RoadVitals

1996 Hyundai Sonata

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest Apr 10, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 26, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
0 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Hyundai Sonata, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 41 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine617.1%
  • Electrical514.3%
  • Transmission514.3%
  • Brakes38.6%
  • Airbags38.6%
  • Visibility25.7%
  • Body & structure25.7%
  • Heating & air conditioning25.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V026000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

Feb 26, 1997
74,965 units potentially affected
The defect: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
The risk: 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.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 23
Airbags
Filed Apr 10, 2002
1 death reported

A CONSUMER?S FIVE YEAR STEP DAUGHTER WAS KILLED BY THE AIR BAG THAT DEPLOYED IN A 5 MPH COLLISION ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE, THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN IN BY CLARENCE DITLOW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, 202-328-7700, 1825 CONNECTICUT AVE NW, STE 330, WASHINGTON, DC 20009. *YH

NHTSA ID
564991
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006183
Incident
Mar 19, 2002
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2001

MY ENGINE QUITE AT A LIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. IT HAD BEEN ABOUT 4,000 MILES SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
748941
Incident
Jul 20, 2001
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 5, 2001

CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL REPAIR 97V-026 FOR THE INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

NHTSA ID
559404
Incident
Jan 24, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 2, 2001

DOOR LOCK WOULD KEEP LOCKING ON ITS OWN. WHEN EITHER IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE LOCKS WOULD EITHER KEEP DRIVER/PASSENGER IN/OR LOCKED OUT. HAD DOOR LOCKS REPAIRED 5 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM KEEPS REAPPEARING. MECHANIC INDICATED TO BRING IT IN WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IT'S NOT RESOLVED. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
877269
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Transmission+1 more
Filed Jul 27, 2000

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION STOPPED CHANGING GEARS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE, AND LOSING ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. ALSO, HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. *AK AXLE BROKE , DEFROST MALFUNCTIONS AND CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID
866162
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jun 5, 2000

CAR WANTS TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFIC LIGHT .NEW TRANSMISSION IN CAR . PROBLEM STILL APPEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
723623
Incident
Jun 15, 1998
ElectricalSteering
Filed Oct 21, 1999

THE POWER-STEERING PUMP S LEAKING DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR, AND SHORTING IT OUT. DEALER LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES AND REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE GOING INTO THE PUMP, AS WELL AS THE CRUSH WASHERS. THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE AGAIN, AND IT OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEREFORE WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE MORE TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I, THE OWNER, BUILT A GUARD OVER THE ALTERNATOR TO PREVENT THE FLUID FROM LEAKING INTO THE ALTERNATOR. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS, BUT IT TOOK THE ENGINEERING OF MYSELF TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
713643
Incident
Mar 12, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

23-BD-002H

VISIBILITY

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.

21-EM-003H

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT

This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below.

20-BR-002H

SERVICE BRAKES

This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area.

20-SS-004H

TIRES; WHEELS

This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the “Tire Balance Data Sheet” must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) data. The Data Sheet can be found at the end of this bulletin.

20-BD-014H

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes, or during normal driving operation.

20-SS-002H(1)

TIRES; WHEELS

This bulletin provides information on tire maintenance best practices and procedures for dealers and customers to maximize tire life and performance.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Hyundai Sonata by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026210—
2025150036.9
2024431047.2
2023852054.5
2022913058.3
20211274164.0
20201704160.0
20191560256.7
20183661257.9
20177613364.3
20167206468.1
20151,1379469.1
20147427768.1
20131,9029969.4
20121,5568766.6
20113,37214863.6
20103452356.5
20094602357.4
20084255459.3
20076967559.0
20061,04711559.2
20051651045.6
20042021152.1
20031996364.9
20023197465.7
20012053259.9
20002764259.4
19991244361.4
1998491040.2
1997492050.1
1996Viewing231036.9
1995662054.0
1994310—
1993261036.4
1992221147.5
1991291257.2
1990163247.4
1989113263.4
1988001—
1987101—
1986001—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.