Hyundai Sonata 2005 and earlier

roadpilot3 · January 2005

Had front let bearing replaced under warrenty. Three down one to go, front right. The rears were replaced three weeks ago at a cost of $626 ouch.

lngtonge18 · January 2005

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the upcoming Sonata in this forum. Hyundais website now has a preview of the car and it looks very competitive in the features and hp war. With all the new standard features (especially safety features: ABS, traction control, 6 airbags, stability control, active head restraints, wow!), I'd imagine a good price hike over current models, but I bet this car becomes the turning point for Hyundai resale. It looks as if Hyundai really hit a home run with this new Sonata.

duckied · January 2005

Ingtonge18,

It definitly would be a surprise to see a 06 Sonata post here! Please see the discussion "2006 Hyundai Sonata". According to the Hyundai Sonata's press release, prices are supposed to be priced "well below $20,000", so I assume that the prices will be similar to the 2005 Sonata prices now.

smith20 · January 2005

The upcoming Sonata has it's own thread called "2006 Hyundai Sonata".

bob48 · February 2005

You are not alone! I have a friend who has the identical symptoms. His Sonata is a 2001 and he had it serviced for the same problem three times: cam sensor failure. He is afraid to drive it now. Before we found your story he considered asking for a newer Sonata. Now we know even that is risky so the only sensible thing to do is sell it back to Hyundai. -Bob

codata99 · February 2005

cam sensor failure..3 times?? I don't think so..either your friend or you are imaginging things...one cam sensor failure itself would be extremely rare. Even if that's what happened, the dealer certainly wouldn't have gotten reimbursed for the 2nd and the 3rd comebacker...which means they mindlessly replaced the part twice with their own money....

maxamillion1 · February 2005

so I believe him...

csandste · February 2005

Just moved from an Elantra to a Malibu Maxx. Used to religiously check Elantra sedan and hatch boards. If I try the Malibu sedan boards I get a mixture of the new 'Bu and the old Malibu Classic, two very different cars that have nothing in common but the name. Just like the new upcoming Sonata.

Speaking of Sonata, I hope the new Kia Optima is more clearly differentiated than the present platform.

xg350guy · February 2005

Ok, So I have been driving an XG350 for the past 27 months. It has been a beautiful ride. Now I have 21 months left on my lease, and will require a CDN buyout of 14K. It is over in the mileage allowance, as I use it for sales purposes, has 88KLMs on it, and the dealer has offered me a even trade down to a Sonata GLX leather, abs etc.

Who could convince me that this is a good idea? This switch would take me out of a lease, and finance the Sonata for next 5 years, but addresses A) Getting out of lease,

New car, longer warranty, C)less problems for the next three to five years.

Would you trade down? The offer is for 05 Sonata not 06, due to offer from Hyundai only on Sonata.

Whats your thoughts. I like Sonata, but is XG better? even though older?

ray h · February 2005

You realize that next month that '05 Sonata's trade-in value is going to drop like a stone, don't you? The good news is new mechanicals on a model at the end of its production run - that's as good as it gets from a QC standpoint, so, the deal could work, but only if you're disciplined enough to keep and maintain the car long and well enough to drive the value out of it. You sure won't get it if you walk into a dealership, wide-eyed and innocent, and attempt to use the Sonata as a trade-in in two or three years.

xg350guy · February 2005

Thought long and hard bout the Sonata. Was interested in the Santa Fe as an alternative. But I decided on the Tucson. The thought of driving a older model Sonata, although it is nice, plus the down grade from the XG made me think seriously what I wanted in a car. And it turns out to be a truck or SUV. Our roads, winters, family choices all pointed away from a sedan, and to a family activity vehicle. Dam I wish I could keep the XG, or even have the Sonata as a nice car to drive as well. But budgets and needs outweighed desires and asperations. I guess its time for a change... but I'm not leaving Hyundai, they've done me well. I like the idea of owning a Tiburon convertible when they come out, just as a tooling around Sunday driver. But... I think the house needs some repairs first. Anyway it was a pleasure reading and interjecting with you folks, good luck with your fine autos, keep the spirit up, you'll see me touring the tucson site from now on.

Cheers!

walterhearts · February 2005

i'm having transmission problem, my sonota transmission intermittenly freeze up i than have to turn the car off in order for it to engage again

duckied · March 2005

Hello. How do Sonata's leather seats react to the temperature outside? Without the heated seat option, do they get very cold in the winter? (My wife does not like heated seats.) I have been trying to persuade her to buy an '06, but she doesn't like the design of it as much as the '05. She could care less about the new tech. specs., safety features, and that the resale price on the '05 will significantly drop very soon. Besides, the '06 LX comes standard with heated seats, and she would prefer a car without it even being installed.

Thanks for your help.

satz · March 2005

I am taking my 2000 gls in for this issue today.will let you know - 78k

satz · March 2005

Plugged the tool and whola output speed sensor fried

mike91326 · March 2005

Early this summer I plan to give my 01 Elantra to my daughter. Ive told her that even she can learn to drive a 5-speed. I plan to get a Sonata but cant decide between the 05 and 06. We currently have an 03 LX (the wifes car) with everything on it and love it. I know that the 06 will be a better car but it will be hard to pass up the anticipated killer deals and rebates on the 05s. So, do I go for an 05 GLS SV with everything on it or should I get the 06 GLS?

bikerpa · March 2005

Perhaps the best way to make up your mind lies with resale values. If you plan on driving your next Sonata until the wheels fall off, you should be fine going with an '05. If you like to get a different car every 4-5 years, then I'd hold out for the '06 - you'll recoup more of your investment.

(OT) also, you're right about your daughter - I was 24 when I learned stick driving my '04 Elantra off the lot. Good luck!

mike91326 · March 2005

"(OT) also, you're right about your daughter - I was 24 when I learned stick driving my '04 Elantra off the lot. Good luck!"

Back in the days when I learned to drive a stick you could rent cars with a manual trans. My dad rented a car with a stick for the weekend, took me over to my high schools parking lot and let me have at it. By Sunday I was a pro. Better their clutch and trans than mine. Could that be why they don't rent cars with sticks anymore? LOL.

carparts · March 2005

Sometimes the Check Engine Light will turn on if the gas cap is not properly closed. Make sure you hear a couple of clicks when the gas cap is closed after fueling.

dann_can · March 2005

I've owned two '04 LX Sonatas. Lost the first one to a not at fault accident at 315 miles and only four days old (I had a perfect driving record for 25 years). Idiot 22 yr old kid pulled out across my path and then attempted to leave the scene on Hwy 12 in Lodi, CA. People behind me went past me and stopped him until police arrived. The car held up great at a full frontal impact broadsiding at 35 mph. The insurance company(s) replaced my car; the last 6' I had cranked the wheel hard right and hit slightly diagonal closing the gap at one side of the trunk lid in the rear bending over one frontal frame. My new, matching, LX is approaching 12k miles from last Oct. 20th. Drove it to Reno last week using the best cable "S" type "chains" up Hwy 80 in the snow. Drove great and got great gas milage and with the leather and climit control was extreemly comfortable. At 3200 lbs and FWD it handles the storm winds and snow just great! More HP in the '06 would be nice to have but most of my driving is flat land and I use the select shift a great deal. I am not afraid to wind it up in 2nd or 3rd to pass, climb or compression break down hill; climbing hwy 80 at 5k foot was not a problem. I would consider a set of Bilstein Gas struts to improve handling a little. Over all, my '04 is a keeper. I use the best McGuires "spit and polish" products inside and out. The '05 should be the very same car. Gotta get LX and leather if you go with the '05. I don't care for the '06 style. The rear discs are ABS; full ABS and trackion control may be nice to have, but not necessary in my book. Hope my experience is of help. Good Luck. By the way, I paid exactly what Edmounds said I should AND got the extra extended warranty on all.

tb5605 · March 2005

i agree - styling not nearly as nice as 2004 /2005

djm2 · April 2005

A friend of mine is considering purchasing a 2005 Hyundai Sonata LX - 4 door Sedan with a 2.7 - 6 cylinder engine. The other two vehicles under consideration are as follows: ------- a 2005 Honda EX - 4 door Sedan with a 2.4 - 4 cylinder engine ------ and ---- a 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5S - 4 door with a 4 cylinder engine. Since I know nothing about cars, I am open to all opinions. What is the better vehicle? What vehicle will give the most dependable service? Which vehicle tends to have the best dealers in terms of service? Which vehicle has the best quality? My friend has taken a test ride in all three, and cannot make up his mind!------ He asked me to post these questions on this board. ----- Best regards. ----Dwayne

anonymousposts · April 2005

The choice depends on what your friend's main requirements are from his car.

Quality: Accord. I know some will dispute this but the Accord has been at the top of reliability for 20 years. That's a good track record.

Price: Sonatas can be had dirt cheap but you can also get an automatic Altima 2.5S in my area for around $15,000-$16,000. Hard to argue with that price for a car that is 7/10 as good as the Accord. The Accord will be the most expensive but will hold it's value the best.

Service: That depends on the dealer. He may have one dealer that's great and another that is terrible. Unless you are buying a Lexus, Infiniti, etc dealer qualilty will be hit-or-miss.

He may want to consider safety as well. In this area the Accord is hard to beat. With standard ABS and side curtain airbags the Accord is the safest of the group. It, along with the Camry, was the only mid-size family sedan to score a good rating in IIHS side impact tests.

The Accord will also get the best gas mileage, followed by the Altima, and the Sonata. Might be important with gas prices headed up,up,up.

sonatabob · April 2005

Hi all!
I've been lurking here for awhile and decided to chime in myself. I traded my '03 Elantra GT in on an '05 Sonata LX 3 weeks ago. With the rebates, discount and Hyundai owners cash award, my new car went out the door for less than what my Elantra did 2 years ago! And WOW -what a car this is for the money. I've been taken by the current Sonata design since it came out. Now that I have one of the last off the line I'm getting the refined engineering, wonderful styling and a few surprises to boot. For instance not many know that the heated seats were added as an option combined with the sunroof. My console storage bin is a bit smaller than pictured in the brochure and the heated seat switches are between the bin and the shifter. There's only one heat setting but it's great! Another hidden feature which isn't indicated in the brochure, website or owner's manual is the speed-sensitive feature on the intermittent wiper setting. When set at the fastest intermittent setting the wipers swipe with about a 1-second interval when the car is stopped up to about 20mph. At that speed and above the wipers switch to the regular slow continuous speed. When the car goes below 20mph the wipers go back to intermittent...very upscale!
Everyone who gets in and/or rides in my silver with black leather beauty can NOT believe it's a Hyundai. The fit and finish inside is world-class. I checked the stats on-line and it may be hard to believe but my car has more interior room and trunk capacity than an Accord. In fact my car has MORE passenger room than a new Chrysler 300 which is quite a larger car outside. Hyundai engineers are genius and good as the '06 may be (and it is impressive) I know I have a wonderful car with my '05 that will be in style for many years.
The 2.7 engine has plenty of horsepower and torque. I had the whole family aboard for our trip to Easter Dinner and had to accelerate UP the on-ramp to the freeway. Acceleration was strong and got us to merge speed effortlessly! On top of that the cabin is so quiet we had conversation from front to back seat in normal tones. I'm gushing but each time I get in it's amazing that a car of this quality, engineering and style can be had at the price.
If you're at all considering the '05 on style, don't hesitate because inventory is dwindling and incentives will never be higher. The '06's are being shipped from the plant in Alabama and they won't have one penny of incentive for at least a year.
By the way, I was considering a Tucson myself, and would have loved all the features such as the curtain airbags, 4-wheel drive option etc., but the Tucson equipped as I wanted would list at $22,000 or about $7,000 more than my Sonata LX. And there are no discounts or rebates on the Tucson yet. Besides, I love the black leather and woodtone cabin which isn't available on the Tucson.
Hyundai rules! I used to be a Ford-man but I think Hyundai has won me over for many, many years.

backy · April 2005

I was riding in a bus going down a freeway in Seoul yesterday when I saw a first-generation Sonata. No big deal in Hyundai Land. But then right ahead of it was the first iteration of the second-gen Sonata. I thought to myself, as we sometimes have these random thoughts, "Wouldn't that be funny if the next Sonata I see is a third-gen, and then a fourth-gen after that?"

