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Hyundai Sonata Owner Experiences
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Comments
Did you have your wife immediately come out and sit in the seat to see if it really is her and not the seat?
My goddaughter sometimes gets to ride with the goddfather and if she's lucky she weighs 80 pounds sopping weight with a pocket full of change. I do believe she activates the sensor. You might want to take your wife out for a nice drive and go to Freeman's and test a couple other cars to see if she activates the sensor. Let her ride in the back seat or better yet let her drive then you can complain about her driving. :P
In the case of a smaller child seated in the front passenger seat (who's too light to activate the weight sensor in current production cars), deployment of the air bag can also cause d-e-a-t-h - it's happened in several instances - thus the reason the NHTSA mandated the extra hardware which Hyundai's still having trouble properly implementing three years after the requirement went into effect. Get it, now?
They told me that it takes 135 lbs to activate the sensor. Sounds ridiculous to me. I know that my wife and teenagers don't weight that much.
Luckily, the dealer WAS able to reproduce with a 200 lbs technician. They are replacing the sensors in the seat, but I feel that it will come back. Because the 2006 Sonata loaner they gave me is doing the exact same thing.
Oh well :confuse: Hopefully Hyundai eventually gets the weight sensor thingy right, I see quite a few posts complaining about it.
I know this is sounds rather ridiculous, but this is Hyundai's corporate response. With the legs pulled up, or with the person's lower legs more perpendicular to the seat bottom, it evidently places the concentration of weight more specifically in one area of the seat bottom where the sensor is located.
But, in defense of Hyundai, it's not the only manufacturer having the problem with seat sensors. The best thing to do is have the seat and/or the seat bottom replaced. I believe this may be addressed in a TSB, or silent recall.
My Sonata averages between 16 and 18 miles per gallon. The highest I ever averaged was about 19.5 mpg once.
Also, I use both the 'computer' on the dash, as well as fill up the car completely and check the mileage as I know that both together provide the best average.
Also have made 3 trips to the dealer. One for a leak (steering), one for windshield wiper not working and side window problem. And once for a recall on a seat part.
Based on my experience I would NOT buy another Hyundai again.
http://www.airbagonoff.com/airbag%20safety.htm
Years ago I went from a 4 cyl to a 6 cyl. Habit would tell me to "nail it" in order to get from 20 to 40 in X seconds. I soon learned this wasn't necessary in the 6 cyl. The 6 got from 20 to 40 in less time without hitting the gas pedal as hard. However, the 4 cyl still got better mpg. Assuming your Sonata has more juice than your old Honda, even tough both are V6, your Sonata undoubtedly has more power and a larger engine resulting in greater fuel consumption if you mash the gas as you did in the lower powered car.
Out of curiosity what are the 0 to 60 ties for both cars?
I had to choose between three cars the honda fit, hyundai sonata, and the camry, i did all the research and the monthly payments on the loan were not that much of a difference so i went with the sonata instead because value and standard skid control
I do not regret getting my Sonata it gets the same mileage as the other cars when you are city driving which averages about 15-20 miles per gallon even in a small car.
What makes turned me off about the Toyota is that it does not come with roadside assistance which hyundai had standard, i wouldn't want to be in a toyota stranded.
other members posting tell me about your experiences with the Hyundai Sonata
Thank you
Drove an 05 Accord I4 with 23K for miles the other day and it did not even come close to my 06 I4 GLS Sonata. I'll have to find an 06 Camry I4 on our lot and drive it to compare.
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Roadside assistance cost about $10 a year and can be bought with most insurance... I wouldn't buy a car on a saving of $10 alone!!!
I have a 2006 Sonata and I like it... but I would not buy a 2007; because :
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1- the rebate and price I paid was far less than the 2007 today.
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2- the Honda still beats Sonata when Trade in time comes... which means one gets more $$$ back for a Honda ( $4,000- $6000 for a 2004 Honda Accord compared to a 2004 Sonata as an example)
Where caN roadside assistance (other than "towing at $25 per tow be obained for $10 per year?)
1--when did you buy and have you compared buying an '07 today in the real world?
2--compare the street price new for a "comparable" Sonata to a Honda and weigh that into you calculations of what "one gets back for a Honda."
It is best to make comments on things that you read thoroughly it seems that the both of you didn't ,i wanted to know about your Sonata not your complaints.
We had them aimed correctly by a state inspector; we judge that the VA DMV requirements are now met. But the light-to-dark pattern is still a problem. We have written to Hyundai Motor America and await replies.
We will appreciate hearing from other Sonata owners.
What did they do or offer to make it right for you?
Thanks,
Craig
We had the same problem, but Hyundai was NOT helpful. We finally had a VA state inspector adjust them to be correct. Both high and low beams are adjustable up or down, but NOT left or right. Peter
Just back from the 1st oil change, did an inspection to make sure dealer didn't mess things up. Noticed the oil pan is sort of not flat, putted the Sonata on homemade ramp, noticed a small dent on the bottom, like a typical dent on the side body, difficult to see. No sure who/what/when did it. Can't find any fresh marks. :mad:
If you felt it was very important, you could have upgraded them to steel.
The Sonata doesn't need upgrading... it already has a steel oil pan.
Reccomend this car to everyone that wants a great car at a fantastic price.
My dealer's service Dept. has been great. Took care of 3 TSB's very competently and quickly.
Good luck with your independent garage. Let us know if they took care of the problem. If so, I would send the bill to Hyundai USA. They may pay all of it, some of it, or none of it, but it's worth a try. At least they will learn that your dealer's service department incompetent.
is an adjustment for caster (correct me if I am wrong). So yesterday we made a 60-mile trip over less than perfect roads. A passenger in the back and some load in the trunk resulted in very good steering. I also lowered the rear tire pressure to 28#, which besides lowering the rear a trifle helped ease the shock noise of hitting tar strips.
Thoughts?
Did they give you a reason why the brakes wore down so quickly?
1. no manufacturer, including the Japaneese warrants consumable items, i.e. brake pads or shoes, windshield wiper blades, clutch parts, and possibly bulbs. These items are designed to be used up (consumed) with each use. You may find individual dealers that MAY replace these items once as a good-will gesture (especially if they seem to wear out sooner than expected) but as a rule...nope. What constitutes "light driving"? To you it might be light but????? driving habits play an important part in how long brakes last and I know for a fact Henrietta is very, very close to Rochester which is a typical U.S.city (read rush hour traffic) so you probably have stop-go driving if you go there frequently. and..
2. Since asbestos has been eliminated from brake friction material it seems brakes do not last as long in general. I have a friend who owns and operates a small general service automobile garage and he sees his share of brake repairs. It is his opinion that the new material used in pads does not last long. That is, he replaces the same customers brakes on a frequent basis.
If you are advising others not to buy Hyundai based on how long your brakes lasted you have a flawed argument. And yeah, we have owned both Hyundai products and currently a 2006 Honda Civic. The Honda has had multiple small irritating problems at very low mileage. For example, both rear shocks leaked out at less than 4,000 miles and were replaced under warranty, the front driver seat bottom cushion fabric wore thin at less than 9,000 miles (no greasy jeans or screwdrivers sticking out of my pocket to damage it) and was replaced under warranty. The tires are 2/3rds worn at around 21K miles and at last oil change I was told the battery should be replaced (at my expense) and the car has 21,400 miles. Is Honda better? I wonder.