1997 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009492 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #97V026000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009492 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 ↗
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 10021781 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER NOTICED A GASOLINE ODOR. THIS RECALL FAILED . *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036840 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
MY VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS DUT TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME OUT OF MY POCKET TO PAY FOR A COMPANY'S MISHAP. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036840 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036844 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT LOW SPEED, UNDER 5 MPH, KILLING FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.*AK THE SONATA HIT THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE DEPLOYING BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT BAG. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN IF THE 5 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS BELTED. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT BELIEVE THE CHILD WAS. THE CHILD SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE NECK, SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND BRAIN DAMAGE. THE CHILD WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.CW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036844 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 10052242 · 2004-01-02 (January 2, 2004)
AFTER MAKING SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK RECALL 00V314001 PERFORMED THE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,529 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052242 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V314001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SONATA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 9, 1997 THROUGH APRIL 24, 1998. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER COULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF IT IS CRACKED, A NEW FUEL TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP THAT DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. NOTE: THE 1997-1998 SONATA FUEL TANKS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED CRACKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE FOR THE CRACKING HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS PORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN AFTER HYUNDAI HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V026000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 1997-02-26 (February 26, 1997)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