NHTSA Complaint #10176541 — 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA

THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED (NO OPTION FOR 2007 WAS AVAILABLE IN DROP DOWN MENU) (ISSUE 1) AT OR AROUND THE INITIAL FEW DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY I BEGAN TO NOTICE ABRUPT VIBRATION AND SHAKING COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL; SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO FEEL IN THE SEAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THE VEHICLE TO BE IN MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATION. NONETHELESS, DEALER ATTEMPTED WHEEL BALANCE AND RADIAL FORCE BALANCE AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE." PROBLEM IS NOW MORE ARTICULATED AND THE ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. (ISSUE 2) ENGINE EMITS A RATTLE NOISE SIMILAR TO LIFTER CLATTER UPON START AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT OPERATION; PARTICULARLY IN COLDER WEATHER. TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS REPLACED AND ONE NOISE WAS RESOLVED BUT THE CONTINUAL NATURE OF THE LIFTER CLATTER REMAINS. DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. (ISSUE 3) FUEL SLOSHING COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CLAIMS THIS TO BE NORMAL AND NOT A SAFETY RISK. SOUND IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT OR AROUND 3/4 TANK. BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND REMAINS UNRESOLVED. *NM