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Not really. Last time I checked Honda was just behind Toyota in manufacturer reliability and satisfaction. I'm pretty sure Hyundai only had initial quality as bragging rights.
Personally, I like both hyundais and hondas....but one is simply not in the class of the other. Hyundais have a long way to go to garner a reputation for reliability that equals that of Honda. Plain and simple, if you are looking at a Hyundai price is most probably a large issue. People shopping for Accords may be considering a Camry, Maxima, or even a Galant but they are probably not checking out a Sonata.
Having said that, Sonatas are a great value for what you get.
we owned a 2002 sonata that was totaled in dec 04 we purchased a 2004 with 6000 miles on it now it has 10,000.just recently the tach was reving at a steady drving pace so checked fluid and to my suprise it was a grey color contacted dealer and service man stated that it is red when you buy the car and after driving for a while it turns a grey color well we all know that trans fluid is red and any other color could mean a possible promblem.to make this short took car to dealer under warranty i was told that there was a service update for the trans so they did the service no charge but on the way home the trans was jerking within 2 days it was banging and clunking and only shifted right when it was warmed up.returned to dealer and after looking into it i was told that the ecm(brain) was bad and it would be 2 days to get after recieving brain and installing it the trans got worse so then i was told that the brain failed and trashed the transmission so hyundia tech line told dealership replace trans and ecm.transmission was replaced at 9,944 miles so far so good.so if you trans is clunking and they say it is normal they are telling a fib your trans should shift smooth not jerkey or clunking.i would fight with them until it is fixed you should still have a warranty for the drive train.also hyundai has a 1 yr 12,000 mile fit and function(door adjustments ,trunk hood etc).dont give up fight them.good luck phil
I had all of my trans fluid completely changed.. still having a problem. about 49000 miles on the 01 Sonata.
does anyone have any infomation or help with this problem?!
--- Previous Reply ---
> > The reason why shifting is hard, a loud THUD sound, a sharp TACK sound
> > from the engine area WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE ON AN INCLINE
> > (CAR COLD OR COOL):
>
> I would assume that you put your gear lever in park. And that explains all
> becos the whole weight of your vehicle is rested on the parking pawl, a
> safety mechanism that prevents the car from rolling when engaged.
I have mentioned this before, but have not yet received a reply, so here goes. When my 2005 Sonata GLS's ignition is turned on and the car is placed into gear, a weird VIBRATION/SOUND occurs for a second before disappearing -- I can actually feel the vibration on the accelerator. Then the car runs fine, until ignition is turned off. When ignition is turned on and the car shifted into gear again, the vibrations/sound return for a second before going away. I have noticed that this seems to happen even when I am backing out from my driveway, although not as prominently, so forward and backward does not seem to matter. One more note, when I VERY GENTLY ease my car forward, the vibration/sound DOES NOT seem to occur. Is this something I should be worried about, or is this "normal" for Hyundai Sonata GLS? Thanks!
Since I seem to be on a roll, I will finish with a much less serious situation. My alarm seems to engage and disengage without any auditory feedback (i.e. the horn does not go off in either situation). All of my previous cars have had auditory feedback on the alarms. But as this is my first new car and my first Hyundai, I am not sure whether is "normal" or not. Given all my alignment and transmission problems that occurred before 1000 miles (that's right, 1K), this may seem a trivial thing, but I'm really spooked
I am going to assume you are being forthright rather than sarcastic. But my question remains unanswered: are these phenomena "normal" for Hyundai Sonata GLS vehicles? I don't want some part flying off while driving. As for my previous problems, my Sonata had an alignment job at just over 1000 miles and has been taken to the shop for transmission and stability problems twice before and after 1000 miles. This does not elicit a lot of confidence. And yes, they have been documented here and I have been provided help on them by ray and others. Thanks for your input.
--- Your Reply ---
Well, I don't know of all your previous problems dvy, have they been documented here at Edmunds? Because these last 2 "problems" seem to be of the very minor variety. Personally, I wouldn't even think twice about these so called issues.
