Hyundai Motor America Inc have informed regulators that the front door-lock modules on 2011 Sonatas can stick, and will notify customers of a recall.
“Anything to do with door latches warrants a recall,” said Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson in Fountain Valley, Calif.
A halt of 2011 Sonata sales has been ordered.
Hyundai’s plant in Alabama has built and sold 1,300 units, as well as 46,000 Sonata units from South Korea. This new model has been available in South Korea since September 2009, and started sales in the U.S. this month.
Hyundai said it has received complaints from customers but there haven’t been any reported accidents or injuries related to this problem.
Hyundai hopes to rectify this issue quickly and not have a repeat of Toyota’s misfortune.
The Sonata is Hyundai’s biggest selling model, in 2009 120,028 Sonatas were sold. With the 2011 model going on sale two weeks ago in the U.S. 5,000 cars have been made in total and of that 1,300 have been sold. It is not known how many of the 1,300 will have faulty locks.
The problem occurs when the front seat passenger tries to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button. When this happens the interior door handle doesn’t return to its normal position and the door will not shut completely.
Pressing the lock button again will reset the handle allowing the door to work correctly.
With replacement parts reaching dealerships tomorrow the stop-sale will be lifted as soon as the repairs are made. The repairs consist of the replacement of the front door-lock mechanism.






Here we go…….
Here we go? Haha. It’s hardly a sticky accelerator . Why would you try to open a door while holding down the lock button?
Classic response from the Hyundai loving crowd on this website. Something goes wrong with your beloved brand, and it’s automatic deflection to an issue of another brand.
This is hardly of no concern for Hyundai given it involves 46,000 cars, it’s their flagship model, and a brand new one at that. It’s a serious issue involving a lot of money and very unfortunate timing.
‘Serious issue’ I really hope your trying to become a comedian.
Really this is a case of ‘operator error,’ would you do what is described that causes this issue?
Not to mention this is probably something that local service centres can fix in 5mins, that can’t be said about at least some if not all of the Toyota recalls……
Regards
Whitbomb07
The only reason I quoted “here we go” is I know this thread is going to go crazy with ridiculous comments.
You got that right. Some clown even thinks a lock button issue is life threatening. Hardly serious.
No big deal? ONLY YOUR DOOR WILL FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING!!!!! 46,000 sonatas not good!
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If it was Toyota you’d be first to shout out about how crap it was. But it’s Hyundai, and “it’s no big deal”. What a surprise.
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Wrong, it’s a quality issue. Something that Hyundai would be very frustrated about given the seemingly long way it had gone to establish some reliability confidence in the general public.
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Classic
Has this issue caused injury and death?
This is no worse than any other minor recall that occurs on a regular basis for all car companies.
Compared to something that has killed, this is definitely ‘no big deal’
I don’t know about HS but I (despite being a Hyundai fan) wouldn’t bag out Toyota if something minor like this happened to them, nor would I defend Hyundai if something like what has occured to Toyota did occur to Hyundai.
Get a grip.
Regards
Whitbomb07
After all the flack that Toyota got, every car manufacturer will be paranoid when it comes to hardware faults.
It’d be interesting to see what the response would’ve been if Toyota’s brake etc problems never happened.
…but it did. These two issues are at opposite ends of the serious scale!
What rubbish, NOT 1 (i repeat) NOT 1 toyota brake failed! FOR HYUNDAI THIS IS STILL A SERIOUS RECALL!
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Oh for crying out loud, it’s a Hyundai.
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I think you miss the point of luxury cars. Choosing a luxurious car is a matter of the heart, not whether it is smart, sensible, or affordable. Hyundai is a growing maker of good value cars, but they aren’t competitive with BMW, Mercedes and Audi. All this excitement about Hyundai must be very exciting for you, but don’t let it get out of hand.
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HS, get away from the smoke and stop drinking the bong water. The only way you could compare this to a Lexus ES350, which we don’t get in Australia, is that the Hyundai looks like the one that we got here years ago.
I understand that you have probably never driven a Lexus so have no real idea of the quality. I wonder how long before you start comparing your beloved Hyundai to Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz as well?
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HS why do you mention ‘we’ and ‘us’ when you mention Hyundai?
Now lets see how many Anti-Koreans try and compare this to Toyota’s recall……..
Regards
Whitbomb07
Just because someone would like to see some balance to the commenting on this website doesn’t mean they’re badge snobs or Anti-Korean mate.
…except in your case.
..and why the hell would someone hold down the lock button whil opening the door?
Anyone?
Yeah, maybe if it turned out that you and HS were Korean.
It will only become a problem if they try to blame it on floormats.
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And 80% of those will be made by you, I predict.
Sadly this will turn out to be accurate.
i’m going to the ACCC with this !!!
how can there possibly be a recall on a car that hasn’t even been made yet(2011?)And i thought the car and golf magazines were bad for getting in front of themselves,can you imagine the wholsaler getting the call….yeah mate,i got a 2011 hyundai,built 12th month 09,complianced 2nd month 2010…no mate,i’m serious,it really is a 2011 sonata…
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Do you make up this stuff? For someone who says they have no connection with Hyundai, you seem to pull figures out of your hat at a moments notice.
lots of info in that hat.
