2008 Hyundai Sonata Body & structure Problems

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS CAME OFF AND SO HAS THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS CAME OFF AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS TOTALLY INOPERABLE. THIS S A TOTAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A CAR CRASH GOD FORBID OR EVEN THE CAR CATCHING FIRE. GETTING TO SAFETY WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. I CANT AFFORD TO CONTINUING FIXING AN ISSUE THAT IS DEFECTED TO BEGIN WITH. THE BRAKE LIGHTS DOESN'T ILLUMINATE ALL TIME WHEN ENGAGED AND MY AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE ON AND MY CAR SWAYS IN THE BACK DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM BEING RUSTED

NHTSA ID

11383271

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE AND FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLE HAVE FALLEN OFF. TO GET INTO CAR TO DRIVE ANYWHERE I MUST CLIMB THROUGH CAR FROM BACK SEAT. RECALLS DO EXIST FOR LATER YEARS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL.

NHTSA ID

11271639

Incident

Oct 24, 2019

Mileage

73,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING OR MAKING TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11240416

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

THIS EVENING AT OUR LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL WFLX I SAW A STORY ABOUT HYUNDAI SONATAS'S DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF.THIS LADY HAD ALL 4 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BREAK OFF. THE NEWS STATION SAID HYUNDAI TOLD THEM THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE. NOT TRUE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES AND TWO OF THE INSIDE HANDLES ON MY VEHICLE. JUST LIKE THE ONE THE NEWS SHOWED. MY SISTER IN LAW WHO LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE FL. HAD THE SAME ISSUE. SO IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. FIRST TIME MY DOOR HANDLE BROKE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (NAPLETON'S HYUNDAI) AND IT COST ME $600 TO GET IT FIXED. SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN FIXING IT MYSELF. GUESS WHAT, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AGAIN. THIS WILL BE MY 5TH TIME FIXING THE DOOR HANDLES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. IF YOU NEED A PICTURE I CAN UPLOAD ONE TOMORROW. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ID

11062312

Incident

Jan 8, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MY DRIVER-SIDE INNER DOOR HANDLE BEGAN TO BECOME LOOSE AND POP OUT. IT IS STILL PARTIALLY FUNCTIONAL SO THAT I CAN OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE OTHER DAY, THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN I WAS OPENING THE CAR DOOR. I NOW HAVE TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOTHING TRAUMATIC HAPPENED TO CAUSE THIS, AND I DON'T USE EXCESSIVE FORCE ON MY DOOR.

NHTSA ID

11011646

Incident

Jun 22, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE SHEARING OFF. LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF ON 4/24/2016. RIGHT FRONT DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF TODAY 11/29/2016. HANDLES BOTH CAME OFF WHEN I PULLED ON THEM TO OPEN THE DOOR. NO UNUSUAL FORCE INVOLVED. HANDLES ARE COMPLETELY PLASTIC. SHEAR POINT IS NARROW PIECE WHICH CONNECTS HANDLE TO INTERIOR CONNECTOR TO DOOR LATCH. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF CAR DOOR HANDLES FAILING.

NHTSA ID

10928518

Incident

Nov 29, 2016

Mileage

176,523 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V354000 (SUSPENSION). INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CROSS MEMBER ON THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN APPLIED A WAX COATING TO PREVENT CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10855222

Incident

Aug 12, 2013

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR BECAME INOPERABLE AND FAILED TO OPEN USING THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10852975

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

I AM #84 HAVING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AND THE $300 REPAIR SO THE AIR BAG WILL WORK IN CASE OF A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10620637

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

31,000 mi

REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FOUND LYING ON THE GROUND WITH PLASTIC EXTENSION THAT ACTIVATES DOOR LATCH BROKEN--HAD FALLEN INSIDE DOOR. THREE WEEKS LATER, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL FAILURE. PURCHASED REPLACEMENTS FROM LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER IN EACH CASE. THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A SYSTEMIC DESIGN FAILURE. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO INABILITY OF EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE IN CASE OF OCCUPANT INCAPACITATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574198

