE THESE MICHELIN TIRES SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR AROUND 50,000 MILES. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A SITE OF UNHAPPY MICHELIN CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR HORROR STORIES. I PRINTED TEN PAGES OF COMPLAINTS, TWO VERY SIMILAR TO MINE WHERE THE TIRE WENT FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, OTHERS THAT HAD BLOWOUTS ON ALMOST NEW TIRES. ONE CUSTOMER STATED THAT HE WAS TOLD TO RETURN THE TIRE (AS I WAS) AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN HE CALLED HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE. HE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE THAT THE TIRE HAD BEEN DELIVERED AND IT WAS DATED AFTER THE CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH MICHELIN! JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT 40,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE'S CLUTCH FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN FIRST AND THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ONLY USE FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT A NEW CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FLY WHEEL HAD OVERHEATED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. AT 60,000 MILES, THE FAILURE WAS DUPLICATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED BECAUSE THE FLY WHEEL WAS NOT REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY ANOTHER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TYPE OF FLY WHEEL WAS DESIGNED FOR A TRUCK, NOT A SEDAN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE DISC IN THE FLY WHEEL WAS MOVING UP AND DOWN INSTEAD OF SPINNING. THE FLY WHEEL WAS DAMAGING THE ENGINE HOUSING WHICH CAUSED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED COPIES OF THE REPAIR INVOICES FOR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/06/07 *TR

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN JANUARY OF 2005 (IT'S A 2004 MODEL, PURCHASED NEW). I'VE BEEN DRIVING A STANDARD SHIFT FOR 8 YEARS. STARTING IN MID JULY, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. TAKING IT IN TO THE SHOP, I WAS INFORMED THE CLUTCH HAD "BURNED OUT", AND WOULD NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT I "RODE THE CLUTCH" WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS MY PREVIOUS CAR, ALSO A HYUNDAI, HAD GONE FOR MORE THAN 50,000 MILES OVER THE 6 YEARS I OWNED IT AND NEVER HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM, I AM SUSPICIOUS OF THIS PARTICULAR REASON FOR MY CLUTCH FAILURE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING A FLAT TIRE DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD, THE DEALER PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE TREAD DEPTH WAS DEPLETED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE MICHELIN MXD4 PLUS H 205/165/115. ADDITIONALLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING INTO GEARS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING REPLACEMENT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND REAR ENDED A ANOTHER VEHICLE AND MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS NOT HURT, BUT MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT WAS. *NM

AFTER BUYING NEW TIRES FOR MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA, I STARTED EXPERIENCING FLAT TIRES ON MY FRONT TIRES. ALL FLATS INVOLVED PROBLEMS WITH VALVE STEMS. IT SEEMS THAT THE WHEEL COVERS ON THIS CAR ARE NOT MEANT FOR SOME BRANDS OF REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TORQUE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SEEMS TO CAUSE THE WHEEL COVERS TO ROTATE THEREBY CUTTING INTO THE VALVE STEMS. THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO WOULD NOT WARRANT THE PROBLEM, BUT HE WAS AWARE OF SEEING MANY OTHER SONATAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS NOT WARNED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT I HAD TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT BRAND OF TIRES I USED AS REPLACEMENTS. ONE OF MY FLATS OCCURRED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BROAD SIDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN BOTH DOORS. BOTH PASSENGERS OF THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AND RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. UPDATED 5/2/2006- *NM

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL VALVE STEM FAILURES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF TIRES ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE WHEEL COVERS SHIFT AND CUT THE VALVE STEMS AND HAVE LEFT US WITH RAPID AIR LOSS. PLEASE REFER TO YOUR CASE NUMBER PE05-059. I HAVE EVEN HAD NEW WHEEL COVERS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO SLIPPED OVER THE VALVE STEMS. THIS IS A CONCERN BECAUSE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD CAUSE A BLOW OUT AND AN ACCIDENT, LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH. *JB

MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS BEEN HAVING CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL PROBLEMS STARTING AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. IT IS NOW AT 40,000 MILES AND IT'S GETTING WORSE. I'VE HAD MECHANICS (NOT BIASED HYUNDAI PERSONAL) TELL ME THAT THE FLY WHEEL IS MOST LIKELY WARPED, CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO SHIMMY AND SLIP UNDER LOAD (UP HILLS WITH PASSENGERS, ETC). I HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS "FINE". I'M THINKING ABOUT TAKING IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ROAD SLANTED TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, AS WELL AS ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, ALIGNED THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/15/06

18 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA BRAND NEW. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING SEIZED CAUSING MY TIRE TO DRAG WHILE DRIVING AND THE TIRE THEN POPPED. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE TIRE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS. WHEN IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME HE ATTEMPTED THREE TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OVER. THE SECOND TIME THE KEY REMAINED IN THE IGNITION FOR FOUR MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2005 ON 1-95 2004 AT 6 MPH THE HYUNDAI SONATA WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING. THE CONSUMER'S WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND HAD DECIDED TO OVERTAKE THE CAR AHEAD. THE CONSUMER MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEED WAS MORE THAN 75 MPH. THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, MADE A 360-DEGREE TURN, SKIDDED, AND MERCIFULLY STOPPED ON THE GRASSY SHOULDER. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT NO CAR BUMPED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DURING THIS EPISODE. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THOUGHT THAT ONE OF THE TIRES HAD BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE TIRES AND SAW SKID BURNS. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER. THE CONSUMER THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. ON LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 THE CONSUMER CALLED THE HYUNDAI DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD THEM THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR. THE CONSUMER TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED AND HE SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER CALL A HYUNDAI SERVICE OUTLET FOR A SERVICE CHECK-UP APPOINTMENT. THE CONSUMER CALLED BOB BELL HYUNDAI IN GLEN BURNIE FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND THE RECORDING SAID THEY WOULD CALL HIM WITHIN THE HOUR. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JULY 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON RITCHIE HIGHWAY NEAR PASADENA, MARYLAND AT 60 MPH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE WHITES ROAD INTERSECTION TURNED RED CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES A LITTLE HARD AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I THAT THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *AK *MR

