NHTSA Complaint #11682387 — 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact called to report a technical issue with a Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin and the software that the manufacturer was reprograming for the Hyundai transmissions; TSB Number: 13-AT017. The contact, a certified mechanic, purchased a 2013 Hyundai Sonata from a customer due to the transmission failure. The contact attempted to order a new transmission from the manufacturer, but no transmission was available. The contact ordered a compatible transmission from Kia. The contact successfully installed the transmission. The installation instructions which stated that the motor control unit and transmission control unit software needed to be reprogramed. The contact was able to successfully road test the vehicle and then had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The contact stated that after the software was reprogramed, while attempting to road test the vehicle, immediately there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact checked online and determined that the TSB issued by Hyundai for the software reprograming outlined temperature values that were not the values show on the testing equipment. The contact called the dealer and was informed that using the Kia transmission in a Hyundai vehicle, there was no assistance to be offered. The contact diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the Hyundai software was incorrect and wanted to notify the NHTSA of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the issue. The failure mileage was not provided.