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

2001 Hyundai Sonata

Typical pattern

8.5% of complaints about the 2001 Hyundai Sonata came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (71 complaints), typically at 8.5 yr or about 112,343 miles.

Complaints
283
Median age at failure
7.8 yr
Median mileage
90,426 n=194
Crash / fire / tow
13.4% of reports
Safety recalls
3

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Structure
71 reports · 112,343 mi
8.5 yr
8.5%
Air bags
44 reports · 65,000 mi
4.8 yr
38.6%
Suspension
29 reports · 120,000 mi
12.6 yr
3.4%
Engine cooling
23 reports · 80,000 mi
3.3 yr
0%
Service brakes, hydraulic
20 reports · 54,000 mi
3.4 yr
20%
Power train
19 reports · 66,667 mi
5.6 yr
5.3%

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.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 3 mo in service
ENGINE FAILED AT 1633 MILES GOING 65 MPH ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO HYNDAI SERVICE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SLEEVES IN EARLY PRODUCTION ENGINES. SLEEVES COME LOOSE CAUSING PISTONS TO SMASH SPARK PLUGS. NEW ENGINE INSTALLED, BUT DID NOT RUN PROPERLY. HYUNDAI SERVICE ORDERING SECOND NEW ENGINE. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED QUICKLY DUE TO ANOTHER 2001 SANTA FE WITH 3900 MILES IN SHOP WITH SAME PROBLEM. PEOPLES HYUNDAI IN FOLSOM, CA WERE VERY HELPFUL.*AK
Engine cooling mileage not reported 9 mo in service
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A COKING SOUND LIKE IT WANTED TO CUT OFF. WITH NO PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ALSO, AFTER CUTTING OFF, VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP. *AK
Engine cooling mileage not reported 5 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING NORMAL OPERATION VEHICLE FAILS TO START, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DEALER HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, AND FAILED TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN VEHICLE BEGAN HAVINB PROBLEMS WITH NO POWER, STALLING, AND MAKING NOISES, DEALER REPLACED THE PURGE CONTROL VALVE, HOWEVER PROBLEM TILL CONTINUES. BRAKES FEEL LOW TO THE FLOOR. CENTER AC VENTS AND RIGHT PASSENGER VENT BROKE, DEALER REPLACED. DEALER ADJUSTED DRIVE BELTS DUE TO BEING NOISY. *SLC
Power train mileage not reported 5 mo in service
FLOOR SHIFT LEVER WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED. IT WOULD FAIL TO REMAIN IN CORRECT GEAR. SOMETIMES CAN SLIGHTLY PUSH, AND WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT FLOOR SHIFT LEVER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 900 MILES. *AK

Other Sonata model years

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