1997 HYUNDAI SONATA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

FAILURE/BREAKAGE OF PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR AS ADDRESSED IN HYUNDAI TSB 09-01-003 NHTSA ID:10028945 RESULTING IN VISOR BEING UNABLE TO STAY IN POSITION BLOCKING VISIBILITY. *TR

AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CALL HYUNDAI, I AM ABSOLUTELY FED UP WITH EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING. I HAVE "REPAIRED" MY VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO NO AVAIL. AFTER AT LEAST 5, DEFINITELY MORE, TRIPS TO THE MECHANIC I HAVE REPAIRED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, BRAKES, MOTOR MOUNTS, DONE A TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE, AND HAVE HAD TO REPAIR 2 FLYWHEELS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THAT LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE THE GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF PLUGS, FILTERS, AND OIL. I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS ANYMORE. THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY MY VEHICLE, THIS IS MY MOTHERS VEHICLE, BUT REGARDLESS OF WHO'S VEHICLE IT IS, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WHAT IT BASICALLY IS DOING IS WHEN IT REACHES A CERTAIN MILEAGE IT WILL BASICALLY "KICK/JERK/PUSH FORWARD" (FOR A LACK OF TERMS) WHEN IT REACHES 12 MPH AND 32 MPH AND I'M CERTAIN OF OTHERS BUT MY MOTHER VIRTUALLY NEVER DRIVES ABOVE 45 MPH SO ANYTHING ABOVE THAT I'M UNCERTAIN OF. IT ALSO HAS A VERY HARD TIME ACCELERATING TO 20 MPH. ONCE IT'S ABOVE 20 MPH IT'S EASY AND ACCELERATES VERY FAST. MY MOTHER HAS NEARLY BEEN HIT TWICE DUE TO THIS INABILITY TO ACCELERATE AS FAST AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TOO HYUNDAI AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE SAYING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I TOOK IT TOO NUMEROUS DIFFERENT MECHANICS. I AM GETTING 3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS, SOMETHING IN THE FUEL/AIR LINE, ENGINE COMPUTER MODULE, AND TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THESE REPAIRS SO I HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THEM, BUT I AM THINKING THAT THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. THERE ARE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL ITEMS BEING REPORTED WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THIS. IF THIS IS AS NUMEROUS AS I'M SEEING ON HERE, YOU MAY WANT TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. ONCE IS A COINCIDENCE, 5 TIMES IS PHENOMENA, BUT OVER 20 TIMES IS AN EXPLICIT FAILURE BY THE COMPANY, NO MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS 30 DAYS OLD OR 30 YEARS OLD.

1997 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. LEAKING GAS FROM THE UPPER PART OF ON THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TANK IN THE YEAR 2001..AND MY CAR WAS FIXED, HOWEVER IT HAS REOCCURED (SAME PROBLEM). I TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL, DUE TO THE FACT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. I ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTUROR AND THEY WOULD ALSO NOT HONOR. THERE IS ALSO A DEFECT IN THE DOOR LOCK, NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO EVEN OPEN.

RECALL # 00V314001 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA I HAD CALLED DEALER TO ASK OF RECALL THEY HAD INFORMED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES. AND THEY HAD SAID THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. MY QUESTION IS ARE THEY STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. I AM LEAVING THE VIN # ALSO [XXX] PLEASE HELP THANKS. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE POWER LOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE, WHEN PLACING THE KEY INTO THE LOCK THE PASSENGER LOCK WOULD NOT OPEN, WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE ,THE LOCKING DEVICE WOULD NOT LIFT.

RECALL 001V314001 CONCERNING FUEL TANK. AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS DONE CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE ODORS, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON FIVE SEPARATE TIMES BY THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE FOR THE NEXT REPAIRS. *AK

RECALL 00V314001 CONCERNING FUEL TANK. AFTER REFILLING THE FUEL TANK CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. CONTACTED THE DEALER CONCERNING THIS RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

RECALL REGARDING GAS TANK PROBLEM.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER ALL THE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK LEAKED OUT. THE DEALER DID NOT SAVE THE TANK OR INSPECT IT FURTHER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE. SOMETIME IN 2001 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL (00V-314001) REGARDING A GAS TANK PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE

FUEL TANK RECALLS BELOW HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY FIXED. FUEL TANK STILL TAKES ON TOO MUCH PRESSURE AND VEHICLE HAS ALSO FAILED EMISSIONS INSPECTION. WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR HAS FAILED TWICE (CURRENTLY BROKEN). HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH HAS FAILED 4 TIMES.*AK 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA L4-1997CC 2.0L DOHC MFI SAFETY RECALLS TSB NUMBER ISSUE DATE TSB TITLE 01-01-004 MAR 01 RECALL - CANISTER AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT EMISSIONS RECALLS TSB NUMBER ISSUE DATE TSB TITLE 01-01-004-1 APR 01 RECALL - CANISTER AIR INTAKE/FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT

AFTER MAKING SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK RECALL 00V314001 PERFORMED THE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER DEALERSHIPS TRIED TO FIX MULIPLE TIMES. I HAVE SPEND ABOUT 3,000 DALLORS OF MY MONEY TO FIX THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS FINALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR WANTS TO STALL AT A STOP AND THE IDLE JUMPS AROUD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE CAR REALLY ACTS UP WHEN YOU HAVE THE A/C ON.*AK

MY VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS DUT TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET TO PAY FOR A COMPANY'S MISHAP. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT LOW SPEED, UNDER 5 MPH, KILLING FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.*AK THE SONATA HIT THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE DEPLOYING BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT BAG. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN IF THE 5 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS BELTED. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT BELIEVE THE CHILD WAS. THE CHILD SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE NECK, SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND BRAIN DAMAGE. THE CHILD WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.CW

Crash 1 injured 1 deaths

THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER NOTICED A GASOLINE ODOR. THIS RECALL FAILED . *TT

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN AGAINST DIFEO HYUNDAI, HUDSON MALL, RT. 440, JERSEY CITY, NJ. I HAD THE FOLLOWING RECALLS DONE ON MY HYUNDAI SONATA 97 (VIN [XXX]) FROM DIFEO IN JANUARY, 03: NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 97V026000. NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 00V314001 DIFEO HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AS A PART OF THE RECALL. SOON AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE, I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WAS STUCK ON THE UPPER END. SPOKE TO DIFEO SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON 2/14/03 AND TOOK AN APPTMENT FOR 2/18/03 MORNING. CONFIRMED THE APPTMENT BEFORE LEAVING ON 2/18/03. HOWEVER, ON REACHING THE SERVICE CENTER I WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSED FOR THE DAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME DIFEO HAS SHOWN SUCH UNPROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE IN SERVICING THE RECALL. 1.WHEN I APPROACHED DIFEO THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER 2002, THE DEALER REFUSED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A RECALL. HAD TO HAVE HYUNDAI USA CALL THEM UP TO INFORM ABOUT THE RECALL. 2.AFTER THIS WHEN I WENT TO THE SERVICE CENTER ON 1/11/03 THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE (MIKE), AGAIN REFUSED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A RECALL. 3.AGAIN HAD TO GO BACK TO HYUNDAI USA FOR HELP. HAD [XXX] AT 1800 633 5151 X [XXX] TALK TO [XXX]. ONLY THEN DID DIFEO AGREE TO SERVICE THE RECALL. 4.FINALLY DROPPED OFF THE CAR ON 1/25/03. MIKE FROM DIFEO INFORMED ME THE SAME EVENING THAT THE CAR WAS READY FOR PICKUP. HOWEVER, ON REACHING THE SERVICE CENTER I WAS INFORMED THAT CAR WAS NOT READY YET AND THE GAS TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. 5.FINALLY THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. AM SURE THE PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGE HAS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF DIFEO'S POOR WORKMANSHIP. I AM APPREHENSIVE IF DRIVING THE CAR IN ITS PRESENT STATE MIGHT ENDANGER MY SAFETY. DIFEO WAS HESITANT TO SERVICE THE RECALL IN THE BEGINNING AND WHEN FORCED, DID A SHODDY JOB OUT OF IT. I DEMAND THAT DIFEO PICK UP THE CAR FROM MY RESIDENCE AND DROP IT BACK AFTER DOING A THOROUGH JOB OF THE RECALL. I REQUEST YOU TO GET ME SOME RELIEF FROM THIS HARASSMENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED AND LEAKED GASOLINE. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #97V026000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GAS WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT LEAK CAME FROM THE UPPER PART OF THE FUEL TANK.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, DEALER SAID TIMING BELT BROKE AND CAUSED THE CRANK SENSOR AND TIMING SENSOR TO BREAK, HOWEVER AFTER REPAIRS THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE STARTER, BUT POSSIBLY WITH THE HEAD. *YD

RECALL 00 V 314 001/FUEL TANK: RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE IN APRIL 27, 2001, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK WHEN CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER THAT FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL REPAIRS, THEY INDICATED THAT THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY CONSUMER'S PERSONAL MECHANIC AND WOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF EXCESSIVE VACCUM NOR REPLACE THE FUEL TANK WITHOUT CHARGE. *TT

CONSUMER STATES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES CAUSING VEHICLE UNABLE TO STOP.

FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS AND A FUEL SMELL IS PRESENT. 1) IN DEC 2000 AND MAR 2001 FUEL TANK REPLACED BECAUSE OF CRACKS ON TOP OF FUEL TANK; 2) IN APRIL 2001 SERVICE FOR RECALL 00V314001 WAS PERFORMED; 3) IN OCTOBER 2001 FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM A SEAL BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND A PIPE, LEADING TO ENGINE, RESULTING IN FUEL TANK BEING REPLACED FOR FOURTH TIME AND 4) IN NOVEMBER 2001 FUEL SMELL WAS PRESENT AGAIN AND DEALERSHIP WAS DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. *AK THE FUEL GAUGE OPERATION STAYS ON FULL THEN DROPS DRASTICALLY DUE TO FUEL SENDER/PUMP FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GAS TANK CAP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO PURGE VALVE FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *YH

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; WHEN APPLING GEAR IN REVERSE THERE IS A HARD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED FAULTY O2 SENSOR. FAULTY BATTERY CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRANK SLOW. DRIVER DOOR WINDOW MOVES SLOW, DEALER LUBRICATED GLASS CHANNEL. OUTER CV BOOT REPLACED, IT WAS CRACKED. SOLENOID VALVE FAULTY CAUSING POOR GAS MILEAGE. *SLC

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

CONSUMER REAREND VEHICLE WITH A 25 MPH IMPACT WITH APPLYING BRAKES. DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHOULDER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD AGAINST STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER WILL CONTACTED DEALER TO DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

Crash

CONSUMER REAREND VEHICLE WITH A 25 MPH IMPACT WITH APPLYING BRAKES. DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHOULDER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD AGAINST STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER WILL CONTACTED DEALER TO DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

Crash

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. NLM

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL, DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL TANK FIVE TIMES, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED, A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *AK.*JB

WHEN CONSUMER USES HAZARD LIGHTS AND THEN USE IT AGAIN SIGNAL LIGHTS GO OUT. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED AT 3708, SECOND TIME 6000 MILES, AND THIRD TIME AT 59,000. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER HAS TO CHANGE HAZARD LIGHTS AGAIN. *AK

SINCE WE HAVE OWNED VEHICLE - 9/98-TO PRESENT ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON CAUSING LACK OF POWER- SMOKE-VIBRATION - TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON FIVE OCCASIONS WITH NO REAL FIX TO PROBLEM -TWO TIMES WE LEFT DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN TWO MILES LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. *AK

FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED AT SEAMS, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL TANK TWICE.*AK

OBSERVED GAS LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP UPON INSPECTION TANK WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK ON THE SIDE NEAR THE TOP SPOKE TO DEALER NOT THINKING THIS WAS A WARRANTY PROBLEM WAS INFORMED FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED ON JULY OF 99 WAITING FOR AN ANSWER ABOUT REPLACING TANK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE JERKS AND RPM LINE GOES UP IN DOWN. THEN VEHICLE STARTS SLOWING DOWN, AND WILL SHUTDOWN. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP VEHICLE IN NEUTRALTO KEEP IT IN ORDER. *AK

EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ACCELLERATION ON HIGHWAY. WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 40 MPH OR MORE IT APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING IN NEUTRAL, AND CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL FREE TOPROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATION. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL OT GO INTO REVERSE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, TRANSMISSION NEES REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK