2000 Hyundai Sonata

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Structure is the leading concern among 278 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 278

Of the 2000 reports, 20 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 15 people were injured.

Primary concernStructure110 reports · 40% of complaints
Owner complaints278Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Structure110
  2. Suspension63
  3. Air bags43
  4. Electrical system36
  5. Engine and engine cooling31
  6. Power train19
  7. Service brakes12
  8. Hydraulic10

Recalls and investigations

  1. SuspensionApr 16, 2009

    HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 188,282 MY 2001-2004 SONATA AND MY 2001-2004 XG300 AND XG350 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT IN THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL. THE CORROSION IS FREQUENTLY VISIBLE AND OFTEN DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND OWNERS MAY ALSO HEAR NOISES OR NOTICE TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. IF THESE SIGNALS ARE UNDETECTED OR UNHEEDED, THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY DETACH FROM THE SUB-FRAME.

    IF THAT HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND THE FRONT WHEEL MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FENDER OR WHEEL WELL, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME FOR CORROSION DAMAGE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW SUB-FRAME THAT INCORPORATES ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME DOES NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE SUB-FRAME AND WILL TREAT THE SUB-FRAME WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO STOP THE CORROSION PROCESS. THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

    Campaign 09V124000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Air bags, side/windowApr 9, 2002

    ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION THAT LEADS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION COULD RESULT FROM MOTION OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WHICH MOUNT TO THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND COULD PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR.

    NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL MORE SECURELY FASTEN THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESSES AND CONNECTORS TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT CUSHION FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

    Campaign 02V105000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Air bagsNov 6, 2001

    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COULD ILLUMINATE DUE TO MOTION OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR THAT MOUNT TO THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG(S).

    THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT WHERE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS INTENDED.

    DEALERS WILL MORE SECURELY FASTEN THE FRONT SEAT SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTORS TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SEAT CUSHION FRAMES. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL OCCUR IN SIX MAILINGS ON MAY 27, JUNE 3, JUNE 10, JUNE 17, JUNE 24, AND JULY 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

    Campaign 01V347000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Electrical system, wiringSep 11, 2000

    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED TO THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

    THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

    Campaign 00V259001 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: engine and engine cooling

31 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Sep 25, 2001

    VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND THEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT/ AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

  2. Engine and engine cooling, May 15, 2001

    CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 00V259001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 039. DEALER LCORRECTED RECALL PROBLEMS. BUT, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

  3. Engine and engine cooling, Apr 16, 2001

    RECALL 00 V 259 001/ENGINE STALLING: ENGINE STALLING AT LOW SPEED OF 5-20 MPH WHILE APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION OR WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS RESTARTED AFTER EACH INCIDENT. WAITING ON DEALER APPOINTMENT. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

  4. Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Structure, Seats, Feb 12, 2001

    VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES FOR STALLING, RECALL ON STALLING PERFORMED NOVEMBER 2000. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMNITTENTLY AT STOP SIGN, RED LIGHTS, LOW SPEED DRIVING, WHILE BACKING OUT AND ON HIGHWAYS, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, EVEN WITH RECALL 00V259001 REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS NOT FIXED, DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE AIR FLOW SENSOR CONNECTION, PURGE VALVE (ON 6 OCCASIONS), TPS SENSOR AND EXTENSION, AND OTHER SENSOR ASSEMBLIES. LUMBAR SUPPORT WOULD NOT HOLD, DEALER REPLACED. TRUNK WOULD NOT STAY OPEN ON INCLINE. *SLC

  5. Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 1, 2000

    VEHICLE STALLS WHEN LOW IN A GEAR, SOUNDS AS IF IT IS A VIBRATION PROBLEM RELATED TO MAP SENSOR AS RECALLED ON THE 2.6L SONATA AND THE ELANTRA MODELS. *AK

  6. Engine and engine cooling, Aug 25, 2000

    ENGINE LOSSES POWER AND SOMETIMES STOPS. DIFFICULTY TURNING ON POWER