Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Hyundai Sonata, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure69
- Air bags47
- Suspension29
- Engine and engine cooling23
- Service brakes, hydraulic20
- Power train18
- Vehicle speed control13
- Steering10
- Electrical system9
- Visibility9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 21 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Hyundai Sonata failed the safety check 3.35% of the time — 67% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 90,392 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
3 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 17 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 Finland
5 of these cars first registered in 2001 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 209,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
28 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 4% arrived as used imports, 93% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.2–11.6 L/100 km (about 20–21 mpg US), CO₂ 258–267 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata 2.4L · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 9.1 | 11.2 |
| Sonata 2.5L · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 9.4 | 11.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2001 Hyundai Sonata.
| 2009123 23 Apr 2009 | Structure On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador),… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 188,282 MY 2001-2004 SONATA AND MY 2001-2004 XG300 AND XG350 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT IN THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL. THE CORROSION IS FREQUENTLY VISIBLE AND OFTEN DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND OWNERS MAY ALSO HEAR NOISES OR NOTICE TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. IF THESE SIGNALS ARE UNDETECTED OR UNHEEDED, THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY DETACH FROM THE SUB-FRAME.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION THAT LEADS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION COULD RESULT FROM MOTION OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WHICH MOUNT TO THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND COULD PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COULD ILLUMINATE DUE TO MOTION OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR THAT MOUNT TO THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG(S).
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 2001 Hyundai Sonata: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635830 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE FRONT DOOR GLASS DOES NOT RAISE PROPERLY OR WILL NOT STAY FULLY CLOSED AND / OR DOES NOT LOWER PROPERLY. *TT |
| 633884 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE FOR CLIFFORD AND DEI SECURITY SYSTEM. *JG |
| 633867 | SUBJECT REGARDING V6 NITROGEN OXIDE NOX DIAGNOSIS. *JG |
| 633853 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR STABILIZER BAR BUSHING REPLACEMENT-NOISE REPAIR PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633814 | SUBJECT REGARDING SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS ROUTING CAMPAIGN. *JG |
| 633803 | SUBJECT REGARDING SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS ROUTING. *JG |
| 633785 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH AND/OR DELAYED SHIFTS. *JG |
| 633770 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE RPM FLUCTUATION - CRUISE CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633759 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES INFORMATION RELATING TO A CHANGE IN THE REAR DRUM BRAKES TO REDUCE BRAKE SQUEAL/SQUEAK NOISE. *JG |
| 631997 | INFORMATION ON EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION. *SLC |
| 631719 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHIFTLOCK AND KEY LOCK CABLE ADJUSTMENT FOR VEHICLES WITH SPORT SHIFT. *SLC |
| 631486 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH OR DELAYED PARK-REVERSE OR PARK-DRIVE ENGAGEMENT. *SLC |
| 631411 | INFORMATION REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LIST. *YH |
| 630852 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0133, P0134, P1134, P0153, P0154, OR P1154. *SLC |
| 629503 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A HARSH OR DELAYED PARK-REVERSE OR PARK-DRIVE ENGAGEMENT IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *SLC |
| 627050 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE RUNS ROUGH, IDLES ROUGH, DTC P0335. *YD |
| 627048 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE OIL DRAIN PLUG. *YD |
| 623818 | INFORMATION REGARDING NOISE FROM REAR WHEELSD ,PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT. *YD |
| 623816 | INFORMATION REGARDING SECURITY UPGRADE: DOOR LOCK LEARN PROCEDURE. *YD |
| 623020 | INFORMATION REGARDING MISSING 5 AMP FUSE FROM SECURITY UPGRADE KITS. *YH |
| 623017 | INFORMATION REGARDING SECURITY SYSTEM UPGRADE. *YH |
| 623003 | SUBJECT REGARDING FINAL DRIVE GEAR WHINE NOISE. *YH |
| 622984 | SUBJECT REGARDING SECURITY UPGRADE DOOR LOCK LEARN PROCEDURE. *YH |
| 622977 | SUBJECT REGARDING NOISE FROM REAR WHEELS. *YH |
| 622955 | INFORMATION REGARDING SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION FOR IDLE SPEED ACTUATOR RESISTANCE CHECK. *YH |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION
FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation