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Hyundai

Hyundai • Brakes • Stalling • Transmission • "Just Everything" • Airbags • Engine Failure • Fires • Sludge Problems --- News • Feds Step Up Rusting Hyundai Investigation • Feds Study Hyundai Airbag Failures • Feds Investigate Suspension Failure in Hyundai Santa Fe • Rusting Hyundai Sonatas Prompt Federal Probe • NHTSA Probes Hyundai Air Bag Failure • Hyundai to Tap U.S. Sport Sedan Market • Hyundai Drops Back Into Minivan Market • Hyundai Drops Out of Minivan Market • Airbag Problems Plague New Hyundais • Hyundai Offers $85 Million to Settle Horsepower Suit • Hyundai Aces J.D. Powers Survey • Horsepower Overstated

Hyundai got a lot of good press when it extended its drivetrain warranty to 10 years or 100,000 miles. But those who owns these troublesome little rattletraps have many tales of woe about the warranty, not to mention the transmission, the engine and just about everything else. On top of that, the company now admits that it overstated the horsepower on more than a million Hyundai and Kia models.

More recently, Hyundai and Kia raised eyebrows when they finished unexpectedly high in the J.D. Powers Initial Quality Survey. The Powers Survey is highly regarded but perhaps "initial" quality isn't the problem? Check the complaints listed to the right and judge for yourself.

Here are a few recent arrivals:

Harriet of Detroit, MI June 23, 2009

My craddle had to be replaced twice since I had my car. One time the axle dropped because the caddle was weak and rusted out causing my car to be disable. What was the final decison on federal investigation?

Jean of Bartlett, IL June 19, 2009

I purchased my Sante Fe in June 2007 so it is exactly 2 years old this month. It currently has 27,000 miles on it. Since I have purchased this vehicle I have had nothing but problems with it. On Jan 23, 2009 my vehicle was serviced for an air bag light that would not turn off and had to be reset. On March 23, 2009 back for check engine light service in which my vehicle completely shut down while on the highway. Serviced for improper adjustments and back on April 3, 2009 for the sensor and computer replacement as it was bad. Same day also had inoperable driver side wiper blade fixed. Fast forward to squeaking 10 days ago left rear brake. Serviced yet again on June 17th and left REAR break is completely broken down and both had to be replaced.

The dealership at Elgin Hyundai told me this is very rare. Cost me in total 268.03. I spoke with the service manager about my complete and utter disappointment with this vehicle and he stated I call and fax over all information to consumer affairs which I did yesterday. Took them a whole 24 hours to deny my claim telling me that it isn't under warranty and normal wear and tear on a vehicle. Can someone please explain how a 2 year old vehicle with 27,000 miles can have a break completely eroded down to the rotor? I also completed my 15,000 inspection at 14,868 miles that cost me 140.00 and no mention of the breaks then. I'm very upset at the fast denial of this company when clearly this vehicle is a lemon.

I would like to see where I need to take this past a fast 24 hour drive through "we won't refund you" consumer affairs as this has cost me time, money and hassel. I had to get the breaks fixed immediately because according to the service manager, it was extremely unsafe to drive.

Karen of Naples, FL June 15, 2009

The interior lights flash on and off while driving the vehcile, the door locks also unlock. We were told twice by the dealership that the door must be bent, but the car has never been in an accident. My husband placed some gum on the door switch that is depressed once you close the door and that solved the problem. Dealerhip still insists it is not the switch and that it must be a damaged front door.

Tara of Monroe, NY June 11, 2009

I purchased new ignition coils for my car at 85,000 miles. Their was no indication that they were broken, the dealer had advised as normal maintenance. I do everything my Hyundai Dealership advises!!!! 20,000 miles later 1 year and 2 months later the new ones die and leave me stranded and broken down. This is a part that lasted 85,000 miles the first time without any problems now only 20,000 miles. My dealership even admits that this should not have happened it is a part that typically lasts at least 60,000 miles to contact Hyundia (because the dealerships' policy is one year 12,000 miles on parts. So okay pretty straight forward I just got stuck with a bad part Hyundia should see that and replace it. Well Hyundia would not budge and give me any reimbursment for their faulty part. Even if they considered pro rating my riembursment I could understand but nothing what poor customer service to a customer who has bought 3 brand new Hyundias. This car is my third. I guess they do not care about the integrity of heir parts or their customers with older vehicles. How can they get away with robbing a persons money with selling sub standard parts.

brian of Mansfield, OH June 7, 2009

The driver side control are completely rusted through and I lost control of my vehicle. If I had been going faster, it might of been fatal. From what I am reading, this should be a recall. I am out 300 for repairs and lost 3 days of work. Im about 700 in the "hole" because of this problem.

