Reliability of Hyndai Sonata

Hello,

I am considering buying a 2007 Hyundai Sonata (V6 engine). I have
never owned a Hyundai but read positive things about their cars.
Here's my dilemma-
I would love to hear from owners about how a Hyndai Sonata performs
after it has a few years on it compared to how the car performed when
new.
I think most manufacturer's cars today drive well when new, but some
age sooner compared to the Japanese cars (IMHO).

Ken

 

I have a '06 LX with 40,000. Had it for 27 months. It has been stellar.
Absolutely love this car. My only complaint is the leather is too light.
Hard to keep it clean. My brakes are starting to have a slight squeak.

 

I have an '07 with 24,300 miles. Not a problem yet. Never been back to the
dealer.

I used to switch between my two cars but since I've had the Sonata, I never
take the Buick.

 

I am considering buying a 2007 Hyundai Sonata (V6 engine). I have

My '02 GLS (bough Nov. 20010) is going strong with 83k and I have not
had one single problem with it mechanically. I have done regular
maintenance per the schedule and it's been an overall stellar
experience. I have had some paint coming off the door handles but
they're plastic so it's kind of expected.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

2006 Sonata GLS V6. I just turned 32,000 miles today. Purchased on
9/28/05. I've had it to the dealer once for a TSB on the ATX for the
downshift from 5-2. Other than that, nothing really but oil changes. I
had the brake squeak before and that turned out to be a need for grease on
the caliper bolts. I have the squeak again and it is likely the same
issue. The pads are still fine.

Simply put, so far it is the best car I personally have ever owned.

Eric

 

I can't speak to the V-6 as I have the four-banger, but overall the car
has been very reliable. I haven't been back to the dealer yet for
anything significant (I just rolled over 29,000 miles on my 06 Sonata).
They tried to find the snapping noise in the cowl/windshield, but were
unsuccessful. So, other than that noise when the car is cold, it has
been nearly flawless from a manufacturing perspective.

It has some annoying design issues, but the assembly quality appears to
be outstanding. The car performs the same today as when new.

Matt

 

My '06 LX has 56000 miles on it, and it drives like the day we bought it.
Nice car.

 

I bought a used (by Hertz) 2005 V6 automatic Sonata. It had 17K miles on it
when I bought it and I have put about 35K more (mostly highway). It has not
needed anything other than regular oil changes.

I really like it. I have not looked at the newer models but I am assuming
they are no worse and the next time I am looking for a car, I will
definitely check out Hyundai's models first.

Sinan

 

My 06 V6 Sonata required 2 TSB's, not surprising on a new model, and
fixed on the 07. It's been great, and has no squeaks or rattles at 21K
miles. We're more than satisfied, and feel like we stole the car.
You'll love the V6. It's jet smooth from idle up to redline.

-

Bob

 

I have a 2003 Sonata with 6cyl engine, 53,000 miles and had no problems at
all - great car
rr

 

Have a 2002 Sonata. It has been a pretty good car.
Have received better reliability and longevity from Honda. They als
have better feel to drive. Hyundai America refused to repair m
brakes under the bumper-to-bumber warranty even though the car wa
still covered

The positive is: with 75,000 miles on the car it is still our mai
car and I hope to drive it 150,000 miles. Expect it will be junk b
then if it makes it. Honda's last 200,000 miles

The Hyundai's are a little less expensive to purchase initially.
Resale on Hyundai's really sucks so do not total out the car and pla
on driving it a long time

Next time I will buy Honda because I think the Hyundai's are about th
same quality as Ford and GM. Also, they use oddball battery sizes an
very expensive transmission fluid only available from the dealer

Good luck, it is a difficult decision

 

Interesting. How could you have experienced better longevity from the Honda
when you're still driving the Hyundai?

I'm not sure why you'd expect it to be junk by 150,000 miles. There are
plenty enough of them out there that aren't. Most every car today will go
200,000 - that's certainly nothing unique to Honda.

Yup - a down side if either you total the car or are accustomed to trading
regularly. The hit is not as bad as it used to be, but the resale value is
not as good as some might wish it were.

Agreed on the tranny fluid, but the battery is a common aftermarket item.

 

Did you read your waranty manual?


Normal wear on brakes is rarely covered under any manufacturers'
bumper-to-bumper warranty.

The 2007 language (not unique to Hyundai or 2007) reads in part:

"Normal maintenance items (#) are warranted in normal service, only when
replacement is the result of a defect in material or factory workmanship,
for 12 months from the date of original delivery or 12,000 miles, whichever
occurs first. .....

# - such as belts, brake pads and linings, clutch linings,..........."

Again this is common across the industry.

