Comments: 1-15, 16-28
Where shall I begin?
The following problems have occurred with my Hyundai Sonata 2001.
Battery died two months after purchase.
Cruise control broke.
Motor died in sunroof.
Motor died in window.
Window fell off track.
Couldn't open truck with inside handle.
Check engine light comes on every month.
Had to have transmission replaced.
Air bag recall.
Fuse replaced for cell phone charger.
Peeling paint on side mirror and door.
The worst part about owning a Hyundai is not the problems that occur. The biggest problem is that the repair centers abuse you. Early in the morning, I would go in for maintenance, oil change, etc. and they keep my car. When I returned that evening, they had not fixed it and gave excuses such as the "Hyundai guy" has not been in today or the "transmission man" already left. They did not want to provide me with a vehicle when it was their fault that my own Hyundai was not fixed. I have taken my car in for service because the check engine light came on and before I drove a mile off the lot, the light was back on again. When I got my transmission replaced, I started the car at the dealership and the car just shook and staggered. They planned for me to drive the car off the lot like that. I finally had to report them to the Hyundai head quarters. I do not know if the repair centers are incapable of fixing the Hyundai cars correctly or they just do not want to. They also kept my car for almost a week in a half trying to figure out what was wrong with it. They did not want to give me a vehicle to drive while they figured out the problem, but they certainly rented me a rental car -total cost about $120 bucks out of my pocket. All my defects were still supposed to be covered under the warranty. Today is May 2, 2004 and my check engine light is on again. I had it checked at auto zone. They say it is a mass airflow sensor problem. Now I have to go back to the repair center. What good is a lengthy warranty when customer service is like what I have experienced?
I have the 2001 Sonata and have the same problem with the Check Engine Light. It keeps goes on every two weeks. They replace the Mass Airflow Sensor twice and still has the same problem.
I don't have the other problems you are experiencing though.
Did you find out what's causing it?
Thanks.
I sympathize with your troubles. I also have a 2001 Sonata. There have been two recalls on parts, both front window motors failed, the paint is peeling on the side, and my check engine light just came on. I'm also on my fourth battery. My dealer has been very good to me, though. I guess it could be worse.
I'm also had many of the similar problems. My Paint is pealing on the drivers side mirror, my drivers window fell off track, and now my transmission went out. I agree that the service at the repair centers is poor. I have received some of the same excuses as mentioned above. "The paint guy isn't in today"
Same here with the check engine light on my Sonata, but I also have a nasty smell when I try to accelerate uphill. I've owned the car less than 2 months and this is the 3rd time the check engine light has come on. Any ideas on what is causing the smell?
I have a 2000 Sonata. Be careful about that smell. I have also checked the National Highway, Traffic and Safety Administration's website and learned that fires have occurred in these vehicles preceded by an "odd" smell. That website is also an eye opener about Hyundai's or any other car. I have decided I will not purchase another car until I research it on this website and also the above website.
They fixed the check engine light by replacing the engine harness. It took them 10 days to do that as parts where not available.
Nasty smell, if its like eggs or sulfer, might be the catalytic converter... this would be covered under the 8year 80000 mile federal warranty (exc. california)
I have a 2001 Sonata with 50k and its reliability compares favorably with the 95 Accord EX I previously owned. I did have problems with battery replacement (get a non-Hyundai battery), driver window regulator and door handle paint peel (the most irritating problem). All, except the paint was repair painlessly. My Honda had a dented trunk that was due to extreme closing pressure required and was never repainted correctly. Power windows that stuck when it rained and leather seats that prematurely wore out at 30K. I still think the Sonata is a great deal and I have bought a XG350 which has been error free except for the Hyundai battery.