Leona of Carmel, IN June 6, 2009

On June 5, 2009, the passenger side control arm of my 2002 Hyundai Elantra broke, causing the car to be out of control and nearly causing a serious accident. If this had happened on a highway, it would have been catastrophic. The car is at a mechanic now but won't be fixed for several days. I did some research online and found a recall alert dated April 2009 (http://www.automallusa.net/2002/hyundai/elantra/recalls.html).

I called Hyundai's Consumer Affairs hotline (800-633-5151) and spoke to Andy (ID# 54214) who told me that the recall has not been officially released yet but letters to potentially affected owners should be mailed by the end of June. He told me a dealership won't acknowledge this recall until it is official. He told me my car won't qualify for the recall reimbursement because the mileage is too high. Nobody has been able to explain to me how a recall due to a manufacturing defect has anything to do with how many miles are on a car. A defect is a defect and this one could have caused lives if the wheel had flown off the car.

Tiffany of walpole, MA June 3, 2009

Hyundai has recalled 100,000 sonata's because of severe corrosion. My car was one of these as I was pulling out of my driveway my engine fell out of my car because my sub frame rotted and also broke my axel. Ok so they made it an offical recall and Hyundai took my car in to be fixed well yesterday june 2nd 2009 I went to pick up my car drove it off the lot and barely was able to get the car to come to a complete stop SUDDENLY now I have no brakes when I did have them before this whole incident, my check engine light was on, and an alignment wasn't done on my car. I was fed some line that my roters were rusted from the car sitting for 3 weeks while I was in the process of getting hyundai to fix my car. This is not my problem that this happend to the car and they are refusing to fix it.

Kimberly of Buckeye Lake, OH June 2, 2009

While driving my 2002 Hyundai Sonata GLS, I began noticing that my steering was getting hard to control. I thought that I had a low tire. I heard a popping noise when I came to a stop at a stop sign. After that my steering had alot of play. I made it a gas station after driving on a busy road in Licking County, Ohio. I checked my tires and they were fine. I managed to get my car a few more blocks down the road to a Goodyear Tire and Alignment shop with very little control over my steering.

Upon the inspection of my car, the shop employee asked me to come into the garage/repair area so they could show me what they had found. They discovered that the sub-frame had completely rusted out and recommended that I have my car towed to the Hyundai dealership as this was definetly a manufactures defect in the sub-frame and that my car was in no way SAFE to drive as the wheels could possible fall off. I had my car towed to the dealership and was advised to have the tow company to unload my car in the rear as they were aware of the problem and would contact their representative about the subframe. I asked if there had been a recall on this and the service manager informed me that there had not been a recall yet, but that there probably would be one issued in the near future.

The service manager said that Hyundai was aware of this defect taking place. Hyundai replaced the sub-frame on my car at no charge. The day after picking my car up from this extremely dangerous repair that had been made, I started hearing a squeeking/rubbing noise in the front end of my car on the right front passanger side. I took my car back to the dealership to see what the problem was since I hadn't had this noise prior to the subframe being replaced. The service tech at the dealership informed me that the bushings on the right front lower control arm was dry rotted(?) and needed to be replaced.

I still feel that this is a result to the subframe rusting out and causing this damage. I am very fortunate that this incident didn't cause severe injury to me or to my passengers that had been in my car a few days prior to the subframe breaking loose and causing me to loose control of my steering as I was driving on the interstate 2 days before this happened. Luckily I was on a side street going slow when this happened. The few days prior to this when I started to noticed something was wrong with my steering, I thought I had a low tire or needed a alignment, not realizing that my wheels were in the processing of FALLING OFF!

Rena of Manlius, NY May 29, 2009

Fill car to travel up north for sisters burial, when I went to get into the car noticed underneath a huge puddle of gas. took to dealer was told gas tank was rusted, needed replaced. was also told wasn't under bumper to bumper warranty the rust was caused by the eviormential. was told it would cost 1100 to fix. worst cases senaio..the car is a 2005 I feel that the tank should not rust on top so that gas is leaking in 54 months. I have never heard of a gas tank rusting in a newer car. ery dangerous and so lucky I noticed before there was a life threatening accident.

Don of Hudson, NH May 30, 2009

We bought our Sonata new 22 months ago and have enjoyed driving it. This week, after 22K miles, the rear brakes started making loud, grinding sounds. The dealership installed new rear brakes, pads, shims and clips at a cost of 265. Hyundai headquarters sees this as normal wear in New England with the sand and salt and all. My 50 years of driving tells me otherwise.

Something is wrong with the Sonata brakes. The survice manager at the dealership explained the companies concern over the issue. The company itself uas unconcerned with my complaint. If you drive a Hyundai in New England, be forewarned. 265 out of pocket to a company that will not back up its product

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