1999 Hyundai Sonata GLS Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08016 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I OWN A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA AND WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTING THROUGH, PRESENTING A SEVERE SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THERE IS CURRENTLY A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SHOWING FOR THE 2001-2004 MODEL FROM YOUR INVESTIGATION. SHOULDN'T THE 1999 BE INCLUDED DUE TO IT HAVING MANY COMPLAINTS DUE TO THIS CORROSION ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARYLAND AND OWNED IN VIRGINIA FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IT ALSO HAS BEEN IN OUT OF VIRGINIA FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS WHERE SALT IS APPLIED TO ROADWAYS LIKELY CONTRIBUTING THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08016 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

I OWN A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA AND WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTING THROUGH, PRESENTING A SEVERE SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THERE IS CURRENTLY A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SHOWING FOR THE 2001-2004 MODEL FROM YOUR INVESTIGATION. SHOULDN'T THE 1999 BE INCLUDED DUE TO IT HAVING MANY COMPLAINTS DUE TO THIS CORROSION ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARYLAND AND OWNED IN VIRGINIA FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IT ALSO HAS BEEN IN OUT OF VIRGINIA FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS WHERE SALT IS APPLIED TO ROADWAYS LIKELY CONTRIBUTING THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIR. *TR

1999 HYUNDAI SONAT GLS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AFTER BEING WORKED ON BY HYUNDAI DEALER 10-15 TIMES. WAS WORKED ON WITHOUT ISSUE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY WITH NO SUCCESS. ONCE EXTENDED WARRENTY EXPIRED, THE DEALER THEN KNEW THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW WIRE HARNESS FOR ABOUT $1000. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN SUGGESTED THAT I HARD -WIRE THE WIRE HARNESS TO GET AROUND THE CONNECTOR ISSUE. IS THERE A RECOURSE TO AN AIRBAG PROBLKEM THAT HAS BEEN WORKED ON AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES? *TR

THE CAR (1999 SONATA GLS V6) HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE BY SEARS JULY 6, 2008 AT KENOSHA WI. THE FAILURE OCCURRED (JULY 14, 2008) WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN INTO THE HOSPITAL PARKING GARAGE (WAUKEGAN ILLINOIS). THE CAR SPEED WAS 5 MPH WHEN IT MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND JOLTED TO A STOP. SPARKS FROM UNDER THE CAR WERE WITNESSED BY SECURITY GUARD WHO IT REPORTED TO THE DRIVER OF CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF ROAD TO PREVENT BLOCKING TRAFFIC. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE SUBFRAME BROKE FROM CORROSION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP THEN BREAKING THE AXLE SHAFT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO TOWED BACK TO HOME BY AAA. CURRENTLY HAVE COMPLAINT AT HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED. WORKING WITH HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER WHO STATES FIRST HE HAS HEARD OF IT. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN EMPLOYED AT THE SHOP STATES IS A COMMON ITEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR INTERMITTENT AIR BAG LIGHT THAT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN ON. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COULD NOT BE FOUND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE AN 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA MY ALIGNMENT WAS OFF FROM A POT HOLE. SO I TOOK IT TO GET IT REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE ARM CAME OUT OF IT. THEY SAID IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT ONLY HAS 85,225 MILES ON THE CAR TO REPLACE THE CRADLE IT IS 1,800.00. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI THEY SAID MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT. I FOUND THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF SONATA. ITS HAS CAUSED ONE WRECK THAT I NOW OF. THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CRADLE. THERE IS ONLY ONE HOLE IN THE FRONT TO LET WATER IN AND OUT SO IF THE WATER GOES IN THE AIR BLOWS IT TO THE BACK AND THERE'S WHERE IT STAYS AND THAT'S THE RUST STARTS. *TR