5 trips to the dealer for slipping, high revs, noises ect. Never fixed right probably because it can't be fixed right. Her car was a time bomb waiting to kill somebody.
I was so sold on Hyundai, I own or owned two of them. My need for cheap with a warranty nearly cost me my wife. Never ever again. Hyundai can kill you! I will spend the extra money for a real car now. I have learned its not just about breaking down and warranty stuff. A good deal can take your life or somebody elses.
Make them fix your cars! Take no prisoners! Scream! Do not be passive. I am a fool, who almost lost his most precious possession for a good deal.
The remaining Elantra will be sold next week when my wife is back walking and confortable. It will not be a member of this persons household. I love my family too much.
There are a few "no-start" checklists to run down online, I just don't have my links handy. Basically you need spark, fuel, and compression though. If you are missing one (or barely providing it) things will get tricky. If you are totally clueless you can do simple things like check your battery's charge, take a look at how long your plugs have been in and what shape they are in, listen for your fuel pump, listen to the sound of your starter motor and check it if need be. There are just too many possibilities.
Good luck!
thanks
just a thought
Sorry, been away for awhile. Thanks to BOLTGUY and SONATALOVER for their feedback. As to HYUNDAIVICTIM, geez, you're freaking me out, because my Sonata had this unstable weaving back and forth issue that has subsided somewhat after I reset the TCM by unhooking the battery. The weaving has subsided somewhat, but if that was due to a transmission issue as well ...
The following problems have NOT been resolved by resetting the TCM, that is, by unplugging the battery and then replugging after waiting several minutes
(1) On an incline, the gear transitions are MUCH MUCH rougher. Why?
(2) After slowing down to about 20MPH, pressing the accelerator, even gently, produces a brief hesitation and a thunk, as if the TCM is not sure which gear to use. Why does this problem keep returning? Someone please tell me if their Sonata does this as well. Is it "normal"?
(3) When first starting the car and putting it into gear, something WHINES, VIBRATES intensely but briefly, and then after a slight thunk, as if some parts were finally meshing, the prob disappears until the next car startup sequence. Why? Someone please tell me if their Sonata does this as well. Is it "normal"?
I have been on this "Is it normal?" thing for awhile now, because if I can at least know that the probs are due to cr*ppy DESIGN rather than cr*ppy ASSEMBLY, then I will not need to go through the stress of trying to get it corrected (writing letters to Hyundai corporate HQ maybe, but nothing else). Please help.
My friend's 2002 Sonata's emission monitors will not reset. Until they do they won't pass it for inspection.
The spark plugs have all been replaced and the O2 sensor was replaced when the recall was announced.
The mechanic told her to drive it until they reset but they are not resetting after 100+ miles.
HELP!!
Thanks
Brooke
But the cause of the accident is hard to understand: causing a 360 degree spin.
Perhaps there was driver error; talking on cell phone, reaching for something that fell off seat, or otherwise moving out of driving position and turning steering wheel with the body movement.
I work in insurance and know that people often neglect to mention things they may have done to cause/contribute to an accident. Nobody wants to admit that they did anything "wrong."
If there were truly no driver actions leading to this accident you should contact the Highway Safety Commission, Hyundai, and anyone else you can think of. If the problem you describe is real, you'll be doing a great service to all Hyundai owners and all on the road, not just those who review this site.
Thanks! :shades:
Thanks,
Syguy
Syguy
There is almost no reason you would want to turn it off in normal driving conditions but some people do not like the way TCS affects driving. Other reasons are if you want to try and rock your car out of the snow or if you are drag racing for whatever reason. TCS makes rocking out of snow pretty much impossible and a controlled launch with high engine power and minimal wheelspin will make for a faster run than if TCS was engaged and used. I'm sure there are some other specific instances where you might not want TCS, but if you are just driving normally then leave it be.
anyways I've gotten most the big things worked out but for some reason my radio wont work it just says ...code... so i called my stepdad and he said hes not sure what that is... the guys at car place think its something to do w/ the theft device in it?... anyways I'm not sure what to do they wanted like $50+ to look at it and get it working... now as a recent student to Ohio state that kinda cash is kinda rough to come up with.... so anyone have any ideas on what to do? :confuse:
My other option is a Chryler 300, but I don't think I will have a couple extra thousand for an allowance. I really like the Sonata I had as a rental in FL.
