Fuel Injection Type: Stoichiometric gasoline direct injection (SGDI)
Make: HYUNDAI
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC (HATCI)
Manufacturer Id: 1034
Model: Sonata
Model Year: 2013
Plant Company Name: Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: Alabama
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: GLS/ GLS Popular
Series2: YFA
TPMS: Direct
Valve Train Design: Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2011
STEERING
THE CAR WILL NOT HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT, HIGHWAY: AFTER CENTERING THE CAR IN IT'S LANE, THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY AND RANDOMLY: 1.DRIFTS AWAY FROM THE CENTER LINE, TOWARD ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER; 2.THE DIRECTION OF THE DRIFT APPEARS TO BE RANDOM AND UNPREDICTABLE; 3.THE AMPLITUDE (AMOUNT / SEVERITY) OF THE DRIFT IS RANDOM AND UNPREDICTABLE, BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS A CRASH WOULD BE GUARANTEED WITHOUT DRIVER INTERVENTION WITHIN 3 TO 5 SECONDS; 4.THE TIMING OF THE DRIFT PATTERN IS CONSTANT: IT NEVER FOLLOWS A STRAIGHT LINE FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS BEFORE STARTING TO WANDER AGAIN. TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER IS FORCED TO CONSTANTLY ATTEMPT TO CORRECT FOR THIS DEVIATION, BUT THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THE DRIFT PATTERN RESULTS IN A DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE OSCILLATION AS THE CAR WANDERS BACK AND FORTH CONTINUOUSLY. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN A MOMENTARY LAPSE IN THE TOTAL CONCENTRATION REQUIRED TO CORRECT FOR THIS CONSTANT STEERING DRIFT COULD EASILY RESULT IN A FATAL CRASH. THE DEALER HAS TEST-DRIVEN THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS EASILY DUPLICATED, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR IT. THEY SAY THAT THIS KIND OF STEERING DRIFT IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED IN AN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM. THAT KIND OF REASONING WOULD BE LAUGHABLE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE POTENTIAL FATALITY INHERENT IN THE DESIGN. *TR
2013
STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE PLASTIC TABS ON THE LEFT SIDE BUMPER COVER (SO CALLED BUMPER) BROKE COMPLETELY OFF WHEN IT APPEARS THAT THE L- SHAPED LIP OF THE PLASTIC SHIELD UNDER THE CAR RUB UP AGAINST A PARKING CURVE. THE BOTTOM OF THE BUMPER OR THE SHIELD UNDERNEATH THE CAR WAS NOT SCRATCHED TO INDICATE THAT THE CAR DRAGGED ON THE CURVE. THE DEALER STATED THE L-SHAPED LIP OF THE SHIELD RUBBED UPON THE CURVE AND LIFTED THE BUMPER CAUSING THE TABS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUMPER TO BREAK OFF. THE CAR WILL NEED A NEW PAINTED BUMPER INSTALLED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AS THE PLASTIC TABS ARE MOLDED TO THE BUMPER COVER. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT WOULD DO ANY DAMAGE IF THE CAR SHIELD SCRAPED A PARKING CURVE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TOY BATTERY OPERATED CAR BREAK LIKE THIS IF IT HIT OR SCRAPED AN OBJECT. IT APPEARS IF I RAN OVER A BOTTLE, PIECE OF WOOD, GRAVEL, ETC.,IN THE ROAD AND IT HIT THIS SHIELD, IF COULD BREAK THIS BUMPER COVER. I DID NOT PAY OVER $30,000 FOR A TOY? THE SHIELD (SHOULD BE OTHER THAN BENDABLE PLASTIC) UNDER THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE BOLTED TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND NOT THE BUMPER COVER. WHEN I PUSHED THE SHIELD UNDER THE CAR, THE WHOLE BUMPER COVER LIFTS UP! THIS IS NOT A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD BE ON THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD! THIS CAR WILL NOT MEET THE 0 MILES PER HOURS TEST IN A CRASH UNDER ANY FEDERAL REGULATIONS SAFETY TESTS. HOW COULD THE MANUFACTURER BE ALLOWED TO PUT THIS CAR ON THE MARKET? I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER FURTHER AND, ALSO, WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE INSPECT THIS CAR. BECAUSE IT IS SO FRAGILE, I AM SORT OF AFRAID TO DRIVE IT!. *TR