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A few months ago while I was waiting at my dealer for an oil change, the service manager came out to inform someone else that they needed new tires. The customer complained that they seem to need new tires every 20,000 miles or so. The service manager responded that the alignment is perfect on their car with the exception of the camber. They went on to explain that the camber was static and that the tire wear they were experiencing was not unusual for the car. Basically just said "that's just the way it is. Get used to buying tires." I just shook my head in disbelief. The owner was not pleased and come right out and said this would be their last Hyundai. At that point the Service Manager took the customer behind closed doors.
This is where Hyundai vehicles tend to lose their overall value proposition. The buy-in is lower than the competition, but the ongoing maintenance and frequency of maintenance is where owners spend the difference. Hyundai will do whatever they can to get out of covering issues under "America's Best" warranty. While my 2011 Sonata has been reliable, I can't help but think it is largely due to the excessive amount of routine maintenance that I have put into the car. 9 routine maintenance services in the past 28 months. Easily $500 spent, plus another $700 for a new set of tires at 31,200 miles.
Other makes I have owned (Ford, GM, Chrysler, VW) would have only been on 4 or 5 services at this point. Plus, those makes will honor the warranty no questions asked based purely on vehicle age and mileage. Don't get me wrong. I would not hesitate to purchase another Hyundai, but it will not be the first choice on my shopping list.
I go in for my first unscheduled service tomorrow (random ESC failure light, and random battery malfunction light.) My Sonata is not altered in any way. Hopefully the car has stored some codes and will tell the dealer what went wrong. Otherwise, it could turn into a fiasco. Oddly enough, these warning lights started after the dealer installed the new tires and performed a four wheel alignment. No warning lights what-so-ever up to that point.
For the battery malfunction light, they found no stored codes. They started out by saying it could be a faulty/worn accessory belt (at 32,200 miles???), and if that is the case it wouldn't be covered under warranty (surprise, surprise.) They checked the belt and said it is fine, and since it uses a spring tensioner there is no adjustment required. The final answer was basically no fault found. My belt will squeal when it gets wet (especially when going through puddles 2 or 3 inches deep.) Again, this is "normal". Uh, okay. Great engineering, Hyundai!
Overall, my 2011 Sonata has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned, albeit quirky. It has also been the most religiously maintained vehicle. Service at the dealer has been the best I have experienced over the past couple of decades.
I am hoping that the Michelin Primacy MXV4s I put on last longer than the OE Kumhos. My current plan is to trade the Sonata when it has around 60,000 miles on it. It would be nice to not have to put tires on right before trading it. If I do need to, I am getting cheap Nexen tires. I noticed at the dealer that the new 2013 Elantra GT had Nexen tires, and KIA is using them on the Optima. If Hyundai/KIA is using them OE, then that's good enough for me to throw a set on before trading the car.
As far as my tires, they dealership said they will get with the RSM after next week (he's on vacation) and will address the camber issue. They feel they should be able to get the camber adjustment kit installed and a new set of tires.... We'll see!!
Well, I got my answer from the Hyundai District Parts Service Manager (DPSM) today. He said they were going to do NOTHING! I called back to Hyundai Customer Service and spoke with Bert. He said there was nothing much more they could do because the DPSM's word is pretty much final. He said he would try to research further, but in other words, "don't hold my breath".
So, here is where we stand... There appears to be a known problem with the Hyundai Sonata alignment based on posts throughout the internet) which causes the tires to wear uneven and cup on the inside. Hyundai did not make any provision to adjust the camber in the alignment. Their answer to date is "We are not going to do anything to help you out with the problem".
Their Solution (so far to date): Go buy another set of tires for about $600.00, drive around for another 20k miles and when they start cupping and making all kinds of noise again, just go buy another set!
Stay tuned boys and girls... this is not over yet.
The service rep told me to drive the car till the next oil change and see if the noise would stop after the alignment (to wear tires down to normal). After 6k more the noise was unbearable. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME AFTER OWNING NUMEROUS CARS 15 TO BE EXACT, THAT I HAD TO REPLACE TIRES THIS SOON!!!! After reading these complaints, I think there is a definite problem. This is my first Hyundai and will sure be my last!!!!!
I am totally dissatisfied with Hyundai's handling of this situation. They refuse to assist me in any way. I went out of my way to purchase a Hyundai Sonata and I have to say that because they chose not to work with me, this will probably be the last Hyundai I purchase. Sounds like they are following the same path as the American car manufactures went down in the 80's and 90s.
Potential suspension issues aside, Hyundai needs to choose a better OEM tire. The Kumho and Hankook tires they are currently using are garbage. My 2011 Sonata went 31,200 miles on the OEM Kumhos. A co-worker has 30,000 miles on his 2011 Sonata, and the original Kumhos are to the wear bars.
My 2003 Dodge Durango went 48,000 miles on the original Goodyears. My 2006 Chevy Impala went 24,000 miles on its original Goodyears. Another co-worker has 55,000 miles on his 2008 Ford Escape and is still on the original Michelins. My father has 45,000 miles on his 2010 Ford Escape and is still on the original Michelins.
I went with Michelin Primacy MXV4s on my Sonata. I have 2,000 miles on them now and they are a marked improvement over the original Kumhos. They work best at 35-36psi. Trying to run them at the Hyundai recommended 33psi results in less than optimal ride and handling. You wouldn't think that 2-3psi would make much of a difference, but it really does. If the Michelins only last 30,000 miles on the Sonata, the next set I buy will be cheap Nexen CP672s. No more premium tires on the Sonata if it turns out they do not last any longer than cheaper tires. I am hoping to see 45,000-50,000 miles out of the Michelins.
I then got on the Hyundai forums and was surprised to see how many others were having the exact same problem, with loud tire noise starting around 20,000. At first the consensus on the forums was that its due to the poor OEM tires Hyundai puts on their Sonatas.
But after reading Dennis' post there (and here above), its now apparent the problem is due to the camber being out of spec, as installed at the factory. A negative camber will cause one's tires to wear unevenly on the inside and cause cupping.
So, luck of the draw if one gets a Sonata with an out of spec / negative camber. And since Hyundai didn't put the $14 adjustable bolt on their Sonatas, the camber can't be adjusted (unless one adds the $200 - $300 kit). Thus, no matter how good of tires I put on the Sonata, the defective camber alignment will keep causing my tires to wear unevenly and be noisy.
I contacted my local dealership and sent a detailed e-mail with links to their Hyundai forums of others with this similar problem and even included Dennis's post describing his camber case on file. Here's the reply I received: "
I addressed your tire noise concerns with my Hyundai factory rep. He explained to me that the soft tire compound that Hyundai chose to install on the Sonata was to enhance the comfort of the ride.
As the owner of the vehicle, you are the only person that can start a case# in reference to your tire wear concerns. You can contact Hyundai customer service at 800-633-5151.
Thank you,
Elyria Hyundai Service Dept
They didn't even address the camber issue!!!. If the camber is out of spec, namely if its set at a negative camber, even the best of tires will still wear unevenly and cup inside. It really has nothing to do with the " soft tire compound that Hyundai chose to install on the Sonata ... to enhance the comfort of the ride" Until the camber is corrected, no matter how many alignments, tire rotations, etc... it will continue to cause uneven tire wear and cupping and just keep eating up new tires every 20- 25,000 miles or so!
I am going to start a case with Hyundai America, as Dennis suggested, and hope others will too. If enough of us complain, maybe Hyundai will finally address and correct this major camber issue. (and cover the cost for the camber kit and replacement tires).
Annoyed 2011 Sonata owner in North central Ohio
As soon as I got the tires put on and re-aligned again, I took the vehicle down to the Hyundai dealership and had them check the alignment report which showed the -5 degree caster out of adjustment and there was no way to adjust. I had Hyundai print me a service ticket stating they confirm that my vehicle is within Hyundai alignment specifications. I assured them that if these tires start to cup or wear uneven, I will seek to file a class action law suit.
I suggest that anyone who has this issue go to SAFECAR.GOV and enter a complaint.
The unibody assembly is done with jigs and robot welding that provides for far more consistency than in the past. Eliminating the camber adjustment capability may not be new to the industry but it is definately a calculated move to lower the initail manufacturing cost. In the event that wear, accidents, initial quality issues and other events result in needed camber adjustment, I see a major contingent cost down the road that will offset the initial savings. If the manfacturer decides to avoid the ultimate resposibility for the cost saving approach, I also see a serious hit to long term durability ratings and consumer perception of quality. If the majority of those cars have no alignment/tire wear/safety issues the consumer will vote on the decision.
Point is that rotation is very important and maybe more frequently due to very tight turning radius AND the soft rubber & high speed rating of the Kuhmo tires. Definately going for S or T rating, rather than H at replacement if Michelin has the right size for GLS wheels. Car is great so far with 10,200 miles. Excellent road car with 36MPG at speed limit plus a few. We also have a top knotch dealer. Good luck.
I also had an old car. 1998 Bonneville with 120,000 and it got 60,000+ on tires and more on brake pads - good car it just got old. Hyundai needs to do some work on the front ends & alignment issues. They used to put Michelin on most of their cars but not now. I have never had Kuhmos but am dedicated to Michelin due to quality control, wear, balancing, traction, etc. They cost more but provide better service IMO. Personal opinion - the decision to eliminate the camber adustment capability on the new model Sonata was a cost factor offset by better more consistent manufacturing techniques and may come home to roost on Hyundai if they do not encourage the dealers to address the problems of preliminary wear on Sonatas fitted with H-rated Kuhmos and no camber bolt. We will see down the road. ain't gonna help marketing for new Sonatas either way. Good luck.
I also had 2006 Sonata and it was without single problem until it was totaled. I replaced Michelin tires at around 40k and thread was at 2.5mm on every tire before they got replaced. I filed a case with BBB Auto Line so I will see how it goes. Lawyer is the last resort.
