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Hyundai Sonata Steering Safety Report | June 04, 2010



Reported on June 04, 2010


THE CAR WILL NOT HOLD A STRAIGHT LINE ON A FLAT, STRAIGHT, HIGHWAY: AFTER CENTERING THE CAR IN IT'S LANE, THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY AND RANDOMLY: 1.DRIFTS AWAY FROM THE CENTER LINE, TOWARD ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER; 2.THE DIRECTION OF THE DRIFT APPEARS TO BE RANDOM AND UNPREDICTABLE; 3.THE AMPLITUDE (AMOUNT / SEVERITY) OF THE DRIFT IS RANDOM AND UNPREDICTABLE, BUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS A CRASH WOULD BE GUARANTEED WITHOUT DRIVER INTERVENTION WITHIN 3 TO 5 SECONDS; 4.THE TIMING OF THE DRIFT PATTERN IS CONSTANT: IT NEVER FOLLOWS A STRAIGHT LINE FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS BEFORE STARTING TO WANDER AGAIN. TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER IS FORCED TO CONSTANTLY ATTEMPT TO CORRECT FOR THIS DEVIATION, BUT THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THE DRIFT PATTERN RESULTS IN A DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE OSCILLATION AS THE CAR WANDERS BACK AND FORTH CONTINUOUSLY. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN A MOMENTARY LAPSE IN THE TOTAL CONCENTRATION REQUIRED TO CORRECT FOR THIS CONSTANT STEERING DRIFT COULD EASILY RESULT IN A FATAL CRASH. THE DEALER HAS TEST-DRIVEN THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS EASILY DUPLICATED, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR IT. THEY SAY THAT THIS KIND OF STEERING DRIFT IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED IN AN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM. THAT KIND OF REASONING WOULD BE LAUGHABLE IF IT WASN'T FOR THE POTENTIAL FATALITY INHERENT IN THE DESIGN. *TR
Make: Hyundai
Model: Sonata
Manufactured by: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Year: 2011
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported?
Was a death reported?
Was a fire reported? N
Location: PUNTA GORDA FL
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 5NPEB4AC9BH
Mileage: 35 miles.
Speed: 60 MPH
Number of cylinders:
Vehicle type:
Vehicle fuel:
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
Previous Report:Steering Next Report:Electrical System

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