Well, that's not quite what happened. What happened was even wierder. Two cars ahead of the second-gen Sonata was another second-gen Sonata--but it was the mid-gen restyle. Three cars ahead of that car was a third-gen Sonata. Not just any third-gen Sonata, but the first iteration of that generation. Immediately ahead of that car was--you guessed it--the mid-gen restyle of the third-gen Sonata (i.e. the current Sonata in the U.S.). And then the next Sonata I saw, a few cars ahead (these were all in the same lane BTW) was the new fourth-gen Sonata.

So six Sonatas in exact forward chronological order on a public road. What are the odds of THAT happening, even in Seoul?

druencon · May 2005

I have a 2000 Sonata and neither of the remote entry switches work. I installed a fresh battery, but still nothing. I have two keys and the valet key. What cycle do I need to do with the valet key?

jimbeaumi · May 2005

Please remember one thing about the Sonata. It hasn't had the many years of consistent reliability enjoyed by Accord owners; it is a newer vehicle line, after all. But it did managed to land on the very top of the 2004 Consumer Reports reliability survey of over 200 vehicle models, reported on by more than 800,000 subscribers. In that survey it had two problems per one hundred vehicles, certainly nothing to sneeze at. In addition, keep in mind the quality improvement trajectory this company is on. If I hadn't seen such vast improvement and such a strong effort on the part of Hyundai to continue those improvements in quality, I would not have looked twice at my Elantra four years ago. The current Sonata is VERY tempting to me, due to the high level of reliability and also because of great incentives, but alas, I would prefer a stick shift with the V6. Happy motoring!

sandman46 · May 2005

Saw some pictures of the new Sonata and was very impressed with the new look. I especially liked the wheels that come with the 17" tire package. I think it will give the Camcord segment some very stiff competition if the relabilty and quality are at Camcord levels. Should be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. Personally, I won't buy a 1st year model as I prefer the 4th year.
Did sit in a '03 Sonata while getting some warranty work done on my Sentra and did like the interior. Didn't have that "Toyota/Hondaesqueness", but a nice comfortable interior. It's something that can't be put into words but Toyota and Honda have that certain something that Nissan and Mazda are a little behind on. Something in the way everything falls right in hand and the way the switches and handles have a certain tangible feel . Hopefully, this new '06 Sonata will have that quality, and if it does...their sales should skyrocket.

The Sandman

skes · May 2005

Having trouble with check engine light coming on and car not shifting into overdrive. Seems if you turn the car off wait a few minutes and restart the problem will go away. I've done some searching around the web and it seems to be somewhat of a common problem with these cars. I saw an earlier post in this forum and a possible solution was to replace the crankshaft sensor. Any other thoughts?? Thanks in advance

friel18 · June 2005

I have a 2005 Black Hyudai Sonata That I wash evry week.I went 2 weeks without washing it and when I did i noticed little burn marks alomost like someone put a cigerettr Butt out on my car.I took my car to the dealer and they said it was bird poop and the acid in the poop ate through the paint.I have a hard time beliveing after 6 months of having the car that this has already happened .My question is can this happen so soon or is my paint job and pice of junk.

lngtonge18 · June 2005

Bird poop destroys clear coat paint jobs and is especially bad on black cars since the sun intensifies and quickens the effects. It can ruin your paint if left on there for more then a few days. Hyundais in general do have weaker paint quality. Be wary of leaving bug juice on your car too as that will eat right through the paint.

chatys1953 · June 2005

when I bought my 2003 sonata I was told that I had to have receipts for my oil changes or the warranty would be no good. A friend told me that he knew someone who didnt have receipts for his oil changed every 3 months/3000 miles and his engine blew and he was out of luck with the warranty.I was given the same info when I bought my 2005 sonata.

