2007 HYUNDAI SONATA Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

DURING A SNOW STORM, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A STOP. MY BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE (AS IF SOMETHING WAS KEEPING THE BRAKE SHOES FROM ENGAGING ONTO THE WHEEL). THERE ALSO WAS A LOUD CLATTER. I DISENGAGED MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND WAS ONLY THEN ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. TODAY I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STOP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SAW HYUNDAI HAD A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #: 09V-122 WHICH WAS PUBLISHED APRIL 15, 2009. . ACCORDING TO MY VIN HISTORY, MY STOP LAMP SWITCH HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON 4/4/09 BY MALONE HYUNDAI. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATION AND ASKED IF PERHAPS MY STOP SWITCH, SINCE BEING REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL, MIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ALSO A DEFECTIVE STOP SWITCH. THE CASE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE 5 YEAR, 60,000 MILE WARRANTY ON PARTS WAS 5 YEARS, 60,000 MILES FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST DRIVEN NEW OFF THE LOT AND HYUNDAI WOULD NOT REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE STOP SWITCH UNLESS I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD CERTIFY THAT MY SWITCH WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. ON SAFERCAR.GOV, YOU HAVE SEVERAL DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED RELATED TO THIS RECALL. IN THE DOCUMENT ENTITLED "OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER", PAGE 2 WHICH IS A NOTIFICATION TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP & SERVICE MANAGERS DATED 6/24/2009, PARAGRAPH 5 SAYS: "ALL HYUNDAI DEALERS WILL BE SHIPPED A SUPPLY OF STOP LAMP SWITCHES..." WHICH IMPLIES ALL EXISTING STOCK OF THESE SWITCHES WERE POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE! YOUR ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED IN GETTING HYUNDAI TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT! *TR

Mileage: 98,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:09V122000(SERVICE BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES: BRAKE LIGHT) ON AUGUST 19, 2009 HOWEVER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE 40,000 MILES LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,822 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Mileage: 81,822

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,237 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,900.

Mileage: 17,237

RIGHT REAR OUTER BRAKE PAD SEIZED IN THE PAD HOLDER, GRINDING THE ROTOR. DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES AND CHARGED ME $ 400.00 EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE FRONT PADS WERE ONLY 50% WORN AND THEY DO MOST OF THE STOPPING. NOW HYUNDAI DEALER SAYS THAT THE HYUNDAI SONATA VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND LUBRICATED EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE, TO PREVENT "LOCK UP". HYUNDAI DOES NOT MENTION THIS TYPE OF MAINTENANCE ANYWHERE IN IT'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. AFTER CHECKING ON THE WEB, I FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM AMONG HYUNDAI OWNERS WHO ARE BEING RIPPED OFF BY HYUNDAI WHO REFUSES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL THE FAULTY BRAKE CALIPERS. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND MILEAGE IS 90% HIGHWAY, SO THERE IS MINIMAL USAGE OF THE BRAKE COMPARED TO CITY DWELLERS, YET THE BRAKES FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR

Mileage: 56,227

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DEPLETED AND THE ROTORS WERE IN POOR CONDITION. THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS AS WELL AS THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,990.

Mileage: 57,990

LEFT REAR BRAKE LINING FAILED CAUSING LOUD NOISE WHEN I BRAKED. ALSO BRAKES TOOK LONGER TO STOP. HAD I BEEN GOING FASTER IT MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HYUNDAI HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZING UP AND NOT RELEASING THEREBY WEARING THE BRAKE PADS OUT IN SEVERAL MILES AND CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO FAIL. I ALSO HAD THIS SAME FAILURE AT 12,000 MILES AND HYUNDAI REPLACED THE PADS AND THE SAID CALIPERS WERE OK. HYUNDAI SAID THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN AREAS WERE THEY USE A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF CHEMICALS ON THE ROAD IN WINTERTIME. ALL OTHER MANUFACTURERS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, MY OPINION IS THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE CALIPERS HYUNDAI USES AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR INJURED DUE TO A REAR WHEEL BRAKE FAILURE.

Mileage: 25,710

PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZEN CAUSING METAL ON METAL CONTACT AND PREMATURE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF REAR PADS AND RIGHT REAR ROTOR. FRONT PADS WERE HARDLY WORN. CAR MILEAGE AT 17,000 MILES WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *KB

Mileage: 17,000

MY 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2008 AND AT 15,000 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2009 AND WAS TOLD THE REAR PADS WERE FROZEN WHICH WAS CAUSING THE SQUEALING. THE DEALER CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE REAR BREAKS. IN JUNE 2011, WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, THE REAR BRAKES SUDDENLY STARTED TO STICK AND MAKE NOISE AS IF METAL WAS RUBBING ON METAL. THIS REALLY CONCERNED ME SINCE I HAD MY FAMILY WITH TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE CAR HAVING 36,000 MILES ON IT. I WENT ON-LINE AND GOOGLED TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS TYPE OF EXPERIENCE. I NOTED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. CAR EXPERTS MENTIONED THIS IS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FAULT, WHICH HYUNDAI HAS FAILED TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION AND ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE IF THEY HAD ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS. HE SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS BRAKE ISSUE. I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING HIM SINCE THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH MANY HYUNDAI SONATA GLS OWNERS. COULD THIS BE A HYUNDAI MONEY EARNING SCAM? HYUNDAI NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS DUE TO THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO THE FAULTY REAR BRAKE DESIGN! SAFETY! SAFETY! SAFETY! I HOPE SOMETHING GETS DONE! *TR

Mileage: 36,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY AND CAUSED A DECREASE IN VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RELATED RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08E021000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS) OR 09E012000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE AIR BAG LIGHT TROUBLE CODE WAS CLEARED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE RECURRED AND IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 5

WHILE OPERATING MY 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT OF MODERATE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES. I HAD PULLED TO A CURBSIDE TO PARK, AND HAD STOPPED APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET BEHIND A LARGE SUV. AS I BEGAN TO RAISE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH INITIALLY BEGAN TO HOLD THE CAR WHICH WAS STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT AS THE ACCELERATION INCREASED, THE BRAKES BECAME UNABLE TO HOLD THE CAR, AND IT LURCHED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE UNOCCUPIED SUV. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR ONLY ACCELERATED AND TRAVELED 8 FEET, THE IMPACT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE $6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE (ACTUAL ALLOWANCE BY INSURANCE COMPANY). I'VE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THE HYDRAULIC BREAKING SYSTEM AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLING SYSTEM ARE INVERSELY CONNECTED TO THE VACUUM GENERATED BY THE CAR'S ENGINE WHICH MEANS THAT BRAKING POWER DECREASES AS THROTTLE INCREASES. CAUSE OF THE SUA HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. AFTER I GOT THE CAR REPAIRED, I TOOK IT TO HYUNDAI AND THEY WERE VERY CONCILIATORY BUT AFTER CHECKING IT FOR AN HOUR, STATE THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE CONDITION AND THAT THEY DID A COMPLETE SAFETY CHECK AND SCANNED ALL THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS TO NO AVAIL. I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION IN THE PAST IN THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, I HAD EXPERIENCED IT 3 TIMES IN MY WIFE'S 2003 HYUNDAI SANTE FE. IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, AND I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 25,728

EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED THE CAR SEEMS TO POWER DOWN. THE HEADLIGHTS DIM, DASH LIGHTS DIM, FAN SLOWS, AND INSIDE CAR LIGHTS DIM. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME IT'S PRESSED. THE LIGHTS SEEM TO DIM MORE IF YOU ARE DRIVING AT A FASTER PACE AND PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKES VERSE DRIVING SLOWLY AND EASING ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND CHECKED OVER SEVERAL TIMES FOR ANY SORT OF DEFECT. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY AND CHECKED OVER FOR ANY DEFECTS. THESE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE THOUGHT TO BE THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS EVERYDAY EVERYTIME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

