Page 4 of 4 · complaints 151–165 of 165

2005 Hyundai Sonata complaints

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 2005 record →

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 18, 200718,300 milesCA

VEHICLE CRASH (1). VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. VEHICLE GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTION, MAKES LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE (1). DRIVERS EXITS VEHICLE (1) CAR BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE SMOKE "FEAR OF FIRE AND TRIED TO GET AWAY FROM CAR. SAMARITANS ASSIST DRIVER TO BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE (1) FOR A PLACE TO SIT AWAITING RESCUE/PARAMEDICS. ONCE DRIVER WAS SEATED IN THE BACK SEAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND VEHICLE (1) WAS TOTALED, AND DRIVER WAS IN STABLE CONDITION, BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED DURING IMPACT? *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Apr 16, 200730,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PART IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE AIR BAG MODULE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE LENGTH OF WAITING TIME WAS TOO LONG. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › RetractorCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 16, 2007TX

SEAT BELT INJURY. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 27, 200727,286 milesMI

CAR RAN STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF ME. HIT OTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DIRECTLY ON ITS FRONT AXLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF SONATA IN EXCESS OF $4000. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 6, 200618,000 milesPA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT STALLED AGAIN AFTER IT WAS SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH IDENTIFIED CAUSE CODE #15 AND REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLY, WIRE REPAIR TIME (MAJOR), COIL ASSEMBLY, IGNITION COIL ADD SCAN TOOL OPERATIONS. A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2006CA

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 12/2005 FROM A NON-HYUNDAI DEALER. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE CAR PERIODICALLY DID NOT SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. IT SHUDDERS FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN GOES OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND HAVE BEEN TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER MORE THAN 3 TIMES WITH THIS COMPLAINT BEGINNING FEBRUARY/2006. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CAR VIBRATES/REVS UP WHEN AT A RED LIGHT. THIS IS VERY IRRITATING SINCE THE VIBRATION ALSO GOES THROUGH TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSES MY ARMS AND HANDS TO VIBRATE ALSO. INITIALLY, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THIS WAS NORMAL - HOWEVER I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OF THIS WHEN I RENTED THE SAME TYPE OF CAR LAST YEAR. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A LOOSE ENGINE MOUNT. I THEN HAD TWO EXPERIENCES WITHIN ONE WEEK WHERE THE CAR DID NOT START - LIGHTS, RADIO, A/C STILL CAME ON - BUT THE CAR DID NOT START. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FIRST TIME, THEY CHANGED A RELAY AND THE SECOND TIME, AFTER KEEPING THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK THEY CHANGED THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX. I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STARTING SINCE, HOWEVER THE VIBRATION IS GETTING WORSE, THE CAR STILL DOES NOT SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY, AND NOW IT REVS TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO PULL OFF BEFORE I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. I PULLED A CAR HISTORY REPORT THAT REVEALED THAT THE CAR FAILED EMISSIONS, HAD A LEFT DOOR REPLACED, AND HAD A STARTER ASSEMBLY REPLACED. NONE OF THIS WAS DISCLOSED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Jun 13, 20063,000 milesPA

HUSBAND DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, CAR IN FRONT OF HIM STOPPED; BRAKES ON SONATA FAILED-HIT BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT SONATA STILL DID NOT STOP; CAR WAS AT THE DEALER (SAVAGE HYUNDAI) THE WEEK BEFORE FOR INSPECTION AND ALL WAS FINE; HUSBAND HIT CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AND THAT PERSON HIT ANOTHER CAR. IN ADDITION, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS $6700 WORTH OF FRONT END DAMAGE; TOLD DEALER-SAID HIGH HIT; CALLED HYUNDAI-IMPLIED DAMAGE WAS HIGH AND PERHAPS AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BUT MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT; SAID WE NEEDED PICTURES, ETC.; CAR WAS AT THE HYUNDAI DEALER BEING FIXED; BOTH HYUNDAI DEALER AND HYUNDAI CORPORATE NOT MAKING THINGS EASY. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 11, 200626,185 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT TRIED TO AVOID AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE CONTACT'S HEAD BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD. ONLY MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND FILED A WRITTEN REPORT. ADDITIONAL, PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS TO THE PARKED VEHICLE. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - *NM

