1996 HYUNDAI SONATA Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
A CONSUMER?S FIVE YEAR STEP DAUGHTER WAS KILLED BY THE AIR BAG THAT DEPLOYED IN A 5 MPH COLLISION ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE, THIS REPORT WAS WRITTEN IN BY CLARENCE DITLOW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, 202-328-7700, 1825 CONNECTICUT AVE NW, ...
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
MY ENGINE QUITE AT A LIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. IT HAD BEEN ABOUT 4,000 MILES SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL REPAIR 97V-026 FOR THE INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE. NLM
DOOR LOCK WOULD KEEP LOCKING ON ITS OWN. WHEN EITHER IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE LOCKS WOULD EITHER KEEP DRIVER/PASSENGER IN/OR LOCKED OUT. HAD DOOR LOCKS REPAIRED 5 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM KEEPS REAPPEARING. MECHANIC INDICATED TO BRING IT IN WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IT'S NOT RESOLVED. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO TA...
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION STOPPED CHANGING GEARS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE, AND LOSING ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. ALSO, HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. *AK AXLE BROKE , DEFROST MALFUNCTIONS AND C...
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION STOPPED CHANGING GEARS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE, AND LOSING ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. ALSO, HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. *AK AXLE BROKE , DEFROST MALFUNCTIONS AND C...
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION STOPPED CHANGING GEARS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE, AND LOSING ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. ALSO, HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. *AK AXLE BROKE , DEFROST MALFUNCTIONS AND C...
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION STOPPED CHANGING GEARS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE, AND LOSING ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. ALSO, HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. *AK AXLE BROKE , DEFROST MALFUNCTIONS AND C...
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION STOPPED CHANGING GEARS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE, AND LOSING ALL POWER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. ALSO, HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. *AK AXLE BROKE , DEFROST MALFUNCTIONS AND C...
CAR WANTS TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFIC LIGHT .NEW TRANSMISSION IN CAR . PROBLEM STILL APPEARS.*AK
CAR WANTS TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFIC LIGHT .NEW TRANSMISSION IN CAR . PROBLEM STILL APPEARS.*AK
THE POWER-STEERING PUMP S LEAKING DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR, AND SHORTING IT OUT. DEALER LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES AND REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE GOING INTO THE PUMP, AS WELL AS THE CRUSH WASHERS. THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE AGAI...
THE POWER-STEERING PUMP S LEAKING DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR, AND SHORTING IT OUT. DEALER LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES AND REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE GOING INTO THE PUMP, AS WELL AS THE CRUSH WASHERS. THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE AGAI...
VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO AUTO REPAIR CENTER FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING PROBLEM AT LEAST 10 DIFFERENT TIMES. CAR CUTS OFF AT CRUISE SPEEDS CAR/ BUCKS AND RESTARTS, CAR DIES WHEN YOU TURN CORNERS AT LOW SPEEDS AND YOU MUST PUT CAR IN NUTREL TO RESTART. *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. ONE OF THE AIR BAGS WAS REPLACED, BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. THE VEHICLE WILL BE SERVICED THE 4TH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED.
WATER LEAKS FROM UNDERHOOD INTO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES AND SHAKES . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH RIGHT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. BULB WOULD LAST EIGHT MONTH OR LESS. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACING BULB AT THE COST TO CONSUMER.*AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BATTERY BLOWING UP WHILE SITTING IN VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE BATTERY IN PIECES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. AS SOON AS CONSUMER SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO VIBRATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD STALL EVERY TIME A/C IS USED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD STALL EVERY TIME A/C IS USED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWO TIMES.
TRANSMISSION, BRAKE, ENGINE, AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE.
TRANSMISSION, BRAKE, ENGINE, AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE.
TRANSMISSION, BRAKE, ENGINE, AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE.
BRAKES MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE AND PEDAL GOES TOO FAR TOWARDS THE FLOOR, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER PROBLEMS STILL EXIST.
SPARK PLUGS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING SLUGGISH ACCELERATION.
VALVE COVER GASKETS FAILED.
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
TIRE FELL OFF DUE TO MISSING BOLT.
WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 65MPH AND TURNS CORNERS THE CAR STALLS. OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO START IT UP AGAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND THERE IS STILL STALLING. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SHORT-CIRCUITED.