NHTSA Complaint #10294437 — 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA

I HAVE A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA - SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE 2002-2003 LISTED BELOW - THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CLOSED. RECALL CAMPAIGN 09V171000 HAS 1 RELATED INVESTIGATION(S) NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE08071 VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): HYUNDAI / SONATA 2002 MANUFACTURER: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENT: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: DECEMBER 15, 2008 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: MAY 29, 2009 SUMMARY: THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL NOTIFICATION AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION. THE RECALL AFFECTS 91,202 MY 2002-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JANUARY 28, 2002, THROUGH MARCH 22, 2003. THE VEHICLE RECALL POPULATION WAS DEFINED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S USE OF A NEW SUPPLIER FOR THE CHROME PLATING PROCESS BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2002, AND A PRODUCTION CHANGE IN MARCH 2003 TO IMPROVE ADHESION OF THE PLATING TO THE DOOR HANDLE. VEHICLES BEING RECALLED REPRESENT 59 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MY 2002-2003 PRODUCTION, BUT ACCOUNT FOR 91 PERCENT OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RECEIVED. THE PROCESS CHANGE FOR MY 2002 VEHICLES RESULTED IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN COMPLAINTS (1200 PERCENT ON A PER UNIT RATE BASIS). MY 2003 VEHICLES BUILT AFTER MARCH 2003 PRODUCTION CHANGE SHOWED A SIMILAR DECLINE IN THE COMPLAINT RATE. BASED ON THE MANUFACTURER'S ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. *TR