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.
Of the 2000 reports, 20 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 15 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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
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: suspension
63 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Structure, Jun 17, 2008
MY SON WAS GETTING ON THE ON RAMP TO I-35 TURNING TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS GOING ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE CAR MADE A NOISE AND STARTED GRINDING. HE PULLED IT OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALLED ME. I CALLED MY OTHER SON WHO IS A MECHANIC TO GO AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, HE SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A BEARING HAD WORN OUT AND CAME APART AND IT NEEDED TOWED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A TRUSTED SERVICE STATION THAT PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND SAID THE FRONT SUBFRAME/CROSSMEMBER HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE CONTROL ARM AND CV AXLE TO COME APART. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WELL OUR CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE SERVICE STATION FOR EIGHT MONTHS WAITING FOR A USED SUBFRAME THAT ISN'T RUSTED THROUGH. THEY THE SERVICE STATION HAS ORDERED 4 USED SUBFRAMES AND ALL HAVE BEEN RUSTED THROUGH. MY BROTHER RUNS A BODY SHOP IN N.C. AND HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ONE FOR US AND CANT FIND ANY THAT AREN'T RUSTED. SUPPOSEDLY AS SOON AS THERE IS ONE THAT ISN'T RUSTED ITS SENT TO "THE SALT BELT" FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR A CAR THAT SHOULD NOT NEED IT. OUR FAMILY HAS 2 CARS ONE 13 YEARS OLDER THAN THIS SONATA AND ONE 16 YEARS OLDER THAN THIS SONATA. THEIR FRAMES AREN'T RUSTED THROUGH BOTH HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE SALT AND SNOW MORE THAN THIS SONATA. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THIS PART SHOULD BE THE LAST THING TO RUST THROUGH ON A CAR. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS HYUNDAI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. HYUNDAI WANTS 13 HUNDRED DOLLARS JUST FOR THE SUBFRAME AND ITS ABOUT THE SAME FOR LABOR. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR
Suspension, Structure, Jun 10, 2008
SUSPENSION SYSTEM SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ON RIGHT SIDE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN PARKING LOT IN FAIRFAX, VA. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO BE TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT TIE ROD AND ENGINE CRADLE DAMAGED. I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING DURING A RECENT THUNDERSTORM WHEN TREE BRANCHES FELL, BUT NOW I KNOW OTHERWISE. HAVE READ REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF NUMEROUS INCIDENCES LIKE THIS ONE. I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE ROAD. *TR
Suspension, Structure, Sep 30, 2007
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A NEWLY PAVED ACCESS ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, THE CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE OF MY ROTTED/RUSTED OUT SUBFRAME. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AND BRAKE WORK AND NO PROBLEM WAS DETECTED WITH THE RUSTED SUBFRAME. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SEIZED UP AS THE WHEEL SLAMMED INTO THE WHEEL HOUSING AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP AND WAS IMMOBILIZED. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP AND I AM CONTACTING HYUNDAI DIRECTLY REGARDING THE UNLIKELY FACT THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL BE INCREASING DRAMATICALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS THE HYUNDAI SONATA'S 1999-2001 CONTINUE TO AGE. I HAVE NOTED AT LEAST A DOZEN INSTANCES OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ALMOST ALL INSTANCES APPEAR TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Suspension, Dec 5, 2006
WHILE DRIVING APPROX 30 MPH MY FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE FENDER, BRING ME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. ONCE I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WE FOUND THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THAT THE CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF OF THE SUB FRAME. I HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE SUBFRAME ON THIS 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH ONLY 77000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Suspension, Aug 4, 2005, crash
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 55 MPH SUDDENLY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR SPUN AROUND AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL AND STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT WAS TOWED TO PEP BOYS FOR REPAIRS, SERVICEMAN NOTED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF. NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED, NOTED THIS WAS RARE. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT PEP BOYS FOR REPAIRS. CONTACTED HYUNDAI , WHO CLAIMED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THAT CAR AND THEY COULD NOT HELP.*AK
Suspension, Jun 28, 2004
NOTICED WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM REAR PASSENGER TIRES. WHEN BRAKES AND TIRES CHECKED FOUND REAR BEARINGS WENT OUT. CAR IS NOW IMMOBILE.*AK
Suspension, Jun 8, 2004
REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT ON VEHICLE AND NOW FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT. REAR BEARINGS REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE REFUSAL OF REPAIR OF FRONT DUE TO WARRANTY EXPIRED. VEHICLE HAS INCURRED ALL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED ON THIS SITE SINCE PURCHASED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. HISTORY OF VEHICLE AVAILABLE.*AK
Suspension, Apr 28, 2004
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATED. FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR VEHICLE ONCE BEFORE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Suspension, Apr 8, 2003
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. *JB
Suspension, Apr 4, 2003
THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING THE REAR WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *JB
Suspension, Electrical system, Visibility, Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2002
THE PAINT ON THE CAR HAS COME OFF GOING THROUGH THE CAR WASH. THE FRONT END SQUEAKS. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR STOPPED WORKING. THE RADIO TURNS OFF/ON AT RANDOM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON/OFF AT RANDOM. DT
Suspension, Jul 20, 2002
THIS CAR WAS WRECKED PRIOR TO PURCHASE I WAS JUST TOLD THIS AFTER HAVING REPORTED THAT THE CAR HAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. THEY DID REPAIRS TO REAR WHEELS, FRONT END ALIGNMENT, CAR CONTINUES TO PULL AND HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, I WAS NOT INFORMED I PURCHASED A PREVIOUSLY WRECKED CAR OR I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE TO GO OR WHAT TO DO BUT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. I NEED SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED. JUST HAD A 30,000 SERVICE AND ASKED WHY CAR CAN'T BE FIXED WAS TOLD IT HAS BEEN WRECKED AND FRAME IS BENT, IT CANNOT BE FIXED. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO. THANK YOU WANDA KING. *AK
Suspension, Jun 1, 2002
FROM 10 MPH TO STOP VERY BAD SCREACHING SOUND COMMING FROM REAR OF CAR. DEALER SAY'S NORMAL BUT DOES IT EVERY TIME YOU STOP JUST CAN'T BE . JUST CAN'T. *AK