 

We have two 2007 NF Elites in our fleet
I prefer the 4 as it is averaging 7.7 litres per 100 kM now is
coming into our hot weather here in AU
and consumtion up to about 8.9 per 100 KM

80% of driving on dirt roads

The car is the most dust proof vehicle I have ever driven Much better
than BMW & Honda
Given that it "flies" over heavily rutted roads at average of 100 KMPH
last month has 41000 KM on it since March 23 2007

Have tried hard but can not fault this vehicle the NF is a far nicer
car than any previous Hyundai all round.
Can not reccomend this vehicle highly enough .
The boss cleaned up a roo in His Holden Statesman at about 90KMPH
result $13000 damage ( no the airbags diid not deploy so the cost was
all panel & paint)

I had a "coming together" with an Even Bigger male red roo on dirt
road at about 115 Kmph on a sweeper bend with ore truck coming other
way so was a bit of a white knuckle change the undies moment .
Awful loud bang and CRUNCH sound
though oh here we go another 10+K off the budget ---------

Can send the pics of the Damage !!! $85.00 for crack repair to the
griill and under pan cracked so body repair just plastic welded it and
replaced reatining clips .

Truly AMAZING Vehicle

Only fault was on delivery day CD changer failed and they replaced at
first service and flew part to the bush ------- Hyundai Australia head
office followed up and even sent $ to replace chewed up disk !!!!
If you send mail to spamlister at gmail dot com happy to supply pics

I have yet to receive such excellent service from any other
manufacture of anything ( Intel and HP take note )

One complaint I do have is the fitment of OEM tyres to Australian
vehicles Dunlop SP 270 Series 225/50/17 European silica compound
They drive superb But wear like blazes front set chewed out at 18000
Kms (Australian dirt roads and tarmac temps of high 70 c ) test any
tyre
Replaced them with Kuhmos and Hankooks now no more Problems .

This Korean gear is as we say here " is the ducks Guts " Means in
Aussie speak top of the line .
Mate if you are unhappy with a 07 Sonata reckon you are bloody hard
to please

Strangely there are still those who knock Sonatas maybe bad
experiences or bias towards previous models (some of it deservedly so
_ )

Our fleet consists of Big Holdens Hyundais Mistubishi (yuk) many
Toyotas a couple of Volvos and Fords (called falcons here) and the
Sonata's running costs are the cheapest in the fleet .
The drivers (who when heard they were being put into them including
myself said dont want any of that Korean Crap ) well now apologise to
the make as they are truly OUTSTANDING given what we do to them and
driving conditions .

Common sense and company rules is that we check and blow out the dust
from the air filters end of each week is about the only non scheduled
service performed on the whole fleet ( red dust here is full of FE and
tests show 60.9 FE content of the dust) basicly powdered Iron and
more than one local has paid the price for being slack and ended up
dusting engines (stupid noddy some how put the air filter in arse up
and allowed unfiltered air straight into the engine = oops ! )

IMO you should have trouble free and very comfortable and safe
driving experience . The vehicles on these dirt roads get driven hard
and quick and are as sure footed as one could wish for (apart from
constant 4wd subi's)

Polen filters in air conditioning DO WORK and the seals etc keep all
the hot air and dust and other nasties out .

Windscreens here get broken regularly due to opposing traffic
throwing up rocks etc ----- either by luck or strength having copped
more than my fair share of rocks have not done one it yet only cars
witjout a history of screens are the 3 Hyundais ---we are still trying
to work out why this blip in the stats but not complaining

At night (here looking to find fault) the lights run out of road
so we slow down to 100 Ks ( wild life considerations) .
The ABS and dynamics of the suspension and handling mean that if you
prang one you have been driving like a clot . They handle far better
than they should for the price even in the rare instance of rain on
greasy muddy roads chewed up by road trains (see -
http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/image-files/gibb-river-road-pictures-11.jpg
& http://www.framecraft.com.au/images/october/9b.jpg
& http://www.framecraft.com.au/images/october/31b.jpg) for what a
Aussie road train is you may begin to appreciate just how we punish
our vehicles here.

The cars are so good for the first time when we turn these over (at
75000) I shall buy the one I am currently in for the wife ---------
they ARE THAT GOOD .

And I have noting to do with Hyundai I just drive the buggers into the
ground but heck they are hard to kill these things
Enjoy happy and above all safe motoring with one if you eventually
choose one

Cheers From Australia

 

Every single one of them?

 

My 84 Accord didn't even make 80,000 miles before the engine had to have
a top-end replacement.

Matt

 

Our Honda Accord made 35000 miles before we trashed it. The cam lobes had
worn at 35000 miles? Come on, Honda's reliability, pure shit. Never, ever,
will I buy a Honda again.

 

That is the same problem I had. My 84 Accord had the cam lobes and
rocker arm pads self destruct at 70,000 miles. Had to replace the cam
and full set of rockers, but no way could I ever get all of the crud out
of the engine so I traded it as soon as it was repaired on a new 89
Plymouth Acclaim. That vehicle was rock solid and ran 146,000 miles
with zero engine problems ... and then my wife hit a deer and totaled it.

What year was your Accord?

Matt

 

I believe it was a 85 accord exi.