Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Hyundai Sonata, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline16
- Power train9
- Air bags8
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Visibility5
- Electrical system5
- Vehicle speed control3
- Suspension2
- Unknown or other2
- Exterior lighting2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 6 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
8 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 11.0–12.8 L/100 km (about 18–21 mpg US), CO₂ 253–294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata 2.0L · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.5 | 9.3 | 11.0 |
| Sonata 2.0L · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 9.4 | 11.4 |
| Sonata 3.0L · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.7 | 10.5 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Hyundai Sonata.
| 2001081 5 Apr 2001 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the evaporative emission control systems may apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tank during the canister purge cycle if the two-way valve f… |
| 1997105 28 May 1997 | Structure THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 215 - BUMPERS. AFTER BEING SUBJECTED TO A 5 MPH BARRIER CRASH TEST, THE FRONT HEADLIGHT MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE THE… |
| 1997045 10 Mar 1997 | Visual System THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH SOLDERING FLUX. THIS CONTAMINATION COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ELECTRICAL … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SONATA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 9, 1997 THROUGH APRIL 24, 1998. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER COULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Hyundai told its dealers about the 1997 Hyundai Sonata: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 633884 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE FOR CLIFFORD AND DEI SECURITY SYSTEM. *JG |
| 631997 | INFORMATION ON EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION. *SLC |
| 604299 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO ( ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL ) ETM CORRECTION FOR GROUND DISTRIBUTION . *TT |
| 604210 | SUBJECT ON AIRBAG REPAIR KIT PART NUMBERS. *TT |
| 604011 | INFORMATION ON FUEL INJECTOR CONFIGURATION. *YC |
| 601635 | SHOP MANUAL ON DOHC SPARK PLUG WIRE ROUTING. *YC |
| 601634 | SPECIFICATION ON REAR BRAKE DISC MINIMUM THICKNESS. *YC |
| 601628 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A WIND NOISE IN THE AREA AROUND THE RIGHT |
| 601623 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HARSH 3-2 DOWNSHIFT. *YC |
| 601621 | INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ON WOOD INTERIOR TRIM. *YC |
| 54312 | THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND IDLE SWITCH ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *YC |
| 54310 | INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ON BLOCK HEATER. *YC |
| 54309 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATION. *YC |
| 54161 | PROVIDED PROCEDURES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A BLOCK HEATER. *YC |
| 54160 | VARIOUS INFORMATION ON PROPER CARE FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS AND CORRECTIVE STEPS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. *YC |
| 54159 | DESCRIPTION AND INFORMATION ON A NEW FRONT CASE. *YC |
| 54158 | INFORMATION ON TORSION BARS, GAS STRUTS AND CHMSL. *YC |
| 54157 | SERVICE PROCEDURE AND INSTALLATION OF THE TRUNK MOUNTED SPOILER. *YC |
| 54113 | SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION ON CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. *YC |
| 54111 | INFORMATION REGARDING END CLUTCH RETAINER AND CLUTCH PLATE MODIFICATION. *YC |
| 52649 | AUDIO SYSTEM CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT. *TW |
| 52648 | IDLE SPEED CONTROL ACTUATOR (SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION). *TW |
| 51900 | ATM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR UPSHIFT DELAY DURING CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION. *TW |
| 51307 | THE CYLINDER HEAD TORQUE SEQUENCE FOR IN-LINE 4 CYLINDER ENGINES NOTED IN THE LISTED SHOP MANUALS IS INCORRECT. *JD |
| 51304 | RECALL 97V-026 - THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR THERMAL SWITCH CIRCUIT CONTACT POINTS MUST BE CLEANED ON CERTAIN HYUNDAI VEHICLES WHICH FALL INTO THE FOLLOWING PRODUTION RANGES TO CORRECT A POSSIBLE INTERMITTENT INTERRUPTION OF WIPER OPERATION- A WIPER MOTOR SERVICE KIT (PART #00305-CMP00-30) WILL BE SENT TO EACH DEALERSHIP CONTAINING THE SUPPLIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM THIS PROCEDURE- EACH KIT CAN SERVICE UP TO TEN (10) VEHICLES- ADDITIONAL KITS CAN BE ORDERED FROM YOUR FACING PDC- MODEL/PRODUCTION DATE RANGE: ACCENT 3/04/96 THROUGH 10/18/96- ELANTRA (SADAN & WAGON) 11/20/95 THROUGH 10/18/96- SON |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)