2006 Hyundai Sonata Complaint Log

2006 HYUNDAI SONATA 3RD BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE BULB TO BE REPLACED BY THE OWNER. OF COURSE SHORT LIFE BULBS ARE USED SO THE LIGHT BURNS OUT QUICKLY. HYUNDAI'S SOLUTION IS TO BRING THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP AND PAY AROUND $75 FOR THEM TO TAKE OUT THE TRAY BETWEEN THE SEAT AND WINDOW TO GET TO THE BULB TO REPLACE. CONSEQUENTLY, WITH THE STRAINS OF THE ECONOMY MOST PEOPLE HAVE TO CHOOSE TO NOT REPLACE THE BULB. A PROPER DESIGN WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE CAR OWNER TO REPLACE THE BULB. THIS PROBLEM STARTED BACK IN 2008. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS CRACKED AND WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. IT WILL FALL DOWN BLOCKING MY VIEW. *TR

SUNVISOR FALLS INTO MY LINE OF VISION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OCS MAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT AND AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V161000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,453. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM, WHICH WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

THE SUN VISORS ON THE 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA BREAK AND CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE BY BLOCKING THE VIEW. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE CARS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. MINE HAS BROKEN TWICE. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE SUN VISOR STAYS IN THE DOWN POSITION BLOCKING MY LINE OF SIGHT WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO VELCRO THE SUN VISOR TO THE HEADLINER TO PREVENT THE SUN VISOR FROM FALLING DOWN. I DISASSEMBLED THE SUN VISOR AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC ARM INSIDE THE SUNVISOR WAS BROKEN IN HALF AND THAT THIS IS THE REASON FOR THE SUN VISOR TO FAIL. I HAVE 63,000 MILES AND THE PART IS 3000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT AND SO I'M REPORTING MY BROKEN SUN VISOR TO YOU. *TR

1. RECENTLY MY VISORS STOPPED STAYING IN THE UP POSITION. 2. THE FAILURE TO STAY UP IS CONSTANT. MY VISION IS SEVERELY OBSCURED WHILE DRIVING. MY SAFETY HAS BEEN SEVERELY COMPROMISED. 3. NO REPAIRS MADE. HYUNDAI WANTS ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS VERY OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

HYUNDAI SUN VISORS SWINGS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. MY PASSENGER VISOR BROKE WHILE DRIVING, ABOUT SIX MONTH LATER THE DRIVERS SUN VISOR BROKE. I CONTACTED OTHER HYUNDAI OWNERS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH. WITH THE VISOR N THE DOWN POSSESSION YOU CANT SEE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR

THE PUMP FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WENT OUT RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 60K MILES. IT WAS EITHER DEFECTIVE OR THIS IS A PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A MAJOR ISSUE LIKE BRAKES, WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY AND GET SPLASHED WITH MUD FROM A PASSING TRUCK, AND YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THROUGH YOUR WINDSHIELD SINCE THE WIPERS JUST SMEAR THE MUD OVER THE GLASS, THE ABSENCE OF A WORKING FLUID PUMP COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. MY HUSBAND HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND USE WATER FROM A BOTTLE OF DRINKING WATER HE HAD IN THE CAR TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD SO HE CONTINUE DRIVING SAFELY. IN THIS ECONOMY MANY PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THE $120 + TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH DECREASED VISIBILITY. *TR

SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE WONT STAY UP. *TR

MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA IS ALWAYS FLOPPING DOWN, OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND I CONTINUE TO SEE MORE & MORE ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM ONLINE. *TR

NOTICED ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ALONE ON HIGHWAY THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD "RF BUCKLE AND OCS FAILURE". NEITHER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS I WAS 3,000 MILES OVER, AND HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID#: 08V161000). TO DATE (2/03/10), NO REPAIRS OR SOLUTION. *TR

WHILE MERGING ON TO HIGHWAY CAR WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING, HAD TO CUT OFF ENGINE TO STOP THE CAR. THIS IS 2ND INCIDENT WITH THE SAME CAR, FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN FEB 2007. GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, PARTS WERE LUBRICATED. AFTER TALKING TO REGIONAL HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE , SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE FEW SIMILAR INCIDENTS (2007) THAT'S WHY THEY REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, NORTH BOUND ON ROUTE 8 IN CONNECTICUT (IN THE AREA OF TORRINGTON) AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AT 12:30 PM ON THE JANUARY 10, 2010. IT WAS A CLEAR AND SUNNY DAY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 30'S. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR (IN THE FRONT SEAT) AND TWO SNOW BOARDS AND SOME SNOWBOARDING EQUIPMENT IN THE TRUNK. WITH NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, THE SIDE WALL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE FAILED IN TWO PLACES WITH A LOUD BANG AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF PRESSURE. AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE (ABOUT A HALF MILE AS THIS SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY HAS NO SHOULDER) THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE TIRE CHANGED. THE TWO HOLES IN THE TIRE ARE APPROXIMATELY THREE INCHES APART. ONE IS 1" BY 2". THE OTHER IS 1/2" X 1 5/8". BOTH HOLES GO THROUGH ALL LAYERS OF THE TIRE. THE MATERIAL FROM THE FIRST HOLE WAS EJECTED FROM THE TIRE. THE AIR PRESSURE IN ALL TIRES WAS CHECKED AND SET BY KEY HYUNDAI OF MILFORD ON NOVEMBER 14, 2009. THE TREAD WAS CHECKED BY KEY HYUNDAI OF MILFORD ON DECEMBER 30, 2009 AND FOUND TO BE LOW BUT SAFE FOR A FEW THOUSAND MORE MILES. THE EXACT TIRE LINE IS ENERGY MXV4 S8. *TR

SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE WOULDN'T STAY UP. WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT A YEAR OR SO LATER AGAIN WOULDN'T STAY UP. AND THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR ALSO WON'T STAY UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION; HOWEVER, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN POSITIONED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SIX DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO POSSIBLY REPAIR THE IGNITION DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA WHICH HOUSES PIRELLI CINTURATO P3000 TIRES, LINE SIZE P215/60/R16. WHILE DRIVING, HE WOULD HEAR AN ECHOING HOWL FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST WHERE ROTATION AND BALANCE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. HE CONTINUED TO HEAR THE NOISE FROM THE TIRE AFTER IT WAS ROTATED AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE TIRE SPECIALIST. THE TIRE SPECIALIST ADVISED HIM THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE SHOCK ABSORBER ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIRE MAY HAVE BEEN OUT-OF-ROUND AND/OR FAILING FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRES, WHICH STOPPED THE NOISE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 26,000 AND THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 4/26/10 *CN UPDATED 05/06/10

BRAKES ON BOTH OF MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATAS OFTEN FREEZE DURING BLOWING SNOW OR AFTER DRIVING THROUGH SNOW. THUS, THE BRAKES WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO MOVE AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED, OR THEY WILL INADEQUATELY SLOW/STOP THE CAR WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY WHENEVER IT SNOWS, EVEN IF IT ONLY SNOWS A LITTLE . SOMEHOW, I'M SPECULATING, THE SNOW BLOWS INTO THE BRAKES (CALIPERS?) AND MAKES THEM DYSFUNCTIONAL. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI SONATAS IN THE NORTHERN TIER OF STATES. THE WORST CASE HAPPENED TO ME DURING THE RECENT 2009 CHRISTMAS SNOWSTORM IN THE MIDWEST. I COULD ONLY GET MY CAR TO BARELY STOP EVEN WHEN I WAS MOVING LESS THAN 10 MILES AN HOURS. THANK GOODNESS I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WINTERS, BUT THIS LATEST INCIDENT PROMPTED ME TO NOTIFY NHTSA. THANK YOU. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR ON MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. . IT HANGS DOWN OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. THIS LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE NJ TURNPIKE CAUSING ME TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. A STATE TROOPER SAW WHAT HAPPENED AND PULLED IN BEHIND ME. WHEN I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION HE SAID THAT HE KNEW OF SEVERAL OTHER SONATA'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR

IN 12/21/09 AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED CHIP RELATED TO AIR BAG SYSTEM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BROKEN AND I WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. INVOICE # [XXX] (DENNIS HYUNDAI OF DUBLIN) REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $500 TO $900. CALLED HYUNDAI WITH A COMPLAINT. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN CALLED WE HAD A MEETING. I PAID $ 175.03 TO REPLACE THE CHIP. THEY ALSO REPAIRED PASSENGER SEAT PER NHTSA RECALL 13V-354 (NOTE THE RECALL REPAIR ONLY WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR). AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BOTH THE DEALER AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ONE AND THEN SOMETIMES WHEN I STOPPED RESET ITS SELF OR THE DEALER/REPAIR SHOP COULD RESET THE LIGHT. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM STARTED TO ACT UP AFTER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON THEN GOES OFF THE RADIO WILL COME IN LOUD THE GET QUIET. THE CONSTANT HOWEVER IS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT. I HAD THE SEAT BELT (DRIVER SIDE) CHANGED (TWICE) IN 2011 AS THE FIRST REPLACEMENT IN DID NOT WORK. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS OFF FOR A SHORT TIME AND THEN CAME BACK ON. IT WILL NOT RESET SO THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED BY HYUNDAI. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SMELLED A STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR; ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD STARTING; THIS IS 3.3L V6 ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THIS WAS ON AND BEFORE 22 SEP 2009 WITH ABOUT 48,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. GAS SMELL GETTING STRONGER AND PERSONAL MECHANIC FOUND RIGHT FRONT FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. ALSO MILEAGE HAS DROPPED ABOUT 10 MPG DURING LONG ROAD TRIP. MECHANIC RECOMMENDS CHANGE OF FUEL INJECTOR O-RING SEAL(S) ON THE LEAKING INJECTOR AND ALL OTHERS (5 MORE). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A WARRANTY REPAIR. STILL WAITING TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY/FIRE ISSUE WITH RAW FUEL BEING SPRAYED ON THE HOT ENGINE. *TR

2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. SUN VISORS SUDDENLY FALL DOWN OBSTRUCTING VISION. DEALER WON'T ADDRESS THIS DEFECT!!! THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE ENGINE AND ESC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AND THE ECU SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75000.

INTERIOR SUN VISORS FAIL AND DO NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. ON GOING PROBLEM. AN ORDER FOR REPLACEMENTS HAS BEEN BACK ORDERED ACCORDING TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF FAILURES. BECAUSE THE VISORS DROP DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND DO NOT STAY IN PLACE WHEN RAISED, THERE IS A SERIOUS HAZARD FROM VISION IMPAIRMENT. DRIVING WITH THE VISORS DOWN IMPAIRS VISION OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY FOR TALLER DRIVERS--BECAUSE THE VISORS BLOCK MORE OF THE NORMAL RANGE OF VISION. BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, THE VISORS ALSO CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY USED AS INTENDED IN ADVERSE LIGHTING CONDITIONS. *TR

MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT ACTIVATE IF A FEMALE ADULT SITS IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR IT; VARIOUS INAPPROPRIATE RESPONSES ARE GIVEN, SUCH AS POOR POSTURE, INADEQUATE WEIGHT OR "HAVE THE PASSENGER SIT IN THE BACK." IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. I HAVE MADE REPEATED VISITS TO MY DEALER, BUT NO SOLUTION HAS BEEN PROVIDED. IN ONE CASE, THE DEALER HELD THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK AND SUPPOSEDLY SENT THE SEAT BACK TO HYUNDAI, BUT NOTHING CHANGED. DURING MY MOST RECENT DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER, HE SAID THAT THE SENSOR WOULD ONLY ACTIVATE IF THE PERSON IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHED OVER 130 POUNDS. THIS ELIMINATES ME - I WEIGH 115 POUNDS - OR MOST OF MY FEMALE FRIENDS. MY DAUGHTER WEIGHS OVER 130 POUNDS, BUT IT DOES NOT ACTIVATE FOR HER, EITHER. MOST OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS HAVE A WEIGHT "TRIGGER" OF 90 POUNDS. THE DEALER SAID THAT HYUNDAI WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT SET THE ACTIVATION/TRIGGER WEIGHT AT LESS THAN 130 POUNDS. THIS MEANS I CANNOT HAVE MOST OF MY GUESTS OR RELATIVES IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS DESIGN CHEATS A LARGE NUMBER OF ADULTS OF AIRBAG PROTECTION, AND CREATES AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. A HYUNDAI RECALL FALSELY CLAIMS THAT HYUNDAI WILL ADDRESS THE SITUATION, BUT THIS IS ONLY FOR SHOW - NO WORK IS DONE AND THE COMPANY INSTRUCTS THE DEALERS NOT TO REPAIR THE SEATS. THE DEALERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO SAY THAT FAILURE TO ACTIVATE IS NOT A DEFECT, AND THAT THE COMPANY CONSIDERS AN ACTIVATION WEIGHT OF OVER 130 POUNDS TO BE ACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERS ARE ALSO TOLD TO TEST THE SEAT THEMSELVES - THIS MEANS A LARGE MALE IS CHOSEN TO SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT, WHICH THEN ACTIVATES. *TR

I HAVE AN '06 SONATA, AND THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR ON IT HAVE BROKEN. THE PLASTIC APPEARS TO BE CRACKING AROUND THE EDGE WHERE THE METAL BAR ENTERS THE VISOR, LEAVING SHARP EDGES EXPOSED. *TR

TRACTOR TRAILER, TRAILER PORTION STRUCK VEHICLE SENDING IT TOWARD MEDIAN DIVIDER. BRAKES WORKED WELL DURING EMERGENCY MANEUVER HOWEVER, A NO BRAKE SITUATION OF AN APPROXIMATE 10 -20 SECOND DURATION OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE RECOVERY. BRAKES THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. *TR

HYUNDAI SONATA PASSENGER AND MAIN AIR BAG FAILURE 2006 VEHICLE. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILURE/ RECALL. HYUNDAI STATE ALL WORKING OK, AIR BAG STILL NOT WORKING. HYUNDAI DID NOTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEM. ADULT SITS IN FRONT PASSENGER AND AIR BAG LIGHT STILL DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WERE I DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY WHEN IT HAS TOO. WHAT IS HYUNDAI WAITING FOR, A DEATH DUE TO THE ARROGANCE? NOVEMBER 2009 MAIN AIR BAG INDICATORS COME ON.HYUNDAI DOES DIAGNOSTIC AND TELLS ME SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAILURE. THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR IT, THEY REPLACE SEAT BELT BUCKLES AND TENSIONERS. MAIN AIR BAG PROBLEM CORRECTED BUT PASSENGER AIR BAG STILL INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 74,353 MILES . IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE OR A WARRANTY ISSUE? I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS BUT I NEVER KNOW IF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL WORK PROPERLY. WHAT RIGHTS DO I HAVE IN THIS MATTER SINCE HYUNDAI IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY? ALSO THERE IS A RECALL ON THE HYUNDAI AZER 2006-2009 FOR FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT TENSION SENSORS. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I EXPERIENCED IN MY 2006 SONATA. WHO IS TO SAY THAT THEY USED THE SAME PART IN MY VEHICLE? I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW HOW I GET REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS AND GET MY CAR SAVE AGAIN. *TR

2006 HYUNDAI SONATA - DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR DEFECTIVE. *TR

2006 SONATA NOW HAS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS MANIFEST THEMSELVES USUALLY WHEN THE GAS IS NOT BEING APPLIED, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND THEN COME BACK ON; THE RADIO SOMETIMES WILL GO OFF AND THEN COME BACK ON; THE A/C FAN SOMETIMES SOUNDS AS IF IT HAS TURNED OFF AND THEN COMES BACK ON; SEVERAL TIMES I NOTICED THE ESC LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT COME ON WHEN THE RADIO AND LIGHTS AND AC TURNED OFF AND THEN CAME BACK ON. AT TIMES THESE OUTAGES WILL OCCUR WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS USED. ALL THESE HAPPENINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT THEY SAY THEY CAN'T GET IT TO REPEAT THE SYMPTOMS OR FIND A PROBLEM. *TR

RECALL NOTICE FOR A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA CONCERNING MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP. *NJ THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT, BUT WHEN HE ARRIVED HE WAS TOLD THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED WHEN HE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK THE PREVIOUS MONTH. *JB

