2002 Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 407 complaints
407
Total Complaints
94,724mi
Median Mileage
Frame And Members
Top Issue
50
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
55,000
25th Percentile
94,724
Median Mileage
144,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Frame And Members
53
Suspension
50
Air Bags
23
Steering
19
Electrical System
17
Body
14
Fuel System, Gasoline
13
Frontal
13
Side/Window
12
Unknown Or Other
11
Severity Assessment
50
Crashes
9
Fires
65
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"VEHICLE WAS HIT AT 65 MPH IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK"
"CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S DOOR. SPEED OF IMPACT WAS 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. $ 6000.00 DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK"
"COMPUTER FAILED THREE TIMES. MECHANICS COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. FINALLY WAS REPLACED.*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
53 complaints
25th: 79,000 mi
Median: 100,000 mi
75th: 120,512 mi
Suspension
50 complaints
25th: 99,500 mi
Median: 130,000 mi
75th: 156,000 mi
Air Bags
23 complaints
25th: 66,250 mi
Median: 86,000 mi
75th: 139,500 mi
Steering
19 complaints
25th: 84,937 mi
Median: 126,000 mi
75th: 154,105 mi
Electrical System
17 complaints
25th: 27,545 mi
Median: 75,500 mi
75th: 138,355 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
NY: 37
OH: 30
PA: 27
FL: 27
NJ: 25
MA: 23
CA: 20
KY: 20
VA: 20
IL: 15
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 |
| 1999 | 187 | 25 |
| 2000 | 378 | 22 |
| 2001 | 293 | 34 |
| 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 (7)
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
Latch
Campaign 09V171000 | 21/05/2009
THIS MAY INFLICT LACERATION INJURIES TO ANYONE USING THE DOOR HANDLE.
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE CHROME PLATED INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Side/Window
Campaign 02V145000 | 24/05/2002
INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SRS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WHEN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH HAS NOT OCCURRED COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 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.
Latch
Campaign 09V317000 | 07/08/2009
A SHARP EDGE COULD LACERATE OR OTHERWISE INJURE A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE CHROME PLATED INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-787-999-3333.
Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Campaign 03V097000 | 17/03/2003
INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE TCS WILL CAUSE AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE AT THE WHEEL WHERE THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED. INADVERTENT BRAKE APPLICATION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE, AND MAY PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING DRIVEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 20 MPH, WHICH COULD RE
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE WITH A NEW LARGER DIAMETER T125/80R-15 COMPACT SPARE TIRE AND A NEW TIRE PRESSURE LABEL WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION APPLICABLE TO THE T125/80R-15 COMPACT SPARE TIRE. VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2002 THROUGH DECEMBER 16 20
Tank Assembly
Campaign 04V178000 | 09/04/2004
FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Storage
Campaign 04V369000 | 26/07/2004
FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
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