RoadVitals

2004 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Sep 19, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 202 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 19, 2023

UNKNOWN, I recently purchased it from a dealership in Lemon Grove Cailfornia. Ever since I bought it,it has never had a catalytic converter and only one muffler. It is a 2.7L motor DOHC and requires 2 catalytic converters and dual exhaust due to the double overhead cam. It has cause motor oil into my engine block and has coughed my heater core. Also blown head gasket. I have hired certified ASE mechanics to replace parts and then I run into another problem.

NHTSA ID
11545320
Incident
Aug 25, 2023
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 27, 2019

LEAKING VALVE COVER IS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK DOWN ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. CAR CAN BE STATIONARY OR RUNNING. MOST NOTABLE WHEN CAR ENGINE IS RUNNING. OIL LEAKING ONTO ALTERNATOR CAN CAUSE ALTERNATOR TO SHORT. ALTERNATOR FAILED AND CAR BATTERY COULD NOT CHARGE BATTERY. CAR DIED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE HAD TO PULL QUICKLY OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11182857
Incident
Feb 27, 2019
Body & structureEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 26, 2015

TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC FOR FUEL PUMP WORK. HE INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR AND IS UN-SAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND THE RECALL ONLINE AND CALLED HYUNDAI. THEY INFORMED ME THAT REMEDIATION HAD BEEN DONE IN 2009. (A NEW HOLE FOR DRAINAGE HAD BEEN DRILLED IN THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME AND A SEALANT APPLIED). EVIDENTLY THIS DID NOT STOP THE CORROSION OF THE FRAME AND CAUSED A WEAKENING OF THE FRAME AND A CRACK IN THE STRUCTURAL AREA OF THE FRAME. IS HYUNDAI LIABLE TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT? I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES OF THE DEFECT AND CRACK IN FRAME IF NECESSARY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10679022
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 2014

THE CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED AND STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 6 MONTHS LATER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574627
Incident
Sep 23, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 27, 2013
Crash reported

BACKING INTO THE GARAGE, MY FOOT ON BRAKE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED TO HIGH RPM, THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS, PROPELLING A HEAVY RUBBER MAT ON WHICH THE CAR IS NORMALLY PARKED OUT OF THE GARAGE AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN IMPACTED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE REAR GARAGE WALL BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I MANAGED TO PRY THE GEAR LEVER OUT OF REVERSE, HIT DRIVE INSTEAD AND SENT THE CAR, WHEELS STILL SPINNING AND LAYING DOWN RUBBER, FORWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE. ON ITS WAY OUT THE CAR SWIPED ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE THE GARAGE DOOR POST BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO A STOP IN THE DRIVEWAY. FINAL RESULT, SERIOUS DAMAGE TO BOTH THE CAR AND THE GARAGE. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT OCCUR IN TRAFFIC OR WITH PEDESTRIANS IN THE AREA. ON-LINE RESEARCH HAS SINCE SHOWN ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS WHERE HYUNDAI SONATAS HAVE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON THEIR OWN. SEE HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/HYUNDAI/SONATA/CAR-ACCELERATES-ON-ITS-OWN-PROBLEMS.PHP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504759
Incident
Mar 5, 2013
Mileage
85,000 mi
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Mar 9, 2013

THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE (DUE TO CORROSION); THE RESULT OF THIS BROKE THE RIGHT FRONT HALF AXLE, AND DETROYED RIGHT FRONT TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10502166
Incident
Mar 8, 2013
Mileage
131,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2010

2004 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS DIES RANDOMLY WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR TURNING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THEN STARTS RIGHT UP AND MAY NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR A MONTH OR A FEW DAYS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND VEHICLE RUNS GREAT BESIDES DYING IN TRAFFIC WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348606
Incident
Aug 9, 2010
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2008

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA AT LOW SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS SPACE FOR ME TO PULL TO THE CURB AND NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF TRYING THE CAR STARTED UP AND I DROVE IT HOME. THREE DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON A BUSY STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH. AGAIN I WAS FORTUNATE AND COULD PULL TO THE CURB. THIS TIME I COULD NOT START IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A "DEFECTIVE EVAP. SOLENOID THAT WAS CAUSING ENGINE FLOODING." THIS WAS A VERY SCARY OCCURRENCE--IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER (DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND MY SUDDEN SLOWING COULD CAUSE REAR-END CRASH. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10252206
Incident
Dec 17, 2008
Mileage
44,100 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 25, 2008

2004 HYNDAI SONATA STALLS ON HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246690
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS. WHEN IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME HE ATTEMPTED THREE TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OVER. THE SECOND TIME THE KEY REMAINED IN THE IGNITION FOR FOUR MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10143766
Incident
Nov 14, 2005
Mileage
26,500 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .