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
278 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jun 29, 2000
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS SLAMMED SHUT.DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
Seat belts, May 18, 2000
WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. PRIOR TO PURCHASE WE NOTICED THAT MY SON, WHO WEIGHS 350 LBS. COULD NOT GET EITHER OF THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS TO LATCH AND THE ONLY WAY THE FRONT SEAT BELT WOULD LATCH IS IF THE SEAT WAS TILTED BACK AND SLIDE ALL THE WAY BACK, EVEN AT THAT THE SEAT /SHOULDER HARNESS WOULD PRESS DEEPLY INTO HIS BODY MAKING IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. WE ASKED IF FACTORY SEAT BELT EXTENSIONS WERE AVAILABLE. THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT HAD THEM BUT THEY WERE CLOSED (WE BOUGHT THE CAR ON A SATURADY AFTERNOON). THEY SAID WE COULD PICK THEM UP ON MONDAY. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER ON MONDAY AND WERE TOLD THAT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE THEM AND WOULD HAVE TO GET THEM FROM HYUNDAI. WE AGAIN CONTACTED THE DEALER ON TUESDAY AND THEY SAID THAT HYUNDAI NO LONGER PROVIDED SEAT BELT EXTENSIONS BECAUSE OF NUMEREOUS LIABILITIES SUITS THAT HAVE BEEN FILE DUE TO THEIR FAILURE. THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD RESEARCH OTHER AVENUES. ON 5/17/00 WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WOULD HAVE A TRIM SHOP TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WE NEEDED TO CALL THEM TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. IN DISCUSSIONS WITH MY WIFE, THE TRIM SHOP STATED THAT THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE THAT THEY COULD MATCH THE COLOR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THEY WERE PLANNED TO SPLICE A PIECE OF SEAT BELT MATERIAL INTO THE EXSITING SEAT BELT. I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT, WHAT WAS PRESENTED AS "A FIX" WAS NEITHER SAFE OR ACCEPTABLE. ON 5/18/00 THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE "RESEARCHED ALL KNOWN SOURCES" AND THEIR WAS NOTHING FURTURE THAT THEY COULD (WOULD) DO. THE DEALER IS WILL TO GIVE US OUR TRADE BACK AND CANCEL THE DEAL, BUT AS I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER, I BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI HAS A LEGAL RESPONSIBLITY TO PROVIDE FUNTIONING SEAT BELTS FOR ALL OCCUPANTS OR THEY SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO MAKET AND SELL CARS IN THE U.S.A.. AS A RESULT MY WIFE HAS NOWAY TO TRANPORT OUR DISABLED SON. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US? *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Mar 14, 2000, crash
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY, AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. ALSO, AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE HEAD RESTRAINT WHICH FLEW INTO THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK