1999 Hyundai Sonata: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Mar 28, 2014 · Body, Steering · 75,800 miles · NE

After removing the drivers front wheel I noticed the control arm attachment point severely rusted, & the sub frame cracked ready to break. I know about the recall. Unfortunately nebraska along with other states were not included. This car was well maintained by the original owner, & driven very little in salt/ snow conditions. She purchased @ approx. 80 years of age. The federal safety agency should take a look at this again. Water being trapped in the sub frames is the real problem, salt may have only made the failure happened a bit sooner. I have talked with hyundai customer assistance, & was told the car would not be covered by the recall. I live 8 miles away from iowa, which is covered by the recall. Omaha does use salt on the streets. 14 -15 years for a sub frame to rot away seems quite short. The problem is a design defect not allowing the water to get out. No states should have been left out! Who doesn't wash their car regularly? How many 1999-2004 models of this car are still on the road? Fortunately for our family we noticed the steering wheel significantly out of position, & both front wheels leaning in at the top. Separation of the control arm from the frame would not pretty at a higher rate of speed. People that have looked at the pictures I took of both sides on this car seem to agree, we were probably only a few more chuck holes away! Will hyundai notify current owners of any of these cars regardless of which state & remedy correctly?? Will hyundai, or government put out tsb's or psa's alerting any current owners of the potentially catastrophic condition which may cost someone their life?

Filed Nov 13, 2013 · Body · 213,627 miles · NY

The sub frame/k frame on my 99 hyundai sonata rusted out causing my driver side rear tire and passenger side rear tire to face outwards almost coming off and damaging my left control arm. I heard a loud pop and couldn't figure out what it was then realized the steering wheel was cocked at 180. I had to drive it home which was luckily only 2 minutes down the road, I had to drive 10mph smelling burning rubber.

Filed Jul 19, 2010 · Steering, Suspension · 185,000 miles · SD

I was leaving parking spot in a parking lot, traveling approx 5 MPH. The steering wheel was straight but car was veering to the right. I put it in reverse and had the same issue. I put it back into drive and steering wheel was shaking. I got it towed to the shop, where they told me the engine cradle is completely corroded. The engine had fallen, breaking the control arm and tore apart the axle. The car is currently sitting in the shop waiting for parts.

Filed Jul 19, 2010 · Body · 185,000 miles · SD

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 hyundai sonata. While driving out of a parking space at 5 MPH the engine cradle fell down, broke the control arm and tore the axle apart. The steering wheel would only move to the right. When the vehicle was shifted in reverse, it would also move to the right. He noticed that the axle bushing, cv boot and grease were on the ground. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic who stated that the engine cradle was corroded which caused the engine to fall. The manufacturer and the dealer were not notified about the failure. The failure and current mileages were 185,000.

Filed Mar 29, 2009 · Body, Transmission · 90,126 miles · RI

While driving close to home my hyundai sonata 1999 started pulling to the right , getting more severe by the minute. I decided to go home. By the time I got home the front right wheel was leaning towards the outside of car. I took the wheel off and discovered that the lower front control arm separated from the frame because of severe corrosion in the sub frame of car.

Filed Feb 25, 2009 · Body · 105,000 miles · MO · 1 injury

1999 hyundai sonata. Driving down the highway at 65 MPH and the right front passenger side of my car collapsed due to rusted sub frame which broke the axle and control arm. Luckily no one was killed, but this was an alarming incident I have never experienced before with any car. This is dangerous. This is a serious problem.

Filed Oct 20, 2008 · Suspension · 186,000 miles · IL

While driving, I noticed the car pulling to the right, the sound of medal rubbing together, and when driving on uneven payment or a hill in the road, I have almost loose control. I took my car to pepboys and the serviceman took me underneath the car and showed me the mass amount of corrosion and rust on the cradle and the control arm was bent. He stated he has never witness such corrosion before on any other body part. He informed me that it was very dangerous to drive . This car is a source of transportation to work and school. In the mist of looking for used parts on the internet, I came across others who has had this same problem with the same type of vehicle. Some who has had accidents. Thank god he kept my family safe. I am still looking for the necessary parts for repair. Please do whatever you can to enforce a recall this can turn out to be deadly to future drivers and there families.

Filed Aug 6, 2008 · Body · 80,840 miles · NY

While driving the vehicle, there was a loud thump and it began pulling severely to the right. I drove it straight to my mechanic. He told me that there was a problem with the frames on hyundai sonata vehicles, and that mine exhibited the same kind of problems that others had reported. He said I was lucky I was not traveling on a freeway, as I could have lost control of the vehicle. The frame was badly rusted and. In his words, "the frame was so bad I could not get bolts out of control arm, had to cut frame apart and press out bushings, replace sway link." the control arm was barely attached after the frame failed. He replaced the complete crossmember assembly (part #'s 62405-38101, 54561-38000, 265-2197) and suggested I follow up with hyundai, since this was a common problem. The repairs were finished on 7/2/2008. I contacted hyundai, provided all the information they requested and I was told they would get back to me within a week. I have talked with them several times, and each time I have been told a different story about why I have not been reimbursed yet. I have been in touch with several other people who have had their cars repaired by hyundai, or been reimbursed for repairs, and provided one person's case number as an example. As of 8/6/2008, I have yet to talk to the same person twice at hyundai, and I have not been reimbursed. The case number with hyundai's consumer department is 3340021.

Filed Jun 5, 2008 · Body · 152,890 miles · OH

Vehicle was taken in for tire wear and squeaking/rubbing noise issue. The service station that checked it out, noticed the front part of the lower control arm was completely detached from the engine cradle/subframe. They said that the engine cradle/subframe had rusted out so bad that the control arm just ripped apart from it. Only damage that was done is tire wear, but could of been worse if not caught in time.

Filed Apr 21, 2008 · Engine · 103,000 miles · IN

Engine cradle has rusted out on 1999 sonata, also causing damaged control arm on right front tire. Repair costs are over $2000. Car has been well maintained throughout its life and has not been involved in any major accidents or collisions. What looked like simple misalignment of right front tire turned out to be a much bigger safety hazard.

Filed Nov 18, 2007 · Body, Suspension · 123,184 miles · OH

Hi, I bought my 1999 hyundai sonata from a private person nov.2007. I was driving the car to the store when all of a sudden the right front wheel went back into the wheel well. I had it towed to a garage to lift it to see what happened. The engine cradle was so rotted that my half shaft pulled out and broke. The control arm completely rotted off the cradle. This is what I can plainly see as a safety hazard. I could have had a wreck had I been going any faster.

Filed Aug 16, 2007 · Suspension · 69,000 miles · NJ

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 hyundai sonata. While driving 30 MPH, the passenger side front wheel collapsed and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic and he stated that the front upper control arm was rusted and the bolts separated from the frame. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they were unable to diagnose the cause of failure. The contact felt that the failure was a manufacturer defect. The current and failure mileages were 69,000.