2003 HYUNDAI SONATA Complaints

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS PROPERLY DEPLOYED IT ONLY FELL OUT OF THE SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND IT DEPLOYED FLAT NO AIR IN IT OR NOTHING. MY FIANCEE WAS INJURED AS WELL AS MYSELF AND WE ARE CURRENTLY BEING TREATED FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE ACCIDENT... *JS

HYUNDAI HAS A RECALL, #73999, EFFECTIVE 4/9/2004, FOR DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLES WHERE THE COVERING PEELS/SPLINTERS OFF LEAVING THE OCCUPANTS SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE LACERATIONS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS OCCURRING ALTHOUGH WE WERE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL UNTIL RECENTLY.THE HYUNDAI SUPPORT LINE 1-800-633-5151 TELLS US NO SUCH RECALL IS APPLICABLE TO THIS VEHICLE. WE GIFTED THIS CAR TO MY SENIOR MOTHER-IN-LAW ([XXX]). ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS LICENSED /TITLED/REGISTERED IN HER NAME IT IS STILL LISTED UNDER OUR NAME W/HYUNDAI. THE SURFACE OF THE HANDLES IS AS SHARP AS RAZOR BLADES. WE'D LIKE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED BEFORE SHE HURTS HERSELF. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TWO DAYS AFTER MY GRANDMOTHER PURCHASED A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN IT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND AS A RESULT, SHE BROKE HER BREAST BONE AND AS OF TODAY, IS STILL HOSPITALIZED FROM THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NO ACCIDENT, DEALER SAYS RECALL#09V124000 IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO ORIGINAL OWNER AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT,,,SOUNDS WRONG ?????? *TR

IN 2005, I PURCHASED A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR, I FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL VALVE THAT THE COMPANY HAD TO RE-INSTALL. THIS RECALL INFORMATION WAS NOT ON MY CARFAX REPORT. LATER, THE MANUFACTURER HAD A RECALL ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES THAT PEELED AND CUT HANDS. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO WRAP MY HANDLES WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE; AFTER MY OBJECTION, THEY INSTALLED THE SAME RECALLED HANDLES. I'VE HAD MY INTERIOR HANDLES REPLACED THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DIDN'T MAKE THE HANDLES OUT OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL AND CHOOSES TO REINSTALL THE SAME RECALLED HANDLE. ON NOVEMBER 22ND, I WENT TO CAPITOL HYUNDAI TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE RECALLED FUEL VALVE, AND INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. A SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT ONCE THE COMPANY REPLACES ANY RECALLED ITEMS THE FIRST TIME, IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THEM IF THEY FAIL AGAIN. SURELY, THIS CANNOT BE CORRECT! RECALLS DO NOT EXPIRE AND AS LONG AS THE OWNER HAS THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IF THEIR MATERIALS ARE CONTINUOUSLY FAILING TO MEET SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. WHAT ARE FOLKS MAKING PAYMENTS OR CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE NOW SUPPOSED TO DO? DRIVE AROUND IN A DANGEROUS VEHICLE? BE IT 1 TIME OR 1 MILLION TIMES, I WANT CAPITOL HYUNDAI TO INDEFINITELY HONOR THEIR RECALLS--AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

BELT GETS STUCK, JAMMED, DOUBLED OVER JAMMED, IN BELT GUIDE ATTACHED TO CAR (PILLAR) ABOVE SHOULDER. BELT CAN NOT RETRACT TO SNUG POSITION. THIS DEFEATS PURPOSE OF HAVING SEAT BELT. HAPPENS REPEATEDLY. IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT TO UNRAVEL TO GET BELT TO WORK PROPERLY. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND SHE HAS STOPPED TELLING ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DRIVES AROUND WITH BELT IN JAMMED POSITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

I WAS INFORMED THIS VEHICLE HAS A ONE-WAY SAFETY VALVE IN THE FUEL FILLER NECK THAT WHEN WORKING PROPERLY WILL PREVENT FUEL FROM ESCAPING SHOULD THERE BE A ROLL OVER. THIS VALVE MUST BE STUCK IN THE PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION SINCE IF CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTION WHEN FUELING THE CAR. WHEN FUELING THE CAR, FUEL DOES NOT FLOW PROPERLY AND ONLY ACCEPTS HALF GALLON AT A TIME BEFORE THE FUEL HANDLE SHUTS OFF. THEN I MUST WAIT FOR THE GAS IN THE FILLER NECK TO DROP BEFORE I CAN CONTINUE TO FUEL VEHICLE AND THEN CONTINUALLY REPEAT THIS PROCESS. THOUGH VERY TIME CONSUMING TO FILL IT UP, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE VALVE DOES NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED. I WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST OVER $600 TO REPLACE THIS VALVE AND I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE CONSUMER HAS NO CONTROL THAT WOULD INFLUENCE THE VALVE'S PROPER FUNCTIONALITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME COVERING ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WAS CORRODED AND CRACKED, WHICH CREATED SHARP EDGES ON THE HANDLE. WHEN USING THE DOOR HANDLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SCRATCHES AND SMALL LACERATIONS DUE TO THE SHARP EDGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V317000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.