Severely rusted & corroded front subframe. I've spent the last two months cycling between four auto salvages replacing everything cosmetic that's been put off in favor of mechanical maintenance etc. This is my first car, I've had her for years, she's my babygirl. When topping off some fluids the other day, I happened to glance down and was freaked out but the severity of my subframe rust. Getting on under it and getting a closer look, I was no longer freaking out about the cost, but instead, it was the most grateful I had ever been to find something wrong with my car because it is so bad it's terrifying, and thank God I found out before it just f*cking snapped while I was driving.
It's my front subframe, if you're at the nose of the car facing the engine it's to the left. I looked into it immediately and while there is not a single recall for my 2005 Hyundai Sonata, LX V6 Old Body Style, last year of its generation, there sure as hell is a recall for every other year of my gen, 2000-2004, for what? Oh you guessed it, crazy rusty dangerously corroded subframes, seemingly angled towards those living in the Salt Belt. I live in the northernmost county of Kentucky, spitting distance from OHIO, which is traditionally where the salt belt is considered to end, KY not included. Seems I'm right on the outskirts of anyone giving a care, and I'm in between trying to figure out how the hell much longer I can push this before it shoves back.
Old car, to be sure, but very strange that there is a recall for '02 to '04 Sonatas which are basically identical to the '05, yet the '05 is not covered according to Hyundai. I almost seems like the '05 was actually the worst of the bunch, and they merely fixed the earlier years for publicity purposes.
Also very odd that the right hand subframe arm seems to be in pristine condition (for its age), yet the left hand side is rotted.
If this car does not come under a recall or warranty I will sue Hyundai and go on the internet and tell the world about their sh*t cars. I took real care of this car and with only 3900 original miles I am real pissed they made such a chincy piece of sh*t. This is the only problem I have had. I put brakes on myself, new battery but it lasted 11 years. new hood struts myself. It was a good car until I was putting in a new front exhaust system with cat and saw the rusty sub frame.
2005 HYUNDAI SONATA SUBFRAME, RUSTED AND CORRODED, UNSAFE TO DRIVE!!!
Only had/(157,000 MILES )the car for a bit over a year, the car originated/bought new in Maine. lived it's life there except for the last 3 years.
I called the Hyundai corporation and explained my dilemma. Took it to a local dealership, they confirmed that the car was unsafe to drive due to its rusted subframe! I called the Hyundai corporation back, they refused to fix the car, even though this was not a mechanical issue! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!
Hyundai Corporation reply: THEY WILL NOT FIX THE CAR....BECAUSE IT'S THE YEAR 2005. MY POINT IS IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SONATA 2002, 2003, 2005, SEEMS LIKELY THE PROBLEM WOULD BE WITH 2005 AS WELL.
I need some satisfaction regarding this issue. I feel Hyundai Corporation should fix the subframe in its entirety due to the fact it was unpreventable on the owners part, NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE, A SAFETY ISSUE!!! IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE ORIGINATION OF THE VEHICLE.
Due to the fact of this rusted and unsafe subframe, and a bit stymied that HYUNDAI CORPORATION WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S NAME AND MAKE THIS CAR SAFE. I HAVE BEEN LIMITED TO WHERE I CAN DRIVE THIS CAR. It's evident that HYUNDAI CORPORATION DOES NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OWNERS OF THEIR CARS, AND THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARISE, IT'S A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AND A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD BE CONCERNED AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
It's been months now, and no satisfaction. HOW CAN I GET THIS CAR FIXED THROUGH THE HELP OF HYUNDAI CORPORATION, OR REPLACE THIS CAR BY THE HYUNDAI CORPORATION.
SINCE THIS DILEMMA, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO WORK AT MY JOB, IT DOES INVOLVE USING YOUR CAR EVERYDAY...THEREFORE LOSS OF WAGES ARE MOUNTED UP !!!!
THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED MECHANICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THIS ISSUE WITH THE SUBFRAME (UNSAFE) IS WELL BEYOND MY SCOPE OF REPAIRS.
HYUNDAI CORPORATION FIX MY CAR!!!
Update from Mar 25, 2019: The date today: March 25, 2019. Hyundai Corporation refuses to repair the subframe rusted/with holes, despite numerous attempts to get some satisfaction.
The sub frame on my 2005 Hyundai Sonata rotted out due to the climate and road salt in Massachusetts. My mechanic said that 2001 through 2004 Hyundai Sonatas were recalled for this issue but not 2005. Why not 2005? It obviously had the same issues. The corrosion progressed and the forward mounting of the lower control arm detached from the sub frame. I was lucky to get off the road when that happened because both tires were worn down to the metal and serious injury could have occurred if one or both tires blew on the highway. Very frustrated to have to pay for repairs that should have been part of a recall but happy to be alive.
Update from May 20, 2016: I had the car fixed after the mechanic checked with the Hyundai corporate office to see if there was a recall for 2005. The mechanic was informed that the recall was only for Sonatas 2001 through 2004. Mine is a 2005.
I spent $2211.63 to replace the sub frame, two control arms, two tires and other various parts. Very disappointed in Hyundai for not covering this repair.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
click to see larger images
Severely rusted & corroded front subframe. I've spent the last two months cycling between four auto salvages replacing everything cosmetic that's been put off in favor of mechanical maintenance etc. This is my first car, I've had her for years, she's my babygirl. When topping off some fluids the other day, I happened to glance down and was freaked out but the severity of my subframe rust. Getting on under it and getting a closer look, I was no longer freaking out about the cost, but instead, it was the most grateful I had ever been to find something wrong with my car because it is so bad it's terrifying, and thank God I found out before it just f*cking snapped while I was driving.
It's my front subframe, if you're at the nose of the car facing the engine it's to the left. I looked into it immediately and while there is not a single recall for my 2005 Hyundai Sonata, LX V6 Old Body Style, last year of its generation, there sure as hell is a recall for every other year of my gen, 2000-2004, for what? Oh you guessed it, crazy rusty dangerously corroded subframes, seemingly angled towards those living in the Salt Belt. I live in the northernmost county of Kentucky, spitting distance from OHIO, which is traditionally where the salt belt is considered to end, KY not included. Seems I'm right on the outskirts of anyone giving a care, and I'm in between trying to figure out how the hell much longer I can push this before it shoves back.
- Cara M., Erlanger, US