NHTSA Complaint #11165369 — 2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID

THE CAR BEGAN LURCHING FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65+ MPH) WHEN TRAVELLING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A FLAT HIGHWAY ON DAY 1, AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING. ON DAY 2, THE CAR FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AT LOW SPEEDS (<40 MPH) WHILE DECELERATING DOWNHILL ON A CITY STREET, AFTER RUNNING NORMALLY FOR 30 MINUTES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT COASTED SLIGHTLY UPHILL IN FIRST GEAR TO THE DESTINATION ON A CITY STREET, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE FROM 5MPH. IT WAS TOWED ($88) TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT FAILED A ROAD TEST, AND THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD. A NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WERE INSTALLED AND THE ENGINE (ODO 131,000+) FAILED TO TURN OVER. $650 IN LABOR TO DIAGNOSE AND ATTEMPT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. REPAIRS WERE ESTIMATED AT $8,100 AND THE KBB VALUE WAS LESS THAN $3,200. THE CAR IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND IS BEING SOLD TO A JUNK YARD WITH NEW TIRES UNDER IT.