64 complaints reported

2002 Hyundai Sonata Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
64
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
7

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Sep 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO WOBBLE AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED LANCASTER HYUNDAI AT (866) 528-2534 (LOCATED AT 5260 MAIN ST, EAST PETERSBURG, PA 17520) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,028.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2018
May 2018

PAINT IS FLAKING OFF OF ALL THE DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2001 SONATA GOLD COLOR. WHEN IT WAS ONLY HAPPENING ON ONE DOOR, MY DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT THERE PROBLEM. NOW THAT IT IS HAPPENING ON ALL OF THEM, IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT IT IS A DEFECT. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND COULD THEY GET IT RESOLVED?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2005
Aug 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT SHIELD FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION, AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO GROSSINGER HYUNDAI OF PALATINE (221 E LAKE COOK RD, PALATINE, IL 60074 (847) 348-6700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED, NEEDED REPLACEMENT, AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 165,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2017
Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT THE DRIVER STEERING IN THOSE DIRECTIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Dec 2016
Nov 2016

SEVERE CRACK IN THE REAR SUBFRAME WHICH IS CORRODED AND RUSTED THROUGHOUT. THE REAR TIRE IS STICKING OUT AND THE CAR SWERVES AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2016
Sep 2016

CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME. EA08016 FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION. YOU ISSUED A RECALL FOR "SALT-BELT" STATES, I LIVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WITH THE SAME SALT ISSUE AS DC AND WEST VIRGINIA.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2016
Feb 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2016
Nov 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2015
Jul 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER IN EITHER DIRECTION INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE DROIVE INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND THE BOLTS SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2015
Jun 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE FRONT SUBFRAME FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,856.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2015
Nov 2014 Injury

THE CHROME PLATING ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES PEELED AWAY AND CUT PASSENGER'S HANDS. IN 2009 THE HANDLES WERE "REPAIRED" BY A HYUNDAI DEALER, BUT BY 2013 THE CHROME PLATING WAS AGAIN BEGINNING TO PEEL AWAY AND CUT PASSENGER HANDS. HYUNDAI AMERICA AND THE DEALER BOTH CLAIM THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED, AND THERE IS ONLY A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. I BELIEVE IT IS IMPROPER TO CLAIM AN ISSUE SUBJECT TO A RECALL WOULD BE "FIXED" BY CREATING THE SAME HAZARD WITH THE SAME PARTS. THIS ISSUE IS REFERRED TO AS "HYUNDAI RECALL NO. 093" IN HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/OWNERS/SEARCHRESULTS?SEARCHTYPE=ID&TARGETCATEGORY=R&SEARCHCRITERIA.NHTSA_IDS=09V171000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2008
Sep 2014 Injury

CHROME PLATED INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BEGAN PEELING, LEAVING VERY SHARP EDGES, WHICH CUT MY FINGER. WE COVERED THE HANDLE WITH TAPE TO PROTECT FROM FUTURE CUTS. I LOOKED FOR A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS PART AND FOUND ONE AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR MYSELF. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT HYUNDAI. I DID NOTHING SINCE I COULDN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR. IN THE PAST 9 MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN THE PASSENGER MORE OFTEN THAN BEFORE AND NOW THE INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS SAME PROBLEM-PEELING OFF, LEAVING SHARP EDGES. ONCE AGAIN I NICKED MY FINGER ON IT. RECENTLY HAD A REPAIR DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THE ADVISER ABOUT THE PROBLEM HE SAID HE HAD NO RECORD OF A RECALL. I FOUND THE RECALL ONLINE & SHOWED HIM. HE SAID I SHOULD CALL HYUNDAI,.I SPOKE TO A REP @ HYUNDAI WHO TOLD ME THAT EVEN THOUGH I MAY HAVE A PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 10/2001, WHICH MEANS I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL I WAS FURIOUS. THIS IS NOT AN IMAGINARY PROBLEM - I HAVE CUT MY FINGERS TWICE. SHE SAID SHE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE CALL ME BACK TO DISCUS FURTHER & THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THAT WAS ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE RECALL DATE SAYS - MY CAR HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE REP ALSO TOLD ME THE RECALL GOES BY THE DATE THE CAR WAS PUT INTO SERVICE, NOT THE DATE MANUFACTURED OF 10/01; SHE SAID THE CAR WAS NOT PUT INTO SERVICE UNTIL 3/03-AFTER THE RECALL DATE.THE RECALL SAYS 1/28/02-3/22/03. ALSO I THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO SERVICE EARLIER THAN 03 BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT ON 10/16/02. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T COVERED BY THE RECALL/CAMPAIGN - WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. BOTH HANDLES ARE PEELING & UNSAFE! WE ARE KEEPING THIS CAR SO IT IS IMPORTANT. JUST BOUGHT A NEW SONATA.TO REPLACE ANOTHER CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Mar 2012
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,540.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2014
Aug 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CERTIFIED MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE INNER BODY AND REAR SUBFRAME SEVERELY CORRODED THE CORROSION SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER AREA. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V124000 SUSPENSION WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2014
Sep 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SHE LEARNED THERE WAS CORROSION UNDER THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2010
Feb 2011

