2002 Hyundai Sonata Owner Complaints

I purchased a 2002 Hyundai Sonata from a private seller who represented the car had about 40,000–45,000 miles. However, diagnostics from O’Reilly Auto Parts showed 278,000 miles, and Hyundai’s system confirmed over 302,000 miles. The title is marked “mileage exempt,” and the seller is not the same person listed on the title, suggesting title jumping. I have repair invoices, diagnostic records, and screenshots of the original advertisement. I believe this constitutes odometer tampering and misrepresentation.

NHTSA ID

11686374

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at a slow speed, the sub frame snapped and fractured the axle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed that the part had been discontinued. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the part had been discontinued. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11681942

Incident

Aug 6, 2025

Mileage

86,000 mi

The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and slowing for a right turn, the contact heard an abnormal popping sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact was in the middle of the turn when the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the engine was still running, but the vehicle was not responding as needed. The contact turned off the vehicle and observed that the passenger’s side control arm had detached and fallen onto the street. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the entire front end was extremely corroded. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 204,000.

NHTSA ID

11610010

Incident

Aug 5, 2024

Mileage

204,000 mi

The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and made abnormal sounds. The vehicle then lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

NHTSA ID

11484038

Incident

Sep 11, 2022

Mileage

145,000 mi

Made right hand turn passenger wheel cocked dead stop. When checked out was told sub frame rust apart on passenger side.

NHTSA ID

11419507

Incident

May 29, 2021

YOU DID A RECALL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO ON THE CHROME ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES PEELING OFF AND BEING HAZARDOUS. NOW THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THE CHROME ON THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE. IT IS VERY SHARP AND HAS MADE MINOR CUTS TO THE RIGHT HAND WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS THE CHROME KEEPS PEELING OFF A LITTLE AT A TIME.

NHTSA ID

11397968

Incident

Mar 10, 2020

Mileage

148,000 mi

ON NOVEMBER 30, 2020 AFTER SHOPPING IN FOOD STORE, STARTING THE CAT AND COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND DRIVING THE CAR FORWARD, I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. STOP & OPEN THE FRONT HOOD AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE AIR FILTER HOUSING AND STARTED TO BURN. SOMEBODY HELPED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE CAR WAS RUNNING HOOD AND MY DAILY DRIVER BEFORE THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11384081

Incident

Nov 30, 2020

Mileage

77,000 mi

REAR SUBFRAME RUSTED AWAY AND TRAILING ARMS BOTH FELL OFF. WAS TRAVELING AND WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN THE RIGHT TRAILING ARM BROKE OFF AND INSTANTLY MADE THE CAR ALMOST SWERVE OFF THE ROAD. I CONTINUED HOME A BLOCK FURTHER AND LOOKED TO SEE THE DAMAGE. RIGHT SIDE TRAILING ARM COMPLETELY DETACHED AND THE LEFT SIDE BARELY HANGING ON. SENT TO HYUNDAI TO HAVE LOOKED AT AND GIVEN A QUOTE. NOTHING YET...

NHTSA ID

11365401

Incident

Aug 31, 2020

Mileage

179,000 mi

MY ROOMMATE GOT INTO A T BONE TYPE ACCIDENT SHE WAS GOING AT LEAST 25MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT IT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO RIP THE CORE SUPPORT OFF, WE HAVE PICTURES. SHE DID NOT TAKE THE AMBULANCE BUT SHE'S WILL PROBABLY GO TO THE ER LATER

NHTSA ID

11318645

Incident

Mar 17, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE FAILED AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TOWED TO MALLOY HYUNDAI (1880 OPITZ BLVD, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191, (703) 490-8170) FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THE RESULTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11245544

Incident

Aug 20, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

GAS TANK WILL NOT NORMALLY ACCEPT GAS AND CLICKS OFF EVERY 5 CENTS WORTH THAT IS PUMPED. AFTER 3 GALLONS AND 15 MINUTES LATER, THE TANK SPITS OUT THE GAS. THIS PROBLEM IS SO CHRONIC THE ATTENDANTS AT COSTCO GAS TOLD ME MANY SONATAS HAVE THIS ISSUE. RECALL OR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT?

NHTSA ID

11161232

Incident

Dec 8, 2018

Mileage

171,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA AND HAD IT INSPECTED IN PENNSYLVANIA, THE VEHICLE FAILS DUE TO ROTTED/RUSTED OUT FRONT SUBFRAME, THIS COMPONENT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 09V124000, MANUFACTURER CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 089 HOWEVER HYUNDAI SAID IT WAS INSPECTED AND RECALL WAS CLOSED.

NHTSA ID

11130762

Incident

Sep 17, 2018

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE FELL THROUGH THE CRADLE ASSEMBLY AND CRUSHED THE AXLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOT OF SQUEAKING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING TURNS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11115133

Incident

Jul 30, 2018

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED LANCASTER HYUNDAI AT (866) 528-2534 (LOCATED AT 5260 MAIN ST, EAST PETERSBURG, PA 17520) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,028.

NHTSA ID

11110235

Incident

Jul 6, 2018

Mileage

127,028 mi

PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF ALL THE DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2001 SONATA GOLD COLOR. WHEN IT WAS ONLY HAPPENING ON ONE DOOR, MY DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT THERE PROBLEM. NOW THAT IT IS HAPPENING ON ALL OF THEM, IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT IT IS A DEFECT. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND COULD THEY GET IT RESOLVED?

