15 of the
554 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Sonata are about the
body and structure — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
73,000 miles.
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 complaint #11383271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,000 milesSorrento, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 complaint #11271639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesAtwater, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 complaint #11240416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesWest Palm Beach, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 complaint #11062312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesVirginia Beach, VA
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 complaint #11011646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 176,523 milesStanhope, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 complaint #10928518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesSchenectady, NY
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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 complaint #10855222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesEustis, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
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 complaint #10852975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 31,000 milesTwinsburg, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
I AM #84 HAVING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AND THE $300 REPAIR SO THE AIR BAG WILL WORK IN CASE OF A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10620637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 128,000 milesRockwall, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10574198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,678 milesCypress, TX
STRUCTURE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10553671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,000 milesKansas City, KS
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10548379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,516 milesCamden Wyoming, DE
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10526409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesCharlotte, NC
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
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.
NHTSA complaint #10510476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,003 milesLithia, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TRIED TO OPEN DRIVERSIDE DOOR HANDLE COME OFF IN MY HAND 3 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP NEVER HEARD OF PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10509553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.