U.S. public vehicle records

Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

15,930 owner complaints analyzed

66 distinct recall campaigns

71,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1989 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 9,870 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4,673 of 15,930 complaints (29.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	2,446	15.4%
Braking behavior	2,299	14.4%
Engine operation	1,353	8.5%
Electrical and battery issues	1,141	7.2%
Transmission and shifting	621	3.9%
Fuel system concerns	429	2.7%

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.

Engine

4,673

Steering

2,325

Electrical System

1,815

Air Bags

1,793

Unknown Or Other

1,322

Service Brakes

896

Exterior Lighting

885

Power Train

884

Engine: 4,673; Steering: 2,325; Electrical System: 1,815; Air Bags: 1,793; Unknown Or Other: 1,322; Service Brakes: 896; Exterior Lighting: 885; Power Train: 884

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

1,906

25,000 to 49,999

1,309

50,000 to 74,999

1,961

75,000 to 99,999

1,831

100,000 to 149,999

2,161

150,000 and above

702

Under 25,000: 1,906; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,309; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,961; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,831; 100,000 to 149,999: 2,161; 150,000 and above: 702

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2,161). 6,060 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.

1995

1996

2000

2001

2002

100

2003

2004

107

2005

2006

119

2007

114

2008

304

2009

319

2010

565

2011

618

2012

413

2013

588

2014

766

2015

986

2016

1,187

2017

1,100

2018

1,089

2019

1,251

2020

988

2021

869

2022

1,091

2023

958

2024

739

2025

772

2026

511

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	49
1996	24
2000	57
2001	60
2002	100
2003	88
2004	107
2005	98
2006	119
2007	114
2008	304
2009	319
2010	565
2011	618
2012	413
2013	588
2014	766
2015	986
2016	1187
2017	1100
2018	1089
2019	1251
2020	988
2021	869
2022	1091
2023	958
2024	739
2025	772
2026	511

1995: 49; 1996: 24; 2000: 57; 2001: 60; 2002: 100; 2003: 88; 2004: 107; 2005: 98; 2006: 119; 2007: 114; 2008: 304; 2009: 319; 2010: 565; 2011: 618; 2012: 413; 2013: 588; 2014: 766; 2015: 986; 2016: 1,187; 2017: 1,100; 2018: 1,089; 2019: 1,251; 2020: 988; 2021: 869; 2022: 1,091; 2023: 958; 2024: 739; 2025: 772; 2026: 511

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2,446 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2,299 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1,353 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 724188 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)

THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN ANY POSITION (DRIVE, REVERSE, ETC.) INSTEAD OF PARK POSITION ONLY. THIS ALLOWS THE CAR TO ROLL UNATTENDED IF THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LEFT IN IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN PARK. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT CAN BE MOVED FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER POSITION WITH OUT THE KEY INSERTED WHICH COULD BE A DISASTER IF CHILDREN WERE LEFT UNATTENDED IN THE CAR. I HAVE SENT COMPLAINTS TO HUNDAI WITH NO RESPONSE AND I HAVE SENT FORMS TO NHTSA WITH THE LAST BEING SENT ON 10/27/96 AND RECEIVED BY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 487789 · 1995-11-01 (November 1, 1995)

POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487789 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 969746 · 1995-08-02 (August 2, 1995)

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969746 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 481202 · 1995-02-13 (February 13, 1995)

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/LOSS OF CONTROL/INJURIES. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481202 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 743502 · 2001-04-04 (April 4, 2001)

ENGINE STALLS IN MORNING WHEN COLD, TRANSMISSION SLIPS,POOR GAS MILAGE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 743502 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 982321 · 1996-04-04 (April 4, 1996)

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR STALLED, CONSUMER GOT OUT CAR TO MAKE PHONE CALL AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982321 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 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 489927 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489927 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8003219 · 2002-01-30 (January 30, 2002)

AFTER FILLING VEHICLE'S TANK SMELLED FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE. A DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FUEL TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BEFORE. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8003219 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.