Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2000 record →
NOTICED AT LAST OIL CHANGE, POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF FRONT SUB FRAME/ENGINE CRADLE DUE TO RUST OUT CAUSED BY DESIGN THAT ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER AND BE TRAPPED IN SUB FRAME. CARS IN "SNOW BELT" AREAS (OHIO) ARE AFFECTED BY ROAD SALT. SUB FRAME HAS 2.5" RUST HOLE AND SURROUNDING AREA SHOWS FATIGUE AND CRACKING. CAR APPEARS TO BE ONE "CHUCK HOLE" AWAY FROM FAILURE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A NEWLY PAVED ACCESS ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, THE CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE OF MY ROTTED/RUSTED OUT SUBFRAME. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AND BRAKE WORK AND NO PROBLEM WAS DETECTED WITH THE RUSTED SUBFRAME. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SEIZED UP AS THE WHEEL SLAMMED INTO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP AND WAS IMMOBILIZED. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP AND I AM CONTACTING HYUNDAI DIRECTLY REGARDING THE UNLIKELY FACT THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL BE INCREASING DRAMATICALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS THE HYUNDAI SONATA'S 1999-2001 CONTINUE TO AGE. I HAVE NOTED AT LEAST A DOZEN INSTANCES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ALMOST ALL INSTANCES APPEAR TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 10 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT SLID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT ROLLERS FAILED. THE SEAT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
I HAVE A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN 2003 FROM KOEPPEL HYUNDA IDEALER IN LONG ISLAND CITY NEW YORK. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AT ALL. THIS WEEK I BEGAN TO NOTICE SOMETHING NOT FEELING RIGHT IN THE FRONT END, SO I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT I HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN THAT. IT SEEMS THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR IS RUSTED AND ROTTING AWAY. HE TRIED TO LOCATE A USED FRAME FROM A JUNKYARD,(BECAUSE THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRENTY), BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET ONE. EACH PERSON HE SPOKE TO AT VARIOUS JUNK YARDS KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED , BUT INFORMED HIM THAT A USED SUBFRAME FOR THE SONATA WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO COME BY BECAUSE ON ALL THE SONATAS THAT WERE JUNKED, THE SUBFRAMES WERE ROTTED THROUGH FROM RUST. I'M BETTING THAT SOME OF THESE CARS WERE JUNKED FOR THAT VERY REASON. APPARENTLY THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE, BUT HYUNDAI IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. WHEN I CALL THEY TELL ME THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. HARD TO BELIEVE. I WAS TOLD A NEW FRAME WOULD COST ME1300 DOLLARS. THE ONLY THING THE MECHANIC CAN OFFER TO DO FOR ME IS TO WELD STEEL TO THE PARTS OF THE FRAME THAT ARE STILL SOLID AND TRY TO REINFORCE THE FRAME. AT THIS POINT I AM VERY FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE I WORK AT NIGHT AND NEED A CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR A RENTAL FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS AND IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT HE CALL THE HYUNDAI DEALER. HYUNDAI HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT ,AND HAS HAD 1 OWNER.VECHICLE IS HOUSED IN CENTRAL N.J. ,VECHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AS TO HYUNDAI'S SERVICE MANUAL RECOMENDATIONS.ALSO VECHICLE HAS RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED JUST BEFORE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED FOR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SERVOS (CAR WAS ON LIFT AT TIME OF SERVICE ).ALSO THIS VECHICLE STILL HAS ORGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM INCLUDING MUFFLER.ON AUGUST30,2007 MY SELF MY CHILD AND MY NEPHEWS WERE DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AT 65 MPH AT APPROXIMATLY 9 PM WHEN THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC LANE WITH VECHICLES APPROACHING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AND SWERVING AROUND ME THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY I WAS TRAPPED IN CAR WITH CHILDREN WE CALLED 911 AND THE STATE POLICE HAD TO PUSH VECHICLE TO A SAFE ZONE WHERE WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK.UPONFURTHER INSPECTION OF VECHICLE IT WAS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY A SEVERLY ROTTED SUBFRAME WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP CAUSING THE AXLE TO BE TORN THROUGH TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BREAK AWAY FROM ROTTED SUBFRAME ALSO(AS STATED EARLIER THE VECHICLE WAS NEVER INVLOVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS NO BODY OR UNDERCARRRIAGE RUST INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS STRUCTUAL PROBLEM AS SUBFRAME CARRIES ENTIRE DRIVETRAIN (MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION AND ALL STERING COMPONENTS).AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY HYUNDAI TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION WE WERE TOLD ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY WE WERE NERER MADE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM AT TIME