THE ENGINE WILL INTERMITTENTLY RACE INCREASING RPMS WITHOUT NOTICE, VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAPPENED WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. IF MY FOOT WAS NOT PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT, IT WILL ALSO OCCUR WHILE IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RPMS GOING UP TO 3200 AND DOWN TO 1500 LIKE IT WAS A HUNT LASTING SEVERAL MINUTES. IT WILL STOP ,BUT I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW OR WHY. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN DRIVING AT SUSTAINED HIGHER SPEEDS ON INTERSTATE, THEN GETTING OFF THE EXIT. I DO NOTICE THAT WHEN I ACCELERATE AWAY FROM A LIGHT WHILE THE PRMS ARE HIGH THE ENGINE ALMOST CUTS OFF THEN PICKS UP IN A JERKING MOTION. IF I TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHILE THE RPMS ARE HIGH RACING I AM NOT ABLE TO RESTART FOR A WHILE. I SMELL GAS, FLOODING I ASSUME. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT IT SINCE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE IN THEIR HANDS. *AK

VEHICLE HAD DEVELOPED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEM, AND I SCHEDULED AN ALIGNMENT. THE MORNING BEFORE THE SCHEDULED ALIGNMENT, I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK WHEN THE RIGHT INNER CV JOINT DISINTEGRATED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED SEVERE SUBFRAME CORROSION RESULTING IN THE CONTROL ARM MOUNT SEPARATING FROM THE SUBFRAME, CAUSING THE CV JOINT TO FAIL AND THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. NHTSA AND HYUNDAI ISSUED A RECALL IN 2009, CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V124000. HOWEVER, THE STATE I RESIDE IN (NEBRASKA) IS NOT LISTED AS A "SALT BELT" STATE AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. NEBRASKA DOES INDEED USE SALT ON THE ROADS, AND THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FAULT AND POTENTIAL RESULTS MATCHES EXACTLY WITH THE RUST AND CORROSION ON MY VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME AND THE RESULTS. I BELIEVE IT LIKELY THAT THERE ARE OTHER MOTORISTS IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA WHO ARE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS HIDDEN AND POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS FAULT. THE HYUNDAI DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HELP ME SO FAR WITH A FAULT RESOLUTION PER THE RECALL. *TR

THE CAR (1999 SONATA GLS V6) HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE BY SEARS JULY 6, 2008 AT KENOSHA WI. THE FAILURE OCCURRED (JULY 14, 2008) WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN INTO THE HOSPITAL PARKING GARAGE (WAUKEGAN ILLINOIS). THE CAR SPEED WAS 5 MPH WHEN IT MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND JOLTED TO A STOP. SPARKS FROM UNDER THE CAR WERE WITNESSED BY SECURITY GUARD WHO IT REPORTED TO THE DRIVER OF CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF ROAD TO PREVENT BLOCKING TRAFFIC. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE SUBFRAME BROKE FROM CORROSION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP THEN BREAKING THE AXLE SHAFT. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO TOWED BACK TO HOME BY AAA. CURRENTLY HAVE COMPLAINT AT HYUNDAI DEALER WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED. WORKING WITH HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER WHO STATES FIRST HE HAS HEARD OF IT. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN EMPLOYED AT THE SHOP STATES IS A COMMON ITEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR INTERMITTENT AIR BAG LIGHT THAT WOULD COME ON AND REMAIN ON. THE AIR BAG LIGHT COULD NOT BE FOUND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR

CAR #1--PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED CREATING A FIST SIZED HOLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STEER AIMLESSLY DUE TO INSTABILITY OF STEERING STRUCTURE: CAR #2--PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED CAUSING WHEELS TO BECOME INOPERABLE AND UNABLE TO STEER CAR IN APRIL 2008. SAME MODEL OF HYUNDAI, 2 DIFFERENT CARS. *TR

