At a time when the first batch of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedans have just began to hit the showrooms, Hyundai is being forced to call an unfortunate stop-sale on the car. The stop-sale order comes from Hyundai after it was discovered that about 5000 Sonata models could have their front door latch defective, thus dealing a big blow to the initial sales of this highly-anticipated sedan.

The [Sonata's] front doors incorporate a convenience feature that allows a locked door to be unlocked and opened by pulling the inside door release handle without first unlocking the door with the inside door lock switch. If a front inside door lock switch is held in the locked position while the inside door handle is pulled to open the door, the door latch may malfunction. If this occurs, the inside door handle will not return to its normal, stowed position and the door latch will remain in the unlatched position when attempting to close the door.

The two rear doors would not be affected since they do not incorporate the automatic unlock pull-handle-to-open feature, although the driver and passenger front door mechanisms could well need a repair. Hyundai has informed that they will be working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall vehicles that have already been bought. Around 1300 units have been sold as of now. Hyundai shall start disposing replacement latches to its 790 dealers in order to fix the problem. As soon as the problem is fixed, the stop-sale shall end.

After the major auto maker Toyota suffered a series of setbacks and had to recall a large volume of vehicles, Hyundai knows how important it is to fix the door latch problem as quickly and efficiently as possible for its expected volume leader model among cars.