Cathy

sonatabob · June 2005

My Dad has an '04 Jaguar X-Type in Silver Metallic that developed the same kind of spots as the previous poster's Black Sonata. He took it back to the dealer who explained they were most likely cause by tree sap although bird poo would have the same effect. Dad's not one to have his car washed very often so the acid ate right through the clearcoat, metallic paint and down to the base primer coat. The rep also explained that due to environmental restrictions the paints and coatings are not as durable as the manufacturers and owners would like, but that more durable paints and coatings are comprised of solvents and chemicals deemed hazardous to the environment. His recommendation is to be more diligent with regular washings and waxings to protect the clearcoat, and be especially careful to remove bird poo and treesap -asap!
I myself have a silver '05 Sonata which I'm keeping a close eye on but I have to say that the paint finish is flawless having no orangepeel anywhere and is overall a superior finish to the black paint on my previous '03 Elantra.

sonatabob · June 2005

Boy that sure sounds like the dealer and/or Hyundai Rep are on shaky ground demanding receipts for oil changes every 3,000 miles. Even the owner's manual gives wide leeway in the mileage between changes due to driving conditions which would be hard to prove in retrospect. A "blown" engine is not the direct result of aged oil in the crankcase. Gross negligence in oil changes will shorten an engine's life but even if you have 20,000 miles on your oil and it's up to fill-level I doubt seriously if the engine would blow...

chrisund · June 2005

I have a 2004 Hyundai Sonata with a stock Am/Fm/Cd player installed. I bought an
Alpine IVA-D300 indash monitor for my car and I was going to install it myself
because I've done monitors before. The problem is I don't know where to begin to
take my dash apart so I can put in the new stereo. Does anyone know how to take
apart the dash to do this? Also I was wondering if I need to buy a radio adapter
for my new cd player, or if hyundai's don't need one. It also looks like my car
is a double din, but I found a kit by metra for my car, and it was single din.
Does anyone also know if I don't need a car kit? Please reply if you can help me. Really appreciated.

ashleysan · July 2005

i've been looking at the 2005 sonata. i really like it a lot, especially because of the price. but after reading through this forum i found out that the sonata has a lot of problems with stalling. now i'm all confused because i had finally found a reliable car but after reading about the stalling i'm sort of afraid to buy one. is this a common problem or something i should worry about to the point of picking out a different car?

tenpin288 · July 2005

While I don't doubt that there are some Sonata's that may be stalling, etc and giving their owner's fits, just like any car model, they are usually the exception by a large margin. Remember, Hyundai has been selling in the area of 100,000 or more Sonatas a year the last few years so there are bound to be few that have some serious problematic cars in the mix. My wife's car is an '04 Sonata LX which we purchased in March 2004 and we have had zilch, nada, zero problems. I don't mean to make light of other's problems, but if the problems reported here were the norm rather than the exception, it would be all over the news and Hyundai's vastly improved ratings in Consumer Reports, JD Powers, and Strategic Vision would be rapidly going down the toilet. In addition to my wife's Sonata, we also own a '05 Hyundai Tucson LX. Both vehicles have been the most reliable vehicles we have owned in the last 25 or so years. Do your research, test drive, and evaluate your choice based on "all" opinions you read and you won't go wrong.

bhmr59 · August 2005

My '05 GLS SV is getting it's first oil change tomorrow, after about 3100 miles. Bought it on 4/13. The car has been fantastic. Not a single thing to complain about. Gas milage is between 18 & 19 in local use (EPA rated is 19) with most trips under 3 miles.

Bought the car in FL and had a return trip over 1350 miles. Averaged 27.99 on the highway (EPA rating is 27) with the cruise set a little over 70 MPH most of the way.

No stalling problems or anything else. Just a good solid car at a very good price.

cedar3 · August 2005

I'm new here and not sure how to proceed....2 days ago I went into a Hyundai dealership to consider a 06 Sonata. I liked what I saw on tv and all the safety features that go with this car. Because they were offering so many good deals on the 05, I let the salesman talk me into it, forgetting, that the 05 and 06 are very different. I haven't slept for 2 days realizing that I live in a poor winter area of PA and this car, unlike my pontiac grand am, has no abs or traction control. I travel an hour to work during the school year, and I am scared out of my mind that this car won't handle well in the winter. Then I start reading all this negative stuff about the sonata, the paint, the stalling, dealing with bad repairs, I'm just beside myself that I made a big mistake. I even called the salesman, and he said he'd see what he could do, but I'd be essentially trading the car in....basically I'm out of luck. Please understand that I am usually the careful one in the family, research and stress over making a final decision. I went into the dealership and between my husband and I, we were like two kids at toys r us. The 05 Sonata GL V6 drove so nice, that I forgot to stop myself. Is there any good news out there??????

