[milanz]

because a lot of us would rather spend $4 on a tube of RTV sealant and call it fixed. For a lot of us it’s just a car and a $4 repair goes a lot further than buying the replacement part.

x2

You can buy several types and colours on Wish but I don't know if they are the exact same size or style for the Sonata. So it must be a common problem for other makes too.

 

[RyGuy82]

Hi all, just providing an update, I successfully used JB plasticweld epoxy and put the cover back on 2 days ago, time will tell how strong it will hold. So far no issues, tried to grab it with 1 hand after it cured and pull, didn't budge one bit. Drove on highway around 80mph, stayed in place. I didn't put too much, only on the outer edge of the cover and sat it on the rubber. I left the groove behind the edge alone.

I thought about the silicone, but after looking at it, the rubber base is solid. The nut & screw connecting to the antenna to the roof is sitting beneath the circuit board, which is sealed tight to the rubber base, so I won't worry about headliner getting wet. There is also a raised border thing around where the circuit board sits, so the likelihood of it getting wet is not very high either, there is also a very deep groove right after the edge where the cover sits on which also prevents water. Putting silicone on the cover and rubber will probably make it a bit messy even if it's clear silicone, I was able to hide the epoxy 100% between the cover bottom and the rubber base, so I think I will keep it like that and keep an eye out when the first rain hits.

I drive a 2016 Kia Forte, same thing happened, I am using your suggestion or the method for fixing it, hopefully it holds.

 

[devilsavacado]

*Happened to my 2017 just out of the blue ! ... Hyundai covered it . They replaced the whole fixture and had to pull the headliner to get at it properly .

Were you still below their warranty period? With the amount that I've seen and been reading about this, you'd think it would be in their recall list, but all I see for the '17 Sonata's is the airbag recall

 

[1175909]

I doubt this would ever turn into a recall since a non safety related issue. If anything I could see an extended warranty coverage being issued but I doubt that too.

 

[gprabaka]

My shark fin antenna cover came off too. I didn't notice until I got home from a camping trip. It's possible a tree branch hit it but it's also possible nothing touched it. I got it fixed under warranty though so it's all good. My car is a 2017 Sonata Plug In Hybrid that I bought in December 2016.

I have the same issue. Where did you buy the replacement cover? Thanks

 

[.1135058]

I have the same issue. Where did you buy the replacement cover? Thanks

It'll be tough to get exact color match for your car. I'd try FleaBay.

If you get just the cover you'll still need to glue it on or remove the whole unit and re-screw to new cover. The unit is held to the roof by a large nut accessible from inside the headliner.

 

[Officer Cartman]

So this happened to us yesterday, and I stumbled onto this thread when searching for answers. Not really sure what happened, as we were just driving home from dinner, and when we pulled into the driveway, I noticed that it was missing. So I called the dealership this morning and scheduled an appointment to bring it in and have it looked at. They seem like they don't want to cover it under the warranty, but given all the people here who have had it covered, I'm hopeful.

 

[xaran]

So this happened to us yesterday, and I stumbled onto this thread when searching for answers. Not really sure what happened, as we were just driving home from dinner, and when we pulled into the driveway, I noticed that it was missing. So I called the dealership this morning and scheduled an appointment to bring it in and have it looked at. They seem like they don't want to cover it under the warranty, but given all the people here who have had it covered, I'm hopeful.

How old is your Sonata?
Do you hand wash it or use car washes?
Most of the antennas seem to be knocked loose by car washes and their spinning brushes. Most of the owners that were able to get warranty were in the 5/60,000 period of bumper to bumper warranty. But its worth pushing the dealer to cover it because if you are not a DIYer and have the dealer replace it your looking at $300 + in repair bill.

 

[Officer Cartman]

How old is your Sonata?
Do you hand wash it or use car washes?
Most of the antennas seem to be knocked loose by car washes and their spinning brushes. Most of the owners that were able to get warranty were in the 5/60,000 period of bumper to bumper warranty. But its worth pushing the dealer to cover it because if you are not a DIYer and have the dealer replace it your looking at $300 + in repair bill.

If the antenna is susceptible to damage from an automatic car wash, then it's a design flaw on their part, as pretty much every car made today has a similar antennae design, and you don't see these issues happening to others. Our car is still under the 5/60K warranty, as we bought it new in May 2017. Just brought it to the dealership today, and they basically told me no dice. Ironically, another Sonata owner was there dealing with the same issue, and he was going to pay the $700 that the dealer quoted him.

Time to get corporate involved I guess. If anyone else here had the dealership deny their claim, were you guys able to get a resolution through other channels?

 

[.1135058]

Just brought it to the dealership today, and they basically told me no dice. Ironically, another Sonata owner was there dealing with the same issue, and he was going to pay the $700 that the dealer quoted him.

Time to get corporate involved I guess. If anyone else here had the dealership deny their claim, were you guys able to get a resolution through other channels?

I got my 2017 done on the 5year warranty for free. Good luck with corproate as they pretty much take what the dealership says. The time to re and re the antenna is about 15 minutes. They just pry the rear of the headliner down a bit to reach inside and undo the big nut holding the assembly to the roof. $700 is robbery.

Try another dealer.

 

[Jeremy3292]

At the car wash I go to, they put a big piece of the blue painters tape across the shark fin antenna every time before I go in...never had an issue and I go once a week.

 

[FrancescoJr]

The Shark Fin cover is supported by 4 weak plastic posts that break very easily. I just glued mine back on with RTV around the whole cover several years ago and it is on rock solid now. My wife has a 2016 Elantra, and visits the car wash frequently and has not had a problem with it on her car [knock on wood]. Lesson learned, check cover immediately after driving out of the car wash.

Frank 2017 Sonata SE with 40K miles

 

[FrancescoJr]

Here are the pictures of what it looks like (actually 5 posts rather than 4).
Frank 2017 Sonata SE

 

[Teddybear1234]

I actually always hand washed my car, and I can't think of any Ex issues lol.

XM radio reception is fine, AM and FM antenna I think is in the back window, and bluelink I didn't try but may be in the fin as well..?

I did more digging, and apparently it's more common than I thought. I found this thread on Kia Optima forums, which I think uses a very similar fin.

Optima Antenna cover broken - Kia Forum

The dude on second page is in almost the exact same situation as me. 2015 Sonata purchased in 2014, washing the car, and the thing just poped off, and he posted just 2 weeks before me lol.

I think it's just a badly designed part, those plastic holes can't stand the heat/cold cycles of the weather and deteriorate over time, and by the sound of it, dealerships are not willing to cover the antenna replacement.

I'm thinking of using JB Weld to glue it back, since there is an edge I can place the glue... I'm open to suggestions if there is a better alternative product!

My wife's 2017 came off because she was scrapping Ice and snow off. We super glued it and been thru florida and heavy rain and several car washes still holding strong

 

[hyundaiantennaguy]

Hey everyone, I didn't find any resources online to help deal with this issue, so I created a very simple website that should be exhaustive to help put together the information out there in one place.

hyundaiantenna.com

It would help me out a bunch if you could check it out!

 

[ldisler]

I got mine covered under warranty.

 

[Cee Gee 3]

The shark fin antenna cover (just the cover) came off (lost) on my 2017 Sonata. Dealership quoted me $550 installed for entire assembly. Ridiculous! Does anyone know where I can find a replacement cover? I have searched and searched and can't find one that fits. The universal ones are for replacing the "pole" type antennas not the '17 Sonata that has circuit board type antennas. Please help!

What did you wind up having to do in order to have it fixed? I’m in the exact same boat myself and not sure what to do.

 

[Cee Gee 3]

I got mine covered under warranty.

how? What did you do to get it repaired??

 

[Cee Gee 3]

I have the same issue. Where did you buy the replacement cover? Thanks

what did you end up having to do in order to have it fixed?

 

[ldisler]

My car was still under 5 year 60k mile warranty. Called dealer service and they ordered replacement and replaced under warranty. Tell them it flew off while driving.