2005 Hyundai Sonata

DIRECT REPLY - LETTER FROM SENATOR BROWN INQUIRY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING HYUNDAI RECALL. *SMD 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A MAINTENANCE CHECK, THE MECHANIC FOUND THE SUB-FRAME UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE KNOWN AS THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS BADLY CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT SIGNIFICANT METAL IN THE SUB-FRAME WAS GONE; PERHAPS MORE THAN 50% GONE AT ON E LOCATION. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE CONSUMERS MODEL YEAR. HOWEVER, A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR OTHER YEARS. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 09V124000. *JB

COMPLAINT INVOLVES PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN TO AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT PLACES TO ATTEMPT GET THIS DIAGNOSED- THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER 5 MONTHS. CAR HAS BEEN EXCELLENT UNTIL THE PAST FEW MONTHS. ENGINE IS FINE. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE THERE IS SOME KIND OF SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE CAR TURNS OFF. NO WARMING. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT- AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS THE CAR GOES COMPLETELY DARK. SOMETIMES YOU CAN SORT OF GLIDE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMETIMES THE SHORT HAPPENS AND THEN WHATEVER IS NOT WORKING WILL RECONNECT AND THE CAR WILL NOT TOTALLY SHUT OFF. IT IS VERY DISTURBING AND FRIGHTENING. SOMETIMES MY CAR COMPLETELY DIES IN TRAFFIC- IT MIGHT BE DEAD FOR 20 OR SO MINUTES AND THEN WILL ALL OF SUDDEN RESTART AND I CAN MAKE IT HOME. I HAVE BEEN TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO HAS TAKEN CARE OF THIS CAR FOR YEARS HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. TOOK TO A HYUNDAI GARAGE/ DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN THERE 3 TIMES- THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THIS WEEK TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT FEEL VERY UNSAFE. I NO LONGER DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I FEEL SO UNSAFE. IF THERE IS ANY HELP OR DIRECTION YOU CAN GIVE TO HELP DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN SONATAS IT WOULD BE WELCOME. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR HE PAST 4 MONTHS- SOMETIMES MY CAR DIES 7 TO 8 TIMES A DAY- SOMETIMES IT RUNS PERFECTLY. *TR

LETTER FROM SENATOR PORTMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, HIS DAUGHTER NOTICED SOME UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS AND NOISE WHILE DRIVING. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THE SUB-FRAME UNDER THE FRONT END ALSO CALLED THE CRADLE, WAS BADLY CORRODED TO THE EXTENT THAT SIGNIFICANT METAL IN THE SUB-FRAME WAS GONE;PERHAPS MORE THAN 50% GONE AT ONE LOCATION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE VERY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T APPLY TO THE 2005 MODEL. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR, STATING THE MODEL WAS NOT COVERED. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 09V124000. *JB

THE SUB FRAME IN THE FRONT RUSTED OUT JUST LIKE THE SALT BELT 1999-2004 THE CAR HAS ONLY TWO SPOTS OF RUST AT THE BACK FENDER. NO OTHER RUST I TOOK IT TO A SERVICE STATION BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT HE LIFTED THE CAR AND THE SUB FRAME IS ROTTED OUT JUST LIKE THEY DID ON THE 1999-2004 BUT HYUNDAI WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE ITS A 2005 I THINK THE PART IS THE SAME AS THE 2004 AND THEY CANT TELL ME THAT AND WONT HELP ME.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FENDER BENDER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND RELEASED A LOT OF TINY METAL CRYSTALS. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.