Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 69 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 69, in the owner's own words
Upper rear control arm is connected to the subframe of the car and it’s rotted/ rusted out where the bushing goes to hold the control arm in place. Where am I supposed to mount the bushing now since it’s no longer there.
CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY SEPARATED/ BROKE FROM THE SUBFRAME. CALLED HYUNDAI AS MECHANIC SAID THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED UNDER A RECALL THAT CAME OUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR "BECAUSE OF A POTENTIAL CORROSION RISK INVOLVING THE FRONT SUB-FRAME...CORROSION MAY PROGRESS AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY DETACH FROM THE SUB-FRAME. IF THAT HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE DRIVER POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE FRONT WHEEL MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FENDER OR WHEEL WELL." "SEPARATION OF THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH" THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER YESTERDAY AND FORTUNATELY SHE DID NOT CRASH AS SHE WAS NOT IN A POPULATED AREA, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. WHY IS THIS PARTICULAR 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. IT NEEDS TO BE COVERED AND COVERED ASAP. PLEASE ASSIST. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT COLUMBIA FAMILY AUTO CARE IN JESSUP MD 301-362-0777
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAD FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME, WHICH WAS CRUMBLING DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND TO THE DEALER (HYUNDAI OF CHANTILLY, 14848 STONECROFT CENTER CT, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, (703) 480-9000). THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED OR EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS TO PROVIDE A FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE TO DETERMINE THEIR SOLUTION FOR THE DEALER'S REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
WAS INFORMED APPROXIMATELY 2006-2007 BY GOOD SAMARITAN, BILL OSTERHAGE, THAT HIS DAUGHTER'S 2002 HYUNDAI FRONT TIRE ROD AXIAL BROKE D/T MAJOR CORROSIVE ISSUES WITH FRAME DEFECTS. HE CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY FOR CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT TO BE STARTED D/T SAFETY ISSUES TO PREVENT DEATH TO OTHERS & REPAIR FRAME TO ROB CAREY AT ROB.CAREY @ATT.NET & [email protected]. FROM 2006- UNTIL 2009 DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGES, I ASKED KERRY HYUNDAI IN ALEXANDRIA, KY TO CHECK MY FRAME D/T VISUAL RUST & ABOUT RECALL. HYUNDAI FINALLY ADMITTED AFTER MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IN A LETTER TO ME ON 6/24/09 THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 4/16/09 AND MY FRAME TO BE REPLACED. 8/15/16 I LOST CONTROL OF MY 2001 SONATA, HYUNDAI WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY DURING RUSH HOUR D/T MAJOR CORROSIVE ISSUES CAUSING RIGHT REAR TIRE ROD TO BREAK. I DID TWO 360 DEGREE TURNS FROM FAST LANE TO SLOW LANE. GRACE OF GOD I DIDN'T CRASH OR CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS. FILLED REPORT WITH HYUNDAI DEALER & CORPORATION 8/16/16. CORPORATION STATED THAT THERE IS CORROSIVE SETTLEMENT FOR FRONT FRAME AND ANOTHER FOR THE REAR FRAME. HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AND HYUNDAI CORPORATION HAS NOT CONTACTED ME BACK, BUT STATED COMPLIANT ALONE WITH PICTURES TAKEN BY DEALER HAS BEEN SENT TO "REGIONAL AGENT". MANAGER OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM DEALERSHIP AT KERRY HYUNDAI ALEXANDRIA, KY, JEFF, STATED "THE MATTER IS OUT OF HIS HANDS AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM HYUNDAI CORPORATION IS TO HANDLE MATTER. ALSO, JEFF, MANAGER OF SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT KERRY HYUNDAI, STATED "DAMAGE TO FRAME COST MORE THAN WHAT CARE IS WORTH". MECHANIC AT KERRY HYUNDAI STATED THAT "HYUNDAI HAS MAJOR ISSUE WITH FRAMES, THIS IS THE THIRD ONE THIS MONTH, OF AUGUST, THAT HAS COME IN D/T CORROSIVE DEFECTS, AND ONE OF THE CARS WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD". PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. LIFE IS A PRECIOUS GIFT AND NO MONETARY AMOUNT CAN REPLACEMENT IT.
MY CARS FRONT SUBFRAME BROKE DUE TO CORROSION AND AXLE FELL APART WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE AND THE FRONT SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I TOOK MY 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THEY CALLED ME TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TELL ME THAT THE CROSS MEMBER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS RUSTED BADLY AND MAY BE CRACKED. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND CONTACTED HYUNDAI TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AS THEY HAD "NEVER" SEEN IT BEFORE. HYUNDAI HAS TOLD THEM I AM ON MY OWN FOR REPAIRING IT. RIDICULOUS, THERE IS A RECALL FOR CARS JUST ACROSS THE RIVER IN MN FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING 75 MPH AND IT BROKE. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE RESPONSIBILITY HYUNDAI?? I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN FOR ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS REQUIRED, SO IT IS NOT NEGLIGENCE ON OUR PART. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND WITHIN 15 MINUTES MY HYUNDAI RIPPED THROUGH 2 TIRES. LUCKILY I FIGURED SOMETHING WAS UP AND WAS TAKING BACK ROADS WHEN THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED PARTS OF THE RUBBER FROM THE TIRES WERE IN THE ROAD. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND APPARENTLY THE CRADLE SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED APART CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ISSUES. I AM IN THE SALT BELT STATES SO IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RUST/CORROSION RECALL 089. I UNDERSTAND IT HAS MANY MILES BUT IT WAS RUNNING REALLY WELL UNTIL THIS AND SHOULD BE COVERED IN THE RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,655.
THE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO NO LONGER BE DRIVABLE UNTIL THE SUBFRAME IS REPLACED. I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE BECAUSE IT TURNS OUT SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS USED 2001 SONOTA FROM A LOCAL GUY WHO REBUILDS CARS FOR RESALE. I UNDERSTOOD THAT IT CAME WITH A SALVAGED TITLE. HOWEVER, I WAS ASSURED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO OPERATE. SIX WEEKS, 4,000 MI. LATER I HIT A POT WHOLE ON MY STREET AND DAMAGED THE STEERING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND DISCOVERED THE R-SIDE SUB-FRAME WAS BROKEN DUE TO CORROSION. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING A VEHICLE THAT HAS A POSSIBLE R-SIDE SUB-FRAME RECALLED, TO NEVER GET FIXED AND PLACED BACK ON THE ROAD? FORTUNATELY, IT BROKE AT A LOW SPEED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. *TR
ON 4/10/12 WENT TO GET CAR INSPECTED AND IT FAILED WAS TOLD REAR SUB FRAME ROTTEN. CALLED AND TALKED TO HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP. WE HAD THE SUB FRAME IN FRONT REPLACED BY LIA HYUNDAI IN JAN 2010 WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL. I DON'T GET WHY THE REAR WAS NOT RECALL IF THAT RUSTED OUT TOO. NOW I'M LOOKING AT $700-$800 TO HAVE IT FIX. I FEEL THAT IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THIS SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED WHEN I DID THE FRONT. I HAVE TALKED TO THESE PEOPLE ABOUT THIS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CALL YOU BACK WITH ANSWER WHEN THEY SAY THEY WILL CHECK INTO IT AND WILL CALL ME BACK. I CALLED THEM FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND IT'S THE SAME ANSWER. THIS CAR IS RUNNING GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE SUBFRAME. PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO AT LEAST PAY SOMETHING TO HELP ME WITH THIS. I WORK THREE JOBS AND CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THEM RIGHT NOW WITH NO CAR. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CAUSED FIFTY PERCENT OF THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE UNDER BODY RUST, BOTH THE BRAKE LINES AND THE FUEL LINES WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE UNDER BODY, BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. THE MANUFACTURER ASSISTED WITH THE REPAIR OF THE UNDER BODY ONLY AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE BRAKES AND FUEL LINES. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
I INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED SEVERAL LARGE HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE ENGINE CRADLE. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS COMPONENT AND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD NEAR FATAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE FRAME BUCKLED AND THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN COLLAPSING OUTWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE FOR SOME TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE CAME UNLATCHED AND FLEW UP WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN, BENT THE HOOD AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD HAD NOT BEEN OPENED IN SEVERAL WEEKS, THE LAST TIME BEING WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND WHEEL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS IN A PARKING LOT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND UPON ARRIVAL, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
