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2011 Hyundai Sonata

5326 messages,  Last post on Feb 15, 2013 at 11:34 AM

You are in the Hyundai Sonata Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Future Vehicle, Sedan

Messages Page 531 of 533

#5300 of 5326 More than usual problems / time for new car? by toughoncars

Nov 15, 2012 (10:20 am)

Hi everyone
 
I have a 2011 Sonata GLS with popular equipment package. It was one of the first off the line, bought in May of 2010 (very close to sticker price, ). Now has about 35k miles on it so well within warranty still. My first Hyundai. I've had Nissan, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen and Chrysler (!) before, never a new car this bad. I have had a ton of problems with it and I now think it is a lemon and am not sure I can rely on it. I would like some feedback on:
 
A) should I change it right away,
B) is this experience typical for Hyundai.
 
Problems:
1) Steering recall and other recalls from first models.
2) Pathetic horn (moped horn?) eventually stopped working altogether. Fixed under warranty with better horn but not before an eighteen wheeler nearly crushed me while I was frantically banging on the horn.
3) Uneven tread wear means nasty Kumho tires are very very loud, adding to already high noise level on freeway. Probably toe-in problem but dealer won't fix. Dealer blamed dealer in previous state for not rotating tires on schedule (I am sure this was done). Now ready for new tires, but I don't want to invest in Michelins as I am not expecting to keep the car much longer.
4) Carpet in drivers footwell (in front of floor mat) has hole worn in it already. Not fixed.
5) Underneath engine cover fell off in parking lot. Probably stupid dealership did not reattach correctly, but could be symptom of another problem (why was it unbolted in first place?).
6) Brake sensor faulty and replaced under warranty (was causing activation of traction control along with other problems).
7) Concerned about bearing noise hidden by tire noise - sounds like rear bearing is going and that wheel hub is noticeably rusty.
8) As with other early models, lower Fed crash test ratings.
 
So, bad experience with both the car and with two separate Hyundai dealerships. If other people's Hyundais are better, maybe I would trade for a newer one, but this doesn't fix the dealerships. Also, since I bought when they were brand new the best deal I could get was about $500 off sticker - I paid about $23k - so I have lost about $10k on the car now if I trade it. It would have been cheaper to lease a Mercedes, and I would have enjoyed driving it a lot more!
 
If the car is only worth $13k now, would this drop a lot more the minute the 5 / 60 warranty expires?
 
Let me know what you think.

#5301 of 5326 Re: More than usual problems / time for new car? [toughoncars] by nj2pa2nc

Nov 15, 2012 (10:42 am)

Replying to: toughoncars (Nov 15, 2012 10:20 am)
My husband and I owned a 05 Hyundai elantra GT, bought new. When we traded it for a '11 sonata gls in July 10, the elantra had 100k+ problem free miles. We were not planning to buying a new car. While at the Hyundai dealer (excellent one) for normal service we looked around at the new cars. They had a Venetian red one with 6MT. we bought it with a nice discount. It has been a problem free car. Unfortunately my husband passed away suddenly in Aug. So I regretfully had to sell it as I do not need 2 cars.

#5302 of 5326 Re: More than usual problems / time for new car? [toughoncars] by 51932

Nov 15, 2012 (11:11 am)

Replying to: toughoncars (Nov 15, 2012 10:20 am)
Sadly, I am acquainted with some of these issues and others. I had never owned a Hyundai before but when the 2011 design came out, I fell in love with the lines. I text drove it and was impressed so I bought it. I currently own the 2011 Limited Sonata. Although the car has a lot of great features, especially for the price, the comments I had always heard about Hyundai still hold true. They don't last. I will be getting rid of mine next year and am sad to say I will not buy another Hyundai. I have owned Toyotas, Hondas, Fords, Nissans and even Mitsubishis and I've never had this many issues. Hyundai has a lot of mechanical work to do before I would consider buying another one and that is years away.

#5303 of 5326 Re: More than usual problems / time for new car? [51932] by sandman_6472

Nov 16, 2012 (7:09 pm)

Replying to: 51932 (Nov 15, 2012 11:11 am)
Not sure what you're talking about. Our kids '08 Accent is in excellent condition with just one warranty issue since new. Very pleased with the car and planning on buying another one in '14 for the wife. Every car company has a few lemons I suppose.
 
