My 2007 Hyundai Sonata was taken to the dealer due to grinding noise occurring at approximately 25,450 miles. They said I needed a brake job and that the left rear brake was bad and rotor had to be resurfaced. No chirping warning tones had preceded the grinding noise. They refused to cover it, saying it was normal wear. I had a brake check done at my last oil change (the next one was not due for another month time-wise, longer than that mileage-wise) and was told that there was 40-60% of good wear left on all of the pads. I also complained that the steering had been feeling loose for the past few days. They could not find anything wrong with the steering but that still feels loose. And even after the brake job (driver side rear brake was the main culprit), the brakes are not as firm as they were about 8 days before the dealer visit that was scheduled. Their appointment book was full for the four days preceding my appointment. We happened to be talking to a salesman and he mentioned that all of the 2007 Sonatas they had on lease returns had the same brake problem. If you search the internet, you will find many frustrated consumers with the same problem. I believe this is a design flaw or a manufacturing defect. I believe that Hyundai is aware of the issue, but refuses to take responsibility while the consumers are left holding the bag and their cars become unsafe to drive. I did 4 months of researching before I bought this car, and had I known this would be an issue, I would not have purchased it.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

Rear brakes on 2007 Hyundai Sonata acquired high pitched squeal, odor, and wheels were hot to the touch at 19,800 miles. Dealer replaced brakes pads and resurfaced rotor. Seems to be premature wear of rear brake pads and rotors due to defective rear brake mechanisms causing the pads to freeze against the rotors. Dealer maintains the brakes need "adjusting" every 10,000 miles to avoid the problem.

- Lombard, IL, USA

Premature wear of rear brake caliper pads due to corrosion on caliper guides.

- Roseville, MN, USA

Replacing rear brakes pads and rotors because of worn parts on vehicle with relatively low mileage.

- Tonawanda, NY, USA

Purchased Hyundai Sonata recently and heard high pitched chirp/squeal sound in rear area of car. Searched internet to see if similar problems were identified. Learned that hundreds of people are experiencing similar issues with premature brake wear due to defective rear brake mechanisms. Brakes appear to be malfunctioning under normal road conditions and freezing brake pads against rotors. Rotors wear out from premature wear. This is a serious safety issue. Hyundai unresponsive to customer complaints indicating road salt is to blame. This is costing hundreds of americans hundreds of dollars in tough economic times not to mention the safety concerns of potentially failing brakes causing accidents. Investigation and action is needed to determine the cause of the defect and initiate a formal recall from Hyundai.

- Rochester, NH, USA

2007 Hyundai Sonata - 4 cylinder rear brakes noticed smell & heat coming from rear wheels after car was stopped. Have also noticed that fuel mileage has been poor for the last several months. Suspected park brake sticking, but took to dealer to investigate. Their investigation came back that rear brakes were sticking and rear brake pads worn out after 27,000 miles. Recommended I have the rear pads & rotors replaced, and should have a "brake service" done where they disassemble the brakes, clean and reassemble. Brake service was done and rear brake pads were replaced. Refused new rotors based on a 2nd opinion that they were fine. I asked service manager why this would be necessary with so few miles on the car. I previously owned a 2004 mazda6 with rear disc brakes. I bought it new and traded it with 70,000 miles on it, having spend $0 on the brakes. His response was that all Hyundai Sonatas experience problems and unless annual brake service is performed, I will have problems with the rear brakes sticking. I view this as a manufacturer defect. Hyundai charges me for the brake service, and since I did not have it done during the first year of ownership, my rear brakes were sticking on, causing my poor mileage and a rear brake pad replacement. None of this work was covered under warranty, and I am now out approx $500 for work performed on my car, not to mention the fact that I will now need to spend money each year to have a "brake service" performed. A quick check on message boards on the internet revealed that many people are seeing the same problem. This should be rectified by Hyundai in the form of a recall. I should be reimbursed for the money I have spent, and an improved design should be implemented (such as on my Mazda).

- Saint John, Nb, Canada, 00, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed that the rear brakes made a grinding noise whenever they were applied or while the vehicle was in motion. The dealer stated that this was normal wear of the disc pads. The contact was going to have the vehicle repaired by another mechanic, until he conducted research online and found other complaints for this same failure. He will wait to see what will happen with this investigation. The dealer stated that they would call him back with information on the vehicle, but they have not yet returned his call. The failure has been occurring for a while and the brakes have a strange odor. The failure and current mileages were 21,000. Updated 07/28/09 the consumer stted the pads and calipers were replaced and lubricated. Updated 07/30/09.

- Dunbar, PA, USA

Rear brakes ceased (left side) which causes pad to wear out and need replacement at 22,000 miles!! not covered under warranty....charged me $173.95 +tax to repair.

- Goshen, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an unknown speed and attempting to make a stop, the contact heard a grinding noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The stopping distance increased. The contact removed the rear driver's side tire and noticed that the rotors were caked with rust. The rear driver's side brake pads were worn out prematurely. The pads were so corroded that they were grinding into the rotor. The dealer stated that the warranty would not cover the repairs. The manufacturer advised him to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. No repairs have been made. The current and failure mileages were less than 16,000.

- Carpentersville, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the service brakes never operated correctly on her vehicle. She felt as if the brakes were sticking and dragging. The dealer stated that the rear driver's side brake pad failed and the brakes were grinding metal-on-metal. The rear passenger side brake pads were near failure. The dealer stated that the cause of the failures was due to snow melting salts that were rusting the metal underneath the vehicle. The dealer estimated that it would cost over $500 to replace the brake pads. The contact was advised to have the brakes checked every few thousand miles. The current and failure mileages were less than 22,000.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

Brakes failing on 2007 Hyundai Sonata.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

My husband notice the passenger airbag light was coming on and going off as we were going down the highway at around 20,000 miles. This happened many times for both my husband and myself. I brought the car into 2 different dealers and was told they can't duplicate the problem. Since we didn't notice it happening until we were going down the highway for at least a half hour, I wasn't surprised that it didn't happen while test driving it at slower speeds in town. Since it didn't happen for the dealers, and the ABS light in the instrument panel didn't come on when it happened, there was nothing they could do. Now that the vehicle is out of warranty at 66,000 miles, both the passenger ABS light and the instrument light have come on and won't go out. I also noticed that the passenger seatbelt light was flashing when my husband had his seatbelt on and buckled. I am bringing it to the dealership to see if this will be fixed under warranty but am sure they will say it's not covered and will cost me.

- Fulton, IL, USA

A chirping noise and burning smell in my 2007 Hyundai Sonata sent me to my Hyundai dealer. $400 later the service manager told me that the brakes were rusty and seizing up. Invoice said, "20442 lr pads separating locked in slides resurfaced rear rotors, replaced pads, adjusted park brake, and serviced front brakes." Manager said it was due to the winter salt on our nh roads and that he'd been seeing a lot of these brake issues and had been complaining to Hyundai with no results. Manager said I need to have the rust removed from the brakes every 15,000 miles. Checked online and found that other folks are having the same problem and I see the same complaint here in your database. See hyundaiforum.com/forum/showthread.php?T=6314.

- Hancock, NH, USA

2007 Sonata w/ 34000 highway miles. Car was making a high pitched sound from the back left, and the drivers side back wheel was becoming very hot while driving. The dealer, napleton Hyundai basically said everything is fine, I just need to pay for a whole new set of back brakes. Knowing the heat was from the pads not releasing, I refused the work and investigated myself. Like other complaints here, I found that the pads are too tight in the calipers, and also are corroded. The heat issue only makes them fit tighter. The pad guides needed to be lightly filed and coated with anti-seize to fit and slide properly. I googled this and scanned the Hyundai forums, and the internet is littered with Sonatas and other Hyundai with the exact same problem. Hyundai will not address the issue, preferring to charge customers for new brakes and regular brake "lube" service. Hyundai Consumer Affairs also did absolutely nothing about this. This is a safety issue and a design flaw. Sooner or later this problem will cause an overheated wheel/tire to fail, or a wheel to lock up under slippery roads, and someone will be out more than just repair money.

- Wellington, FL, USA

22,000 miles on my Hyundai Sonata and the left rear wheel brake caliper stuck. The stuck caliper left the pad against the rotor. Both the left rear wheel rotor and both rear brake pads had to be replaced. The Hyundai dealership would not cover the repair under warranty and I had to pay almost $400 dollars to get it fixed. I have never had a car with only 22,000 miles have a brake problem like this.

- Shakopee, MN, USA

I have 2007 Hyundai Sonata with 21,000 miles. Brake pads were sticking causing hazardous driving and braking. The same problem occurred 3 times within 46,000 miles on my previous 2003 Hyundai accent. I believe the brakes are improperly engineered with metals which corrode prematurely in salt/snow.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

I brought my 2007 Sonata into the dealer to get it inspected the first year with 17,000 miles on it and have a noise from the wheels looked at and it had to have new brakes. I was astonished that after 17,000 miles I needed a $600 plus brake job, but the warranty covered it. Five months later the noise came back and I brought it in again, and was told that I needed to have my brakes taken apart, cleaned out and lubed ($150) or I would need new brakes again in a few months. I was appalled and asked the mechanic how a new car could possibly need new brakes once a year? I have never replaced brakes on any of my cars before at least 70,000 miles, so I know as the sole driver of the car that I'm not causing premature wear by my driving. He explained to me that the new Hyundai brakes are great except in the northeast where they corrode very quickly from the salt, and that if I don't have them cleaned and lubed ($150) at least once a year I will need to have them replaced every year. I did pay to have them cleaned and lubed, but this is crazy. They obviously are selling cars with defective brakes if they will only last for one year. I then asked around to the 4 other people who I knew who also had newer Hyundai's (3 Sonata's and one elantra) and they said they also had to have their brakes replaced before 20,000 miles. Since the brakes are only under warranty up to 25,000 miles I am now looking at having to pay several hundred dollars a year to keep the car with brakes, so I'm thinking I should take the loss and trade it in.

- Clay, NY, USA

Left rear wheel brake components had been excessively rusted, preventing the pads from releasing out of the drum. Wheel was dangerously other heated. Pad and drum were worn and required pad replacement and drum resurfacing.

- Southfield, MI, USA