COMPUTER PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. MY CAR WILL STOP A TURN MID-TURN AND THE DASH LIGHTS WILL FLASH ON MOMENTARILY. THE WHEEL WILL BIND AND I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE WHEEL SO I CAN COMPLETE THE TURN. THIS IS ALWAYS AT A MODERATE SPEED, BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT POSTED FOR THE ON/OFF RAMP, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES WITH EACH TIME ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH DUE TO LOSING CONTROL OF MY STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY BLEW ME OFF AND SAID I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAD 3 OTHER SHOPS LOOK AT IT AND NO ONE COULD DETERMINE CAUSE. I HAD THE GREASE FITTINGS INSPECTED AS WELL AS TIE RODS/BALL JOINTS. ALL WERE REPORTED GOOD. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE ABOUT 40,000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR IN, THEY SAID THERE WAS A LEAK IN MY SUNROOF, FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY AND TURNED THE AIRBAG LIGHT OFF. IT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER 50,000 MILES (AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF MY WARRANTY) AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY SEAT BELT CLIP AND I NEEDED TO PAY ABOUT $300 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND I'M SEEING THAT MANY MANY HYUNDAI SONATA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS....AIRBAG LIGHTS AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IN 2009, THE SAME FAILURE WAS REMEDIED WHEN AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SAME REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF

DRIVER OF 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA, MAKING UPHILL TURN INTO A FLAT PARKING SPACE EXPERIENCES ENGINE POWER SURGE THAT PROPELS VEHICLE OVER SIGN STANDARD, FLATTENING SIGN AND REQUIRING TOW TRUCK TO EXTRICATE VEHICLE. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN SYNDICATED REPORTER JAMES R. HEALEY OF USATODAY NOTED SAME DANGEROUS POWER SURGE IN TEST VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2005. OWNER OF INCIDENT VEHICLE HAD SAME COMPLAINT AND ASKED DEALER TO CHECK DEFECT ON PRIOR OCCASION. DEALER SERVICE REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. IN THIS INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR SAFETY AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, AGAIN DEALER SERVICE REPORTS NO PROBLEM OR RECALL. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR HANGS DOWN AND WON'T STAY UP. THE FAILURE OCCURS ALL OF THE TIME. IT WILL EITHER HANG STRAIGHT DOWN BLOCKING MY VIEW OR I TURN IT TOWARDS THE WINDOW BUT THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT WITHOUT HITTING MY HEAD. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET AS I THINK THE VISOR ASSEMBLY SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 60K MILES (NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY) AND DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. *TR

THE WHOLE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IN MY 2006 SONATA IS ISN'T WORKING. ESPECIALLY THE LIGHTS OVER THE LAST 3 YEAR WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR, WE CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY LIGHTS BULBS WE HAVE REPLACED. THE DASH BOARD LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHEN EVER IT FEELS. WE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD WARRANTY BUT WE DON'T, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THEIR ELECTRIC SYSTEM BECAUSE I HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HYUNDAI. *TR

BROKEN SUN VISOR BRACKET- HYUNDAI ISSUED A TSB BUT WILL NOT REPLACE VISOR IF VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID A CHILD CHASING A BALL WHICH BOUNCED ACROSS THE STREET I HIT MY HEAD ON THE EDGE OF THE SUN VISOR WHICH DANGLES DOWN. MY HEAD WOULD NOT HAVE HIT THE VISOR IF IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. ALSO THE VISOR DANGLES BLOCKING YOUR VISION WHEN THE VISOR IS NOT NEEDED BUT IT WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, INDICATING THE AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ,WHOM STATED THAT THE PRESSURE PLATE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AND THE SENSOR WAS RE-CODED,BUT THE FAILURE RESURFACED FOUR DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,366. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

2006 HYUNDAI SONATA - DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN FOR A 2ND TIME. REPLACED THE 1ST ONE IN OCTOBER 08 AT MY EXPENSE, THE PART WAS $127.00. WHEN I CALLED TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY I WAS ADVISED IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW I AM IN NEED OF ANOTHER ONE, BUT I THINK I WILL DO WITHOUT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR ANOTHER ONE. THE VISOR BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND AS I LOWERED IT I COULD HEAR IT CRACKING INSIDE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VISOR WON'T STAY UP OR DOWN, IT FALLS INTO YOUR LINE OF SIGHT. *TR

VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE STOPPED, OPERATING FROM 0-50 MPH GOING FORWARD AND ALSO IN REVERSE AT MINIMAL SPEED CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

