12 of the
407 complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Sonata are about the
transmission — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
76,300 miles.
F
12
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Automatic Transmission
541.7%
Power Train
216.7%
Manual Transmission
216.7%
Clutch Assembly
216.7%
Axle Assembly
18.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain across every Hyundai Sonata year
MY SON WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BUCKLED UNDER AND THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT CORROSION IN THE SUB-FRAME WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON NHTSA SITE AND IT APPEARS THAT CAMPAIGN 09V124000 DESCRIBES THE ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI. THEY HAVE INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE TO VEHICLE DELIVERED TO LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION TO DETERMINE IF IT IS COVERED UNDER A RECALL PROGRAM. THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS TO TELL ME THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY COVERING CERTAIN STATES, KENTUCKY NOT BEING ONE OF THEM. WHEN I TOLD THEM I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR USED AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT OTHER STATES THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN, THEY AGREED TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE THE DAMAGE IS AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #10587174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 184,000 milesLouisville, KY
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT AND WOULD ALSO FAIL TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION OF THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,000. *TR UPDATED 5/7/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR COST WAS REIMBURSED. 05/17/2013
NHTSA complaint #10502703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesPittsfield, MA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ENTIRE REAR SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD DROP FROM FOURTH GEAR TO FIRST GEAR SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE CENSORS; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #10329864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,911 milesScottsdale, AZ
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING FM OWNER OF A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA CONCERNED RE DEFECTED CLUTCH, HAS HAD SEVERAL CLUTCH REPAIRS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME THE CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEY FOUND A DIFFERENT DEFECT; SUCH AS EXCESSIVE PLAY AND SLIPPAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10323148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,364 milesLaguna Woods, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRAVELING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 15 AT 75 MPH, WITH THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL. AT THE START OF A CURVE THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE. IT REACHED OVER 5,000 RPMS. STEPPING ON THE BRAKE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING. I SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE OVER 6,000 RPMS I SHUT THE ENGINE AND FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF THE CAR. DURING THIS TIME I HAD GONE OFF THE HIGHWAY DOWN A RAVINE HITTING BOULDERS AND ROCKS AND INTO THE DESERT AND DAMAGING MY CAR. I RE-STARTED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED WEIRD. I SHUT THE ENGINE AGAIN AND WAITED FOR A LONGER PERIOD BEFORE RESTARTING. IT SOUNDED BETTER SO I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO GEAR AND STARTED FORWARD SLOWLY. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FIRM NEARBY. THEY PUT THE CAR UP ON A COMPUTER, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CODE READ P.O. 12. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE UNWOUND THE CRUISE CABLE BY HAND AND IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE AS LONG AS I DID NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE CODE HAD BEEN ERASED. LATER DURING HYUNDAI INVESTIGATION I WAS TOLD THAT THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAD REMOVED THE CODE IN ORDER TO TEST THE CRUISE CONTROL. ON MY RETURN HOME I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I AM THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT HARMED. ALL I WANT IS HYUNDAI TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FIXING THE CAR. HYUNDAI WAS NOT HELPFUL IN ANYWAY AND INSTEAD ACTED AS IF I MADE UP THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME A DECISION WOULD BE MADE IN 4-6 WEEKS. AFTER THE 6 WEEK PERIOD I CONTACTED HYUNDAI IT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. NOW T HEY TELL ME THERE IS NO TIME PERIOD FOR A DECISION. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT.
NHTSA complaint #10314392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,079 milesHouston, TX
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WAS HARD TO SHIFT. ALSO, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK, THE GAS SPILLED OUT WHILE PUMPING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10175276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,879 milesPittsfield, MA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10172497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,500 milesJasper, IN
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING SEMI TO ALMOST REAR END MY VEHICLE DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO FIX PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT IS WARRANTED. SIMILAR FAILURES WILL CAUSE DEATHS. I HAVE NOTIFIED AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE THROUGH HYUNDIA'S CONSUMER COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT TO NO AVAIL. THERE WILL NO DOUBT BE A DEATH CAUSED BY THIS MALFUNCTION IN THE POWERTRAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10132093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesNorth LAS Vegas, NVCrash
