Hi, I'm new here

I just bought a new GLS sonata on monday, and

been driving it for about 150 miles, now and I noticed

that the steering vibrates excessively past 65 mph.

I went in to the dealership today, and they said

they adjusted my rotors, and it should be fine,

but I am still experiencing the vibration,

and also when speeding down from 70 to about 30

to get to an exit from a highway I feel abs like pulsing

in my breaks. i read a few threads on here about similar problems,

but they were all on older models. I was wondering

if these were also common problem people were experiencing

on the 09 sonata, and how I should go about fixing it.

Please help me! this is my new baby, and I'm really scared!

It sounds like a balance problem in one or more of your wheels or tires. I'd take it to a tire shop (not the dealer, go to a place that specializes in tires and wheels). Have them check the balance on all four and rebalance as necessary. It may cost you a few bucks, but it's better than the back and forth haggling with the dealer.

A few people here have highly recommended finding a place that uses a Hunter Road Force balancing system. From what I understand, this system places a load on the wheel and tire while rotating, simulating actual driving conditions.

Good luck, and (IMG:style_emoticons/default/00000732.gif) to the forums.

thanks for the reply!

I mean is this normal?

should I try the dealer few more times, and

try to take advantage of the lemon law?

I only had the car for 4 days, and the car only had 4 miles, when I bought it

I'm just worried this might be a bigger problem

This is absolutely NOT normal. My 3-year old Sonata doesn't vibrate, your 3-minute old Sonata shouldn't either. If you feel comfortable with your dealer, give their service department a shot at it. You may be one of the lucky ones with a good dealer.

I'm almost sure it's got something to do with balance. Several other people have had the same or very similar issues with their brand new Sonata's. From what I recall, it's always related to balance problems.

Although not impossible, it's unlikely that it's a bigger problem. If a rebalance doesn't stop, or at least reduce, the vibration, there may be a problem with one of the suspension components. In that case, get the dealer to fix the problem under warranty. If a rebalance reduces the vibration, but doesn't stop it, try having the tires remounted, or if you're lucky, replaced. This will likely solve the problem.

It's too early to cry "LEMON!" You'll need to give the dealer plenty of chances to fix it before pursuing this option. Then it will take some time getting through the legal process. And ultimately, Hyundai and your dealer will hate you in the long run.

It sounds like a trip to the dealer is in order. Good luck, and let us know how it all turns out.

alrighty, let's hope everything works out. I will definitely keep you posted,
thanks again for your advice

I've owned 2 Hyundais and they both had a vibration in the steering. One vibrated when I applied the brakes. The car had been on the lot for a few months and the rotors rusted around the caliper pads and needed to be resurfaced. Easily resolved by the dealer. My Sonata vibrated at 65-70 while NOT applying the brakes. Dealer rebalanced the front wheels. That fixed the problem. You may have a combination of both problems. It should be easy to fix but I would insist the dealer get it right. That's why you pay for a new car.

Also, these types of problems can happen to any car. Not uncommon at all.

This post has been edited by ems1: Jul 3 2009, 07:07 AM

I agree with ems1. It sounds like you have two separate issues. The vibration while driving is most likely a wheel balance or tire issue. The pulsation while braking is probably a warped rotor issue. Both should be relatively easily corrected by the dealer under warranty. It's a new car, you don't need to be spending your own money to rectify these problems but they hardly make the car a lemon either.

It is most likely due to an out of balance condition on one or more of the wheels. Before purchasing our 2009 Sonata SE, we drove two cars at two different dealerships and BOTH had vibration at speeds of 65 - 70 MPH. We had the dealer rebalance the wheels on the car we purchased and that solved the problem. It's as smooth as glass now at highway speeds.

I suspect a bunch of 2009 Sonatas left the factory with improperly balanced wheels.

Thanks everyone,
it's good to hear other people have experienced the same thing.
I made an appointment at the dealership tomorrow,
i think the first visit this solve the break abs-like pulsation, through
the rotor adjustment. Hopefully they can get the high speed vibrations to stop

When I first had my Sonata it also did something similar (60-70 steering shake), but as time went on (things got broken in I assume) it repaired itself.
I've since had my tires rotated and still good as I routinely have the car at 70-80mph and its fine.

Hopefully you have the same deal, but get it looked at if you want peace of mind.

