1990 Hyundai Sonata Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 Hyundai Sonata, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission729.2%
- Seat belts312.5%
- Visibility312.5%
- Electrical312.5%
- Interior & seats28.3%
- Brakes28.3%
- Fuel system14.2%
- Heating & air conditioning14.2%
- Driver assistance14.2%
- Body & structure14.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 YOU ON 10/11/96 (REF NO. 803454). TO DATE I HAVE RECEIVED NO OTHER RESPONSE. *AK
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. THROUGH LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS THIS VEHICLE HAS NEEDED THREE TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE MOST RECENT TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE COST OF THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHOULDER BELT ON BOTH SIDES BROKE.
MOTOR BELT FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DOOR HANDLES WERE BROKE.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT CAN BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND CANNOT LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE KEY. THE REAR WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS THE ONLY WINDOW WORKING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 YOU ON 10/11/96 (REF NO. 803454). TO DATE I HAVE RECEIVED NO OTHER RESPONSE. *AK
THE CONSUMER IS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE; ALSO, GEARSHIFT CAN BE MOVED OUT OF PARK WHEN KEY IS NOT INSERTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT CAN BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND CANNOT LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE KEY. THE REAR WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS THE ONLY WINDOW WORKING. *AK
STOPS DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND IT WILL NOT START UP AGAIN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. TT
STOPS DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND IT WILL NOT START UP AGAIN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
STOPS DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND IT WILL NOT START UP AGAIN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN MAKING A STOP CONSUMER APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DOOR HANDLES WERE BROKE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .