2004 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
202 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 154 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 202 complaints (26.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 13.4% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 3.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 53 |
| Air Bags | 43 |
| Structure:Body | 22 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Structure | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 11 |
Suspension: 53; Air Bags: 43; Structure:Body: 22; Electrical System: 14; Steering: 13; Structure: 13; Unknown Or Other: 12; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 28 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 45 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 45; 150,000 and above: 16
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2004: 5; 2005: 8; 2006: 11; 2007: 4; 2008: 10; 2009: 21; 2010: 12; 2011: 10; 2012: 6; 2013: 11; 2014: 20; 2015: 17; 2016: 15; 2017: 11; 2018: 6; 2019: 11; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 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 10090956 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ON I97, A VW CABRIOLET CHANGED FROM 2/3 OF EXIT TO RIGHT TO PULLING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME PERPENDICULAR. I VEER TO LEFT, JAMMED ON BRAKES BUT HIT HIS DRIVER SIDE DOOR (ORIGIN SPEED 50-55 MPH) THEN CONTINUUED INTO A STEEL GUARDRAIL HEAD ON, THEN PULLED OUT MOST OF THE RAIL AND JOLTED TO A STOP AT AN ANGLE ABOVE A DROP OFF. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS. WE WERE LUCKY TO WALK AWAY WITH BRUISES, CUTS, AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. ANOTHER FAMILY MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105121 · 2004-12-20 (December 20, 2004)
CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME UNATTACHED IN THE COLLISION.*AK THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL BY CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098455 · 2004-11-08 (November 8, 2004)
2004 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS INVOLVED IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT, STRUCK BY A DODGE DURANGO. IMPACT WAS CENTERED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND RESULTED IN AN APPROXIMYATE 1 FOOT OF INTRUSION. MAX CRUSH OCCURRED JUST FORWARD OF THE B-PILLAR. B-PILLAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE SEAT AND THE LEADING EDGE OF THE DOOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HEAD/THORAX BAG LOCATED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT DID NOT DEPLOY. NHTSA SHOULD INSPECT THIS TO SEE WHY THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE TYPE OF IMPACT IN WHICH THE SIDE AIR BAGS WERE DE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144217 · 2005-12-02 (December 2, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT AND HER PASSENGER IN THE SEATS. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND BROKEN BONES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND AN INSURANCE REPORT WAS FILED. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*AK UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,118 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132357 · 2005-08-02 (August 2, 2005)
2004 HYUNDAI SONATA HAD COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED.*MR THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR LOAD MOANING AND RUMBLING NOISES LIKE PRESSURE BUILDING UP IN THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274855 · 2009-06-24 (June 24, 2009)
I HAVE A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA V6 THAT GIVES ME PROBLEMS WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK UP. I KNOW THAT THIS MIGHT SOUND CRAZY BUT, WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR, IT WILL NOT TURN OVER. I RECENTLY HAD A MAJOR TUNE-UP DONE ON THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH CHANGING THE TIMING BELT. WHEN I FILL UP MY CAR, I HAVE TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIVE SUCH AS GAS TREATMENT, LUCAS GAS TREATMENT, FUEL CLEANER, ETC. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES AND HE HAS FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I ASK FOR ASSISTANCE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD YOU RECOMMEND…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110546 · 2005-02-15 (February 15, 2005)
MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONOTA. TRAFFICE WAS HEAVY AND A DRIVER, 3 CARS AHEAD, SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AS ALL THOSE BEHIND HER DID. I HAD AMPLE TIME TO STOP BUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES REPEATEDLY KEPT TURNING. MY CAR CONTINUED TO HIT THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME AND MY CAR ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB ON THE BACK OF THE OTHER CAR. THE REPETITIVE HITTING OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE BRAKES OF BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES, THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AT INTERMITTENT T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10110546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159949 · 2006-06-15 (June 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING A FLAT TIRE DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD, THE DEALER PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE TREAD DEPTH WAS DEPLETED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE MICHELIN MXD4 PLUS H 205/165/115. ADDITIONALLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING INTO GEARS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SEIZED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING REPLACEMENT OF THE AUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090393 · 2004-09-03 (September 3, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE SENSOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN OF PICKING THE VEHICLE UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 272 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246690 · 2008-10-25 (October 25, 2008)
2004 HYNDAI SONATA STALLS ON HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236596 · 2008-08-01 (August 1, 2008)
BATTERY, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACE IN 12/05/05, THEN AGAIN IN 10/05/06, ON 7/31/08 THE BATTERY THIS TIME DIE WITH NO WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. BOTH TIME THE BATTERY WAS REPLACE BY RICK CASE HYUNDAI, STATED BAD BATTERY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,022 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273609 · 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED IN HER VEHICLE AND DOES NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS LOOSE OR A SHORTAGE WAS PRESENT. HYUNDAI STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273609 at NHTSA ↗