REAR BRAKE PADS ARE PREMATURELY WORN OUT ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS COMPARED TO FRONT BRAKE PADS. REAR BRAKE PADS ESSENTIALLY WENT TO 99% WORN OUT IN MATTER OF 4 MONTHS WHILE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE MINIMALLY WORN DURING THIS TIME PERIOD AND ARE STILL AROUND 50%. INTERNET DISCUSSION BOARDS ARE FULL OF THIS TYPE OF EVENTS WITH THIS CAR MODEL'S REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SUDDENLY WEARING OUT BRAKE PADS. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI REFUSES TO DO A RECALL ON. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING, BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TEMPORARY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. HOWEVER ON OCTOBER 6, 2010, HE HEARD A LOUD METAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.

Mileage: 10,000

FROZEN REAR CALIPERS CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE AND NEAR ACCIDENT. REQUIRED ACTION - NEW CALIPERS, ROTORS, PADS. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

INTERMITTENT REAR BRAKE NOISE ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR OVER 1YEAR. TWICE INSPECTED AT DEALERS SHOP, NO PROBLEM FOUND AND ALL DISC BRAKE PADS WITHIN SPECS. I NOTICED RECENTLY AT 42,000 MILES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STEEL REAR WHEEL WAS GETTING EXTREMELY HOT DUE TO REAR BRAKES OVERHEATING. MY DEALER STATED THAT PASS. SIDE REAR BRAKE PAD HAD WORN DOWN ALMOST COMPLETELY DUE TO "BRAKE PAD SLIDES STICKING ON CALIPERS". NEW SET OF REAR BRAKES WERE INSTALLED AT COST OF 240.00 . MY DEALER AND HYUNDAI CORPORATION BOTH STATED THAT REPAIR WORK WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY! I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF REAR BRAKE PAD PREMATURE FAILURE BUT THE UNKNOWN EFFECT ON THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS DUE TO OVERHEATING OF BRAKES/WHEEL. *TR

Mileage: 42,193

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR FAIL. *TR

STARTED HEARING NOISE FROM REAR BRAKES. FOUND LEFT REAR OUTSIDE PAD WAS WORN TO THE METAL AND RUINED THE ROTOR. ALL REMAINING PADS HAVE 50% OR BETTER REMAINING ON THE LININGS. THE WORN PAD WAS STUCK TIGHT TO THE ANTI RATTLE CLIP. I REPLACED THE REAR PADS, CLIPS AND LEFT SIDE ROTOR. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

REAR BRAKE PADS ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THEN 25,000 MILES ON CAR WHILE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS STILL LOOKED BRAND NEW. *TR

Mileage: 24,200

DURING DEALER INSPECTION, REAR BRAKE ON PASSENGER SIDE OF 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS FOUND TO BE WORN DOWN ASYMMETRICALLY - ON ONE SIDE COMPLETELY - DUE TO STUCK BRAKE CALIPER. THIS WAS AT 34,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

EXTREME BRAKE WEAR ON HYUNDAI SONATA 2007. I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS IN 2008 AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AGAIN. THIS IS UNUSUALLY HIGH WEAR ESPECIALLY FOR A NEW VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN DRIVE MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

THE REAR BRAKES OF MY 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAD 14453 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM NOT A COMPULSIVE BRAKER, AND THE FRONT BRAKES ARE JUST FINE. COULD THIS BE AN ISSUE WITH ALL HYUNDAI REAR BRAKES?? *TR

Mileage: 14,453

REAR BRAKES NEED REPLACING AT 27,000 MILES? I WAS NOTIFIED BY HYUNDAI THAT MY REAR BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING AND THEY HAD TO RE-SURFACE THE ROTORS. I AM LOOKING ONLINE, AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AT LOW MILEAGE - HYUNDAI WON'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THANKS! *TR

Mileage: 27,000

MY 2007 SONATA HAD ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE REAR BRAKES KEPT SQUEAKING & LOCKING UP. THIS WORE THE PADS DOWN AND THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED.I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SLIDERS WERE RUSTIN UP AND STOPPED WORKING. I ARGUED WITH HYUNDAI THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THEY SAID IT DEPENDED ON THE DRIVER. I AM 65 YEARS OLD HAD MANY VEHICLES, AND HAVE NEVER RODE THE BRAKES, NOR CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS. NOW I HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN AT 28,000 MILES AND MY BRAKES ARE ACTUALLY BURNING AT TIMES. THE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR BUCKS AT TIMES AND I THINK THAT I MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE BRAKES AGAIN AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADVISE. *DT

Mileage: 28,500

MY 2007 SONATA HAD ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE REAR BRAKES KEPT SQUEAKING & LOCKING UP. THIS WORE THE PADS DOWN AND THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SLIDERS WERE RUSTING UP AND STOPPED WORKING. I ARGUED WITH HYUNDAI THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THEY SAID IT DEPENDED ON THE DRIVER. I AM 65 YEARS OLD HAD MANY VEHICLES, AND HAVE NEVER RODE THE BRAKES, NOR CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS. NOW I HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN AT 28,000 MILES AND MY BRAKES ARE ACTUALLY BURNING AT TIMES. THE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR BUCKS AT TIMES AND I THINK THAT I MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AGAIN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE BRAKES AGAIN AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADVISE. *DT

Mileage: 28,500

I OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE WITH BRAKES AS REPORTED MANY TIMES BY OTHERS IN THIS FORUM, WITH HYUNDAI REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. FINALLY HAVE CANADIAN MOTOR VEHICLE ARBITRATION PLAN WILLING TO SET UP ARBITRATION WITH HYUNDAI. LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM WILLING TO COME TO TORONTO AREA AS WITNESS. IF MY ARBITRATION SUCCESSFUL, THIS MAY BE A GOOD STEP TOWARD GETTING HYUNDAI TO COVER REPAIRS FOR ALL. *TR

Mileage: 28,000

DEFECT IN DESIGN OR SUBSTANDARD METAL PARTS IN THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES OF 2006 & LATER HYUNDAI SONATAS CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. I HAVE PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR (METAL ON METAL) AFTER 35,000 MILES ON MY 2007 SONATA. THIS CONDITION IS REPORTED ONLINE BY MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH AS LITTLE AS 20K. DEALER WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. HYUNDAI USA WILL ONLY CONSIDER REIMBURSEMENT AFTER IT IS REPAIRED FIRST AND PREFERABLE BY A DEALER. MY DEALER SAID ITS A "DESIGN FLAW WITH THE PAD RETAINER", THOSE ONLINE REPORT CORRODED CALIPER MOUNTING PINS AS THE CAUSE. SOME REPORT THEY NEED TO ROUTINELY CLEAN AND LUBRICATE THESE PARTS TO PREVENT THE EXCESSIVE WEAR. BECAUSE THIS IS A BRAKE ISSUE, SAFETY OF ALL OWNERS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 34,967

WE OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH 16,000 MILES ON IT, BARELY 2 YEARS OLD. THE BRAKES HAD A SQUEAL AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES AND WE COULDN'T PUT OUR FINGER ON THE PROBLEM. AT 16,000 MILES THE REAR WHEELS BEGAN GRINDING AND I CALLED COCHRAN TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY SET ME UP WITH AN APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY. THEY TOLD ME MY BACK BRAKES WERE WORN AND THE ROTORS NEEDED CUT. THIS HAS TO BE SOME DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM, I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES ON ANY OF MY CARS UNDER 50,000 MILES. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM AND CHARGED ME $225 FOR THE REPAIR. I THINK HYNDAI SHOULD PUT OUT A RECALL ON THESE CALIPERS HANGING UP ON THE 2007 SONATA, AND REIMBURSED ALL OF US THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 16,000

HYUNDAI SONATA 2007 - REAR BRAKE FAILURE - REAR BRAKE PAD CAME APART AND WAS COMPLETELY NONFUNCTIONAL. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

I HAVE A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA THAT HAS A STUCK CALIPER FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 14 MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME THEY CHANGED BOTH REAR CALIPERS UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR HAD JUST UNDER 36K MILES. YESTERDAY, AT 55K MILES, I DISCOVERED WHEN HAVING MY OIL CHANGED THAT THE REAR CALIPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS STUCK AGAIN. I HEARD A LITTLE SQUEAKING THIS LAST WEEK AND THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE MY BREAKS CHECKED. TO MY SURPRISE, MECHANICS AT MR. TIRE TOLD ME THE RIGHT PAD IS HARDLY WORN, BUT THE LEFT REAR PAD IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE AND HAS AFFECTED THE ROTOR SLIGHTLY. I AM AFRAID THIS WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE ICE AND HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON EDMUNDS CARSPACE AND BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION HE WOULD HEAR METAL GRINDING COMING FROM THE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE SHAVED DOWN TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20550. UPDATED 12/8/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR ON REAR WHEELS DUE TO A STUCK CALIPER AND CORRODED PINS IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T ALLOW PADS TO MOVE PROPERLY CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR. UPDATED 12/09/09.*JB

Mileage: 20,550

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION HE WOULD HEAR METAL GRINDING COMING FROM THE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE SHAVED DOWN TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20550. UPDATED 12/8/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR ON REAR WHEELS DUE TO A STUCK CALIPER AND CORRODED PINS IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T ALLOW PADS TO MOVE PROPERLY CAUSING UNEVEN WEAR. UPDATED 12/09/09.*JB

Mileage: 20,550

2007 HYUNDAI SONATA 18,000 MILES, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE BECAUSE CALIPER DID NOT RELEASE PAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING SOUND OR LIGHT TO ALERT ME TO THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE ROTOR WAS COMPLETELY WORN. ROTOR AND PAD REPLACED. SERVICE STATED THAT BRAKE SLIDE NEEDS LUBRICATION FREQUENTLY, A SERVICE THAT IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

I HAVE A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA PURCHASED IN APRIL/MAY 2007, AND I'VE ALWAYS DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT DEALERS ONLY, NO OUTSIDE SERVICERS. BOUGHT CAR AT POWER BOWSER IN PITTSBURGH, PA (LIVE IN BOSTON NOW) WHO DID PA STATE INSPECTION AND 30K SERVICE THERE WHEN THE CAR WAS AT 32K MILES IN 2/09. (REAR BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED ALREADY IN 7/08). AT THE TIME, FRONT BRAKES WERE MEASURED AT 60% REMAINING AND REAR 90% REMAINING. I DID MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING, WHICH INVOLVES LITTLE BRAKING, SINCE THAT TIME. LESS THAN 7K MILES AND 7.5 MONTHS (MY CAR IS NOW AT 39K) LATER NOW MY CAR IS AT MIRAK HYUNDAI IN MASSACHUSETTS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES MEASURING AT 25-30% AND DAMAGED ROTORS, AND THE BACK BRAKES ARE AT ZERO% ON ONE SIDE IN THE BACK AND 70% ON THE OTHER SIDE IN THE BACK WITH THE 70% SIDE IMMOBILE IN THE CALIPER HAVING WORN DOWN FROM 90% ONLY BECAUSE OF ROTOR WEAR. IN OTHER WORDS, ONE SIDE OF MY REAR BRAKES WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CAUSING THE OTHER SIDE TO WEAR TO ZERO, AND I WAS DRIVING ON 25-30% FRONT BRAKES. THE BACK ROTORS WERE DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH THE BRAKES. THE POWER BOWSER IN PITTSBURGH SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE SONATAS (ESPECIALLY MY MODEL YEAR) THAT HYUNDAI CORPORATION IS FULLY AWARE OF (IN 2 WAYS THEY EITHER STICK TO THE ROTOR OR DON'T MOVE, AS IN MY CASE) AND HAS NOT RECALLED OR ISSUED A BULLETIN ON. INSTEAD, THEY APPARENTLY HAVE A "GOODWILL UNOFFICIAL WARRANTY" THAT THEY WILL FIX THE PROBLEM IF IT HAPPENS WITHIN 2 YEARS OR 24K MILES OF PURCHASE. MY CAR IS A FEW MONTHS OVER 2 YEARS OLD, SO THAT DID NOT APPLY TO ME. THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL CAR, BUT I HAD NO WARNING. I WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH ONE SIDE OF MY BACK BRAKES NOT WORKING THAT WORE THE OTHER SIDE TO ZERO AND WAS GRINDING METAL-ON-METAL. I HAD TO PAY $500+ FOR THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS. OVERALL, THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT ONLY COSTLY BUT FRIGHTENING THAT THEY LET ME AND OTHERS DRIVE AROUND ON BRAKES THEY KNOW TO FAIL. *TR

Mileage: 39,700

REAR BRAKES ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA ACQUIRED HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL, ODOR, AND WHEELS WERE TOO HOT TO THE TOUCH AT 17,500 MILES. BOTH REAR WHEEL BOLTS & WHEEL WERE VERY HOT. THE TIRE COULD BLOW UP ON A HIGHWAY AND CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID TO REPLACE REAR DISK BRAKES AT A COST OF $275. I PROTESTED SAYING THAT AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND THERE SEEMS TO BE DESIGN DEFECT AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY WOULD NOT BUDGE. THERE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKE MECHANISMS CAUSING THE PADS TO FREEZE AGAINST THE ROTORS. I GOT PADS REPLACED, ROTOR RESURFACED ETC. AT NAPA. THEY SAID THAT IT IS SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH SONATAS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE POSTED REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AT HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/HYUNDAI/SONATA FOR YOUR REVIEW. *TR

Mileage: 17,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY DUE TO THE CALIPERS NOT RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS INDICATIVE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE CURRENT WAS 57,000.

Mileage: 55,000

2007 HYUNDAI SONATA REAR BRAKE PADS NEED REPLACING EVERY 15,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE TWICE IN TWO YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWNED, AND MOST OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY DRIVING. FROM READING OTHER AUTO FORUMS, THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AMONG SONATA OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON EXITING A RAMP WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BREAK PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING IF HIS VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL# 09V122000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SWITCHES, BRAKE LIGHT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,336.

Mileage: 65,366

2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. 11,500 MILES LEFT REAR WHEEL SEIZED UP WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE. MECHANIC SAID: BRAKE CALIPER WAS FROZEN CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY CAUSING OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SO THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE BRAKES ON THE OTHER 3 WHEELS WERE FINE INDICATING A DEFECTIVE PART(S). NOW THE FRUSTRATING AND UNBELIEVABLE PART OF THE ISSUE: HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE BRAKE PADS ARE A WEAR ITEM. I ASKED HIM TO SHOW ME IN THE WARRANTY WHERE A DEFECTIVE CALIPER IS A WEAR PROBLEM WITH NO RESPONSE. THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE VECHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE AND IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE POSTS ALSO REFLECT THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN THEIR REFUSAL TO ADMIT THAT A MECHANICAL DEFECT EXISTS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR THE REPAIR AND PLAN ON SAVING THE BILL AND PARTS FOR A RECALL THAT SHOULD OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 11,000

REAR DISC BRAKE CALIPERS REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO CORROSION ON SLIDE??? RESULTING IN NEED OF REPAIR WORN PADS AND ROTORS. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

