7.4
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $200
- Average Mileage:
- 85,100 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 58 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace door handle (34 reports)
- replace handles (8 reports)
- replaced handle (6 reports)
- not sure (5 reports)
- replace the door handle (4 reports)
- replaced handles (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Hyundai dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
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Okay now the SECOND DOOR HANDLE. This time the DRIVERS DOOR much more frustrating as I now know it's nothing but the broken piece of plactic on the worst car.
Update from Jul 24, 2016: UPDATE CORRECTION
VEHICLE MILAGE
73,000 MILES When second handle fell off in 2014
- Angie M., Pinellas Park, FL, US
It started with one of the rear door handles and now ALL 4 door handles have broken off in the coarse of a year or so (cheap plastic handles). I have temporarily fixed the front two with twisted coat hangers and zip ties.
- Eric S., Sadieville, KY, US
All three exterior door handles failed on the 2010 Hyundai sonata over the course of the past year. Reported to Hyundai America, they said it was not under warranty, but scheduled a free service at the local Hyundai dealership. They in turn said they could not fix the handles under warranty. After months of back and forth communication and no resolution, I had the handles fixed at my local garage. I was tired of climbing into the car to get it started and forgetting to leave the windows down so I could reach in and open the door from the inside. I have never had a car where the exterior door handles failed to work. Do not think I will ever buy a Hyundai again.
- Liz A., Wells, VT, US
I was going to get in my car in a driving rainstorm to go to work and my damn driver's side handle came off in my hand when I pulled it to open the door. This makes door handle number two failed!!!! I had no choice but to rent a car because I had no access at that point! I contacted Hyundai consumer affairs thinking they would cover the cost of their inferior parts. After being assigned a case number and giving them time to contact the dealer, they "denied assistance at this time". Door handles should not fall off regardless of the year and mileage of the car, period!!!
- rhianna, Theodore, AL, US
A friend went to open the passenger side front door and the plastic handle broke off. Door will only open from inside until it gets repaired. I've never seen such a cheap door handle...looks like very cheap plastic. Have owned many vehicles of different makes and never heard of such a problem. Unfortunately, looks like from other postings that repair will run several hundred dollars including labor and that Hyundai has not yet taken responsibility for this widespread problem.
- virginia ranger, Suffolk, VA, US
This was the first foreign made car we ever bought & will definitely be the last! We have a 15 year old Chevy Suburban that has held up better & looks a whole lot better than our 5 year old Sonata. That's pretty pathetic.
- Darrel G., Carney, OK, US
Rear door handle on drivers side of my 2010 Hyundai Sonata fell off while trying to open the door. Broke off in my hand. I can't believe it! This is a first. Never had ANY handles on ANY other car break off.
With all the complaints on line about Hyundai door handles, this is a real issue and should be considered as a recall. The plastic parts on the Sonatas are poorly made.
- Christene P., Plainview, NY, US
Drivers side door handle fell off about 2 weeks ago, at 57k miles...not covered by warranty, $250 paid out of pocket to fix...nobody was hurt, but it's highly inconvenient, to say the least. Never heard of this kind of problem with any car before this incident, though the customer service at the dealership tried to reassure me by saying this is a common occurrence with this make and model?
- F H., Mililani, HI, US
I went to merely open the driver's side rear door, and the exterior handle made a popping sound, followed by the sound of something metallic (like a hex nut or fastener) falling on the inside of the interior door panel. The door handle mechanism broke and would not function. I taped the handle's loose end to the door until I could get to the dealer a few days later, lest jarring from the road caused the handle to fall onto the roadway.
I thought it was very odd this would happen, so I researched online about faulty Hyundai door handles. I was overwhelmed by several similar complaints and especially on the 2010 model. I mentioned it to my son, who also has a 2010 Sonata, and unbeknownst to me, his handle broke off in his hand earlier this year.
I asked the dealer to check on any related Hyundai recall, and he found no recall. My repair ran $246 ($172 labor + $74 new handle color-matched to the paint). The service writer remarked that the technician was "very familiar with the problem" and "knew right what to look for."
Hyundai has obviously known about their defective door handles, yet no recall can be found. It's not the severity of the defect that concerns me; it's the fact Hyundai has, by all appearance, failed to own up to the problem. My next car will not likely be another Hyundai.
- George G., Apple Valley, US
In the past year 3 out of 4 door handles have had to be replaced! It should be recalled!
- Adrianne M., Milton, FL, US
Was opening back passenger door to let my great granddaughter in and the door handle came off in my hands . I did not pull hard at all on handle. This is the 2nd handle on this car to break. The first one being only a month ago. Have not taken car in yet to have fixed. The other handle I had fixed cost me $ 125.00 with my daughter's 10% discount. This is my second Hyundai I've owed but my next car purchase I will definately put this problem in my decision.
- Sandra W., Vacaville, CA, US
Was getting everything ready to go on vacation. Reached for back drivers side door as I pull the handle to open it scratches me and breaks off in my hand. Needed it fixed asap so my daughter took it to a shop next to her work and it cost me $ 125 after her 10% discount they applied.
- Sandra W., Vacaville, CA, US
Door handle breaks off when my wife tries to open door Sunday. I call the dealership and it is about $40.00 for the exterior door handle, $100 to paint it, and labor charge to put it on.
I say it is a defective door handle on a fairly new car and they should send me the part. I called the Hyundai hotline and they ask for my vin # and a bunch of questions and then say bring it to the dealership so they can determine if it is a defective handle.
- Rick B., Coventry, RI, US
I only had my Hyundai Sonata for a about 6 months and then when I was going to open the driver's side door the door handle just broke so I could not open it from the outside. I had to crawl through my passenger side door and to get in and out of my car. Very embarrassing. At the time, the car was not even a year old. I bought it used, but it was well taken care of.
I took my car to several different places to get an estimate and every body shop said that I was going to have to order Hyundai part from Hyundai and then I must pay the labor costs. This was not covered under warranty since it was considered a luxury. So, I had to fork out $300.00 just to get my door handle fixed.
- Jennifer H., Birmingham, AL, US
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I went to open my left rear door and the handle broke off in my hand. I do not even use this door on a regular basis and I can barely lift a 10 pound weight so I know I was not exerting extreme force. This is a major safety issue because if someone was trapped inside of the car someone on the outside could not help them out. It is $150+ to have each door handle replaced. Many people have been having this same issue with multiple door handles breaking so now I'm just sitting here waiting for another one to break.
This is ridiculous that these door handles are popping off like handles on toy cars. If this has happened to you please complain about it. Please post a complaint here, the NHTSA website and call Hyundai Customer Care to lodge a formal complaint. Complain regardless if the damage is covered under your warranty or not. The more complaints there are the more likely there is for a recall to get a permanent fix for this problem.
- Porsha S., Columbus, OH, US
I am a 62 and looking to retire soon. I cannot afford $ 200 to have 2 door handles put back on my 2010 Hyundai. The front passenger and back driver side door handles just slid off. This is a safety issue. If I were to be in an accident and my car caught fire, there is no way to get the 2 passengers out to safety. I am thinking of seeking professional advice on how to resolve this issue that should be a recall/
thanks for your time
Sally Simonds 07/16/2014
- Sally S., Uniontown, OH, US
The rear door handles just fell off. NO reason for it to happen except faulty product. Read complaints on your site and seems there has been no recall or action by Hyundai. This is a safety concern. How can I possibly put my new baby in the back set of my car when I can not open the doors from the outside. How do we establish this as a safety hazard and get action by Hyundai regarding a recall so this problem can be fixed by Hyundai?
- janehall, Baltimore, MD, US
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COMPLETELY CONVINCED THIS CAR IS A LEMON!! WITH ONLY ONE DOOR HANDLE LEFT, I FEAR WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE LAST ONE DOES INDEED COME OFF? WITH STILL A YEAR AND HALF LEFT OF PAYMENTS, I ALSO WONDER WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? TOO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH ONLY 30000 MILES DRIVEN PERSONALLY TO HAVE HAPPENED! FEEL RIPPED OFF PAYING WAY TOO MUCH! AS SECOND SONATA OWNED WILL WITHOUT A DOUBT BE LAST!
Update from Jul 24, 2016: UPDATE TO MISSING 3! DOOR HANDLES Took to local Hyundai dealership, requested assistance from Hyundai USA... DEINED claim!! There are SO MANY COMPLAINTS with this problem its ridiculous to me that Hyundai wouldn't claim ANY ownership on this problem and WANT to back up their product of a major purchase like this. Something that should most certainly be made durable! Got quote on factory replacement. ... $40.00 for part $100.00 for labor AND $85.00 to paint to match car THATS $225.00 !!! EACH! ! ! ! DOOR HANDLE!!!!! SO FOR 3 OF THEM THAT'S A WOOPING $675.00! !! Or $420.00 for 3 black handles to be installed by factory. My solution, searched for hyundai part # for my Sonata, found BRAND NEW four door handles matching model # in Hyundai box shipped from Korea where made.. for $40.00!!!!!!! Found video on YouTube made from other (s) with same fate and fixed it ourselves.
Update from Jul 24, 2016: Will be LAST Hyundai ill EVER buy or invest in! When a company will not back up their product and production to be actually used by customer or care when its not
- Angie M., Pinellas Park, FL, US