2003 Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 247 complaints
247
Total Complaints
70,178mi
Median Mileage
Air Bags
Top Issue
28
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

38,000 25th Percentile
70,178 Median Mileage
119,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Air Bags
34
Electrical System
17
Suspension
13
Door
13
Structure
9
Body
9
Fuel System, Gasoline
8
Fuel/Propulsion System
8
Latches/Locks/Linkages
8
Frontal
8

Severity Assessment

28
Crashes
2
Fires
60
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"RECENTLY TOOK DELIVERY ON A 2003 HYUNDIA SONOTA. WONDER WHEN HYUNDIA IS GOING TO GET WITH THE SAFETY FEATURE OF DRIVING LIGHTS? AM NOW DRIVING AROUND WITH PARKING LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME."
"CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IDLE SPEED AND VEHICLE WILL STALL. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE WILL START LOOSING POWER ON HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS IS A INTERMEDIATE PROBLEM AND UNLESS HYUNDAI SENDS OUT A LETTER OR SO..."
"TRANSMISSION MADE LOUD CLUNKING NOISES, BROUGHT INTO DEALER, "COULDN'T DUPLICATE" (TYPICAL RESPONSE), THEN I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE LEAKING, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 1500 MILES, STILL HAD BAD SHIFT PATTERNS AND HANG UPS IN GEARS, MORE SO AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALSO HAD ALL S..."

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.

Air Bags 34 complaints
25th: 53,000 mi Median: 65,505 mi 75th: 103,500 mi
Electrical System 17 complaints
25th: 32,625 mi Median: 45,000 mi 75th: 116,966 mi
Suspension 13 complaints
25th: 130,000 mi Median: 150,000 mi 75th: 160,500 mi
Door 13 complaints
25th: 65,355 mi Median: 100,000 mi 75th: 109,342 mi
Structure 9 complaints
25th: 51,015 mi Median: 78,912 mi 75th: 126,500 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

PA: 28 FL: 19 NY: 18 CA: 16 MD: 15 IL: 13 VA: 13 MO: 12 KY: 12 OH: 11

Who Files Complaints?

20.2%
Original Owners
79.8%
Second+ Owners

Hyundai Sonata — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
1990250
1991413
1992431
1993461
19959317
1996370
1997746
1998683
199918725
200037822
200129334
200240750
200428536
200521744
2006142255
200790545
200855424
200961029
201041523
20114582194
2012225486
20132602138
2014106148
2015161160
201696037
201796446
201851926
201918211
20202368
202115611
202212314
202313012
2024613

Active Recalls (6)

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.
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.

Airbag Safety

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

  • Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
  • Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
  • Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
  • Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories

Compare Hyundai Sonata

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Vehicle Rankings

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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