I purchased my 2001 Sonata about a year and a half ago. I made it about 3 months then the Hyundai battery died. Then about 2 weeks later the alternator died. Then about a week after that was fixed the check engine light came on. I took it in and it was the air fuel sensor, that was replaced and I made till the next week and the check engine light came on again, I took it right in and they discovered that the new air fuel sensor was bad? That was fixed and then I was good for about a month, then the passenger side back window motor died. I had that fixed and after a couple of weeks the check engine light came on. I took it in and it was the speed sensor. I had that fixed and made it a couple of months, then the passenger front window motor died. It was kind of funny because as things were being repaired and broken, the driver’s side visor broke and the middle console broke, so I asked it that was covered and it was so I had those things replaced also. I thought I was hopefully all done with problems, and I was really hoping because the mileage was at 58K and I knew I didn’t have long before the warranty was over. Well no such luck today I am at 62K and the dreaded check engine light came on and the car is hardly running. Up until now I was under the 60K 5 year bumper to bumper so I haven’t paid a dime to have it repaired. Now I am at 62K and it is basically dead. The service at Larry Miller Hyundai has always been outstanding, the service technician warned me the last time I brought it in that the timing belt is recommended to be replaced at 60K I told her at the time that I would have it done in a few months due to money issues. She warned me if the belt goes it can take out the engine. I am going to have it towed to the dealership to have it repaired. My final review of this car is: I will never own another Hyundai, the warranty is great, but I didn’t like spending my time taking it to the shop all the time. Now that the warranty is over I am really going to hate this car if it continues to be unreliable.
I have owned a 2001 Sonata for the last 5 years and have only recently begun to have any problems with it. The most annoying issue is the paint peeling on the back bumper. My check engine light just recently came on, but this is the first time. Also, I have had no troubles with my battery until just today. All in all, I'd say that for the age of the car, it's held up admirably compared to other cars that I've owned. It does have its issues, but I can't honestly say that it has any more than any other car. I am glad to know that it's not just my paint job that has issues.
I have owned a 2001 Hyundai Sonata for just over 3 years and initially had no problems with the vehicle. Once the car reached the 60K mark it all went to POT. First the Driver and passenger front windows stopped working which was fixed under warranty (59500 Miles). The Factory battery went which is reasonable at 60K. The brakes were completely changed at 55K miles and again at 72K miles. (Calipers, rotors & Brakes) Then starting around 72-73K miles all the big bucks had to be paid due to check engine lights. The first light was for the input speed sensor. ($500) Then the TCM ($400) Then the Crank sensor ($700) Then the Ignition sensor ($300) All these sensors had to be replaced within an 6 month period. This does not include the normal stuff that was taken care of during this period like tires, tune-up, oil changes, radiator flush, etc.
I must say that initially I enjoyed the car, but now it has become nothing more than a money trap. Outside the TCM all the sensors are power-train sensors and should have been under the 10 yr 100k warranty, but, to my surprise the warranty only applies to original owners the second owners only receive 6 yr 60K. This seems to be about the life of the car. I have owned Ford, Chevy, Toyota & GM cars and I've never spent this much on any of these and several of them had 120K plus in miles. One thing I know for sure is that I will not be purchasing another Hyundai nor will I recommend it to anyone. This car only has 82K on it and has cost me over $3000 in the past 6 months.
Oh, one more thing... The paint is peeling on the doors, handles and rear bumper.
If you are thinking about buying a Hyundai...DON'T.
I bought my 2001 Sonata when it was a year old and was impressed with the 60K bumper-to-bumper warranty. Within the first week, the front passenger window fell off track (it was down about an inch and stuck). A few weeks later, the headlights were flickering, so they had to replace those.
The major problems all started when I hit the 60K limit; in fact, I was not even 100 miles over this limit when my check engine light came on. On this very same trip, I had stopped at an ATM and accidentallyy rolled down the back window instead of mine. It wouldn't roll back up. To the shop it went, and the check engine light was because of something with emissions - some canister thingy. There was also a fuel leak and the window regulator needed to be replaced. These repairs were $600. Because I became unemployed this very same week, I opted to skip the check-engine problem and go with the other two (at $400). My check engine light is still on (has been a year now). In the meantime, I've gone through 2 more window regulators ($225 each), for a total of 4 now.