Anyway, after I filled a complain with BBB Auto Line, and after two weeks of waiting, lady from BBB Auto Line called me with a Hyundai rep on the other line to discuss the issue I had. I explained to Hyundai rep what is the problem and he told me that dealership told them that I was complaining about uneven thread wear between tires not a single tire (?!?!) and they could not do anything about it. After I explained to him that I have an issue with uneven thread wear on single tire he asked me if I am willing to bring the car to dealership so they can fix the issue. After I took the car to the dealership, he told me that he instructed guys in dealership to make toes on both front wheels to run parallel as close as possible. They also replaced my front tires (bad ones). Can you believe it? I thought that warranty on tires comes from Kuhmo ...
After they were done, I took a car for a test drive to make sure it does not pull left nor right. It is driving straight. Then, I wrote an e-mail to Hyundai rep stating that I will check tires after 5000 mile, on my next oil change, and that I expect to have no more than 0.5mm of uneven thread wear on front tires and to talk to his engineers to tell me on what to expect as normal. On my e-mail he replied that he talked to TireRack specialist and he informed me that they told him that 7/32 on inside and 5/32 on outside is not that bad (?). After that, I contacted TireRack, sent them picture of the tire in question, and they confirmed that tire wear is ABNORMAL aka BAD aka NOT NORMAL and that I should contact Hyundai. End of case for if tire wear is normal or not.
I am writing this, in case someone else has the same issue as me and to know how to make Hyundai stand behind their products and customers. Right?
"After receiving your e-mail I contacted The Tire Rack who is a national tire supplier and questioned them on the details of your concern. What I found out was that the original wear that you indicated of 7/32 - 5/32 across the one tire is not way out of line and could be considered normal. They stated they would more concerned if there was a variance of 7/32 to more like 3/32 or 2/32. They also advised me of the facts I knew already and that is that different conditions affect tire wear such as alignment, driving conditions, hot, wet, cold, weather in general, tire pressures, tire rotations, pot holes, rough road, road crowns or flat roads and curves such as freeway ramps."
And this is what TireRack tech told me when he looked at the picture of my tire:
"This is abnormal wear so I would recommend following up with Hyundai."
Come on Hyundai.. quit screwing around already and do the right thing here. There is obviously a problem with the front end with this car and I'm going through tires like crazy. I reopened the case with Hyundai and also am working with BBB Auto Line.
The sad thing here is, how many people are out there with the same issue and without a clue?
I feel your pain. Do we have any recourse? :mad:
not the entire thing and Hyundai has done every maintanence on it by there book log that comes with the car, and Hyundai was useless when I called to complain. Hyundai Customer service is GARBAGE :lemon:
Rodney
What recourse do I have???? I know there should be a recall... I feel it'll happen after I get so disgusted and trade in the car. I love Hyundai; but am beginning to feel like the song, You Lost That Lovin' Feelin'!!!
After filing my complaint with BBB Auto-Line, I finally had a three-way arbitration conference call with BBB and Hyundai today. Hyundai agreed without reservation to:
1. Figure out what the issue is with the front end and repair my vehicle
2. Reimburse me for the cost of my 4 new tires
3. Replace the two new tires that are now cupped/feathered.
4. Provide a loaner vehicle during the repair time.
Here is the bottom line for everyone to understand if you are having issues that you cannot get resolved.
a. Hyundai finally came through and is standing behind their product.
b. I don't believe that Hyundai was intentionally trying to hide anything, they just rely on their Regional Service Manager's recommendation. In my case the RSM (Richard Holloway) just blew me off and blamed it on my tires that were not covered under the Hyundai warranty.
c. You need to have plenty of documentation
d. The BBB Auto-Line process DOES work. You just have to be persistent.
e. If you know you are right, don't stop pursuing the issue. You will hopefully get someone at the top who understands you are getting the run around and will hopefully take care of the issue.
Once I get the repairs made, I will inform everyone what the cause of the excessive tire wear was.
let us know what happened
Thanks for the postings and the experience you have passed on.
mary here, have the same problem, my car has 35k miles on it and everytime we go for routine maitenance my husband would suggest if the tire can be rotated but they woul d decline coz the rear tire is cupped and the front is worn out compare to the rear, dealer says it will be too noisy if the switch is made, we are in the market of buying a new car with a third row seat,,,i guess we will have to steer away from hyundai now, if this will not get resolved,,,we fall inlove with hyundai but it is starting to fade away,,,,need help resolving this problem, coz we dont want to buy new tires and having the same problem,,,,
Sorry to see you are having the same issue. So many people are, but they just don't know it. First get your documentation together where your husband got the tires rotated and aligned. Next, contact Hyundai Customer Care (800- 633-5151) and tell them you want to open a case about your tires cupping. Tell them you want the Regional Service Manager (RSM) to inspect your car when you bring it in Also tell them that you are aware of the issue they are having on some 2011 and 2012 Sonata's with the front struts and you want them replaced with the new style struts. Of course they will deny it and act like they don't know what you are talking about. If they fail to do anything, after the RSM looks at it, then contact BBB Auto-Line (www.auto.bbb.org/Lemon-Law-complaint-form/) and open a case with them. Feel free to reference my case (Case # HYU1233536) You will definitely see results then!!
They replaced all my tires and replaced the front struts on my car and I have not had an issue since.