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE SENSOR PLUG ON HER VEHICLE. SHE HAS HAD TO PAY $200 EACH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. SHE STATED THAT SHE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE POWERTRAIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED HER VEHICLE TO STALL. SHE HAS HAD TO REPLACE HER ENGINE AND THE BATTERY APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 118,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE CONSUMER STATED REPLACED THE ENGINE 1 TIME AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THE DEALER STATED RADIO JUMPING CHANNELS. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS FAULTY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HYUNDAI CAN HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS ITEM IN THEIR KIA OPTIMAS AND SANTA FE 2.5L V-6 ENGINES, BUT NOT IN THE 2.5L V-6 SONATAS. THE LEAST OF THE PROBLEMS IS DIFFICULTY STARTING, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CULMINATION OF THE PROBLEM. THE BEGINNING OF THE PROBLEM IS THE LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING, INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOSES POWER. LAST YEAR I SPENT OVER $500 FOR A TUNE UP AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. THE CHECK ENGINE JUST CAME ON TODAY AFTER HAVING TROUBLE GETTING STARTED AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED AS A P0335 CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR A CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND THE REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF $400 FOR LABOR PLUS PARTS. *JB
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS, WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 134,000 MILES. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD ACCELERATE AT A LOW SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TUNE UP, AND INFORMED HER THAT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE BURNED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING RECALL # 00V259001. AS OF 4-18-07 THE FAILURE OCCURRED 25 TIMES .
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,140. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY DURING DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS RECALL 00V259001 FOR THE MASS AIR FLOW, BUT THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL THE NAME OF THE DEALER WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE OWNER WAS DRIVING HER 2000 HYUNDAI SONANA GLS WHEN VEHICLE HIT A POLE. THERE IS EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL HARD CAUSING INTERNAL INJURIES. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AIRBAGS AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS BUT NONE DEPLOYED. *AKOWNER QUESTIONED WHY AIRBAG (S) DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
FRAME OF 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS FOUND DURING OIL CHANGE TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WENT TO DEALERSHIP WHERE WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT HYUNDAI CORP. AFTER 2 WEEK PERIOD WE WERE TOLD HYUNDAI WOULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEM. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 3 DAYS WERE AGAIN TOLD NOTHING WOULD BE DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAD 88,000 MILES ON IT WHEN PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AND STILL HAD ORIGINAL MUFFLER. DOES FRAME USUALLY RUST OUT BEFORE MUFFLER? EVENTUALLY BECAUSE OF NEED FOR VEHICLE WERE FORCED TO HAVE VEHICLE FIXED OUT OF POCKET. REPAIR SHOP TOLD US THEY HAD REPAIRED SEVERAL HYUNDAI SONATAS OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH RUST ALL IN THE SAME SPOT ON THE FRAME AND THAT SOME COULDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE SHOP WITHOUT A TOW. WE PAID TO HAVE A REFURBISHED FRAME PUT ON THE CAR, AT THE COST OF $1150, NOT TO MENTION THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED OVER THE COURSE OF 3 MONTHS IT TOOK TO GET IT FIXED. WE HAD PICTURES TAKEN OF THE FRAME ON THE CAR AND AS IT CAME OFF. *JB
WHILE DRIVING APPROX 30 MPH MY FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE FENDER, BRING ME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. ONCE I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WE FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF OF THE SUB FRAME. I HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE SUBFRAME ON THIS 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH ONLY 77000 MILES ON IT. *JB
THE ALIGNMENT APPEARED TO BE OFF ON MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. ON OCT. 1, 2006, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT A LOCAL FIRESTONE STATION. THE MANAGER SHOWED ME THE CAUSE OF THE MIS-ALIGNMENT: THE ORIGINAL ENGINE CRADLE HAD NEARLY RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A RUSTED OUT HOLE IN THE ENGINE CRADLE THAT MY HAND COULD HAVE FIT THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO A HYUNDAI DEALER'S SERVICE CENTER. DUE TO THE PRICE OF THE REPAIRS COMPARED TO THE VALUE OF THE CAR, I ELECTED TO FORGO REPAIRS. THE CAR WILL BE SOLD TO A SALVAGE YARD FOR PARTS. THE CAR HAD BEEN AT A HYUNDAI DEALER FOR REPAIRS IN OHIO IN MARCH AND MAY 2006. AT NEITHER TIME WAS RUST IDENTIFIED AS A THREAT TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, THE DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED BEFORE ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES OCCURRED.
2000 HYUNDAI SONATA - MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED AT 45,000 MILES - WAS THIS ITEM REPLACED IN 2000 RECALL? *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG WARNING ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR RECALL #01V347000 BUT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE.
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN WITHOUT WARNING MY ENGINE SIMPLY SHUT OFF, AND THE POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES AND STEERING WAS STOPPED. I TRIED MOVING FROM THE CENTER LANE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY A VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT LANE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OFF ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER IN THE AREA, PUGI HYUNDAI IN DOWNERS GROVE, IL. THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND LATER IN THE MORNING INFORMED ME THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE A MINIMUM OF $600, AND POSSIBLY MORE, DEPENDING IF THEY DETERMINE THE ENGINE NEEDS ADDITIONAL REPAIR PARTS. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND THE CLUTCH PUMPED FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE REPAIR SHOP SUGGESTED THE TRANSMISSION BE INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
CAR HAD A RECALL FOR THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND WAS TAKEN CARE OF. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 OTHER TIMES TO HAVE THE OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED AND I JUST HAD ANOTHER GO OUT PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE CAR 'SLAM' INTO A LOWER GEAR WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TAKE IT THEY SAY IT IS A TRANSMISSION SENSOR AND REPLACE IT. THIS HAS DONE IT FIVE TIMES!! IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT DOES THIS. THE CAR IS ON IT'S FOURTH BATTERY AND IT HAS 80,000 ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS TOO. NOW IT JUST WILL NOT START, IT IS GOING TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP THIS TIME. THIS CAR HAS BEEN ONE BIG HEADACHE!!! *NM
DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HYDRO PLANED AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO BOTH FRONT DOORS AND THE FRONT END. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY BOTH THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDE /CURTAIN AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATE THE COMPUTER READ THERE HAD BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THEIR EXPENSE, BUT THE CONTACT COULD NOT FIND A DEALERSHIP TO DO THE WORK. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CORRECTIONS MADE TO THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE A YEAR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ADJUSTED THE HARNESS AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT CORRECT WITH THE WIRING HARNESS WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE SEAT, CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON. *AK
NEW HYUNDAI SONATA PURCHASED IN 2000. MOTOR VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED REGARDING AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS. CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALL. THE RECALL WAS "FIXED" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED CORRECTLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL GOES OFF, BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR MUST BE LOOSE AND DISCONNECTS. DEALER STATES THAT OWNER MUST BE DISCONNECTING THE WIRING BY PLACING OBJECTS UNDER THE SEAT. THE OWNER DOES NOT PUT OBJECTS UNDER THE SEAT. THE RECALL ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED SO THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS SECURELY FASTENED. *JB
. ON 9/16/05 AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK IN THE EVENING, MY HYUNDAI 2000 SONATA HAD A ELECTRICAL FIRE. LUCKILY I WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR WHEN EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME QUICKLY AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. BEFORE THIS I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ELECTRICAL OR ENGINE PROBLEMS. *NM
BOTH POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED AT THE SAME TIME IN MY TEENAGERS SONATA. FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS ONLY GOING AROUND 25 MPH AT THE TIME AND USED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. THE HYUNDAI DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. IS THERE A NHTSA RECORD OF THIS OCCURRING PREVIOUSLY IN THE SONATA? *JB
I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH MY CAR. I HAVE A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. I BOUGHT IT IN 2002. IN 2002 I HAD TO HAVE 2 OF MY OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I HAD TO HAVE MY FOURTH OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. NOW THIS YEAR AUGUST 2005 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND NOW THIS TIME MY RPM'S ARE STICKING AND IDLING HIGH, MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING INTO GEAR RIGHT, AND MY CAR IS STALLING. SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY PULLEY REPLACED, MY AIRBAG HARNESS FIXED, TWO OF MY WINDOWS HAVE BROKE, AND MY STEREO BROKE WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR. NOW I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR AT ALL AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA AND I THINK THE MANUFACTURER BETTER DO SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US QUICK OR THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF LAWSUITS ON THEIR HANDS. *JB
DT: THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON . THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG . TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED SENSOR IN THE BACK OF PASSENGER'S SEAT. THEN, TOOK AGAIN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. VEHICLE WAS NVOVLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. HOWEVER, UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 22, 2005. *AK
DT: WHEN IT IS HOT THE KEY WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HAS TO TAKE ICE WATER AND PUT ON THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE KEY OUT. NO TROUBLE WITH THE KEY IN COOLER WEATHER. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SWITCHES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 1, 2004. *AK
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 55 MPH SUDDENLY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL AND STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT WAS TOWED TO PEP BOYS FOR REPAIRS, SERVICEMAN NOTED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED, NOTED THIS WAS RARE. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT PEP BOYS FOR REPAIRS. CONTACTED HYUNDAI , WHO CLAIMED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THAT CAR AND THEY COULD NOT HELP.*AK
ON MAY 21, 2005 AFTER A TRIP TO AUSTIN, TX TO FUNERAL WITH DAUGHTER-IN-LAW FROM KY. NEXT MORNING, I STARTED ENGINE IN SONS YARD FOR TRIP HOME TO IL. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE HOME TO IL (350 MILES) AND TOLD HUSBAND OF PROBLEM. HE TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP ON 6/17/05. THEY SAID IT WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER SENSOR AND GAVE ESTIMATE $829.79 AND SAID CAR OUT OF WARRANTY. HYUNDAI SAID "GOODWILL" REPAIR POSSIBLE. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES..STILL WAITING FOR DECISION AS OF 7-29-05. I AM ON DISABILITY AND DO NOT DRIVE MUCH. NOW,I AM AFRAID OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYING ACCIDENTALLY OR NOT AT ALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM DISAPPOINTED IN LACK OF CONCERN . DO I HAVE TO BE IN ACCIDENT BEFORE ACKNOWLEDGE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE SONATAS ON THE ROAD?40,019 MILEAGE AT TIME OF PROBLEM. *NM
I HAVE MADE FIVE TRIPS TO THE DEALER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA WHICH WAS PURCHASED FROM ALLEN TURNER HYUNDAI IN PENSACOLA, FL AND IS SERVICED BY THEM DUE TO IT IS STILL IN WARRANTY. MY CAR MAKES A LOUD CLONKING SOUND AND THEN STOPS AND ALL POWER GOES OFF. THIS HAPPENS NORMALLY WHEN I GO OVER 30-40 MPH AND HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK ON A BRIDGE BECAUSE I HAD NO SHOULDER TO GO OFF ON AND CARS ALMOST SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ME. AFTER IT SHUTS DOWN, IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 10 MINUTES TO ONE HOUR TO START AGAIN. IT TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START AFTER THIS HAPPENS. AS SAID I HAVE TAKEN THIS 5 TIMES TO THE DEALER, THIS LAST TIME THEY KEPT IT 5 DAYS AND FOUND NOTHING. I HAD THEM DRIVE IT HOME. PRIOR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A COMPUTER ERROR AND WAS FIXED, AT FIRST THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER BOARD BUT THEN SAID THE BOSS SAID IT WAS JUST "BAD BATTERY CABLES." AND CLEANED OFF THE CABLES. I HAD A NEW BATTERY PUT IN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE AIR FILTER HAD JUMPED OFF THE TRACK AND JUST NEEDED PUT BACK ON. THE LAST 2 TIMES THEY SAID THE COMPUTER READ NOTHING. I ASKED THEM ABOUT THE GAS LINE OR WATER IN THE GAS AND THEY SAID THEY CHECK ALL THIS, CHECKED CRANK SENSOR, CHANGED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, "BAD CONNECTION", TIGHTENED CABLE ENDS PER TECH LINE. THE LAST TIME THE INVOICE JUST TELLS ME THE COMPUTER READS OK. I HAD THEM DRIVE IT FOR 5 DAYS FOR 218 MILES BUT IT DID NOT REPRODUCE PER TECH. I AM GOING TO GET KILLED IN TH
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE, EX. POWER FAILURE, SPEED CONTROL SENSORS BEING REPLACED CONSTANTLY AND TOO MUCH TO LIST. MY VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY IN THE SHOP SOME INCIDENTS COULD BE ACCIDENT CAUSING. I HAVE REPORTED TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MY NEXT STEP IS FILING A PERSONAL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SOLD ME THE VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME, I FEAR THAT MY CHILDREN ARE NOT SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM THE AIR BAG HARNESS WAS REPLACED ONCE IN JULY 2002 UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. *NM
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. *NM
I FIRST HEARD A WHINEING COMING FROM THE REAR OF CAR, IT GRADUALLY GOT LOUDER. DEALER SAYS IT IS REAR WHEEL HUB BEARINGS. *AK
HYUNDAI SONATA HAS FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS. THEY DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE SONATA WAS T BONED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. *JB
THE VEHICLE'S WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY UP. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW WAS NOT EFFICIENT. *TC (HUYNDAI SONATA) *JB
WINDOW REGULATORS
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING WHEELS LOCKED AS IF THE CONSUMER WAS JAMMING THE BRAKES. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES,BUT VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN. THEN, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
MICHELIN SIZE:P205/ 60R15 DOT: WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TREAD SEPARATED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED THEN RESTARTED WHILE IN MOTION. THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING FORM A STAND STILL AND FELT LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THEY FOUND A FAULTY CAM SENSOR WHICH THEY REPLACED. TWO DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING FROM A STANDSTILL AND THEN STARTED STALLING WHEN AT A STOP I.E.RED LIGHTS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ON 6/28 AND THEY CHECKED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY. THEY AGREED WITH THE HESITATION PROBLEM AND SAID THE HISTORY CODE FOR THE CAM SENSOR FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN CLEARED. SEEMED A LITTLE FISHY TO ME. I ASKED IF THIS WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE RESPONSE WAS IF IT DIDN'T GIVE THEM ANOTHER CALL. I SAID WHAT IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT FAILS. THE DEALER SAID " CALL THE ROAD SERVICE NUMBER AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THEM" THAT SEEMED TO ME TO BE A VERY SHORT SIGHTED VIEW OF A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I CANNOT CALL IF I AM KILLED BECAUSE THE CAR STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE?. THEY DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED AND WARRANTED T THE CAR. SEEMS TO ME IT SHOULD BE EMCUMBENT ON THEM TO BACKUP THEIR WARRANTY AND NOT LEAVE IT TO THE RISK OF THE CONSUMER'S LIFE AND LIMB UNTIL THE CAR FINALLY FAILS AT A VERY INOPPORTUNE MOMENT. AS AN OBSERVATION, THIS PROBLEM FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 00V259000 WHICH I COMPLIED WITH. *NM
NOTICED WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM REAR PASSENGER TIRES. WHEN BRAKES AND TIRES CHECKED FOUND REAR BEARINGS WENT OUT. CAR IS NOW IMMOBILE.*AK
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT ON VEHICLE AND NOW FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT. REAR BEARINGS REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE REFUSAL OF REPAIR OF FRONT DUE TO WARRANTY EXPIRED. VEHICLE HAS INCURRED ALL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED ON THIS SITE SINCE PURCHASED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. HISTORY OF VEHICLE AVAILABLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING EXTENDED DISTANCE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN NOTICED WORN WHEEL BEARINGS. VEHICLE IS NOW ON IT'S SIXTH REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *MR
CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE DURING ACCELERATION. CARS HAVE ALMOST HIT ME FROM THE REAR BECAUSE IT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST CUTOFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND NEVER STARTED AGAIN.*AK
AIR BAGS LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON AFTER I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AT RANDUM. AIR/HEATING UNIT STOP WORKING, PUT THE CAR ON THE MACHINE AND NO LIGHT/SIGNS SHOWING ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. HAD THE FORCE FEED BLOWER MOTOR CHANGED AND STILL NOT WORK.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOSES POWER. IT WON'T GO ANY HIGHER THAN 45 TO 50 MPH. DEALER MAINTAINS THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2000 Hyundai Sonata → · Every Sonata year → · How the figures are calculated →