NHTSA Complaint #10439887 — 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA

RIGHT REAR OUTER BRAKE PAD SEIZED IN THE PAD HOLDER, GRINDING THE ROTOR. DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES AND CHARGED ME $ 400.00 EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE FRONT PADS WERE ONLY 50% WORN AND THEY DO MOST OF THE STOPPING. NOW HYUNDAI DEALER SAYS THAT THE HYUNDAI SONATA VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND LUBRICATED EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES AT MY EXPENSE, TO PREVENT "LOCK UP". HYUNDAI DOES NOT MENTION THIS TYPE OF MAINTENANCE ANYWHERE IN IT'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. AFTER CHECKING ON THE WEB, I FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM AMONG HYUNDAI OWNERS WHO ARE BEING RIPPED OFF BY HYUNDAI WHO REFUSES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL THE FAULTY BRAKE CALIPERS. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND MILEAGE IS 90% HIGHWAY, SO THERE IS MINIMAL USAGE OF THE BRAKE COMPARED TO CITY DWELLERS, YET THE BRAKES FAILED PREMATURELY. *TR