2001 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 219 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 28 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 21 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
Representative owner complaints: air bags
47 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Aug 14, 2005
AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON WITHOUT REASON WHILE DRIVING. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL CAR IS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. EVEN WHEN RESET, AIRBAG SOMETIMES GOES BACK ON WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS OF BEING FIXED. CAR HAS BEEN IN TO DEALER 9 TIMES IN 3 YEARS FOR AIR BAG RELATED PROBLEMS. THE LAST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT IN THE DEALER SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $464 FOR A NEW PPD SENSOR. WE ARE NOT WILLING TO INCUR THIS COST WITH THE HISTORY OF FOLLOW-UP FAILURE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED. *NM
Air bags, May 26, 2005
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING. *AK THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 01V347000). *NM
Air bags, Apr 15, 2005
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD, 3RD OCCURRENCE. DEALER TROUBLESHOOTING INDICATED PASSENGER AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT (NOT RELATED TO PREVIOUS LIGHTS). OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE BY 2,269 MILES. I BELIEVE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER THIS DEFECT. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IF NOT CORRECTED AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY. DEALER WILL NOT DISABLE THE SYSTEM OR TELL ME HOW TO DO SO. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT.*AK
Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Feb 15, 2005
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER RESET BOTH SYSTEMS ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS ,BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Air bags, Nov 3, 2004
RECEIVED RECALL FOR SONATA AIRBAG. AFTER REPAIRS, LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, DEALER REFUSE TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *BF THERE WERE CONTINUOUS AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION. RECALL#01V347000. *SC
Electrical system, Air bags, Oct 27, 2004
RECALL 02V105000, AFTER IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THE DEFECT RECURRED. 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.*AK CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICES RENDERED AND THE HARSH TREATMENT RECEIVED. *TC
Steering, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Electric, Equipment, Jun 28, 2004, crash
I HEARD A REPETITIVE CLICKING SOUND AND TURNED MY RADIO OFF TO LISTEN. THE NOISE DIDN'T CHANGE WHEN I SLOWED DOWN AND I RESUMED MY NORMAL SPEED OF 60 MPH. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR SLOWLY & GRADUALLY BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT ALL AND WAS MOVING INTO THE SHOULDER AND MEDIAN BETWEEN THE HIGHWAYS. I TRIED TO APPLY MY BRAKES BUT THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING. I HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKES AND WAS HEADING TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT 60 MPH. I HIT THE END OF A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE! WE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM W/IT HESITATING WHEN IT TRIED TO SWITCH GEARS & THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIX. AND THE DRIVER WINDOW WOULD NOT STAY IN THE TRACK AND SHUT PROPERLY.*AK
Air bags, Mar 30, 2004
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. CURRENTLY, IT STAYS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. *AK
Air bags, Oct 20, 2003, crash
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. IT RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Air bags, Oct 15, 2003, crash
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND CITED THE CONSUMER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES . THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THIS COLLISION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK
Air bags, Mar 10, 2003
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON. *JB SCC
Air bags, Jan 6, 2003, crash
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 30 MPH HIT HER, AND THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH DEALERSHIP STATED AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 5 MPH. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. *TT
Air bags, Dec 16, 2002, crash
2001 HYUNDAI SONATA PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DUE TO CONNECTOR MOUNTED UNDER SEAT HAD JIGGLED LOOSE
Air bags, Aug 13, 2002, crash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. AIR BAG RECALL WAS DONE IN JUNE OF 2002.*AK
Air bags, Aug 12, 2002, crash
CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT HER. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Air bags, Aug 8, 2002, crash
PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL 02V15, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELLING 35 MPH STRUCK CONSUMER HEAD ON, THE SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER STATES AT NO TIME SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE HAS THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC *TS
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Jun 21, 2002, crash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35-40 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS STOPPING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLED THEN SUDDENLY IT SPED FORWARD, EVEN AS CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES. EVEN AFTER PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ON HI REV. THERE WAS ONE INJURY.*SCC
Air bags, May 23, 2002, crash
HAD REPORTED THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON TO MY DEALER. THEY "ADJUSTED WIRES" TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF. THE ENTIRE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON PHONE CALL TO DEALER, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A "ONGOING" PROBLEM WITH SONATA'S.*JB
Air bags, Apr 15, 2002, crash
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH AN DWITHOUT WARNING WA SINVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLAR DAMAGE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.*AIK
Air bags, Apr 15, 2002
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND STAYING ON FOR A WHILE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 1, 2001
DEALERSHIP STATES BRAKES ARE NORMAL. THEY SAID ALL HYUNDAI CAR BRAKES MAKES NOISE; WORKED ON AIR BAG LIGHT - STATED IT WAS ON DUE TO SOMEONE GIVING A JUMP IN MY CAR, LIGHT CAME BACK ON 3 DAYS LATER; CHANGED A SWITCH WHICH WAS CAUSING NO ACCERALATION, CAR STILL NOT GETTING THE ACCERATION IT SHOULD. NOW I'M GETTING SOME HUMMING NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD SOMEWHERE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR 8 MONTH. IT IS A LEMON AND JACOBS TWIN CONTINUES TO PUT A BAND-AID ON A PATIENT BLEEDING TO DEATH.*AK
Air bags, Jul 6, 2001, crash
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WAS STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT HEAD-ON FIRST. UPON IMPACT, NONE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK