2005 Hyundai Sonata

THE ENGINE CRADLE AND BOTH REAR UPPER STRUT MOUNTS ARE CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ITS DRIVER, OCCUPANTS, AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. IT WILL NOT PASS THE ANNUAL PENNSYLVANIA SAFETY INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME (THE OWNER) AT LEAST ONE LARGE HOLE IN THE CRADLE (SILVER-DOLLAR SIZED) AS WELL AS LONG THREE-FINGER WIDE HOLES IN THE UPPER REAR STRUT MOUNTS. (THIS IS SIMILAR TO A PROBLEM THAT I ENCOUNTERED IN 2010 IN MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA (REAR SUSPENSION ONLY IN THAT CAR), REPORTED TO THE NTHSB AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECTIFIED BY HYUNDAI USA.) MOREOVER, THIS IS SIMILAR TO PROBLEMS CITED IN ROBERT D'ELIA V. HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY AND HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA AND RECTIFIED IN A SUBSEQUENT SETTLEMENT AND RECALL. THIS CONCERNS A CAR WITH 100XXX MILES ON THE ODOMETER. CAR WAS UNDERCOATED BY DEALERSHIP AT POS. DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY IN A SALT-BELT STATE. N.B. - THE 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA SUB-FRAME IS IDENTICAL TO THE 2002 - 2004 SUBFRAMES.

I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO CHANGE OIL ON 1/9/2018 AND HE DISCOVERED A BIG HOLE (BIGGER THAN THE FIST-SIZE) ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE CAR DUE TO RUSTING AND SEVERE CORROSION (PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED PICTURE FOR MORE DETAILS). THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. HE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED ME TO GO TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THIS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. RIGHT AFTER THAT, I CALLED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE A WARRANTY AND IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL BASED ON THE VIN, SO THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I GOT THE SAME ANSWER FROM THE DEALER AT HYUNDAI DAVIS IN NJ. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND 2 RECALLS ISSUED BY HYUNDAI FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE STARTED IN 2009 WITH THE NHTSA RECALL ID # 09V124000 (INCLUDING 1999-2004 HYUNDAI SONATA) AND ANOTHER ONE IN 2013 WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 13V354000 (INCLUDING 2006-2010 SONATA). HOWEVER, HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICES CAN'T PROVIDE ANY EXPLANATIONS WHY 2005 SONATA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TWO RECALLS. ACCORDING TO THE NEWS ONLINE, 'THE RECALL, LIMITED TO AMERICA'S SO-CALLED "SALT BELT" STATES, IS CENTERED AROUND POTENTIALLY EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME DUE TO WINTER ROAD SALT APPLICATIONS. IF UNNOTICED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY SEPARATE FROM ITS MOUNT.' 'ROAD SALT AND WATER CAN ENTER PORTIONS OF THE REAR CROSSMEMBER, LEADING TO CORROSION OF THE CROSSMEMBER STEEL. THIS MAY LEAD TO DETACHMENT OF ONE OF THE REAR CONTROL ARMS. CONTROL ARM SEPARATION MAY SUDDENLY CHANGE THE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AFFECTING THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.' IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THE CAR, HOWEVER, CURRENTLY, I STILL HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR ON HIGHWAY TO WORK ON A DAILY BASIS SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED LESTER GLENN HYUNDAI AT 732-451-3016 AND WAS INFORMED OF THE COST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT A RECALL, BUT IT WAS NOT ON HIS SPECIFIC YEAR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. *TT UPDATED 8/22/18*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPPEDS OR SWITCHING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLEN TURNER HYUNDAI (6000 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505 (850) 479-9667) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) ONLINE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCULED IN THE RECALL AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,050.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A SQUEALING TYPE NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BECAME WORN. AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT TIRE, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME HAD SUSTAINED SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS PREMATURELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, WHICH EXCLUDED THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT PROVIDED NO REMEDY TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OTHER THAN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.