The Sandman

#5304 of 5326 Re: Cracked Tail Light Mounts [lex350] by sparkyzfan

Dec 03, 2012 (9:47 am)

Replying to: lex350 (Sep 10, 2012 9:28 am)
Hey Lex350, were you unable to get your tail light problem covered under warranty? thanx, sparkyzfan

#5305 of 5326 Re: Driver seat wearing out!! [beardie] by moontrain

Dec 05, 2012 (12:36 pm)

Replying to: beardie (Nov 11, 2012 5:54 pm)
I also have a 2011 Limited Build date of 3/2010 and had to have my driver seat replaced this year for the same reason. Car only has 9000 miles on it.

#5306 of 5326 Seat problem happened again by traveler123

Dec 05, 2012 (4:32 pm)

We bought our Sonata in Jan 2010, within six months the seat was coming apart on the drivers side. Fought with the dealer finally got them to replace. They could not even do it themselves and had to send the seat out to another location. We were 2 weeks without a car and they fought to even give us a loaner. Finally got the car back and within 5 months the seat started coming apart again. They refused to fix it.
Next problem the car would not start. You could get in it and drive to the store, when you came out and tried to start it you would have to stomp the brake several times then it would finally start. Took it to the dealer and they said nothing wrong with it. After this happened several times and then left my wife stranded at night we traded the car in a bought a Nissan. No more Hyundai cars for us.

#5307 of 5326 Re: Seat problem happened again [traveler123] by targettuning

Dec 06, 2012 (9:05 am)

Replying to: traveler123 (Dec 05, 2012 4:32 pm)
I cannot address the seat repair issue although we did have to have the driver side seat cover replaced on a 2006 Civic we bought new well before the car had 9K miles due to a patch of "wear through" however the no start issue is a known problem with the brake light switch and a repair should have been simple, change the switch!! Boy, to change cars at the first fault is a luxury many...most cannot afford to do. Nissan has the potential for failure as well, in fact I just read of a recall already on the latest and greatest 2014 Altimas (possible loose bolts on some suspension component I think). Perhaps you will receive that recall letter soon (assuming you bought an Altima) good luck on your new ride, nothing is perfect.

#5308 of 5326 Re: Seat problem happened again [targettuning] by backy

Dec 06, 2012 (11:56 am)

Replying to: targettuning (Dec 06, 2012 9:05 am)
Nissan has the potential for failure as well, in fact I just read of a recall already on the latest and greatest 2014 Altimas...
 
What is really amazing about that is Nissan is recalling cars they haven't even made yet!
 
 
 
The first Hyundai I owned was a 2001 Elantra, one of the first 1000 or so of that new design to reach the USA. Before I could even drive it off the lot, I was told it had an airbag wiring issue that had to be fixed under a recall, and it was. Then after owning it awhile I noticed a squeak when I depressed the clutch. Kinda annoying to say the least. I took it into the dealer and they "fixed it"... found out later they only put some lube on it. So a few months later it started squeaking again. Took it back again. Told them lubing it didn't work... told them what I'd found on a web site about a seal needing to be replaced. So they just lubed it again. A few months later, it started squeaking again. Took it back and DEMANDED they replace the seals. They did. Problem solved.
 
So it was a nuisance, but otherwise it was a great car for its time, and I reluctantly sold it in 2006 to my sister. She still drives it. It's needed some fix-up (12 years old) but nothing major has broken on it in all that time. And this was a car designed in the late 1990s, before Hyundai's big push on quality.
 
That was one experience that taught me not to give up on a car too soon.
 
Oh btw, I just leased a 2013 Sonata to replace my wife's 2007 Sonata.

#5309 of 5326 Re: Driver seat wearing out!! [beardie] by dennis_h

Dec 23, 2012 (9:06 pm)

Replying to: beardie (Nov 11, 2012 5:54 pm)
I have a 2011 Sonata GLS that had the driver side seat wearing out with 28,000 miles. Hyundai replaced it under warranty.
 
  I am having major issues with tire wear as well as other people are. Tires keep cupping/feathering even with repeated wheel alignments, rotations, and balancing. New set of tires are cupping with only 3,013 miles on them.

Messages Page 531 of 533

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