Maybe he doesn’t pull this info out of his hat, but somewher else.
So HS, you are saying that they released 5000 cars to the general public so that they could find all the faults with them? How is that good quality control?
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So? What does that have to do with the points you listed?
HyundaiSmoke is a good guy Mate, at least hes proud enough tote he truth about a real Brand like Hyundai.
Wow, Am I a polarizing Figure. Anyway, Oracle they were recalled in Korea that’s why I had to point that out.
Is this really all that serious. At least Hyundai jumped on it right away. Its only been on sale for two weeks.
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Now I know this is completely off topic but i still have to ask.
What the hell is the point of selling a car in Early 2010 and calling it a 2011 model.
Now I know car manufacturer’s bring out say 2010 models towards the end of 2009, that i get, But 2011 cars in the Begining of 2010 has the World gone MAD, or has Hyundai just forgot what year it is, or do the think putting a 2011 model name on a 2010 car makes people think that they are buying a car meant/from the future.
Probably relates to financial years/quarters or something. They don’t start on the calendar year.
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No Offence, but both reasons listed above sound a bit odd, and arn’t really valid/aceptable reasons. I mean not everyones an accountant. Plus if they did name the car based on the financial year then it should be called 2010/2011 Hyundai Sonata, plus it’s not like Hyundai’s finance teams is gona say ohh Crap we can’t mention this on our tax’s because it says its a 2011 model but it was sold in 2010.
And I don’t think a car manufacturer is gona spend a couple of hundred million Designing and developing a new car, and then get it face lifted 1 year latter, I mean even Ssangyong with its butt ugly cars hasn’t thought of doing that
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The reference is to model year. For example the MY11. It’s a replacement for factory codes. This jargon has been practice for some time.
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Hyundaismoke Why dont you just shut your stupid fat mouth for a while. I wish you were in the twin towers
Hyundai won’t suffer for this. It’s a trivial recall. I suspect the guys at CA posted it to get a reaction. They succeeded.
Well, if it wasn’t a legitimate issue they wouldn’t be recalling 46,000 cars. No matter how much you try to trivialise it to save face for your beloved car maker, it’s going to cost them a packet. And although you seem like quite a self-righteous chap, don’t let your self-admiration make you so naive to think that Hyundai won’t be seething that this has happened now.
Hyundai Smoke give it a rest .
Fancy wishing someone died in a terrorist attack. You’re a low life.
The reply to someone’s comment feature is playing up. It was directed at A$$city.
This is such a small recall.
yes lets try to make crap up about investigations.
Toyota has messed up in their USA branch… which is SUPPLIER issue.. same supplier for US made cars. If anything Toyota will raise their strictness on NON-Japanese suppliers. Because the recalls did put a taint on their reputation and they definitely do not want to go the way of GM
By the way, DOOR related “issues” are rank 1 in terms of engineering problems, as Doors are Tier 1 for safety. A door with “lock” problems or “unlocking” problems can be the differnce between not being flown out of the car during a turn or getting out of the car to a safer place.
Change your name to Hyundai Propaganda.
hmm. it’s true.
Have you even read the description in the article when the problem can be occurred?
It’s serious safety issue if you are sitting at the front passenger seat and trying to open the door while holding down the lock button while you’re turning.
or if you’re the person who does care about any warning light from the car…
Why? if you are in the car and door is not closed properly… the warning light will be up regardless the door latch.
And you’re trying to equalize this issue to the Toyota one which killed 4 people alive after ignoring the complains for few year… or is this even more serious than ABS recall for the prius or Corolla’s steering issue?
Who should have “Propaganda’ in the name now?
By the way, the sticky accelerator is what Toyota claimed after they blaimed the floor mat first. (I wonder if this floor mat producer is going to sue Toyota or just keep mouth shut as they are just the supplier). The US authorities are also investigating if this is the software issue of the electrical control stuff.
And Toyota refused to hand over the data they acquired from the black box.
Unless you try and open a door while you are flipping through the air I don’t see a problem.
yup :)
YEAH ITS CALLED SPEEDING!
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Wow! I wish I had this much time to sit in front of a computer and respond to a blogging forum.
Makes me wish I didn’t have to work for a living.
WHAT RUBBISH STOP MAKING THINGS UP!!!!!!!!!!!
Um..
“..the front seat passenger tries to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button..”
Someone tell me why you’re trying to OPEN the door while holding the lock door button? It just seems a bit.. stupid, to me. I suppose it could happen if you were pushing against the handle (the lock button is just at the end of the grip area), but.. Just such a silly notion IMO.
…I’ve been trying to get an answer to that one too. Everyone’s too busy comparing this to a recall on a car that has killed people.
Oh you mean the ford explorer!
This is the USA we are talking about lz!!! Oh, BTW, I try to open my door whilst holding down the lock button all the time! TVFPIC ;-)
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That should put the hyundai fanbois back in there box!!
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I think the car would be doing people a favour not letting them in the car.UGLY from the outside and from the inside.