RE- 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA I WAS ON WAY TO WORK GOING 93 NORTH TOWARDS BOSTON 1 EXIT AWAY FROM WORK WHEN I WENT OVER 3 SMALL BUMPS ON HIGHWAY NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, YET MY TIRES FELT AS IF THEY WERE NOT STABLE I WAS ONLY GOING 60 SLOWED DOWN TO 30 TOOK OFF RAMP 1 BLOCK AWAY FROM WORK, THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A CROSS STREET INTERSECTION TO TAKE A RIGHT. I PROCEEDED THEN I FLEW FORWARD IN MY CAR. MY CAR STOPPED SHORT FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT I HIT MY SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL OR REVERSE, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, I WAS IN DRIVE. PUT CAR IN PARK IT MADE A SEARING UNGODLY SOUND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR JUST AS TWO MEN CAME RUNNING OVER TO HELP ME. WE NOTICED THE TIRE COMPLETELY AGAINST INSIDE WHEEL FRAME. I JUST HAD A RIM REPLACED NOT EVEN 1 MONTH AGO AND NEW BRAKES AND TIRES YET I WASN'T SURE WHAT THIS TIRE LIKE THAT MEANT. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I SEEM TO BE HAVING TO REPLACE SO MANY THINGS, ONE RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD AFTER TOWING CAR TO FIRESTONE THAT MY WHOLE CAR UNDERCARRIAGE FRAME SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND THAT THE AXLE IS SNAPPED AND MAY EVEN HAVE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION I CALLED HYUNDAI TO PUT A COMPLAINT IN. THEY TOLD ME I HAVE A RECALL ON MY CAR WHEN THEY LOOKED UP MY CAR BY THE VIN YET I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THEY SEEMED QUITE CARING AND EMPATHIC TO MY SITUATION, YET THE LAST QUESTION THEY ASKED ME, BLEW ME AWAY. CHRISTINE THE OPERATOR FROM HYUNDAI ASKED ME ONE MORE QUESTION MS.__ WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO GET OUT OF THIS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? WHAT A QUESTION, I ASKED IF I SHOULD GET A LAWYER, AND WAS IT AN VOLUNTARY OR INVOLUNTARY RECALL SHE SAID THAT HYUNDAI PUT THIS RECALL INTO EFFECTS AFTER THE COMPANY REALIZED AND FOUND THAT THEY MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE CORROSIVE SITUATION, YET ON THE WEB THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED FIRST THEN DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. SHE SAID RECALLS STARTED IN JULY OF 09 AND ARE STILL BEING ISSUED TO DATE, SHE SAID SHE'D MAIL ME A PACKET TO FILL OUT AND SEND BACK -OH JOY!! CANT WAIT. *TR
I OWN A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. LAST NIGHT MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLING VERY BADLY TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT THIS AFTERNOON I NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT FRAME WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
NOTICED AN ISSUE IN JANUARY 2010: TOOK CAR TO A AUTO-REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR; NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT SERVICE. ON 03/22/2010 WHILE LEAVING A SHOPPING MALL THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND VEARED A HARD LEFT INTO A CEMENT LIGHT POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT. (I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN TIME AND TURN THE VEHICLE) ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BUMPER AND QUARTER-PANEL, BODY DAMAGE ONLY. I THEN TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHICH AT THAT POINT OPERATED IN DRIVABLE CONDITION. ON MY WAY TO THE AUTO-REPAIR (LESS THEN 1 MILE AWAY) MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IN ANOTHER SHOPPING PLAZA. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO THE AUTO-REPAIR SHOP, WHICH THEN LATER CALLED AND EXPLAINED THAT THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS CRACKED AND THE WHIEEL WAS DETATCHED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOOK THE MATTER VERY LIGHTLY TELLING ME TO JUST BRING THE CAR IN (THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE). I CALL MY TOWING COMPANY AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW AWAITING RESPONSE. I WAS NOT OFFERED A LOANER, NOR DID THE MANAGER KNOW OF ANY RECALL, NEITHER DID I, SOMETHING I HAD TO INVESTIGATE FOR MYSELF. (LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN OR I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TOWARDS THE RIGHT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE DISCOVERED THAT BECAUSE THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SUB-FRAME WAS CORRODED , IT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TILT TOWARDS THE RIGHT. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING AND THE TIRE FELL OFF THE FRONT FRAME FROM BEING RUSTED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE FRAME SNAPPED ON THE FRONT RIGHT HAND SIDE LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE ITS AN 01 WITH 68,000 MILES.*TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE REPLACING THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS NOT GRIPPING CORRECTLY. HE EXAMINED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME ON BOTH OF THE FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION MOUNTS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON FAILURE WITH HIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. HE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC TODAY TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND HE FOUND A CORRODED HOLE IN THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY. HE MENTIONED THIS WAS RECALLED BY HYUNDAI LAST YEAR BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF SUCH A RECALL AND I'M UPSET AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WHY WAS I NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL FIRST OF ALL, AND WHAT IS HYUNDAI GOING TO DO TO FIX MY CAR? *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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