2004 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Suspension is the leading concern among 202 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 22 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 32 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
Representative owner complaints
202 reports, newest first.
Steering, Mar 11, 2017
WHEN I DRIVE IN THE RAIN AND GO THROUGH STANDING WATER THE STEERING COLUMN FREEZES MAKING IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE.
Air bags, Jan 12, 2017, crash, fire
MY FOOT SLIDE OFF THE BREAK, AND HIT MY VAN IN THE BACK BUMPER IN MY DRIVEWAY AND TWO WEEKS LATER MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER WENT OFF. AT MY HOME, NO REPORTS, OR DAMAGE OTHER THEM CUT ON MY BUMPER DUE TO THE HAUL ON THE VAN.
Structure, Dec 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERE CORROSION AND PERFORATION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Suspension, Structure, Dec 6, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE RUST ON THE SUBFRAME. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER TOOK TOO LONG TO PROVIDE THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *TR
Suspension, Nov 16, 2016
THIS IS MY SECOND ATTEMPT SUBMITTING THE SAME COMPLAINT. THE HYUNDAI CORP HAS NOT FIXED MY CAR NOR GIVEN ME A LOANER NOR CONTACTED ME AND IT'S BEEN 3 MONTHS.
Structure, Oct 25, 2016
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE DUE TO RUST WHILE BEING DRIVEN. PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED TOW TRUCK. OPERATOR TOLD ME TO LOOK UP SONATA RECALLS BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE ONE. IT WAS RECALL # 09V124000. CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES IN TWO DAYS ALWAYS GOING TO ANSWERING MACHINE. THIRD DAY DROVE TO DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. TOW GUY SAID EVERY TIME IT IT WAS MOVED MORE DAMAGE WOULD BE DONE. HE DIDN'T WANT THE RESPONSIBILITY. DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T PICK IT UP. TOW GUY CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND HE BROUGHT IT THERE (8/20/16) FIVE DAYS AFTER THE BREAKDOWN. AFTER 5 DAYS SECOND DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A RECALL ITEM AND SAID TO CALL HYUNDAI AMERICA. BEGAN DISCUSSIONS WITH HYUNDAI AMERICA- MANY CALLS- AND AFTER OVER 60 DAYS THEY DECIDED IT WAS BETWEEN THE DEALERSHIP AND SOME OTHER DEPARTMENT OF HYUNDAI AMERICA AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. DEALERSHIP GAVE ME ANOTHER # TO CALL BUT THAT # HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF MY CASE. THE EXPENSE OF BEING WITHOUT THE CAR HAS BEEN QUITE DRAINING. CASE # WITH HYUNDAI AMERICA IS 9566309. I WOULD LIKE THE CAR COMPLETELY REPAIRED BUT CAN'T GET ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING. THANKS
Air bags, Oct 1, 2016
10-01-2016 AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON,WHILE STATIONARY AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING.
Suspension, Structure, Sep 26, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT AXLE TO FRACTURE AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT AXLE WAS CUT AWAY FROM THE SUBFRAME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I AM TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, IT WILL COST NEARLY 2300 DOLLARS SINCE THE PASSENGER SEAT MUST BE REPLACED
Suspension, Sep 16, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH FRONT CV AXLES WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS BENT AND RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Structure, Aug 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL CORROSION ON THE FRONT SUBFRAME AND THE SEAL WAS DETERIORATING. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL TO ADDRESS THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO REPAIR SOLUTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Steering, Suspension, Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2016
SEVERE CORROSION ON FRONT SUBFRAME. IT IS A RECALL BUT NO FEEDBACK FROM HYUNDAI. SALT BELT CORROSION (LAWSUIT) AGAIN NO FEEDBACK. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS , COULD RESULT IN INJURY
Structure, Aug 9, 2016
PAINT IS FALLING OFF AROUND THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS RARELY USED AND THIS IS THE WORST SIDE OF IT. VEHICLES ARE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE MULTIPLE COATS OF PAINT AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH MANY OF THE 2004 SONATA MODELS, I HAVE NOTICED MANY OF THE SAME MODEL CARS AROUND TOWN WITH PEELING PAINT AROUND THE DOOR HANDLES. THIS VEHICLE HAS BARELY OVER 100K MILES.
Air bags, Jul 5, 2016
MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING, THE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, UNTIL I TURN THE CAR OFF.
Air bags, May 22, 2016
AIR BAG LIKE ON
Air bags, Apr 9, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND CAN'T BE CLEARED.
Suspension, Mar 31, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Steering, Structure, Nov 22, 2015
FRONT SUB FRAME RUSTED. CRACK IN THE SUB FRAME NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. CAR HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. DANGER OF SUBFRAME BREAKING AND CONTROL ARM DISCONNECT.
Suspension, Nov 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2015
ENGINE CODE P0401 REPLACED EGR VALVE TWICE AND LIGHT IS STILL ILLUMINATED
Other or unspecified, Oct 20, 2015
EXTENSIVE UNDERCARRIAGE RUST AND CORROSION EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE LOOKS BRAND NEW ON BODY AND INTERIOR AND HAS <40,000 MILES. RUST HAS EXTENDED INTO BRAKES SUBMOUNTS. BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC IT MAY BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS LOWER CONTROL ARM OR BRAKE LINES COULD CORRODE THROUGH AND CAUSE COLLISION. HYUNDAI STATES IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, EVEN THOUGH PURCHASED AND DRIVEN IN PA.
Suspension, Sep 11, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT END FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT END SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,400.
Structure, Aug 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE A FUEL LINE WAS BEING REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED A HOLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Suspension, Structure, Jul 28, 2015
SEVERE RUST AFFECTING UNDERCARRIAGE. VEHICLE WAS PART OF RECALL FOR SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY AND HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE ENGINE CRADLE REPLACED. REMAINING SECTIONS OF UNDERCARRIAGE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL, FUEL LINES, BRAKE LINES, SUSPENSION ARE ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED AS WELL AS LARGE PORTIONS OF THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE BODY PANELS. BRAKE LINES IN REAR PORTION OF VEHICLE CORRODED SO BADLY THEY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOP PORTION OF FUEL PUMP LOCATED IN TOP OF GAS TANK ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED.
Air bags, Jul 23, 2015, crash
MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER AT SOUTHTOWNE HYUNDAI IN RIVERDALE GEORGIA AND THEY DIDN'T CALL THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT MY CAR. MY CAR WAS HIT T-BONE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HEAD LIGHT AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.I ASKED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO CALL BECAUSE MY AIRBAG LIGHT SHOULD NOT COME ON BY ITSELF. THE DEALER JUST WANTED ME TO PAY OVER $500.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. I WANTED TO KNOW AT ANYTIME WAS THE AIRBAG MODEL FOR MY CAR RECALLED AND HYUNDAI KEPT IT A SECRET.THIS IS THE SECOND HYUNDAI I HAVE PURCHASED. I CALLED MY CAR MY JAGUAR.