10 of the
407 complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Sonata are about the
tires — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
49,875 miles.
FAULTY VALVE STEM ON 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE TIRES WERE KUMHO TIRES. WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE EXPRESSWAY, WITHIN ABOUT A MILE OF DRIVING THE AIR IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEPRESSURIZED. SINCE I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE ON THE OTHER TIRES, I KNEW BEFORE I GOT OUT OF THE CAR THAT IT WAS A CRACKED VALVE STEM. THE TIRE WAS NO GOOD ANYMORE BECAUSE THE RIM CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE DID THE SAME THING BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SPARE ON BEFORE COMPLETE DEPRESSURIZATION. THE VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED BY DISCOUNT TIRE. UPON INSPECTION TODAY, THE FIRST ONE MAY BE SHOWING SIGNS OF CRACKING AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10343553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,700 milesWaukegan, IL
TIRES
I HAVE HAD TWO VALVE STEMS ON MY 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA GO BAD. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AT GURNEE HYUNDAI 10/23/07. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS 4 OR 5 MONTHS AGO AND THE MOST RECENT WAS ON 11/2/08. WE WERE TRAVELING IN VIRGINIA AND STOPPED FOR LUNCH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND WE WERE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE MOUNTAINS.
NHTSA complaint #10249150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesLake Saint Louis, MO
TIRES
MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT , TOOK IT TO A SERVICE STATION TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY BROUGHT ME IN TO SEE THAT THE WHOLE FRAME UNDER THE CAR IS RUSTED. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD UP THE AXLE AND SUSPENSION WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE WHEEL WAS TILTED AND THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS WORN ALL THE WAY DOWN . THERE WAS NOTHING THERE TO SUPPORT THE WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10234713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,000 milesHolbrook, NY
TIRES:VALVE
VALVE STEMS HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM TIRE BY SHIFTING HUB CAPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER TIRES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED. ONCE WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND ONCE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10155820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,000 milesSinking Spring, PA
TIRES:VALVE
I REPLACED MY TIRES WITH THE CORRECT TYPE CALLED FOR MY CAR, 205/65R15 H94 BF GOODRICH TRACTION T/A AND NOW I KEEP GETTING FLAT TIRES FROM THE FACTORY INSTALLED HUD CAPS SHIFTING ON MY WEEHLS AND PRESSING ON THE VALVE STEM. SO FAR THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT I AM AFFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I AM AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND IT HAPPENES. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, BUT HOW SO IF THEY ARE THE CORRECT TIRES FOR MY CAR. THE DEALER WILL JNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT ALL!
NHTSA complaint #10095952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,200 milesHazlet, NJ
TIRES
BF GOODRICH TIRES (20565H15) ON A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. AFTER LESS THAN 50 MILES FRONT LEFT TIRE WENT FLAG DUE TO A SEVERED VALVE STEM. STEM WAS SEVERED BY HUB CAP MOVEMENT. REMOUNTED TIRE, AND TIRE LEAKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. REMOVED ALL HUB CAPS FOR NOW. HYUNDAI BLAMING TIRE MANUFACTURER, BUT SIZE IS RECOMMENDED SIZE AS STATED ON AUTO SPECIFICATIONS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANYONE WHO CHANGES TIRE BRANDS ON THIS MODEL. TIRE DEALERS SHOUL DBE MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS NEEDLESSLY INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #10093056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,750 milesAtlanta, GA
TIRES
THE CONSUMER HAS A TIRE FOR LIFE CONTRACT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH P205/65R15 M/S. THE VEHICLE MANUAL STATED THAT THE APPROPRIATE TIRE SIZE SHOULD BE P205/60R15 91H. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10081516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, NY
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
LEFT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER.THE SPARE TIRE HAD STRESS MARKS LOCATED ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE. HANKOOK TIRES, #T125/70D-15, DOT # H6MXBH490.
NHTSA complaint #10039661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, NY
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
LEFT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHCLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO REPAIR THE TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE HAD STRESS MARKS LOCATED ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE. HANKOOK, T125/70D15, DOT # H6MXBH490.
NHTSA complaint #10039672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livonia, MI
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER SIDE TIRE THREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10029479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.