This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I was driving my 2001 Hyundai Sonata a car I bought new in Florida and has always been in Florida. My engine carriage rusted through and snapped the control arm on my car and the entire wheel came off sending me into two lanes of oncoming traffic. It was taken to Hyundai dealership I am waiting to hear if Hyundai will repair the huge damage to my car. Not to mention I was almost killed due to this catastrophic failure. The NHTSA needs to take action on this now. Lives are at risk. It is a catastrophic failure.
While driving my 2001 Hyundai Sonata, my right front lower control arm broke off, separating my wheel / it collapsed. The tow truck driver told me this and showed me how severe the sub frame was corroded. It broke off, he never saw anything like it. Please help. Is this a recall that I didn't get?
My 2001 Hyundai Sonata's subframe rusted to the point of where there were 7 in" holes completely through- this caused the lower swing arm to detach from the frame and subsequently the vehicle suspension failed. This occurred while my two children were in the car. Both front tires were damaged. Dealer did not replace tires, did not pay for towing or alternate transportation- gary rome Hyundai, holyoke MA.
In 2007 a routine oil change was being performed on the car and it was noticed that there was a 1-2 inch rotted hole the right side subframe. Local mechanic said there weren't any recalls, so he welded on a new piece of metal for support. Today (8/13/08) another oil change was being done and it was noticed that there is now a 2-3 inch hole on the left side subframe that wasn't visible a year ago. Mechanic highly recommends replacing the front subframe. Ref PE08029.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008, I brought in my 2001 gls V6 Hyundai Sonata to balise Hyundai of cape cod in hyannis, MA. My car had approximately 166,500 miles on it at this time. I was looking to get a throttle position sensor replaced. During their diagnostics, with the car on a lift, they noticed two things. One, a power steering leak was occurring most likely because of a corroded power steering line near the passenger side of the subframe. Two, in the immediate area of the suspected hose failure, the subframe had rusted through on two sides of the piece. The main hole in the subframe is fist-size or larger and the second is not good. I was informed that the subframe issue was a major safety hazard and warned me of what could happened should it fail. They also told me about the difficulties that replacing it could bring. They told that they were highly uncomfortable with me driving off the lot with the car with the subframe in that condition because it could go at any time. When they gave me an estimate for repairs to my car, they informed me that they might do the service on the subframe for free. They had to get approval from a regional rep or such person. However, as of today, Sunday, August 10, I have not heard back from the dealer. Today, I decided to do some research into replacing the subframe and finding the part. When I did a yahoo! search for "Sonata subframe", I came across the NHTSA investigation into this problem. I, thankfully, have not had a failure or accident because of this condition, yet.
- Hyannis, MA, USA
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Took automobile for routine maintenance. Mechanic discovered major rusting on subframe and engine cradle. Rusted through and has been described as extremely dangerous.
While changing the oil a large hole in the right side of the frame where the front suspension connect to was found. It is all rusted through. I was told not to drive the car by the mechanic. I have attempted to get a new part from the junk yard and the three replacements they found were rusted in the same place. I called the Hyundai dealer and they said it was around $1500 to fix the problem. I called their customer care to find out if there was a recall and they said not at this time.
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 15 mph, the front passenger side wheel collapsed. The vehicle had to be towed to a mechanic and a baseball size hole in the subframe was discovered, which caused the tie rod to dislodge. The mechanic also discovered two more holes in other areas of the subframe. The current and failure mileages were 65,000.
Passenger side subframe rusted through and created a severe safety problem. My mechanics noticed it doing some work on my car. This must be addressed and something done before people are killed when these frames break. I was lucky it was discovered, because there is no warning lights for this... and can not be seen except if car is on a lift.
While rounding a gradual curve at approximately 50mph suddenly lost steering control and went off road. Examination of vehicle subsequent to the accident revealed loss of control caused by severely rusted right (passenger side) front subframe and approximately 8 inch hole and bending/cracking of such due to the rust, this on a vehicle which is otherwise pristine (there is absolutely no rust elsewhere on the vehicle). I urge NHTSA to require Hyundai to address what I have now learned is a very common problem with the model in question, especially before any other lives are put in jeopardy or lost due to what is clearly and obviously a gross manufacturing and/or design defect. Note that I consider the situation to constitute no less than an emergency and that until certain model years of the Hyundai Sonata are updated with a revised/new subframe they should not be driven and indeed are not safe to be driven. At present my vehicle is no longer road worthy due to the rusted subframe and as it is 4 months out of warranty (warranty pertaining to rust through) I foresee that I will have to bear the expense of the repair (subframe replacement) myself.
2000 Hyundai Sonata with a defective sub frame. Consumer would like to be reimbursed for expenses on the repair of the sub-frame. He also believes that Hyundai needs to put out a recall on them and get them fixed due to concerns with the sub-frame. The consumer stated as he was driving, the lower control arm of the front passenger wheel disconnected from the vehicle which caused him to slide to an immediate halt. The cause of the failure was due to a poorly designed frame which rusted and rotted so badly that the control arm had fallen off the frame, the axle ripped from the transmission and the wheel had slammed into the wheel housing and quarter panel. The insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss due to the extent of the damage prior to the frame damage, the consumer experienced a flat tire which was due to excessive wear on the inside of tire.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- St. Petersburg, FL, USA