10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 28,845 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 to 25 mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. Even after applying the brakes it continued to accelerate. The driver was able to stop by using the emergency brake. The vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic who advised the contact that he was unable to diagnose the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,300. The VIN was unavailable.
- Hernandez, NM, USA
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 55 mph on normal road conditions, the contact heard a loud noise outside of the vehicle. The engine began to reduce power without assistance. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven cautiously to an authorized dealer for inspection and they replaced the frame cross member assembly and speed sensor. The failure mileage was 124,000 and current mileage was 130,000. Updated 04-23-09 updated 04/30/09.
- California, KY, USA
While driving, thr vehicle jerked to a stop. It was discovered that speed sensor was defective. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the manufacture will not accept responsibility. The brakes had worn away, one brake pad was missing, there was a loud grinding sound in the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle refused to shift when turning corners. The service dealer found it nessasary to replace the rear oxygen sensor and found that the output speed sensor was faulty.
- Clarks Summit, PA, USA
I heard a repetitive clicking sound and turned my radio off to listen. The noise didn't change when I slowed down and I resumed my normal speed of 60 mph. After a few seconds the car slowly & gradually began pulling to the left. I was unable to steer the vehicle at all and was moving into the shoulder and median between the highways. I tried to apply my brakes but the car was not responding. I had no steering or brakes and was heading towards oncoming traffic at 60 mph. I hit the end of a guard rail and the air bags did not deploy. These cars are not safe to drive! we also had a problem w/it hesitating when it tried to switch gears & the dealership was unable to fix. And the driver window would not stay in the track and shut properly.
- Okeana, OH, USA
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 35-40 mph and neither air bag deployed. Dealer and manufacturer were not notified at this time. Consumer also stated that he was stopping the vehicle when it stalled then suddenly it sped forward, even as consumer applied the brakes. Even after pulling the emergency brake, the vehicle continued on hi rev. There was one injury.
- Columbus, OH, USA
While applying brakes for a stop light vehicle suddenly accelerated was force vehicle into an intersection, and get involved in a frontal collision with an ongong vehicle. Dealer and manufacuerer were not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further infromation.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Vehicle accelerated suddenly, resulting in a collision, and causing minor injuries to driver. Consumer states this accident happened the day that the vehicle was going to be taken to the dealer for this sudden acceleration problem.
- Oakdale, MN, USA
When driving and with no prior warning vehicle will start to jerk, and then it will accelerate.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
While driving rpms go up high, idle will not drop. Been to dealer 5 times for same problem.
- Lacey, WA, USA
On April 28, 2001 I and three other passengers were riding in the vehicle. I was traveling down a long grade at 35 to 40 miles per hour. Toward the bottom of the grade the road curves to the right and at the bottom there is a traffic signal. When I came around the curve I saw that the light was green and proceeded to accelerate in order to get up the approaching upgrade. When I attempted to accelerate the engine revved very high but the vehicle continued to slow down. Tansmission had shifted into neutral although the shifter still indicated that I was in drive. The vehicle would not automatically shift out of neutral. I had to manually shift into low gear. Two days later I took the vehicle to the dealer and, after three days, I was told that they could find nothing wrong and that they would make no repairs. On Friday May 4, 2001 I was contacted by the Hyundai regional service representative who tried to convince me that there is nothing the matter with my vehicle. He told me that it was the vehicles "adaptive learning" feature that caused the shift and that what I experienced was perfectly normal. I find it very hard to believe that the new car I own was designed to shift and stay in neutral when it is in a situation where acceleration is necessary. Both the dealer and the manufactuer continue to insist that there is nothing the matter with the vehicle and refuse to make any repairs. Also, one week before the incident, my wife and I were on the same road and the vehicle did nearly the same thing. The only difference was that after about a second or two of stepping on the gas pedal transmission shifted itself back from neutral into drive. Please help.
- West Mifflin, PA, USA
- Spencer , MA, USA