NHTSA Complaint #10438130 — 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA

WHILE WALKING UP TO MY WIFE'S 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA IN A PARKING LOT, WE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS DISLODGED FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LIGHT, BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE BACK OF THE CAR OR THE TAIL LIGHT ITSELF. HOWEVER, WE DID SEE THE FOUR BOLT HOLDERS THAT ATTACH THE TAIL LIGHT TO THE BODY OF THE CAR HAD RUPTURED AND BROKE APART. WITHIN AN HOUR WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A DEFECT LIKE THIS. THEY INSISTED THAT THIS MUST HAVE BEEN DUE TO AN IMPACT, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE TO THE TAIL LIGHT, THE BACK OF THE CAR OR ANY SIGNS OF VANDALISM. SINCE THEY FELT IT WAS DUE TO AN IMPACT (NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY), WE HAD TO PAY NEARLY $300 FOR THE TAIL LIGHT TO BE REPLACED. LATER THAT DAY, I NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS BECOMING LOOSE TO THE TOUCH AS WELL. THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE CALLED THE CORPORATE LINE FOR HYUNDAI TO REPORT THIS TAIL LIGHT DEFECT AND REPORT THE DEALERSHIP WE WENT TO AS WELL. WITHIN 2 DAYS THE DEALERSHIP CALLED US BACK AND SAID THIS IS DEFINITELY SOME KIND OF DEFECT AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY OUR WARRANTY. THEY REFUNDED OUR MONEY AND ALSO REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT AT NO CHARGE. EVERY SONATA SHOULD HAVE THEIR TAIL LIGHTS CHECKED AND RECALLED (AT NO CHARGE) IF THESE DEFECTIVE BOLT HOLDERS CONTINUE TO BE FOUND AS BRITTLE AND FLIMSY AS OURS WERE. THANKFULLY THE TAIL LIGHT DID NOT FALL OFF OUR CAR WHILE WE WERE DRIVING OR IT WOULD HAVE BECOME A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD. PLEASE BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL SONATA OWNERS IMMEDIATELY. *TR