NHTSA Complaint #10381575 — 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA

TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR ANNUAL STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION AND TO HAVE "CHIRPING" NOISE FROM BRAKES CHECKED. REAR BRAKE PADS WERE AT 3/32"; MIN ALLOWED IS 2/32". FRONT PADS OK AT +7/32". REPLACED REAR PADS, MACHINED ROTORS. MILEAGE WAS 23,226; CAR PURCHASED FEB2008 AND WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AT DEALER. DEALER SA ADVISED THAT PAD WEAR WAS NORMAL AND THAT 'ON THIS MODEL THE REAR BRAKES ALWAYS WEAR FASTER'. WHEN THIS WAS DISPUTED THE SA SAID THAT CORROSION ON CALIPER DID NOT ALLOW PADS TO WITHDRAW AND THAT CONSTANT CONTACT WORE OUT THE PADS. WHEN ASKED ABOUT WARRANTY COVERAGE SA SAID THAT BRAKES ARE ONLY COVERED FOR 12 MONTHS. SUBSEQUENTLY NOTED THAT ON SIDE OF CAR WITH STICKING CALIPER THAT THE PAINT ON BOTH STEEL WHEELS HAS PEELED AND WHEELS HAVE RUSTED. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED, FRONT-TO-BACK, SEVERAL TIMES SINCE NEW. POSSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM DRAGGING PADS OVERHEATED WHEELS AND DAMAGED PAINT. ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE HEAT TO WHEEL BEARINGS. WILL HAVE THIS CHECKED AT NEXT SERVICE, OR SOONER. THIS PREMATURE REAR PAD WEAR IS NOT NORMAL FOR HYUNDAI. ALSO, PRESENTLY DRIVING A 2001 ELANTRA THAT WENT 60K+ BEFORE NEEDING BRAKES. NEVER OWNED ANY CAR THAT HAD REAR BRAKES WEAR BEFORE FRONT. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED INDICATES THAT THIS IS A DESIGN/MATERIAL ISSUE THAT NEEDS CORRECTING BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. *TR