2006 HYUNDAI SONATA, LEFT SUN VISOR IS DEFECTIVE AND KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

THE "AIRBAG" LIGHTS REMAIN ON IN MY VEHICLE WHEN THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES ARE BOTH OCCUPIED. I'M UNSURE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, IF THE AIRBAGS WILL ACTUALLY WORK. THIS MATTER NEED TO LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY SONATA. A CRACK HAS APPEARED ON THE DASH FOLLOWING THE OUTLINE OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND DASH I HAVE HAD TO PUT ON THE CAR FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. TO ME THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WITH DASHES CRACKING AROUND MY AIRBAG. DEPLOYMENT OF THIS AIRBAG MAY BE FOREVER COMPROMISED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE THE EXACT SAME WAY SEEMS MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE SEEN ANOTHER COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE, THERE ARE MANY MORE LIKE ME EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET FOR SONATA DASHBOARD CRACK WILL BRING UP MANY POSTS FROM SONATA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS VERY SAME ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES SUCH AS ME. I DON'T WANT TO TRUST MY YOUNG SON AND WIFE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN THAT COULD SHORTEN THEIR LIVES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I OWN A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA, [XXX] , THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY BURNS OUT THE HEADLAMPS. SINCE PURCHASE IN 2006, THE CAR HAS GONE THROUGH 4 SETS OF HEADLAMPS. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD AT NIGHT WHEN BOTH HEADLAMPS BURNED AT ONCE. THIS INCIDENT CREATED A HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHERE SHE WAS MOMENTARILY TOTALLY UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS FAILURE MODE SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AND THEIR RESPONSE IS JUST TO RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF BULBS AS THEY BURN OUT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA AND THE ARM ON THE SUN VISOR CRACKED AND THE VISOR FELL WHILE I WAS DRIVING, OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW AND NEARLY CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE SINCE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND HYUNDAI SENT OUT A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" TO DEALERS/SERVICE & PARTS MANAGERS ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM IN DECEMBER OF 2008. CUSTOMERS WEREN'T NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, AND I HAVE FOUND THAT IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS (THERE ARE MESSAGE BOARDS ON HYUNDAI-FORUMS.COM ABOUT THE ISSUE). SOME ARE GETTING IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY (AFTER IT BREAKS & OBSTRUCTS VISIBILITY), HOWEVER, I JUST MISSED THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND AM EXPECTED TO PAY $83 JUST FOR THE PART TO REPLACE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI HAS BEEN AWARE OF. APPARENTLY IT'S NOT A BIG ENOUGH PROBLEM TO THEM TO WARRANT A RECALL. *TR

2006 HYUNDAI SONATA SUN VISORS WILL NOT STAY UP. FALLS DOWN IN LINE OF VISION. STARTED WITH PASSENGER SIDE AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR AS I WAS <5000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. BASED ON INTERNET THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI'S. SEEMS SOME HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TO 4 TIMES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH 30,000 MILES, THE DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR JUST FLOPPED DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM ON I-95 AT 70 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE VISOR BLOCKED THE DRIVERS VISION BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE "UP" POSITION. SINCE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A VACATION TRIP THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PLANNED AND IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION, IT WAS NOT PRACTICAL TO GO TO A STRANGE DEALERSHIP. TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, I USED A "WOODEN CLOTHSPIN" CLIPPED TO THE VISOR AND PUT THE SUNVISOR TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE CLOTHSPIN BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE HAND HOLD LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE ROOF OF THE CAR. SINCE THE TRIP WAS GOING TO BE FOR ABOUT A WEEK, I LATER USED A RUBBER BAND TO KEEP THE VISOR HIGH ENOUGH TO ENTER AN EXIT THE DRIVER DOOR. THE VISOR WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER BACK HOME AND I BECAME AWARE THAT THIS SEEMED TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND THIS AGENCY SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS SERIOUS OBSTRUCTION OF DRIVER VISIBILITY WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS. OF ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED IN THE LAST 40 YEARS, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR IN MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA BEGAN HANGING LOWER AND LOWER UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NEITHER STAY UP AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE CAR OR OUT TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD. THE VISOR NOW ONLY HANGS DOWN, WHICH OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW WHEN DRIVING. *TR