83,000 miles in 4 years. Yes, I should have had a few things, but in 4 years... air bag issues, check engine light issues, O2 sensor problem, dash lights out on part of speedometer and have to bang the shifter to keep light on it, 5 sets of tires, 6 sets of brakes, 2 rotors, 2 batteries, 1 alternator, 1 rear wheel bearing, 1 window regulator, 1 canister, 2 timing belts, 3 timing covers, a temperature gauge that nearly kept my husband from competing in the state truck driving competition, in which he took second place. 1 set of plugs and wires that were a 4 day special order as an after market because... most cars did not need them yet!!!!! But hey, Hyundai dealer had them!! All 229 bucks worth- installed!!! Yeah, I could have paid to tow it back to my neighbor and had him do it with the aftermarket wires.
Best of all... 3 crank shaft sensors along with it's friend- the crank fan. While we are in there we will change the timing belt for you. 600 bucks for the double job-400.00 in labor alone.
I had it changed at 16,00 miles plus 60,000 equals 76,000 miles. No matter what I went in there for after 60,000 miles, they wanted to change my belt. By the way I am a stupid woman to the dealers till I play hard ball with them.
Just got the car back after a double tow in three days. Have my new crank shaft sensor though. Told the dealer- Acts exactly like it did at 30,000 miles when the first crank shaft sensor went on a 90 degree bend and I almost lost control and would have hit a house, 4 houses from my parents place. Acts like it did on June 9th.
No code, can't reproduce problem, pick up car or- can our head tech keep it for a few days, he lives an hour away, it will get a good drive, he'll even drive your gas out of it, maybe it will fail for him.
So, to that I ask who is responsible for insurance purposes if he hurts someone??It just shuts off and there is no power to the brakes or steering at all. Guess who- ME! They can sue him and they can sue me!! It's my car.
So, I picked it up. Ran fine all the way home. Ran fine for 2 hours while doing errands Friday. Put the car in drive from idle, it died, tried it again, it died, called the dealer since the check engine light came on and stayed on. GOOD, now we can fix it, the code will be there. I was just glad we were safe, and not driving it on the highway like I had been.
Scared to drive the thing, since it tends to shut off when the sensor is bad. Had one installed June 9th and the new one July 15th. hmmmmmm.
I am not making this up. I have all my paper work, and I am calling Hyundai on Monday. I do not know what good it will do. Thanks for reading this if you did. Loved my Excel!!!!
If you don't mind, could you tell me which parts were covered by the warranty and
which weren't?
I know you went over that 60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limit, but some of your
problem sounds like powertrain issues.
I'm inching closer to a decision to buy a new Sonata but haven't made up my mind
completely. Lady, you are scaring me out of my pants :P
I have a 2000 Sonata :lemon: and i hate my car. I had all kind of problem with it ( since the warranty is over) , coil problem took my dealer 1 week to find the problem, Spark plug problem, injector problem, alternator problem, Chuck absorber problem, Wiper linkage problem, Electric window door linkage (both door) and now the latest the d....m ''Check engine'' keep on popping on. The dealer plugs the computer reset the light charge a 100.00$ and it's fixed just a loose wire. Now you will say it's not that bad 4 times in six months. For me it's a lot i also have a pontiac transport 1991 the only thing i changed on that truck is the alternator rebuilt at 125.00$ On this Sonata nobody but the dealer have that alternator. My question to all of you good people owner of the great Sonata :lemon: ''How to reset the check engine light and stop going to the dealer and put the 100.00$ in MY pocket.
Thank you
Ben from Montreal Canada