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

Mileage

128,000 mi

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY ON NOVEMBER 24, 2013 AT AROUND 11 AM. I OPENED MY TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE KEY AND THE TRUNK OPENED UP SO FAST, THE HINGE TOPS ON BOTH SIDES THAT SUPPORT AND GUIDE THE TRUNK LID BROKE OFF AT THE TOP. JUST DISINTEGRATED. THESE ARE DEFECTIVELY MANUFACTURED PLASTIC CAPS/COVERS ON THE TWO HYDRAULIC HINGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553671

Incident

Nov 24, 2013

Mileage

93,678 mi

REFUSAL OF HYUNDAI TO REVIEW LEVELS OF REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION ON VEHICLES OPERATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES BECAUSE OWNER REGISTERED IT IN CITY/STATE ADJOINING THIS RECALL. AFTER FURTHER REVIEWING THE SURVEY RESULTS, HYUNDAI HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL IN AFFECTED SALT BELT STATES ON 2006-2010 SONATA VEHICLES. I HAVE NOTIFIED MY LOCAL HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER ABOUT THIS RECALL. THEIR REPLY WAS SINCE I LIVE IN THE SAME CITY BUT ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STATE LINE (KANSAS CITY, KS NOT KANSAS CITY, MO) MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED AND THEY WILL NOT REVIEW MY VEHICLE FOR FREE NOR WILL THEY REPLACE THE CORRODED CROSSMEMBER FOR FREE SINCE MY STATE DOES NOT BELONG TO THIS RECALL ALTHOUGH MY DRIVING PRIMARILY TAKES PLACE IN THIS AFFECTED AND INCLUDED STATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548379

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

84,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, THE DRIVER'S SUNVISOR DROPPED DOWN FROM THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND PARTIALLY BLOCKED MY FORWARD VISION. SUBSEQUENTLY THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO REFUSED TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. WHEN I CONSULTED WITH THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS 4 MONTHS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I THEN CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I COULD HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED AND APPLY TO THEM FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT I WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE PARTS OR THE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE SINCE SEEN A HYUNDAI TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR 2008MY HYUNDAI SONATA SUNVISOR REPLACEMENT (SERVICE CAMPAIGN T97) DATED NOVEMBER 2009 WHICH STATES THAT IT APPLIES TO THE WESTERN,SC, AND SOUTHERN REGIONS ONLY. SINCE IT'S DESCRIPTION STATES "ON SOME 2008 SONATA VEHICLES, THE SUN VISOR MAY NOT STAY IN THE STORED (UP) POSITION. THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE SERVICE PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE SUN VISOR ASSEMBLIES." APPLICABLE PRODUCTION DATE RANGE, MARCH 6, 2007 TO JANUARY 10, 2008. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT JANUARY 02, 2008 THIS WOULD APPLY IF I LIVED IN ANY OF THOSE STATES (WHICH I DO NOT). SINCE THIS A NOT ONLY A DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY BUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I FAIL TO SEE WHY THIS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO ONLY THOSE REGIONS AND NOT TO ALL AREAS. AT THE VERY LEAST IT SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE EVEN PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10526409

Incident

Jul 20, 2013

Mileage

58,516 mi

TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF. WILL ENTER CAR AND SEE THAT" TRUNK OPEN" SIGNAL ON DASH IS ON. HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT. ONE TIME THE TRUNK WAS OPEN BUT THE LATCH WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND I COULD NOT CLOSE THE TRUNK UNTIL I MANUALLY OPENED THE LATCH, BUT ALL OTHER TIMES I WAS ABLE TO SIMPLY CLOSE THE TRUNK. THE DEALER SAYS I MUST BE UNINTENTIONALLY PUSHING THE REMOTE TRUNK BUTTON, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR DOZENS OF INCIDENTS. THEY SAY I MUST LEAVE THE CAR SO THEY CAN CREATE THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THIS ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET IN CAR FORUMS. IN FACT MY FRIEND HAS SAME CAR AND SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510476

Incident

Aug 31, 2012

Mileage

35,000 mi

TRIED TO OPEN DRIVERSIDE DOOR HANDLE COME OFF IN MY HAND 3 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP NEVER HEARD OF PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BREAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509553

Incident

Dec 27, 2012

Mileage

37,003 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK AJAR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ANOTHER MOTORIST ALERTED HIM THAT THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRES IN THE TRUNK WERE ON FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES AND RESUME DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THIRD GEAR, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,000.

NHTSA ID

10274015

Incident

Jun 16, 2009

Mileage

43,000 mi