After having lunch in a park, I tried to start the car. All of the audible warning alarms went off, all of the lights in the car were flashing and brake pedal was pumping itself. Car wouldn't turn over and indicator that key was missing went on. Tried manual start with key fob in center console - no dice. Had to call a tow truck to tow it to nearby Hyundai dealership. They informed me that there was brake fluid on the "module" and the required fix was to replace the hydraulic power unit ($1883.02) and battery ($327.87) plus labor for a grand total of $2924.26. I asked how this problem happened and they said that they didn't find a leak with the brake fluid and suggested that there was "overspill" from fluid being placed in the reservoir. The car got it's 70k service one month prior at another dealership in the region, which included a brake fluid replacement. Upon calling that dealership and letting them know that this was a problem likely caused by their work, they required that the vehicle be towed to them (another 20 miles away).

After having the car for several days, they said that there is nothing wrong with the car and that I can come and pick it up any time. Since I had it towed to them in good faith, I requested that they tow it back to the dealership that originally diagnosed the problem at their expense. They refused, so I had the vehicle towed back to dealership #1 again. I reported the issue to Hyundai Customer Care, since a dealership (Downey Hyundai, CA) is claiming that they are not responsible and can't find anything wrong with the car. My concern is that if this problem happens again while car is being operated, this could be a fatal situation.

As of today, I have still not heard back from Hyundai Customer Care and the original dealership that has had the car for two weeks (Glendale Hyundai, CA) claims that they can't reproduce the problem THAT THEY DIAGNOSED and requested $3k to fix! They too have offered that I pick up the car since they don't know if the problem will occur again at "5 miles, 100 miles or what". I will update the thread when I hear back from Hyundai.

Was very frustrated with dealership as the starter went without warning, and service says out of warranty (5yr, 60,000 miles) as car was at 79,800, but pointed out mostly highway commute (130 miles round trip work from MA to NH), so car is not often started and car is only 3 years old, never had a starter replace in my Honda accord (had for 10 years, 175K miles) or Toyota Camry (7 yrs, 155K mi- and only stopped after accident). Dealership service and sales manager really didn't care and rude about it- their loss as I was thinking buying another sonata (car paid-off), so their loss. Brought car to my mechanic to repair and they mentioned internet search had listed this as common occurrence but did not see that at your website for this model. Appreciate your website.