1999 Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 187 complaints
187
Total Complaints
95,000mi
Median Mileage
Frame And Members
Top Issue
25
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
61,500
25th Percentile
95,000
Median Mileage
125,633
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Frame And Members
26
Air Bags
18
Automatic Transmission
11
Engine And Engine Cooling
10
Suspension
10
Gasoline
7
Frontal
7
Unknown Or Other
5
Steering
5
Anchorage
5
Severity Assessment
25
Crashes
4
Fires
34
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"HYUNDAI DOES NOT OFFER A SEAT BELT EXTENSION SO WE CAN BUCKLE"
"WHEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY (DOWNSHIFTING OCCURS), MORE WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. *YC"
"CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VECHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF HIM. HE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT BRAKES FAILED. HE LOST CONTROL AND WENT INTO A TREE . UPON IMPACT, AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, BUT DISCONNECTED AND LANDED ON DRIVER'S SEAT. HE SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. *AK"
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Frame And Members
26 complaints
25th: 83,500 mi
Median: 102,289 mi
75th: 131,461 mi
Air Bags
18 complaints
25th: 38,659 mi
Median: 52,500 mi
75th: 68,500 mi
Automatic Transmission
11 complaints
25th: 41,500 mi
Median: 66,063 mi
75th: 91,344 mi
Engine And Engine Cooling
10 complaints
25th: 57,750 mi
Median: 92,000 mi
75th: 125,158 mi
Suspension
10 complaints
25th: 80,600 mi
Median: 119,882 mi
75th: 155,250 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
NY: 23
NJ: 18
MD: 13
IL: 10
OH: 9
FL: 8
LA: 7
KS: 6
TX: 6
MO: 5
Who Files Complaints?
21.9%
Original Owners
78.1%
Second+ Owners
Hyundai Sonata — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25 | 0 |
| 1991 | 41 | 3 |
| 1992 | 43 | 1 |
| 1993 | 46 | 1 |
| 1995 | 93 | 17 |
| 1996 | 37 | 0 |
| 1997 | 74 | 6 |
| 1998 | 68 | 3 |
| 2000 | 378 | 22 |
| 2001 | 293 | 34 |
| 2002 | 407 | 50 |
| 2003 | 247 | 28 |
| 2004 | 285 | 36 |
| 2005 | 217 | 44 |
| 2006 | 1422 | 55 |
| 2007 | 905 | 45 |
| 2008 | 554 | 24 |
| 2009 | 610 | 29 |
| 2010 | 415 | 23 |
| 2011 | 4582 | 194 |
| 2012 | 2254 | 86 |
| 2013 | 2602 | 138 |
| 2014 | 1061 | 48 |
| 2015 | 1611 | 60 |
| 2016 | 960 | 37 |
| 2017 | 964 | 46 |
| 2018 | 519 | 26 |
| 2019 | 182 | 11 |
| 2020 | 236 | 8 |
| 2021 | 156 | 11 |
| 2022 | 123 | 14 |
| 2023 | 130 | 12 |
| 2024 | 61 | 3 |
Active Recalls (4)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Suspension
Campaign 09V124000 | 16/04/2009
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 REPLA
Wiring
Campaign 00V259001 | 11/09/2000
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.
Air Bags
Campaign 01V347000 | 06/11/2001
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 AUTHORIZ
Side/Window
Campaign 02V105000 | 09/04/2002
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 WI
General Vehicle Maintenance
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule in your owner's manual
- Don't ignore warning lights — early diagnosis prevents expensive repairs
- Keep records of all maintenance and repairs
- Use OEM or equivalent-quality parts for repairs
- Address unusual noises, vibrations, or smells promptly
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28