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8/27/02 BELT NOISE AND BURNING RUBBER SMELL. THE PULLEY BELT WAS REPLACED. 1/33/03 RECALL ON <A ONMOUSEOUT="WINDOW.STATUS=''; RETURN TRUE 'AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION'; RETURN TRUE;" ONMOUSEOUT="WINDOW.STATUS=''; RETURN TRUE;">AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION</A></A> WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. 9/8/03 CAR ENGINE RACED TO 5000-6000 RPMS, HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN FIND NO EXPLANATION. 9/16/03 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WHILE IN PARK, ENGINE RACES TO 5000 RPMS. AFTER 3 RESTARTS AT THE IGNITION, THE IDLE RETURNS TO NORMAL. 9/21/03 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. WAIT TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP. 10/7/03 SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY CAN FIND NO PROBLEM. 10/23/03 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THERE IS A LEAK IN THE FILL VENT VALVE, REPAIR. 12/18/03 RECALL SERVICE DONE. 5/9/04 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IGNORE, IT GOES OFF AFTER TWO WEEKS. 8/6/04 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IGNORE, IT GOES OFF AFTER TWO WEEKS. 11/4/04 WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING. COLLISION OCCURS, ACCELERATION CONTINUES, CAR SPINS OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS TWO LANES AND INTO A GRASSY FIELD. I PUT IT IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR FROM CONTINUING INTO THE FENCEPOST. PATROLMAN SAID THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN. INSURANCE COMPANY VALUED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN: THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. AFTER IMPACT THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING AND SHE WAS STILL PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE PULLED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE OFFICER ON THE SCENE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. *TC YHE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10098876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,300 milesWales, MAFire
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I PURCHASED A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT. TO DATE WE HAVE HAD THE O2 SENSORS REPLACED DUE TO NUMEROUS CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS. WE HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THE CLUTCH DEPRESSION SWITCH AFTER HAVING THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE SWITCH FAILED TO WORK CONSISTENTLY PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING. AFTER HAVING THE SWITCH REPLACED, THE VERY NEXT DAY I SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL WHICH THEN CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS TO DIM THE HEATER FAN/MOTOR TO DROP IN SPEED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO MOVE VERY SLOWLY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOUSER HYUNDAI OF SPRINGFIELD, MA. AND WHILE WAITING FOR THE SERVICE BAY DOORS TO OPEN THE CAR WAS ENVELOPED IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE THE INSTANT I TURNED THE HEATER ON (JANUARY 10, 2004) TEMP OUTSIDE WAS -9 DEGREES. AT ANY RATE THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOTIFIED THE INSTANT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING BUT HE DID NOT SEE THE SMOKE WHEN I WAS WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. HE DID ADMIT TO SMELLING THE BURNING ??? BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN WE LEFT IT TO BE CHECKED AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE OLD SAYING GOES WHERE THERE IS SMOKE THIS "FIRE" SO I AM CHECKING IT OFF AS SUCH IN THIS COMPLAINT. THE CAR IS AND HAS BEEN A SAFTEY CONCERN TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE A CO-WORKER AND MY WIFE AS WITNESSES TO BOTH THE BURNING SMELL AND ELECTRICAL "LOAD" MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO WHAT EVER HAS SHORT CIRCUITED AND MY WIFE IN PARTICULAR OBSERVED THE "SMOKE" BILLOWING FROM BENEATH THE CAR ON THE DAY WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FULLY INTEND TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS WELL WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE GOVERNMENT OF WHICH I AM EMPLOYED UNDER THE "LEMON LAW." RESPECTFULLY; DALE WYMAN.
NHTSA complaint #10052792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,300 milesWales, MAFire
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT. TO DATE WE HAVE HAD THE O2 SENSORS REPLACED DUE TO NUMEROUS CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS. WE HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THE CLUTCH DEPRESSION SWITCH AFTER HAVING THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE SWITCH FAILED TO WORK CONSISTENTLY PREVENTING THE CAR FROM STARTING. AFTER HAVING THE SWITCH REPLACED, THE VERY NEXT DAY I SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL WHICH THEN CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS TO DIM THE HEATER FAN/MOTOR TO DROP IN SPEED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO MOVE VERY SLOWLY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOUSER HYUNDAI OF SPRINGFIELD, MA. AND WHILE WAITING FOR THE SERVICE BAY DOORS TO OPEN THE CAR WAS ENVELOPED IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE THE INSTANT I TURNED THE HEATER ON (JANUARY 10, 2004) TEMP OUTSIDE WAS -9 DEGREES. AT ANY RATE THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS NOTIFIED THE INSTANT I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING BUT HE DID NOT SEE THE SMOKE WHEN I WAS WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. HE DID ADMIT TO SMELLING THE BURNING ??? BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN WE LEFT IT TO BE CHECKED AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE OLD SAYING GOES WHERE THERE IS SMOKE THIS "FIRE" SO I AM CHECKING IT OFF AS SUCH IN THIS COMPLAINT. THE CAR IS AND HAS BEEN A SAFTEY CONCERN TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE A CO-WORKER AND MY WIFE AS WITNESSES TO BOTH THE BURNING SMELL AND ELECTRICAL "LOAD" MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO WHAT EVER HAS SHORT CIRCUITED AND MY WIFE IN PARTICULAR OBSERVED THE "SMOKE" BILLOWING FROM BENEATH THE CAR ON THE DAY WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FULLY INTEND TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS WELL WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE GOVERNMENT OF WHICH I AM EMPLOYED UNDER THE "LEMON LAW." RESPECTFULLY; DALE WYMAN.
NHTSA complaint #10052792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richton Park, ILCrash
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
I WAS DRIVING AS THE AXEL BROKE, MY TIRE FEEL OFF ALONG WITH BRAKES CAUSING MY CAR TO SWERVE ACROSS THE STREET AND HIT A CURB.
NHTSA complaint #759281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.