1997 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 38 complaints (39.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 39.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 15.8% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 25 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 8; 2002: 4; 2003: 8; 2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2011: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10011137 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
THE FUEL TANK CRACKED AND LEAKED GASOLINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013894 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN AGAINST DIFEO HYUNDAI, HUDSON MALL, RT. 440, JERSEY CITY, NJ. I HAD THE FOLLOWING RECALLS DONE ON MY HYUNDAI SONATA 97 (VIN [XXX]) FROM DIFEO IN JANUARY, 03: NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 97V026000. NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 00V314001 DIFEO HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AS A PART OF THE RECALL. SOON AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE, I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE WAS STUCK ON THE UPPER END. SPOKE TO DIFEO SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON 2/14/03 AND TOOK AN APPTMENT FOR 2/18/03 MORNING. CONFIRMED THE APPTMENT BEFORE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072449 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404763 · 2011-05-27 (May 27, 2011)
AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CALL HYUNDAI, I AM ABSOLUTELY FED UP WITH EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING. I HAVE "REPAIRED" MY VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO NO AVAIL. AFTER AT LEAST 5, DEFINITELY MORE, TRIPS TO THE MECHANIC I HAVE REPAIRED THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, BRAKES, MOTOR MOUNTS, DONE A TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE, AND HAVE HAD TO REPAIR 2 FLYWHEELS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THAT LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE THE GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF PLUGS, FILTERS, AND OIL. I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS ANYMORE. THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY MY VEHICLE, THIS IS MY MOTHERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 711907 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1999 WHILE DRIVING ON BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON PRKWY, I APPROACHED AN AREA OF HIGHWAY WERE WORK WAS BEING DONE. I WAS NOW TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MPH. AT ONE POINT TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS I GLANCED DOWN AT MY INSTRUMENTAL PANEL THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARED TO BE FLICKERING, THE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN WENT OUT. WHILE IN A STOPPED POSITION APPROXIMATELY (2) MINS AFTER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE AIRBAGS BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DEPLOYED. I WAS STARTLED BY THIS AND DID HOWEVER RELEASE THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,059 miles reported. Look up ODI 711907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037323 · 2003-09-06 (September 6, 2003)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER DEALERSHIPS TRIED TO FIX MULIPLE TIMES. I HAVE SPEND ABOUT 3,000 DALLORS OF MY MONEY TO FIX THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS FINALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR WANTS TO STALL AT A STOP AND THE IDLE JUMPS AROUD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE CAR REALLY ACTS UP WHEN YOU HAVE THE A/C ON.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 866457 · 2000-07-31 (July 31, 2000)
EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ACCELLERATION ON HIGHWAY. WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 40 MPH OR MORE IT APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING IN NEUTRAL, AND CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL FREE TOPROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 866457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 895469 · 2001-08-29 (August 29, 2001)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; WHEN APPLING GEAR IN REVERSE THERE IS A HARD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED FAULTY O2 SENSOR. FAULTY BATTERY CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRANK SLOW. DRIVER DOOR WINDOW MOVES SLOW, DEALER LUBRICATED GLASS CHANNEL. OUTER CV BOOT REPLACED, IT WAS CRACKED. SOLENOID VALVE FAULTY CAUSING POOR GAS MILEAGE. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860173 · 2000-04-12 (April 12, 2000)
WHILE TAKING AN EXIT RAMP OFF THE HIGHWAY STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 890131 · 2001-06-11 (June 11, 2001)
CONSUMER REAREND VEHICLE WITH A 25 MPH IMPACT WITH APPLYING BRAKES. DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHOULDER SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT HEAD AGAINST STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER WILL CONTACTED DEALER TO DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 890131 at NHTSA ↗