2001 Hyundai Sonata problems
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Sonata. Body & structure is the most reported problem area, at 24% of complaints. Next are air bags (17%) and suspension (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 293 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 34 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 30 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 196 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 13 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 17 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 15 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 32 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 22 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 26 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 20 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 13 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 196 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 90,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 112,000 miles (56 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 34 complaints mention a crash; 30 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 21st most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Hyundai Sonata with enough data (121 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2001 hyundai sonota with 85000 failure mileage at 45 MPH on a icy road another vehicle made a left turn in front of the contact's vehicle and it hit the other vehicle on the passenger's side front end, but the air bag did not depoly. The passenger of the other vehicle, and the contact sustained minor injuries. The contact's vehicle, sustained major damage. Both vehicles were towed away.
I was driving my 2001 hyundai sonata and had an accident. Front end damage estimated at $3500.00. Airbags did not deploy!! My husband and myself were both injured in the crash. I hit my chest on the steering wheel, hard. My husband hit his head on the rearview mirror and windshield and we both went for medical treatment. We both still have pain. My husband has had a headache since the crash. The car was towed and was totaled out from the damages. I have to now look for another vehicle.
Tl*the contact owns a 2001 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 to 25 MPH when the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. Even after applying the brakes it continued to accelerate. The driver was able to stop by using the emergency brake. The vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic who advised the contact that he was unable to diagnose the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,300. The VIN was unavailable.
Control arm completely separated/ broke from the subframe. Called hyundai as mechanic said this should have been included under a recall that came out several years ago for "because of a potential corrosion risk involving the front sub-frame...corrosion may progress and the forward mounting of the lower control arm may detach from the sub-frame. If that happens, the vehicle may lose driver power to the wheels.