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Mar 3, 20068,060 milesPA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS. THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR BODY REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE BRAKES. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED. UPDATED 03/22/06*JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 22, 200510 milesTN

BOUGHT 2005 HYUANDI ON 12/8/04. EXPERIENCED VIBRATION ON 12/9/05 TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND TENNESSEE, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE MOTOR IN CAR NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. TOOK CAR BACK 3 DAYS LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM VIBRATION, THEY SAID THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR BACK ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS AND THEY CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE IN THE CAR. FINALLY A REPRESENTATIVE WAS CALLED IN TO LOOK AT THE CAR HE HAD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CAR TO HAVE A VIBRATION WHEN SITTING STILL AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED THAT HOLD THE ENGINE IN. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 5, 2005CA

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AT 30-35 MPH WHEN I HAD A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT IN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE, THE BLOW OUT CAUSED MY AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY WHICH HAD KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS FOR A FEW MOMENTS. AFTER CONTACTING HYUNDAI, THEY ADMITTED THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE ON THEIR 2005 SONATAS, THEY HAVE NOT HOWEVER ISSUED A RECALL OR A NOTICE TO CONSUMERS WARNING THEM OF THE POSSIBLE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. AFTER BEING UNCONSCIOUS, I HIT 3 PARKED CARS AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL MY CAR UPSIDE DOWN. *NM

Seats
Filed Aug 31, 20053,000 milesOH

I HAVE A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA, BOUGHT NEW. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MOVES FORWARD AND BACKWARD ON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED ON BRAKING. THE SEAT SLIDES ABOUT 4 INCHES FORWARD WITH BRAKING OVER 25 MPH. I TOOK IT TO GANLEY HYUNDAI ON BROOKPARK ROAD IN PARMA OHIO FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS FIXED, BUT IT STILL SLIDES. IF THE MANAGER SAYS IT IS FIXED, AND IT STILL MOVES, TO ME THIS MEANS IT IS UNREPAIRABLE. ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR IS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BLOCKS OUT ENTIRE CARS FROM VIEW. IT IS MUCH TOO LARGE FOR THE SIZE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Aug 5, 2005MD

I PURCHASED A HYUNDAI SONATA 2005 ABOUT A MONTH A 1/2 AGO WELL AFTER A MONTH OF DRIVING THE CAR I STARTED HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I STARTED HAVING WAS UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT GETS HOT ON MY LEGS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE GETS HOT ALSO IT GETS SO HOT THAT I HAVE TO TURN ON MY AIR TO COOL IT OFF. MY RADIO STARTED MAKING NOISE IT WOULD SOUND LIKE SOMEONE WAS BLOWING INTO THE SPEAKERS. AND FROM TIME TO TIME MY BRAKES WILL SQUEAK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND JUST BECAUSE THESE THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN THEY CHECKED IT OUT THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I WAS ALSO TOLD WHEN THE PROBLEMS START AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WHAT IF THE DEALER IS CLOSED OR ONCE I GET THERE THE PROBLEMS STOP? I COULD BE OUT OF TOWN WHEN THE PROBLEMS START AGAIN. AND THEY DID START AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN I PICKED MY DAUGHTER UP FROM WORK I HAD MY WINDOWS DOWN AND HAD TO TURN THE AIR ON SO IT COULD COOL OF UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP REALLY MADE ME MAD. *NM

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 28, 2005WI

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BEFORE IMPACT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART FAILED BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP. THE TIE ROD END WAS BENT. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH HEARD LIKE A CRACK, AND THEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND VEHICLE HIT A PARKED CAR. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL ON PAVEMENT. THERE WAS NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL OR HUB CAP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT NORMAL DRIVING. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 14, 20054,000 milesFL

WINDSHIELD GLASS ON TWO HYUNDAI CARS, SCRATCH TOO EASILY: 2002 XG350, 2005 SONATA. APPEAR TO BE MULTIPLE CAT SCRATCHES.*AK

Reading these

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.

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