tenpin288 · August 2005

My wife has an 04 Sonata LX for the last year and a half, and we live in the Laurel Highlands of PA. She has had no problems getting around in the winter. Granted, her LX does have traction control and ABS, but she rarely has them kick in. I am sure you will do fine as long as you practice safe winter driving techniques. As far as the quality and durability of the vehicle, we have had nothing to complain about. This gen of the Sonata, IMO, is a well-built, dependable, quality vehicle. Enjoy and don't fret so much. You'll live longer and be less stressed.

cedar3 · August 2005

Thanks for the positive message. I'm not usually this stressed out, but my husband had a car accident in June. He travels at least 1.5 hours each way to work every day and my commute is at least an hour...Before the accident, I didn't worry so much. Thanks again!

ctalk · August 2005

You meantioned above you live in an area that has a lot of snow, and your scared about how it will handle in the winter.
I highly recommend getting winter tires. I always travel to Quebec during the winter, and their winters are horrible. ESC, and traction control dont help a lot if you have all seasons. What i found works the best is winter tires. With all seasons my car fish-tailed, did 360s, etc.

There was this icy hill in quebec and what i found funny is my car was the only car that could make it up the hill because i had winter tires. They really give you a peace of mind.

cedar3 · August 2005

I've been looking online to compare winter tires, both with studs or without. The more information I get, the more confused I feel. Can you or anyone out there recommend a good ice and snow winter tire????? I have a lot of hills in the community where I live and last year when I had my Grand Am with ABS and traction control, it was pretty difficult to get up the hills and stop at the bottom...so now that I have neither of those on my Hyandai, I'd want to get the best winter tires I can....Where we lived previously wasn't as hilly and my commute was about half what it is now so I didn't have so many problems.

tenpin288 · August 2005

TireRack.com is a good source for info on tires. I looked up your 05 Sonata on their site and they listed 4 choices. Check them out. You may be able to find a similar tire at a local shop.

05 Sonata snow tires

pat · August 2005

We can also Ask Connor at the Tire Rack, which is a discussion right here in our Forums.

sonatalover · August 2005

Does your state not have a provision in the law for buyer's remorse?

Allow me to help you feel better about your '05 purchase. I have an '03 Sonata without ABS or Traction Control. I have put 80,000 miles on it since I purchased it new two years ago. During that time I drove it safely through a typical Midwestern winter of snow, ice and extreme cold. I never had a problem. If you are a careful, safe driver you'll be fine. I would recommend you take advantage of the autostick feature to down shift the car when the roads are less than perfect. I have found this to be a great advantage given my car's lack of ABS.

Oh, by the way, I have NEVER had a mechanical problem with this car (6 cyl. LX) or my '99 (GL 4 cyl.). I religiously change the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles (depending upon the driving I've done), flush the antifreeze and coolant every 30,000 miles and, most importantly, replace the timing belt every 60,000 miles. By following this type of preventative maintenance schedule I was able to put 160,000 miles on the '99 4 cylinder!

I have no intention of getting rid of my '03 anytime soon. However, when I do I can guarantee it will be replaced with a new Sonata or Azera.

I would also advise having all preventative maintenance done at the Hyundai dealer. It may cost more in the short run but you'll save money in the long run. Not only will the car be properly taken care of, you'll develop a relationship with the service advisor and mechanics. Develop that relationship and you'll be surprised how often you get the benefit of the doubt when issues arise. I have experienced this with two separate dealers. Take my word for it, it will pay off! Case in point, have you ever heard of a dealer replacing a steering wheel under warranty? My local dealer did this for me with only 200 miles left under my 60,000 bumper to bumper warranty. Why? Because there were two small spots where the leather was wearing unevenly. Not a functional problem but one of aesthetics!

