2003 HYUNDAI SONATA Latches/locks/linkages Problems

THE CHROME ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE OF DRIVER SIDE EXHIBITED A CRACK AND SEPARATED. MY WIFE CUT HER FINGER ON THE CRACKED CHROME PLATING. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151 AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOOR HANDLE RECALL (I.E., NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V171000). I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ONE VEHICLE CAN BE RECALLED WHILE OTHERS OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL ARE NOT. *TR

Mileage: 156,000

VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2009 (PE08071) DUE TO DEFECTIVE CHROME ON DOOR HANDLES. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, CHROME WAS REPAIRED AS IT HAD CAUSED A SMALL LACERATION. CHROME IS AGAIN DEFECTIVE, CAUSED LACERATION ON HAND AGAIN TODAY WHEN ATTEMPTED TO OPEN DOOR. THIS OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHICH IS VERY RARELY USED. CHROME IS ALSO PEELING OFF OF EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE, RISKING FURTHER LACERATION. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP (GO HYUNDAI - 104TH & FEDERAL, WESTMINSTER, CO), DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS NO LONGER COVERED AS THEY DO NOT WARRANTY THE WORK DONE AS PART OF A RECALL. IN ADDITION, CAR IS TOO OLD FOR IT TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR DOES CONTINUE TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR POWERTRAIN ONLY. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ON ANY MODEL OF CAR REGARDLESS OF AGE. THIS APPEARS TO BE UNIQUE TO HYUNDAI. *JS

Mileage: 92,000

CHROME ON INTERIOR - DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS ERUPTED IN ONE SPOT PRODUCING A PIERCING SHARP NEEDLE-POINT WHICH CAN PIERCE THE FINGER OR HAND WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. CARE IS REQUIRED TO AVOID SKIN PIERCING INJURY. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED TO DETERIORATE AND BECAME SHARP TO THE TOUCH. HE RECEIVED INJURIES TO HIS FINGERS AFTER OPENING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

Mileage: 117,000

I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CHROME PLATES ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXHIBITED A CRACK AND BEGAN TO SEPARATE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH CUT OUR FINGERS ON THE CRACKED CHROME PLATE. WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOOR HANDLE RECALL. HYUNDAI RECALL ONLY VEHICLE PRODUCE IN 2002- 2003 MARCH, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS PRODUCE IN 2003 APRIL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ONE VEHICLE WITH A PROBLEM CAN BE RECALLED, AND THE OTHER IN SAME YEAR AND MODEL WITH SAME PROBLEM IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH CUT OUR HANDS ON THE CHROME INSIDE DOOR HANDLES OF OUR 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER , LAFONTAINE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP , IN DEARBORN,MI. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOOR HANDLE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ONE VEHICLE WITH A PROBLEM CAN BE RECALLED, AND ANOTHER WITH OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME. I HAVE PICTURES THAT I WILL TRY TO SEND TO THE WEB SITE, IF I CAN'T I DO HAVE THEM FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. *TR

Mileage: 68,807

I TRULY BELIEVE THE SAFETY OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS AT RISK AFTER FINDING OUT THAT THE DOOR LOCKS IN THE 2003 SONATA LX FAILED TO RESPOND TO SIGNALS FROM MY REMOTE. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM ONE NIGHT AFTER LOCKING MY CAR AND THEN SENDING MY FRIEND TO RETRIEVE AN ITEM FROM THE VEHICLE. I FORGOT TO GIVE MY FRIEND THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE CAR AND AS A RESULT I WAS SURPRISED WHEN HE RETURNED WITH THE ITEM. I INQUIRED HOW HE DID THIS HIS RESPONSE WAS THE LEFT REAR DOOR WAS OPEN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIF=GATION AND ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE IT WAS REALIZED THAT THE LOCK WAS NOT RESPONDING. THIS SITUATION WAS SCARY TO KNOW BECAUSE MY FAMILY DRIVES THE CAR AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND THIS CAN ENDANGER THEM IF SOMEONE COMES INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE THEY ARE AWAY FROM THE CAR. LIVING IN NY AND ENVIRONS MOST OF THE TIMES OUR CARS ARE PARKED ON THE STREET AND A PROSPECTIVE THIEF CAN ACCESS THE CAR EASILY. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE LEFT REAR DOOR ACTUATOR AFTER MANY CALLS TO THE MANUFACTURER. I HAD TO PAY A REDUCED COST OF $50 TO GET IT FOXED AFTER HYUNDAI AGREED TO SUPPLY THE NECESSARY PART SINCE THE CAR HAD JUST CROSSED 60000 MILES/ 5 YEARS . THEY SAID THE REASON THE ACTUATOR BECOMES FAULTY IS THEIR INABILITY TO DISTRIBUTE CURRENT EVENLY TO THE SYSTEM. NOW THE RIGHT REAR DOOR ACTUATOR HAS BECOME FAULTY AT 70000 PLUS MILES AND BOTH PARTIES, THE DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI, REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGE TO BE A KNOWN AND POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THESE VEHICLES. THE DOOR NOW STAYS IN THE LOCK POSITION BUT AGAIN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF I'M TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY....PLEASE ADVISE HYUNDAI TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT....AND REPLACE ALL DEFECTIVE ACTUATORS IN THEIR LINE OF VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. HE RECEIVED RECALL 09V171000 PERTAINING TO RUST ON THE FRAME. HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE METHOD USED TO CORRECT THE RECALL REPAIR. HE STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER PLACED STICKERS ON THE DOOR HANDLE AND THAT THEY WERE UNFOLDING DUE TO THE TEMPERATURE IN HIS STATE. HE ALSO STATED THAT SINCE THE STICKERS WERE METALLIC, THEY COULD POSSIBLY CUT YOU IF HANDLED INCORRECTLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE WILLING TO ASSIST ANY FURTHER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SIMPLY REMOVE THE STICKERS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,782.