LEFT REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND DETERMINED THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK DUE TO CORROSION AND BRAKE DUST BUILDUP, CAUSING THE BRAKE TO BE APPLIED 100% OF THE TIME, THUS WEARING AWAY THE PAD AND CAUSING THE BACKING PLATE TO CONTACT THE ROTOR. DEALER SAID THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE ON SONATA IN AREAS WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED. PADS REPLACED AND ROTORS RESURFACED. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAR HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

2007 HYUNDAI LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD FAILED - DAMAGING ROTOR - OVER HEATING AND WARPING ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 36,950

2007 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS W/17,000 MILES.CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED EITHER BY DEALER OR BY CAR-X EVERY 3,000 MILES SINCE PURCHASE AUG. OF 07. UPON BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT 17,286 MILES(TIRE ROTATION, OIL, LUBE, & FILTER) MECHANIC NOTICED LEFT REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY GONE RIGHT DOWN TO THE METAL. UPON INSPECTION OF REMAINING 3 WHEELS HE FOUND THEY WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PERTAINING TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE DAMAGED PARTS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE MY COMPLAINT OF ONLY 1 WHEEL HAVING A PROBLEM. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I CALLED HYUNDAI IN CALIF. AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MY PROBLEM.SHE ASKED QUESTIONS AND WAS COURTEOUS BUT I COULD TELL SHE KNEW ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE .SHE CALLED ME BACK THE NEXT DAY (AUG.27TH) ,AND INFORMED ME SHE CALLED 2 OF THE DEALERSHIPS I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT AND THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED???? SHE THEN INFORMED ME THE SERVICE MGR. SAID I DID NOT HAVE A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT AND COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD THAT WHEEL LOCKED UP FROM THE DAMAGED BRAKE PAD IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I'M HOPING YOU CAN DO SOMETHING FOR ME IN THIS MATTER AS HYUNDAI WILL NOT. *TR

Mileage: 17,286

I HAVE A HYUNDAI SONATA 07 WHICH HAS 27K MILES ON. FEW DAYS AGO I HEARD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING AND WHEN GOING FROM A STOP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SONATAS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE BREAK PADS ARE PUT IN AND LEFT WITH ALMOST NO ROOM IN THE HOLDERS (I'M NOT SURE WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PART THAT HOLDS THE PADS). I'M ABOUT TO HAVE THE PADS REPLACED AND I'LL SAVE THEM FOR YOU BUT I'VE HAD OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM AND NOBODY I ASKED HAD TO CHANGE THEIR BREAKS AFTER 27K MILES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT IS WHY I'M WRITHING THIS COMPLAIN AND IT IS ISSUE DUE TO EITHER BAD PARTS OR BAD DESIGN. *TR

Mileage: 27,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 25,450

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. *TR

Mileage: 19,800

PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE CALIPER PADS DUE TO CORROSION ON CALIPER GUIDES. *TR

Mileage: 26,500

REPLACING REAR BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS BECAUSE OF WORN PARTS ON VEHICLE WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE. *TR

Mileage: 17,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 16,450

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). *TR

Mileage: 27,200

TL*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 *BF THE CONSUMER STTED THE PADS AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AND LUBRICATED. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

Mileage: 21,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

TL*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.

Mileage: 16,000

BRAKES FAILING ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

TL*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.

Mileage: 22,000

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 HTTP://HYUNDAIFORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=6314. *TR

Mileage: 20,438

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. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

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 HYUNDAIS 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. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 21,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 17,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED/LOCKED WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 19,000

BRAKES BURNED INTO ROTOR ON DRIVERSIDE REAR ONLY,HYUNDAI REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT AS A DEFAULT,HAD BRAKES FIXED AT ANOTHER SHOP AND TAKING HYUNDAI TO COURT. *TR

Mileage: 23,849