I’m sure if palaeontologists found a pertified dinosaur turd,the shape would resemble this Sonata!UGLY,UGLY!
,
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You forgot Hino!
Funny post all the same, HIGH-5!!!!
LOL
Right mate, lol!
Bla bla bla…
Wow. Nice interior !
This car is HOT !
HS if you are the face of Hyundai it needs plastic surgery. You do more damage to the brand than any recall will. Can’t you go and love a brand that no-one cares about, like Datsun and the 120y?
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Few people here have a problem with Hyundai, but you make it out to be like everyone is against you.
Toyota will feel a back lash in sales due to the recall. I doubt it will cast a shadow for long. Hyundai / Kia will absorb Toyotas orphan owners and I expect Toyota will struggle to get them to return to the flock.
WT*? LOL
oook…let’s do some brain-talk (common sense talk) yea?
UMMMM…TYPE “RECALL” ON GOOGLE NEWS, I see…in order as of 10.31pm 25 FEB 2010…
TOYOTA RECALL
HYUNDAI RECALL
SUZUKI RECALL
“Nissan, Suzuki, Daihatsu to RECALL cars in Japan”
then more TOYOTA RECALL news,
then?
“After Toyota’s recall, Chrysler Group will replace the crash sensor for over 350 thousand of its popular minivans. Owners are asked to take the car to …”
Yea…CHRYSLER RECALL…
Chrysler to begin safety campaign to replace faulty crash sensors in 355000 … Los Angeles Times
Chrysler to fix airbags in some 355500 minivans Reuters
oook…students…let’s look at the main three,
Toyota’s 8 millions + VS
Chrysler’s 350 000+ VS
Hyundai’s 1500 (up to maybe 5000)
ie. TOYOTA’s life at risk recalls VS
CHRYSLER’s human life at risk aibag recalls
VS HYUNDAI’s 1300(-5000) what recalls??? read below…
“The problem occurs when the front seat passenger tries to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button” HAHAHA WT*…
I’ve never heard of someone “trying to open the door from the inside WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE LOCK BUTTON”…hahaha
oh…and…if you read
“With the 2011 model going on sale two weeks ago in the U.S. 5,000 cars have been made in total and of that 1,300 have been sold.”
*****”It is not known how many of the 1,300 will have faulty locks”*****
OOOoook…I’m bored…what should I do…I’m just going to go to my car and try to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button…
…..With the 2011 model going on sale two weeks ago in the U.S. 5,000 cars have been made in total and of that 1,300 have been sold…..
they’ll just have to *check/and or fix* the 5000 cars that’ve been made so far,
but only have to ring-ring-iphone-call-up-call-back 1300 human-in-person-face-to-face-customers…
out of the 1300 customers that bought the new 2011 sonata…
(according to the news written here) how many do you actually think tried to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button?????
hmmm…yea…
iLove the Toyoda iQ though it’s so Qute! lol
HyundaiSmoke we all know by now you either work for Hyundai or have a Hyundai rod stuck up somewhere. Its ridiculous how much crap you posts about Hyundai, its free speech on the internet but damn, you’re ridiculous with your extreme biased, its not really winning sales towards Hyundai here as everything you say is just Hyundai propaganda… there’s not a single unbiased opinion you have.
Amen to that!!!!!
Recalls!! Why we talk about recalls? Name one car company which had no recalls!! All of them from Audi to Volvo and the really expensive ones like Maserati, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini…etc Stop fighting like little kids.
The haters really took over this thread. Thanks for paying your Homage to the Hyundai. :D
No amount of comments we could make could overtake the thread from you.
If my demeanor car turn somebody off to a car product, then that person is the one with the problem in my book, and most likely they werent going to seriously shop Hyundai in the first place.
Hyundai will no doubt be disappointed that this one slipped through the net. Regardless, this a trivial recall and one that has been caught early.
Go to hell you Toyota loving cry babies!! Of Course it was their fault. Like HyundaiSmoke rightfully stated before, Toyota has had these problems since 1995
Shoot, Shoot, Get, Get, get back Toyota lovers out!!!
I think HyundaiSmoke is a bit of a keyboard warrior, like to see him mouth off like that bout Korean cars in a bar, get his faced caved in by rednecks. Would be no great loss if he got run down by F350, or anything for that matter. Cancer would do the trick too.
is he hot?
No wonder Hyundai never had a problem for the 6 months the car was sold in Korea, straight after it’s released in the US, a problem is discovered. The problem is someone trying to open the door while holding the lock down. Hello? Who tries to open the door while holding the lock down? Only some brain-dead yanks would ever have an issue with this. There is only so much ‘idiot proofing’ you can do for Americans. If something like this causes a death, its Darwinism, they deserve to die for being so stupid. It’s scary how stupid yanks are and how easy it is for them to get guns.
TOYOTA is Rubbish. Toyota=Chery. Hyundai has the Superior Quality, and Modern Efficient Affordable Luxury. Toyota=Econoboxes and Grandaddy Sedans.
Is HS a comedian?
He certainly thinks so.