ON 1/7/08 WHILE DRIVING '99 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS TO WORK, PULLED RIGHT PROCEEDING DOWN ROAD. POSSIBLE LEAK FROM BRAKE CYLINDERS/ BRAKE LINES, NOTHING. RETURN TRIP, VEHICLE EXTREMELY ERRATIC STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER OF PURCHASE (BB HYUNDAI, SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ). DELIVERED ON 1/07/08 BY DRIVING VEHICLE. VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER/ CONTROL, DRIVING SPEED 25-30 MPH. VEHICLE DELIVERED TO BB W/96062 MILES. SERVICE MGR (LC) TOOK INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEM - DIAGNOSTIC COST OF $95 +TAX. AGREEMENT MADE TO DETERMINE FAILURE. INFORMED BY SERVICE MGR OF PROBLEM - SUB-FRAME RUSTED AWAY - COST IN EXCESS $3400. WHY NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY (10 YR OR 100,000 MILES) -"RUST' WAS COVERED. TOLD AUTO NOT ALLOWED ON ROAD. QUESTION ABSENCE OF WARRANTY SINCE SUB-FRAME REQUIRED PART OF FRONT DRIVEN AUTO. RESPONSE GIVEN - BUY A NEW CAR. REFUSED AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE SUB-FRAME. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA CORPORATE CS (J) PROBLEM CONVEYED /WHY NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. REPLY-"YOU MUST LIVE BY WATER,YOU ARE IN NJ, WHY IT RUSTED OUT". TOLD ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. REC'D CALL (LC) CONTACT FROM HYUNDAI, REP TO REVIEW NEXT DAY, WITH CALL FROM LC. ON 1/11/08, NO RESULTS FROM LC, TO CALL BACK. LC CALL AT 1PM, HYUNDAI, AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE, TO COVER COST OF SUB-FRAME, NOT LABOR; COSTS UNKNOWN. RECALL HYUNDAI(D) "I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM!', TRANSFER TO J -ADVISED TO 'JUMP ON OFFER". RECALL LC, COST UNKNOWN. COSTS REQUIRED BY DIR/PARTS/ HYUNDAI. RECALL HYUNDAI (T)"HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF PROBLEM - RUSTING SUB-FRAMES, WORKING ON SAME". REQUEST SUPERVISOR, COMPANY POLICY DIRECTIVE, PARTS DIRECTOR WITH AUTHORITY. CONTACT BBB, 1/12/08, CALL LC, NO COST VALUE FROM MAINTANENCE SUPERVISOR COST. LC CALL@ 4 PM - COST $850, NEED OKAY TO CONTINUE. RECALL LC 5 PM - OK. INFORMED NEW SUB-FRAME WOULD NOT ARRIVE UNTIL 1/16-1/17/18. REQUESTED OLD SUB-FRAME UPON PAYMENT OF LABOR - UNABLE TO COMPLY WAS THE ANSWER. *TR

THE ISSUE IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE ON RECORD FOR STRUCTURE ISSUES ON THIS CAR. WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL AND IT'S ASSEMBLY FLEW OFF FROM THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN HAVING SOME STEERING DIFFICULTY'S AND I WAS ACTUALLY BRINGING IT IN TO THE FIRESTONE STATION- IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE FIRESTONE CENTER. THE TIRE ARM CONNECTING TO THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT. THE PRICE TO FIX THE CAR WILL BE TOTALLY ASTRONOMICAL. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON THAT THE CAR WOULD RUST OUT AND CAUSE THAT DAMAGE- IT IS 10 YEARS OLD. WE HAD EVEN BOUGHT THE EXTRA RUST PACKAGE ON THE CAR. I OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND SERIOUS DAMAGE. LUCKILY, I AM A FIREFIGHTER AND AM USED TO HANDLING VEHICLES. I BELIEVE HYUNDAI SHOULD COMPENSATE SOMEHOW AND SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE. WHY WERE WE NEVER NOTIFIES THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE????? *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. COULD BARELY DRIVE TO THE SHOP. THEY FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BAD IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE TIRE WHICH WERE NEW JUST 3 MONTHS AGO WERE TOTALLY BALD. THE CAR, A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA, IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE. *TR