UNKNOWN, I recently purchased it from a dealership in Lemon Grove Cailfornia. Ever since I bought it, it has never had a catalytic converter and only one muffler. It is a 2.7L motor DOHC and requires 2 catalytic converters and dual exhaust due to the double overhead cam. It has cause motor oil into my engine block and has coughed my heater core. Also blown head gasket. I have hired certified ASE mechanics to replace parts and then I run into another problem.

- Lemon Grove, CA, USA

Leaking valve cover is allowing oil to leak down onto the alternator. Car can be stationary or running. Most notable when car engine is running. Oil leaking onto alternator can cause alternator to short. Alternator failed and car battery could not charge battery. Car died while my wife was driving and she had to pull quickly off to the side of the road.

- Newark, DE, USA

The car started losing speed and stalled a couple of times. The camshaft sensor and crankshaft sensors were replaced. The problem happened 6 months later.

- Sierra Madre, CA, USA

Backing into the garage, my foot on brake, the engine suddenly revved to high RPM, the car shot backwards, propelling a heavy rubber mat on which the car is normally parked out of the garage and into the driveway. The vehicle then impacted and crashed through the rear garage wall before coming to a stop. I managed to pry the gear lever out of reverse, hit drive instead and sent the car, wheels still spinning and laying down rubber, forward out of the garage. On its way out the car swiped along the right side the garage door post before finally coming to a stop in the driveway. Final result, serious damage to both the car and the garage. Fortunately this did not occur in traffic or with pedestrians in the area. On-line research has since shown me that there have been numerous other similar incidents where Hyundai Sonatas have suddenly accelerated on their own. See

- Battle Creek, MI, USA

The right side of the engine cradle broke (due to corrosion); the result of this broke the right front half axle, and detroyed right front tire.

- Portage, MI, USA