This morning my car would not start. I am guessing it's the battery, but will not have time to look at it until after work. The stereo has been acting goofy (turning itself on all the time), giving error codes, switching from CD to Radio at random times. The transmission has been slipping at times, but still not horrible. The headlights flicker like before (they go very dim for a few seconds then back to normal). The windshield washers are totally rusty and nobody has been able to order them yet. The dealer did not have them in stock.
This car is a total piece of junk. The trade-in value is poor, so I may just give it to a student or something and go buy a new car. I regret very much ever buying a Hyundai and will never do so again.
I really loved this car when it was new and probably wouldn't be complaining if I kept it for only 2 years.
I posted my review yesterday before I read the others and apologize. I was just too upset to think clearly. I only have 55,000 on the car and most of the problems I've experienced happened within the first four years. Here are a few of them.
My battery also had to be replaced much earlier than usual, within the first year or 2.
My window also wouldn't go up after I paid a toll on a highway. I had the window most of the way down and it was pouring rain. Words cannot describe that long ride home. It was obviously off track, but they said it was a common problem in Florida with power windows. I've had a Honda Accord and an Olds Achieva since moving here. Both had power windows and never had this problem.
Then the window on the passenger side also would not go up. This was in 2005 when I had about 40K on it. They told me (this is a quote) "you need to put the windows up and down more often to keep the cables from rusting."
I had less than 40K on the car when all the clearcoat peeled off of my bumper and the dealer said it was out of warranty at 36,000. I had pointed the problem out when it first started, but they told me it was nothing. When it peeled off like skin on a snake, I filed a complaint with Hyundai and got a case number, but no factory rep ever contacted me. After 2 years of calling, I gave up. Now the paint has peeled off of the door handles and many other areas.
The power locks don't work half the time. One rear door lock wouldn't open at all and it took 4 visits to get the correct part. I promise I am not exaggerating. There are only 4 doors and they kept ordering the wrong part to fix one of them.
Yesterday the front passenger door wouldn't open with the remote. I called the dealer and was told that since my warranty expires next week I need to come in, even though I will be starting a new job and have to attend a training class. The service advisor told me that simply reporting the problem won't resolve the warranty issue. He said I need to come in first so that they can remove the door panel and he can make sure the right part is ordered this time "so we don't have the same problems as before." So this repair will take a minimum of 2 trips.
My stereo speakers were great for about 3 years and then started having a lot of static and the sound goes on and off. I am 55 and have never abused the speakers by turning up the volume.
You just reminded me of some things I didn't mention. The engine light went on about a year ago. It occasionally flashes now, but I gave up trying to repair everything that goes wrong with this car. I also have that bad smell people are writing about, but I was told I need a $500 timing belt and I've been unemployed. This car has been a real burden to me.
One thing I usually don't mention is that the brakes have squeaked since I first got the car. I guess we get brainwashed thinking these things are "our fault" after a while. The service advisor told me it was probably sand because I often park at the beach. After about 35,000 miles, the car began to vibrate when braking at high speeds, so I am afraid to drive on the highway. A friend told me that means the rotors are warped. I just don't know what to do any more except warn people.
I have owned the 2001 Hyundai Sonata for 6 months. In that time I have had to bring it back to the dealership because the engine light came on for the following repairs:
-the ignition coil
-the input speed sensor
-the output speed sensor,
and in addition the left passenger window motor stopped working and the window came off track
The last time that I brought the car in for repair I was also informed that I have to take the car to a Hyundai or Chrysler dealership for fluid changes because Hyundai's use special engine and transmission fluids that are not provided any any "Jiffy Lube" type of establishment.
This is very interesting to me. I have the 2001 sonata as well. The check engine light has been coming on for the past 3 yrs. Everytime I try to get it fixed a month or 2 later it comes right back on. Now it is accompanied by almost stalling out everytime I stop at a light or stop sign. I have had the car 5yrs. now I cannot get this problem fixed because my warranty has ran out. How convenient for them. I guess I will wait until my engine blows. That is the only thing covered under the 10 yr warranty.