Just came back from the dealer, and
they said they found the 4 tires to be out of balance, and
balanced it for me, I haven't been on a high way since, so
I haven't notice if it was fixed, but I was able to
reach a lil over 70 for like 10 sec, and I think it's fixed.

Thanks everyone for helping me here!

Well why should they take the time to balance any of the tires BEFORE they sell the cars, when they can charge the customer for it after the sale. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

they didn't charge me

I purchased an 09 GLS last week and had a bad vibration at speeds around 65-70 as soon as I left the dealer. I went back to the dealer and had them balance the tires. When I left, the problem was a little better but definitely still there. The service manager took it for a ride and noticed also. They are going to keep it for a day to see if they can figure out the problem. I will let you know what they find out and if they fixed it.

I haven't gone above 55 mph because I'm trying to follow the breaking-in instructions from the owner's manual. I can't really comment over that speed.

When I first drove at higher speeds, I did have some minor shaking. After a few miles, it resolved. My thought is that many times these Sonatas are just sitting in the lot for too long. The tires become flattened on one side because they haven't been spinning. One Sonata I was going to test drive only had 8 miles...but it wouldn't start! The battery was drained or the starter was shot. I think that kinda shows that a lot of those cars just weren't driven.

The dealer kept the car for two days and when I got it back, it did the same thing. I took it in for a third time and they swapped all 4 tires and wheels off of another new car. I finally got it up to highway speeds today and there is still a small vibration above 65 mph. I am still deciding to live with it or take it back for a full refund or new car under Lemon Law. (Ohio Lemon Law is 3-Times for same problem and if it has to go back a 4th, it is considered a lemon). I just wish I had a trouble free new car and it seems like a simple fix. I don't know if the dealers balancing equipment is as good as a standard tire dealers and I don't want to have to pay for something out of my own pocket when I should not have to. I will let you know what I decide.

If the dealer swapped all 4 wheels off another vehicle and you still have a vibration, it's neither the rims nor the tires. Something in your suspension has a resonance or sympathetic vibration. The tranny's ruled out or you'd have vibrations that come and go as you accelerate.

Did the dealer put a mechanic's stethescope on each wheel bearing and test drive? Many times a bad wheel bearing squeaks in time with the vibration.

There is very little communication between what was done by the mechanic and what the person working the service counter is told. They only tell me each time that they fixed it and that it was just a tire out of balance which make we question whether or not they know what they are doing because if they just balanced them, then they should not be out of balance 5-minutes after I leave the dealer. I did get a little better after they changed the wheels and tires which tells me that was part of the problem, but there is no way to know if the tires and wheels they put on were balanced since they seem to have a problem with balancing. I agree that it could be something else (ex. undercoating on a drive axle, bent drive axle, or bearing) but the fact that it only has the vibration above 65 makes me think it is a balance problem.
By the way, you asked if they used a mechanic's stethescope on each wheel bearing and test drive. Is there such a thing as a remote style of stethescope that allows you to attach it to something in the car and listen for a noise while on the road? I only have the old doctor probe looking kind and would love to have something like that to diagnose problems.

That's sad about the communication; some service writers don't know what the mechanic is talking about so they use the closest words they know.

Mechanics have used stethescopes for years to isolate a noise. I think an electronic one is needed to diagnose a wheel bearing.

This post has been edited by Dennis the Mennis: Jul 28 2009, 05:37 PM

I went back to the dealer for the 4th time last week. Hyundai had the regional rep come and drive the car. The rep said they felt nothing but had the tires road force balanced anyway. They said it is operating normal. I am now ****. The dealer all along has agreed that there is a vibration when they rode in the car with me, but now that the rep can't figure out what the problem is, they just say it is normal. I have had many people in the car as passengers and as drivers and they have all told me (without me telling them about the problem) that there is an vibration in the steering wheel. I even took video of the steering wheel rocking back and forth about a total of an inch when I get above 65 mph. The vibration comes and goes. Some days it vibrates my entire commute, some days only for about 5 miles. I asked the dealer to take the car back and they said that since I have 2,000 miles on it that they wouldn't because it is now a used car. They said if it only had 200 miles on it, that would be different even though I originaly starting to bring the car to them for this problem the day after I picked it up with only 40 miles on it.

I have now entered arbitration under lemon law.

I will let you know what happens.