2004 HYUNDAI SONATA HAD COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED.*MR THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR LOAD MOANING AND RUMBLING NOISES LIKE PRESSURE BUILDING UP IN THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A POPPING NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL FOUR ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NEAR ACCIDENT REPORT DUE TO A POSSIBLE BRAKE LOCK UP OF THE 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES,THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN AND SKIDDED TO A STOP ON A GRASSY SHOULDER. *JB

8 YR. LONG CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON... BEST DESCRIPTION WE GET IS A HARNESS ISSUE UNDER PASSENGER FRONT SEAT... LAST EPISODE 12/19/11 DEALER ADVISED HYUNDAI NO LONGER HAS REPLACEMENTS PARTS FOR THIS SYSTEM... THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE MODELS STILL IN SERVICE HOW CAN MFG. NOT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SAFETY PART... AS OF THIS MOMENT THE LIGHT IS OFF BUT GIVEN THE HISTORY THE DEALER SAID HE EXPECTS IT TO BE BACK ON SOON ... *TR

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT AND HER PASSENGER IN THE SEATS. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND BROKEN BONES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND AN INSURANCE REPORT WAS FILED. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*AK UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A FRONT ALIGNMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME UNATTACHED IN THE COLLISION.*AK THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL BY CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONOTA. TRAFFICE WAS HEAVY AND A DRIVER, 3 CARS AHEAD, SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AS ALL THOSE BEHIND HER DID. I HAD AMPLE TIME TO STOP BUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES REPEATEDLY KEPT TURNING. MY CAR CONTINUED TO HIT THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME AND MY CAR ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB ON THE BACK OF THE OTHER CAR. THE REPETITIVE HITTING OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE BRAKES OF BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES, THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AT INTERMITTENT TIMES, YET THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO INFORM ME THAT THEIR IS NOTHING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO ACT UP ON DRY SURFACES STILL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT CANNOT SEEM TO CONVINCE THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS AN ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES GRABBIND AND CONTINUE TO ROTATE. THE IMPACT, FROM THE REPETITIVE HITTING OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSED IT TO BE TOTALED. MY CAR, EVEN AFTER EXTENSIVE FRAME DAMAGE AND SHIFTING OF THE ENTIRE MOTOR CARRIAGE, WAS NOT TOTALLED. IT SHOULD BE ALSO NOTED THAT WHEN THE INSURANCE CARRIER HAD THE CAR DELIVERED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MOTOR REPLACEMENT THAT THEY WERE NOT ADVISED OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WAS SENT TO HOSPITAL FOR A CHECKUP AS THE REPETITIVE HITTING CAUSED THE SEATBELT TO CAUSE NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT ARM AND NECK. I WAS TREATED AND RELEASED WITH A PRESCRIPTION FOR MUSCLE RELAXERS FOR A FEW DAYS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON I97, A VW CABRIOLET CHANGED FROM 2/3 OF EXIT TO RIGHT TO PULLING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME PERPENDICULAR. I VEER TO LEFT, JAMMED ON BRAKES BUT HIT HIS DRIVER SIDE DOOR (ORIGIN SPEED 50-55 MPH) THEN CONTINUUED INTO A STEEL GUARDRAIL HEAD ON, THEN PULLED OUT MOST OF THE RAIL AND JOLTED TO A STOP AT AN ANGLE ABOVE A DROP OFF. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS. WE WERE LUCKY TO WALK AWAY WITH BRUISES, CUTS, AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. ANOTHER FAMILY MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY

2004 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS INVOLVED IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT, STRUCK BY A DODGE DURANGO. IMPACT WAS CENTERED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND RESULTED IN AN APPROXIMYATE 1 FOOT OF INTRUSION. MAX CRUSH OCCURRED JUST FORWARD OF THE B-PILLAR. B-PILLAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE SEAT AND THE LEADING EDGE OF THE DOOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HEAD/THORAX BAG LOCATED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT DID NOT DEPLOY. NHTSA SHOULD INSPECT THIS TO SEE WHY THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE TYPE OF IMPACT IN WHICH THE SIDE AIR BAGS WERE DESIGNED FOR. DRIVER SUSTAINED NUMEROUS FRACTURES TO THE PELVIC REGION, A LACERATED SPLEEN THAT RESULTED IN 2 SURGERIES AND ALMOST 2 MONTHS OF HOSPITALIZATION, MOST OF IT IN INTENSIVE CARE AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE SENSOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN OF PICKING THE VEHICLE UP. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB