Two weeks ago I drove down the street to the store, was in there for about 15 min and when I came out the car would not start. I have learned and now own my own jumper cables. I asked someone to jump it for me. Then I drove to the light and while waiting for the light to turn green the stereo went off, then the clock went off, then the lights in the dash went out, then the air conditioner when out, and last but not least the airbag light came on. The car was still running though. As soon as the light turned green and I started to drive everything started working again. I got back to the house and turned it off. Waited a few minutes turned it back on and it started.
2003 Hyundai Sonata electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 19 of 19, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The car seemed to be doing ok for a little while. Then.... I took the car to get the yearly inspection done and it failed. The back passengers brake light was on non- stop. I am going to explain exactly what I mean. The back brake light is on when the car is driving but when you hit the brakes the secondary light is suppose to come on and make it brighter. The light bulb in the brake area had both low and high light on. I changed out the bulb twice that day thinking maybe the bulb is bad. When I looked at the part that holds the bulb it looked black like it was burning. Still the two lights stayed on. I talked to my friend in michigan who is a mechanic and he told me it sounds an electric problem. Then the car also started to die after driving it for a while. I had to have it jumped a couple of times and when I had the battery checked it was fine. I took it to the hyundai dealer again and told him what was going on, and that the car was having electric issues. I told him I changed the bulb twice and that the part that was holding the bulb was black and looked like it was burning. Guess what... They kept it for two days. I called that same day and the next and was told they were not able to get to it because they were to busy. When they finally did get to it the guy told me that it was just the bulb. I asked him about the burning part and was told that was fine. (car had about 59000 miles on it) now please tell me how it was just the bulb when I put two not just one but two in and it did not change. I asked if he had checked the electric system and was told all was fine. He also said they could not find anything wrong with the car and there was no reason found as to why it would not start.
I bought my hyundai used because of all the great ratings it got. It had about 30,000 miles on it. Not old at all for me. The first time I took my car to dealer it was because of back window brake light staying on, and the cruise control not working. They kept my car for two days. I was told that the car was fixed but on my way home the cruise control still did not work. Two days after I picked up my car, the cruise control mysteriously started working again. Then a couple of months later I was driving down the street and my car started to act up and was hesitating while driving. I had it towed to hyundai and it was kept for two days again. I also let the dealer know at that time that the car had issues and was acting up, told him about the light issue again and that the cruise control worked on and off. The dealer said he changed the switch out, tuned up the car, had the inside gas filter changed because I asked for it, and wanted to sell me a $600 belt. I asked him if the belt was broken he told he that manufacture suggests changing it out at 60000 miles. I told him that the car did not have that many miles yet and again asked if the belt was bad. He told me that it was not but again said that the manufacturer suggests it be changed. Well I personally don't see paying $600 for a belt that was not broken. If its not broken it shouldn't need to be fixed.
Tl*the contact's wife owns a 2003 hyundai sonata. While attempting to start the vehicle with the key in the ignition, the battery exploded. The vehicle sustained minor hood damage. The dealer has not been notified. The current and failure mileages were 67,000.
Purchased 2003 hyundai sonata brand new. Defective radio replaced 1 month after purchase. Battery dead after 2 years and 8,500 miles. No reason. Battery replaced by myself. Battery dead again in august of 2006. Replaced again. Battery dead again on december 30th 2006. Had to have car towed to dealership. Dealership stated the battery was bad. Replaced again at my expense. I said the car should not be draining 3 batteries with less than 10,00 miles. Dealership said it was because of a defective radio!?! And that I needed to replace the radio at my expense because the radio ran out of warranty 5 months prior! I believed that there was something electrical wrong with the car and I do not think I can trust the vehicle now.
Radio display goes out frequently. Almost impossible to read radio station frequency. Have to constantly tap on the radio near the display to get it to function for a short time. Notified the dealer. I was told that the radio warranty had expired the week before. Service tech says his sonata did the same thing.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle failed to start. While inspecting under the hood of the vehicle it was discovered that the wires were melted. The vehicle was towed to a dealership. Upon inspection the dealer determined the wires were damaged by rodents. The wiring harness is being replaced.
After driving my car and shutting engine off for as little as five minutes the car would not start again. This has happen several times and it has been in the shop for repair eleven times. On one occasion my car lost power, engine died and would not start again. Car would have to be towed to the dealership. I have been through three alternators and one battery. They is a major electrical problem with the car. Hyundai will not replace this lemon. Car is in the shop now.
I have had multiple wiring problems, and four separate occasions needed to be towed to dealer two of which car died while idling and waiting for green lights.
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