NHTSA Complaint #10290262 — 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA

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