NHTSA ID

11098032

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION OCCURRED ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME. THE RUST WENT THROUGH THE FRONT SUBFRAME, CAUSING IT TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY CHECKERED FLAG HYUNDAI (3033 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452, (757) 687-3462) FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER HAD TO DISASSEMBLE THE VEHICLE. OTHER PARTS WERE DAMAGED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED PARTS AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY SERVICE THE RECALL, WHICH WAS COMPLETED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V317000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TWO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE PARTS WERE DAMAGED FROM THE COMPLETION OF THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DAMAGED PARTS, STATING THAT THE DEALER PROVIDED THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER EXPECTED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,724.

NHTSA ID

11061504

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

94,724 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING, THE SUN VISOR INADVERTENTLY FELL AND BLOCKED THE CONTACT'S VIEW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR FAILED TO STAY UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BLAISE ALEXANDER HYUNDAI (1703 W COLLEGE AVE, STATE COLLEGE, PA 16801, (814) 234-2886) COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE SUN VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11056056

Incident

Oct 15, 2017

Mileage

79,000 mi

I HAVE A HYUNDAI SONATA. ITS 2002 WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST TIME IT GAVE ME TROUBLE, IT WAS MAKING A GRINDING SOUND WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THE MECHANIC CHANGED MY CALIBER ON ONE SIDE OF THE CAR AND REPLACED MY HOSES. NEXT MONTH SAME SOUND STARTED AGAIN. MY MECHANIC CHANGED THE OTHER CALIBER. SIX MONTHS LATER. I STARTED HEARING THAT SAME SOUND AND THE BRAKES STARTED LOCKING. THE MECHANIC DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER, I LOST MY BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC.I WAS TOLD I DAMAGED THE MASTER CYLINDER. HE PUT ALL NEW PARTS IN MY CAR (BRAKE SHOES,PADS, CALIBERS, MASTER CYLINDER, ETC.) AND TESTED IT. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING ON I-10, IT STARTED LOCKING UP AGAIN. IT HAS BAFFLED MY MECHANIC. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1500.00 ON REPAIRS OF THESE BRAKES,NOT TO MENTION THE RENTAL FEES OF CARS FOR TRANSPORTATION. THERE MUST BE AN ANSWER TO WHAT IS CAUSING MY BRAKES TO NO FUNCTION PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11019523

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

55 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT SHIELD FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION, AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO GROSSINGER HYUNDAI OF PALATINE (221 E LAKE COOK RD, PALATINE, IL 60074 (847) 348-6700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED, NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.

NHTSA ID

11016028

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

165,000 mi

RECALL #089 FROM 2009 / FAIRFIELD SUPERIOR HYUNDAI REPORTED THAT THE OWNER HAD THIS "SUB-FRAME" CORROSION TAKEN CARE OF AND IT WAS NOT - OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AT CURRENT ADDRESS SINCE 2004- OWNER (ME) WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER CERTIFIED MECHANIC BEFORE MAJOR BRAKE WORK WAS PERFORMED -

NHTSA ID

11003007

Incident

Jul 3, 2017

I HAD REPORTED MY VEHICLE STOLEN SINCE JAN OF 2017 BUT THE EL PASO, TX SAID I COULDN'T ACTUALLY REPORT IT STOLEN SINCE I KNEW WHO TOOK IT HOWEVER AFTER THAT MONTH PASSED I COULDN'T LOCATE MY VEHICLE AND I'VE CALLED EVERY WHERE IN NM WHERE IT WAS TAKEN AND NOT ONE AGENCY HAD INFORMATION IF MY VEHICLES WHERE ABOUTS NOW I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SOMETIME LAST YEAR FOR MY SON AND GETTING THINGS FIXED BEFORE BEING FINANCIALLY ABLE TO GET REGISTERED UNDER HIS OR MY NAME I CURRENTLY STILL OBTAIN THE ORIGINAL TITLE AND REGISTRATION DOCS AND CAN ALSO PROVIDE A NOTORIZED LETTER FROM MY EX'S AUNT WHO SOLD IT TO US I ALSO HAD DOWNLOADED SEVERAL APPS IN REGARDS TO BEING ABLE TO LOCATE MY VEHICLE AND MONTHS LATER I TYPED IN THE VIN AND MY VEHICLE POPS UP REGISTERED TO A JORGE SCOTT IN EL PASO AND I'M AT A LOSS OF WORDS WONDERING HOW HE GAINED ACCESS TO MY VEHICLE AND WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE IN REGARDS TO RECOVERY IT I CAN BE CONTACTED [XXX]/ [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

10981406

Incident

Jan 26, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BUCKLED AND ENDED UP UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE UPPER CONTROL ARM RUSTED IN HALF, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000.

NHTSA ID

10950378

Incident

Feb 7, 2017

Mileage

260,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT THE DRIVER STEERING IN THOSE DIRECTIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10936711

Incident

Dec 12, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

SEVERE CRACK IN THE REAR SUBFRAME WHICH IS CORRODED AND RUSTED THROUGHOUT. THE REAR TIRE IS STICKING OUT AND THE CAR SWERVES AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10934511

Incident

Dec 9, 2016

Mileage

180,000 mi

CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME. EA08016 FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION. YOU ISSUED A RECALL FOR "SALT-BELT" STATES, I LIVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WITH THE SAME SALT ISSUE AS DC AND WEST VIRGINIA.

NHTSA ID

10907172

Incident

Sep 15, 2016