RoadVitals

1997 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.
49
Latest May 6, 2014
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.
2
Latest Oct 2, 2000
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.
6
3 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 49 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Hyundai Sonata, most frequently naming the fuel system, transmission and airbags categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 47 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

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

2 campaigns 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
00V314001

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Oct 2, 2000
66,086 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The 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.
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYView 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 49
Visibility
Filed May 6, 2014

FAILURE/BREAKAGE OF PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR AS ADDRESSED IN HYUNDAI TSB 09-01-003 NHTSA ID:10028945 RESULTING IN VISOR BEING UNABLE TO STAY IN POSITION BLOCKING VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586849
Incident
May 2, 2014
Mileage
64,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed 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 VEHICLE, BUT REGARDLESS OF WHO'S VEHICLE IT IS, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WHAT IT BASICALLY IS DOING IS WHEN IT REACHES A CERTAIN MILEAGE IT WILL BASICALLY "KICK/JERK/PUSH FORWARD" (FOR A LACK OF TERMS) WHEN IT REACHES 12 MPH AND 32 MPH AND I'M CERTAIN OF OTHERS BUT MY MOTHER VIRTUALLY NEVER DRIVES ABOVE 45 MPH SO ANYTHING ABOVE THAT I'M UNCERTAIN OF. IT ALSO HAS A VERY HARD TIME ACCELERATING TO 20 MPH. ONCE IT'S ABOVE 20 MPH IT'S EASY AND ACCELERATES VERY FAST. MY MOTHER HAS NEARLY BEEN HIT TWICE DUE TO THIS INABILITY TO ACCELERATE AS FAST AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TOO HYUNDAI AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE SAYING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I TOOK IT TOO NUMEROUS DIFFERENT MECHANICS. I AM GETTING 3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS, SOMETHING IN THE FUEL/AIR LINE, ENGINE COMPUTER MODULE, AND TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THESE REPAIRS SO I HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THEM, BUT I AM THINKING THAT THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. THERE ARE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL ITEMS BEING REPORTED WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THIS. IF THIS IS AS NUMEROUS AS I'M SEEING ON HERE, YOU MAY WANT TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. ONCE IS A COINCIDENCE, 5 TIMES IS PHENOMENA, BUT OVER 20 TIMES IS AN EXPLICIT FAILURE BY THE COMPANY, NO MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS 30 DAYS OLD OR 30 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ID
10404763
Incident
May 1, 2010
Mileage
108,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 30, 2005

1997 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. LEAKING GAS FROM THE UPPER PART OF ON THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TANK IN THE YEAR 2001..AND MY CAR WAS FIXED, HOWEVER IT HAS REOCCURED (SAME PROBLEM). I TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL, DUE TO THE FACT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. I ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTUROR AND THEY WOULD ALSO NOT HONOR. THERE IS ALSO A DEFECT IN THE DOOR LOCK, NOT ALLOWING THE DOOR TO EVEN OPEN.

NHTSA ID
10127187
Incident
Jun 30, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Jun 4, 2005

RECALL # 00V314001 1997 HYUNDAI SONATA I HAD CALLED DEALER TO ASK OF RECALL THEY HAD INFORMED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES. AND THEY HAD SAID THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. MY QUESTION IS ARE THEY STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES. I AM LEAVING THE VIN # ALSO [XXX] PLEASE HELP THANKS. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10124186
Incident
May 29, 2005
Mileage
148,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 7, 2005

THE POWER LOCKS ARE DEFECTIVE, WHEN PLACING THE KEY INTO THE LOCK THE PASSENGER LOCK WOULD NOT OPEN, WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE ,THE LOCKING DEVICE WOULD NOT LIFT.

NHTSA ID
10113571
Incident
Mar 6, 2005
Mileage
86,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2004

RECALL 001V314001 CONCERNING FUEL TANK. AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS DONE CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE ODORS, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON FIVE SEPARATE TIMES BY THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE FOR THE NEXT REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090075
Incident
Nov 12, 2003
Mileage
128,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 27, 2004

RECALL 00V314001 CONCERNING FUEL TANK. AFTER REFILLING THE FUEL TANK CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. CONTACTED THE DEALER CONCERNING THIS RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089920
Incident
Jul 10, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 2, 2004

RECALL REGARDING GAS TANK PROBLEM.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. SHORTLY AFTER ALL THE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK LEAKED OUT. THE DEALER DID NOT SAVE THE TANK OR INSPECT IT FURTHER BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE. SOMETIME IN 2001 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL (00V-314001) REGARDING A GAS TANK PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10075630
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
Mileage
33,116 mi

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-AT-006H

POWER TRAIN

Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicle’s owner’s manual.  Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions.  Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced durability. Hyundai does not approve the use of any aftermarket ATF or gear oil additives.

21-EM-004H

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT

This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing. Perform the procedure outlined in this bulletin to fulfill the Bearing Clearance Test inspection requirements to determine next required steps.

21-BR-002H

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SERVICE BRAKES

This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.

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.

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
1997Viewing492050.1
1996231036.9
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.