Son was driving vehicle and another vehicle had suddenly stopped in front of him and he had to apply the brakes suddenly and turn his wheel. Right front lower control arm pulled completely out of the of the engine cradle causing damage to fender and suspension and drive train. Insurance company has totaled vehicle because of this. No correction has been done as of yet.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

The sub frame has rusted out on my 2000 Hyundai Sonata. I have been told it is very dangerous to drive. I purchased this car 5 yrs ago from a dealer in lexington, ky. I have been told it is highly unusual that a car that is 8 yrs. Old would have such a severe problem and that I should not keep the car, or that I should replace the frame which will be very expensive to do.

- Richmond, KY, USA

On Nov.6th 2008. I was driving my 2000 Hyundai Sonata gls. I was approaching a red light when I heard a loud, "boom". the car stopped and the engine dropped. At first I thought I had blown my tire. I got out of my car and checked the tires, they weren't flat but my right front time laid slightly titled inward. I couldn't move my car. My daughter, grandson and I were shaken. There was rust and a baring lying in the road. They came from my car. I had the car towed to my house. My mechanic said the right axle had broken. After he checked the car, he told me the subframe had rusted through and was cracked badly. He said that's why I heard the boom and the drop. I researched this on the internet and discovered that Hyundai has a safety issues with these subframes. This is a life-threatening issue! the potential for grave harm is immense. I can't drive my car now. It will have to towed to a garage. I feel that Hyundai is responsible for this. All 3 of us could've been injured if I had been going the speed limit. I want corrective action taken. The public is at risk as well. The subframe is a manufacturers defect. Thank you

- Glen Burnie , MD, USA

I am the owner of a 2000 Hyundai Sonata gls V6 and on November 1, 2008 I was traveling home with my cousin when while negotiating a left turn my steering became very difficult and I heard a very loud screeching sound coming from my car. I narrowly escaped an accident as my car began dangerously careening towards a ditch on the right side of the road I was turning onto. From that point on, my steering was severely compromised and I was required to hold the steering wheel almost a full rotation to the left in order to drive in a relatively straight line. When I arrived home, I noticed that my front right wheel was resting at a strange angle, pointing slightly outwards to the right even when all of the other wheels were straight. My uncle, a car mechanic, took a look at the car and informed me that the entire sub frame had rotted and that my front right wheel was on the verge of coming off as the control arm was rusting off of the frame and that the car was not able to be fixed. After further researching the problem, I came across many online articles highlighting problems with 1999-2004 Hyundai Sonatas and eventually found your defect page that described exactly what had happened to I and many other owners of earlier Hyundai Sonatas. I feel that Hyundai should take responsibility for its faulty models that could have severely injured my passenger and I and could eventually prove to be fatal to others unaware of the problem with their abnormally rotting sub frames. I appreciate your time and effort and hope you can assist others and I in finding a solution to this urgent problem.

- Collegeville, PA, USA

The car wouldn't pass inspection. I was told the subframe was rotted and needed to be replaced. Luckily it is a bolt on part, but cost well over $1,000 for parts and labor. I was told the replacement part was of heavier metal and had more drainage holes than the original.

- Carbondale, PA, USA

Subframe on the front chasis was severely rusted through, on the verge of losing the wheel. Discovered during a routine oil change. Mechanic advised driving the car due to the dangerous condition and imminent probability of losing the wheel.

- Massapequa, NY, USA

Right front wheel became detached and car skidded to a halt on busy road. The same thing happened 8 weeks ago to the left front wheel. I have since seen on the internet that this is a known issue with this make/model of Hyundai.

- Dunstable, MA, USA

Tires started squealing about 9/12; got worse, driving very, very loosely so took to shop on 9/25. Shop said there was 'frame damage." Towed to frame shop same day. 9/29 frame shop advised the engine cradle and A-frame were nearly rusted through completely and car was 99% failed. 9/30 received information via web blog regarding numerous occurrences of this specific failure in a narrow range of years/models for mfgr. Called Hyundai to open a case to get them to repair, although vehicle is not under warranty, they have repaired numerous others out of warranty for the same issue.

- Olathe, KS, USA

I am unable to get my car inspected due to drivers side front fame is rotted. My car was due for inspection in April. I don't feel I can sell the car. And I am still paying on a car loan which I owe $2000.

- Stanfordville, NY, USA

I was on my way to work, when I drove over a pot hole and the front end on my car is now resting on my tires due to severe rust in the frame.

- Shrewsbury, MA, USA

Subframe rusted out on 2000 Hyundai Sonata.

- Northampton, PA, USA

2000 Hyundai Sonata gls V6 - subframe is cracked and rusted with large holes in it. No longer driving it due to safety concern. Read about NHTSA investigating this issue and possible recall. Found it when had oil changed - the mechanic was shocked and said not to drive it - too dangerous.

- Columbus, OH, USA

While my car was on lift for unrelated repair, mechanic spotted severe subframe rot/corrosion and advised me to monitor its advancement. The subframe is rotted through the metal in a size slightly larger than a golf ball at this time (approx. 4 sq. In) on the right front side of the vehicle.

- East Hartford, CT, USA

2000 Hyundai Sonata gls V6 rust and corrosion on subframe (about the size of a basketball) front suspension problems -we recently brought our car into a local strauss auto to have a basic check up before state inspection. They spotted the rust and warned it is very severe and needs to be taken care of asap! - they also stated the suspension problems are most likely occurring because of the subframe not supporting the car 100% -we feel this is truly a defect by Hyundai and should be taken care of by them!

- Brick, NJ, USA

I am posting this to complain about my 2000 Hyundai Sonata. The front sub-frame is completely rusted out. The car is not drivable and is unsafe. I was driving on U.S rt 19 in wv and the front tire became so far out of alignment that the inner tread worn complete through the belt resulting in deflation.

- Fayetteville, WV, USA

On August 25th, 2007, my wife and I were driving home on the southern state parkway. There was quite some traffic (stop-and-go kind of thing) so we weren't at a high speed. When the person in front of me had to stop short, I stepped on the brakes, and the front right wheel of my car sunk, and there was a loud noise like metal scratching against the pavement. After I finally managed to stop the car without getting hit by another driver, and checking to see if my wife was ok, I got out of the car just to find out that my front right wheel was in an almost horizontal position. After towing the car to the repair shop, my mechanic found out that the axle and the lower control arm broke because the engine cradle was severely rusted, and therefore there was no support for the axle and the control arm to sustain the weight and pressure of the sudden stop. Needless to say, I believe that my wife and I are very lucky to not have been injured, or to cause somebody else an injury. The repairs were costly, but I had to do it. I need the car to work, and we live in a place were the car is an everyday necessity. The cradle for this vehicle was damaged and completely rusted away and needed to be replaced completely at a cost of $2,897.22. We also incurred the following expenses due to the cradle failing while we were driving the car on the southern state parkway on August 25th, 2007: Towing charge of $168.37, car rental charges of $164.53. A written estimate from a local body shop for $996.59 should be added to cover the body damage sustained when the right side axle and right side lower control arm cracked, causing the front right side wheel to bend the right side bumper cover. My mechanic kept the old cradle up to a couple of months ago, when after dealing with the local dmv office and explaining the situation they informed us that "a dmv judge wouldn't even look at this case". I do still have pictures of the rusted cradle where you can see the fist-sized holes in it.

- Farmingdale, NY, USA

Rusted frame, unsafe to drive.

- Catasauqua, PA, USA

Two big problems, first the current the entire frame on the ride side has completely rusted out and the bottom fell out of the car - before this happened the car was pulling to the right the car was unable to be driven and a frame is hard to locate because I was told this is a common problem with these cars - a 2000 Hyundai shouldn't completely rust from the inside - there is no rust on the car and it was kept in a garage I am in communication with the company to see what will be done, judging from pas experiences - nothing second issue: We had many problems involving the electric system the car would go dead for no apparent reason the car alarm would get stuck and you couldn't get in the car or start it the dashboard lights go in and out (mostly out now).

- Carbondale, IL, USA

Took my 2000 Hyundai Sonata to have tires aligned on a Friday morning and was total the frame was rusted but I had a bent tie rod and it needed fixed first. Left the tire shop and before going 10 miles I was stopped at a traffic light and when the light turned green I pressed on the gas and then I heard a loud pop and the car did not move. Luckily the vehicle was not moving when this happened or I could have been hurt and I could have hurt someone else. When I got out to see what happened, my right side tire was bent out I had the car towed to a garage to have what I thought was to have the tie rod fixed, the mechanic called me on Monday to tell me that it was not the tie rod that it was the sub frame that was rusted out on both sides, and I should take it back to the dealer because this should never happen. I then had the car towed to the dealership to have them check it. On Wednesday when I checked on the car I was told that the parts were ordered, that it would be considered a policy adjustment, I then wanted to know if I could be given a car since this was nothing that I did to the car and I was without transportation. Of course I was told that, that was not policy and no loaner car would be given.

- Clarksburg, WV, USA

I own a 2000 Hyundai Sonata. I took it for an inspection on July 24th of 2008. It failed due to the front cross member being rusted out. The mechanic showed me the rust. It was a 'fist-sized' rust hole on the subframe. The car has 61,800 miles on it and I am the second owner. Both the first owner and I live in Pennsylvania. I have been reading about this issue and some people have experienced terrible accidents. I believe there is an ongoing investigation to this problem. It is NHTSA action # PE08029. The Hyundai should take the action for this severe defect.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA