What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1999 Hyundai Sonata

Typical pattern

3% of complaints about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1999 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (37 complaints), typically at 10.0 yr or about 105,000 miles.

Complaints
166
Median age at failure
6.0 yr
Median mileage
95,000 n=96
Crash / fire / tow
17.5% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Structure
37 reports · 105,000 mi
10.0 yr
8.1%
Air bags
25 reports · 67,000 mi
2.8 yr
36%
Engine cooling
20 reports · 95,000 mi
5.4 yr
20%
Suspension
17 reports · 123,184 mi
11.8 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09V124000 2009-04-16
Suspension

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 S

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.

02V105000 2002-04-09
Air bags:side/window

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.

01V347000 2001-11-06
Air bags

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.

00V259001 2000-09-11
Electrical system:wiring

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.

In owners’ own words

Suspension mileage not reported 1.4 yr in service
NOISE LIKE A HELICOPTER IS IN THE BACK SEAT,TO DEALER AND WHEEL BEARING ARE GONE,PARTS UNAVAIABLE THE SECOND TIME(02/01) SEC TO BACKORDER,SAME PROBLEM AGAIN 02/02)CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SEC TO A CAM SENSOR,SESOR REPLACED, AT 70MPH LITE COME ON AND CAR STALLS NEXT IS AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AFTER SEAT IS ADJUSTED(DRIVER) HAVE NEVER HAD TO TEST THEM SO CAN ONLY HOPE THAT WHE N CAR STALLS THEY WILL DEPLOY
Suspension 69,000 mi 8.9 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS RUSTED AND THE BOLTS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000.
Suspension 123,184 mi 9.2 yr in service
HI, I BOUGHT MY 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA FROM A PRIVATE PERSON NOV.2007. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO THE STORE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WENT BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE TO LIFT IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS SO ROTTED THAT MY HALF SHAFT PULLED OUT AND BROKE. THE CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY ROTTED OFF THE CRADLE. THIS IS WHAT I CAN PLAINLY SEE AS A SAFETY HAZARD. I COULD HAVE HAD A WRECK HAD I BEEN GOING ANY FASTER. *TR
Air bags mileage not reported 1.8 yr in service crash / fire / tow
CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED DEALER STATED THE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF, A SHORT TIME LATER, VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER TRIED TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HOWEVER HE HIT A CURB AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *SLC

Other Sonata model years

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