2004 Hyundai Sonata problems
Owners have filed 288 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata. Suspension is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. Next are body & structure (17%) and air bags (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 288 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 36 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 44 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 91,000 miles 216 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 | 21 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 13 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 24 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 32 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 33 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 31 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 27 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 12 |
What the data shows
Of the 216 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 91,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 105,000 miles (43 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 36 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 44 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 81% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 25th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Hyundai Sonata with enough data (81 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
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.
Dt: the contact's vehicle was involved in a crash. Upon impact, front and side air bags did not deploy. Also, the seat belts did not restrain the contact and her passenger in the seats. The contact was thrown into the steering wheel, and the passenger hit the windshield. Both sustained serious injuries and broken bones. A police report was taken, and an insurance report was filed. Pictures are available for review. The vehicle was repaired. Updated 2/21/2006 -
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was struck broad sided on the passenger side between both doors. Both passengers of the vehicle were wearing seat belts and received only minor injuries. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the scene. The police were at the scene of the accident and provided a written report; however, the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance company. Updated 5/2/2006-
Took car to mechanic for fuel pump work. He informed us that the engine cradle is rusted beyond repair and is un-safe to drive. I found the recall online and called hyundai. They informed me that remediation had been done in 2009. (a new hole for drainage had been drilled in the engine cradle frame and a sealant applied). Evidently this did not stop the corrosion of the frame and caused a weakening of the frame and a crack in the structural area of the frame. Is hyundai liable to repair this defect?
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the steering wheel had to be slightly turned to the left in order for the vehicle to drive straight. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 09v124000 (suspension). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the a-rod was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs.