2001 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls

2001 HYUNDAI SONATA PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DUE TO CONNECTOR MOUNTED UNDER SEAT HAD JIGGLED LOOSE

Owner-reported narrative. 20,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000143 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 30 MPH HIT HER, AND THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH DEALERSHIP STATED AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 5 MPH. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 31,396 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002128 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SEAT LATCH WHICH DOESN'T LOCK INTO POSITION WHEN IT IS RE-ADJUSTED, THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER MENTIONED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002468 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES THERE WAS A NOISE DUE TO A FAULTY CALIPER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS, CHANGE ROTORS PADS BUT UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002528 at NHTSA ↗

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008762 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE MAKING LOUD TICKING NOISE/LOSES POWER/QUITS. REPEATED REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIPS (JIM ELLIS HYUNDAI-[phone removed]) FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761399

Owner-reported narrative. 19,114 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008835 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY PULL. *JB THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT HIGH SPEEDS(DUE TO WARPED ROTORS), A TAP NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE AT THE SPEED OF 60 MPH. THE TIMING BELT, THE BROKEN COUNTER BALANCE, AND THE MISSING TIMING BELT TEETH WERE REPLACED. *SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009262 at NHTSA ↗

EXCESSIVE DUST ENTERED THE TRUNK THROUGH A VENT AND SEEPED THROUGH THE PASSENGER CABIN.*JB....*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010003 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-11-06 (November 6, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COULD ILLUMINATE DUE TO MOTION OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR THAT MOUNT TO THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG(S).

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MORE SECURELY FASTEN THE FRONT SEAT SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTORS TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT CUSHION FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL OCCUR IN SIX MAILINGS ON MAY 27, JUNE 3, JUNE 10, JUNE 17, JUNE 24, AND JULY 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2002-04-09 (April 9, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION THAT LEADS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION COULD RESULT FROM MOTION OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WHICH MOUNT TO THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND COULD PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR.

Consequence: NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MORE SECURELY FASTEN THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTORS TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT CUSHION FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2009-04-16 (April 16, 2009)

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 188,282 MY 2001-2004 SONATA AND MY 2001-2004 XG300 AND XG350 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT IN THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL. THE CORROSION IS FREQUENTLY VISIBLE AND OFTEN DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND OWNERS MAY ALSO HEAR NOISES OR NOTICE TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. IF THESE SIGNALS ARE UNDETECTED OR UNHEEDED, THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY DETACH FROM THE SUB-FRAME.

Consequence: IF THAT HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND THE FRONT WHEEL MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FENDER OR WHEEL WELL, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME FOR CORROSION DAMAGE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW SUB-FRAME THAT INCORPORATES ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME DOES NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE SUB-FRAME AND WILL TREAT THE SUB-FRAME WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO STOP THE CORROSION PROCESS. THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.