Good luck getting the '06...I think you should be able to do so if you push the dealer. However, if you decide to keep the '05 enjoy it!

hlx · August 2005

Hi,

I'm new to the board and thanks all for posting great info on Sonata.
I really want to buy a '05 Sonata (not the '06 Sonata.) I have driven it three times as rentals for long distance trips and every time it impressed me a great deal, especially compared to Corollas that Hertz seem to treat as "midsize" sedans. They all had different mileage levels (one had 300, second one 22000, the last one around 5000.) but all were great.

I live in LA and it seems all the great deals on '05 Sonata are on the eastern side of the Mississippi River. The few '05 that are left on this side are GLs (base), and these are not even cheap. It seems Hyundai is trying to push car-mad Californians to buy '06 over anything else.
I have in fact found some great deals in Midwestern states and I'm seriously thinking of flying there to buy. The problem is I have never purchased a brand new car before (only used ones from private parties,) and I wonder how dealers treat people like myself who buy the brand new car out of state then drive in for services. To recap, my questions are as follows:

1. If I buy the car in, say, Illinois, and use the official Hyundai dealership in LA for routine maintainance/ repairs covered by warranty etc., do I get charged extra???

2. If there is a recall, can I go to any official Hyundai dealership for service?

3. Does Sonata come with 50 states emission standard? (Very important here in California.)

4. It seems that if I have any concern with the purchase I should deal with the original dealership directly. But say I don't like the feel of the brake and want the dealer in LA to look over and "fix it." Does such "repair" covered by any dealer? my guess is that the original dealer might "fix" it for free but the local dealer might not.

5. Please let me know of out-of-state purchases in general, especially on issues I should be aware of.

Thanks for reading my post, and thanks in advance for any advice you might have.

duckied · August 2005

Hello. I think I can answer a couple of your questions.

1. If you buy the car at one dealership and have it serviced at another, it should not cost you anything extra. I bought my '05 Elantra at one dealership and have had recalls and maintenance done at my local Hyundai dealer at no extra charge.

2. All Hyundai dealers should be able to service the recall without a charge.

4. If you have a problem with the purchase, it may not be able to be fixed by your local dealer. For example, some of the weatherstripping on the Elantra came off around the wheel well. I took it to my local dealer and they said that my original dealer had to fix it since they installed it. However, the brakes may be a different issue.

Hope this helped!

duckied

bhmr59 · August 2005

I bought my '05 Sonata in FL and I live in CT. Brought it in the the first oil change 5 days ago at the local dealer where the salesman wanted to hose me on buying the car. I paid the same price for service as someone who bought from the local dealer would have paid ($29.95 including top off fluids, visual inspection of stuff bologna, etc.

In fact, the "mechanic" didn't install the oil filter correctly and the car leaked oil. This wasn't a car oe dealership problem. Just a mechanic who made a mistake. I noticed this problem the next morning, backing out of the garage, after driving only about 15 miles & called the dealer. They took me in right away and did another oil & filter change the right way (at no cost to me , of course).

Any new car dealer will be happy to perform warranty work on a brand they sell. The manufacturer pays them well for the warranty work.

As someonelse said, it may have cost a few $ more to have the oil change done at the dealer rather than my local garage, but I am starting to establish a relationship with the dealer's service department.

Recalls will be done by any Hyundai dealer. My '05 window sticker certifies that it meets all 50 states emission standard.

If yo purchase out of state, just be sure that any sales tax you pay in state of purchase will be credited (recognised in your state) so you don't get hit with double taxes.

rhaeffele · August 2005

"The 05 Sonata GL V6 drove so nice, that I forgot to stop myself. Is there any good news out there??????"

Yeah, cedar3, your 2005 Sonata still drives just as nicely as when you took it for a test drive, and, adjust your attitude to accept the reality that you do have a near-new car (mileage-wise, newer than some owners' 2006s by now) and enjoy years of service under a blanket protection warranty with what has been Hyundai's most successful ever Sonata model run. (The 2006 still has yet to prove itself.) Or, take the roughly $2,000.00 trade-in hit and negotiate your best deal on a 2006. (Might also wanna take an extra few "resolve" tablets before your next go 'round with a car salesperson. He/she was only there doing his/her job. Where were you and your husband during those negotiations?)

Hyundai Sonata 2005 and earlier

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