Mileage: 47,782

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDIA SONATA. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE INTERIOR FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER CHROME DOOR HANDLE EXHIBITED A CRACK AND BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THERE WAS ALSO A SHARP EDGE ON THE CHROME PLATE SURFACE. A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO A FINGER ON THE DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V171000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE RECALL REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DID NOT ADDRESS THE RECALL DEFECT. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 30,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE DEALER REPAIRED RECALL #09V171000, COMPONENT: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH HYUNDAI RECALL# 093. THE REPAIR CONSISTED OF PLACING A PLASTIC COVER ON THE DOOR HANDLE. THE MILEAGE WAS 42,193.

Mileage: 42,193

ALL DOOR LATCHES ARE PEELING AND CAN CAUSE A CUT. *TR

2003 HYUNDAI SONATA 4 DOOR SEDAN. CHROME IS PEELING FROM METAL INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES AT RANDOM SUCH THAT PASSENGER OR DRIVER WILL GRASP HANDLE TO OPEN DOOR AND SEVERAL LACERATIONS TO HANDS AND FINGERS WILL RESULT. LACERATIONS ARE DEEP ENOUGH TO RELEASE BLOOD. I WAS A DRIVER AND PASSENGER ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN SAME VEHICLE AND CUT RIGHT AND LEFT HANDS ON BOTH INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. UPON FIRST ENCOUNTERING PEELING CHROME ON DRIVERS SIDE HANDLE, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AT 3675 SHERIDAN DRIVE AMHERST, NEW YORK (716) 835-8500. SAID DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE HANDLE BUT DID NOT REPLACE ANY OTHERS. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHEN OPENING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ON AUGUST 13, 2006, I CUT MY RIGHT HAND IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS RESULTING IN A RELEASE OF BLOOD. MY WIFE HAD ALSO CUT HER HAND ON THE DRIVER SIDE HANDLE. APPARENTLY HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WHICH IS A SAFETY RELATED MANUFACTURING DEFECT RESULTING FROM A DEFECTIVE PLATING / CLEANING PROCESS PRIOR TO PLATING. HYUNDAI HOWEVER, HAS NOT ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES FOR THIS REASON. PLATING DEFECTS SUCH AS THIS ARE PROCESS RELATED AND WILL BE PRESENT IN THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES ASSEMBLED. I AM A EXPERIENCED QUALITY ENGINEER AND DIRECTOR AND AM KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE PLATING PROCESS. MY CLAIM IS BASED UPON THE FACT THAT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS STOCK REPLACEMENT HANDLES AND OTHER CLAIMS POSTED ON WWW.EDMUNDS.COM AS FOLLOWS: CHROME ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES PEEL OFF AND CAUSES MAJOR CUTS ON HANDS WHEN OPENING DOOR. ... 03/10/2004, REVIEW OF A 2003 SONATA 4 CYLINDER SEDAN BY JBS... WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/USED/2003/HYUNDAI/SONATA/100188028/RATINGS_CONSUMER.HTML - 124K - CACHED - SIMILAR PAGES. *JB

Mileage: 39,000

MY CAR DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE BODY REPAIR TECHNICIAN BOTH CONCLUDED AFTER INVESTIGATION THAT THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY DOOR ACTUATOR. THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE OR INVESTIGATE THE CONCLUSIONS. I HAD TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM OUT OF MY POCKET. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BY THE DEALER. *JB

Mileage: 8,196