Recall Alert: 2002-03 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai has issued a recall for 91,202 Sonata vehicles from the 2002-03 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is due to a thin chrome plate on the interior door handle.

After enough wear, the chrome plating on the upper edge of the handle may crack or separate, leaving a sharp edge protruding from the door handle. This could cause a scrape or laceration.

Dealers will repair the chrome-plated interior door handle for free. Owners may contact the Hyundai customer assistance center at 800-633-5151 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 888-327-4236.

Comments

You have got to be JOKING! The Sonatas of that era have had major problems with the engine cradle subframe coroding through and coming apart while drivers are on the road and causing accidents and thousands in repairs! (Not affecting mine, thankfully). But my Sonata's seat belt fabric is fraying on the edge at the buckle. I've never had that happen on any car of any age. I reported it to NHTSA and Hyundai and nothing has been done. Hyundai refused to help because the car was out of warranty -- even to partially cover the +$300 repair. Likewise, my Sonata's driver's seat track came loose when someone hit my rear bumper at a very slow speed (5-10 mph) on ice. Again, reported to NHTSA. No action. The other driver's insurance (Cheap A-s American Family) replaced it with a used, junkyard seat track, so I'm very confident about the part's future crashworthiness....

And NHTSA is recalling a door handle on a car built in 2002 for thin chrome!?!?!?!?!?!?

Note to NHTSA: Why do you even bother to exist? There are a hell of a lot bigger problems with this model Hyundai than scratchy door handles! Sheesh!

For the most part, recalls are for relatively major and widespread problems. This just shows there's a good probability your problems with your Sonata aren't the norm, so I don't see why you'd expect massive recalls from NHTSA if your Sonata's problems represent a very small percentage of all of them.

But I do agree the chrome handle recall is very overblown.

This gen Sonata has already been recalled for the rust problem. According to the NHTSA site, an investigation was opened after five complaints on the door handle. Hyundai initiated the recall on their own. So if you know of other Sonatas with similar seat track or belt problems, make sure they're reported to NHTSA, too. But no, one complaint does not make for a recall and NHTSA won't force action on a single complaint.

There is nothing like getting impaled in the ribs on your way to work!!

Well duh! Yes I know that one complaint does not prompt a recall. However I have heard of numerous complaints about the engine cradle frame rust through -- and there has been NO recall. NONE! My vehicle of the same vintage, thank Gd, hasn't had that corrosion problem (yet), however the Sonata blogs have had numerous people posting their horror stories on the issue. That's a problem that can kill people. Not a door handle, unless tetanus trumps dropping an axle on a highway.

As for the other problems, there may very well be dozens, hundreds, or thousands of people out there with the same loose seat frame problem and/or the fraying seat belt peoblem. Who can say other than people inside the Hyundai or maybe people at NHTSA. Saying 'oh well there hasn't been a recall so obviously no one but you complained' is just bollocks. It begs the question.

Is there a way to search online re the number and type of formal complaints sent to NHTSA about a car? A FOIA request? It would be good to know the numbers and why nothing has been done.

Well my oh my -- let me partially retract something. Apparently yes, there is now some kind of recall that was supposed to start last month, in April 2009, re the subframes. We haven't received any notice in the mail, however I will call that 800 number tomorrow morning. Better to have this looked at ASAP. Thanks NHTSA, I think. Better 8 years late than never. Hope the used car owners will get word of this.

Spector,

How long do you expect a car to remain in perfect condition? Do you do 100% of the suggested maintenance? Do you drive the car sensible? Do you clean the car thoroughly,including the undercarriage, after driving on snowy roads that have been treated with melting agent? Do you sit in your broken seat properly?

Please don't take offense or feel as if I'm acusing but, I too often find people unhappy with automobiles only to find they aren't the best owners.

An 8 year old car is bound to have some issues. Espescially if it has a ton of hard miles on it.

Did you not get the 10 year 100,000 mile Hyundai warranty?

Troy S, for some reason you feel compelled to defend Hyundai so dramatically. Do you work for them?

As for my car, I maintain it impecibly, as I had my other cars. I have had the Sonata's (defective) clutch replaced (x3), clutch slave cylinder and throw out bearings replaced (x3), the starter replaced, alternator replaced, the entire engine short block replaced, the A/C condenser replaced, the brake rotors replaced, the valve heads rebuilt, the tires replaced, the mass airflow sensor replaced, crankshaft sensor replaced, harmonic dampener replaced, steering lines replaced, all belts, tensioner, and hoses replaced twice, normal consumables like the brake pads and filters replaced, my coolant changed every 30k, my plugs and coil packs replaced and most recently the fuel filter under the back wheel well. The shocks, amazingly, are still original and the dealer says they are fine, thank Gd. Most people would have probably junked this piece of Korean crap by now. So no, I do maintain my car, and quite well.

And as for 'sitting in my seat properly' I don't know many ways a 156 lb person could sit in a seat "improperly." However, regardless, a seat track should never, ever work loose with normal use, period. Even if I weighed twice as much. In a serious collision the seat could likely fly straight into the steering column. Totally unacceptable design problem.

Cleaning the car? Yes, I clean the car inside and out, and I, apparently along with +150,000 other Sonata and XG300 owners are now going to have this engine cradle corrosion problem recalled. The problem has been reported for years, and only now, after eight years, is something being done to address the design defect.

A perfect car is not what one expects after eight, ten, or twenty years. One without inherent design defects or safety problems IS.

Oops, pardon, just remembered, we also had the flywheel replaced....

Dang, I haven't had that much work done on my 12 year old Lexus. I'd get rid of it.

Spector,

Why did you keep the car that long if you had to do that much maintenance? Seems the 10 year 100,000 mile warranty would have covered that along the way because the things you've had to replace aren't "routine maintenance".

What gives?

Do you have a zillion miles on it?

No. I do not work for Hyundai. You may consider it though. You sure know how to do the work on one.

Yes, there is a way to search complaints. Go to www.safercar.gov and on left side under Defects & Recalls click on Defect Investigations. A new window will open. You can click in the center to review active investigations or on the left side to search complaints received.

Where is the transmission filter i know it says exsteror filter and iv looked every where i know where its supos to go but there ant one on my car any where just seems smart to have one any ideas

oh its a 2002 4cyli atmatic