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT TEH SUB-FRAME HAD CORRODED AND WOULD NOT PASS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED, BUT WERE CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 81,000. TB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2011
Dec 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS POINTING OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 122,050.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2010
Oct 2010 Injury

2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, CHROME ON THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB PEELS OFF LEAVING A SHARP EDGE THAT CAUSES LACERATIONS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2010
Apr 2010 Injury

FRONT SUB FRAME BROKE AGAIN FOR 2ND TIME ON 2002 SONATA. JUST STOPS ABRUPTLY AND WHEEL COLLAPSES IN AN STEERING LOCKS. HAS BEEN FIXED BY DEALER TWICE NOW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Apr 2010
Feb 2010

MY CAR MADE A LOUD THUD WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN I HEARD MY TIRE RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. I HAD A VERY HARD TIME STEERING AND CALLED MY LOCAL GARAGE. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SAW THE SPECS ON THE RECALL AND CALLED MY COMPLAINT INTO HYUNDAI. I THEN HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE IT SITS AWAITING REPAIR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2010
Dec 2009

EXCESSIVE SUB FRAME RUST CAUSED IT TO BRAKE, AND AS A RESULT PRACTICALLY DISABLED DRIVING AND ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE WHEELS ARE ANGLED DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THE SUB FRAME BENT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Oct 2009
Nov 2009

I HAVE AN 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA. MY COMPLETE SUBFRAME RUSTED OUT A FEW YEARS AGO. THE CAR WAS ONLY 3 OR 4 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME. THE COMPLETE SUBFRAME WAS REPLACED ON A HUSH HUSH BASES. I HAVE THE PICS TO PROVE IT. NEVER WILL I BUY ANOTHER HYUNDAI OR KIA NEVER. MY GOD MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. BUT WHAT DO THEY CARE IT'S NOT THEIR FAMILY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jun 2006
Nov 2009

MY 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA BEGAN PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT ON 8/6/09 SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE THINKING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY ALIGNMENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT ON 8/10/09. WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON 8/9/09 MY CAR STARTED TO GET OUT OF CONTROL AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE CURB. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND OUT THAT THE SUBFRAME AND AXEL WERE BROKEN AND THAT I WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE AXEL AND LABOR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2009
Nov 2009

WHILE CHANGING THE BALL BEARING, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE FRAME. HE WARNED THAT THE CAR WOULD JUST COLLAPSE. THERE WERE 3-4 INCH BIG HOLES IN THE FRAME. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED FATAL INJURY. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 7 YEAR OLD FOR SUCH SEVERE RUSTING TO OCCUR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Nov 2009
Sep 2009

I OWN A 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA,ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST2009 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A LEAKING POWER STEERING LINE.THE MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON MY CAR TOLD ME I BETTER GET A NEW CAR,HE TOLD ME MY SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HYUNDAI SONATA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Sep 2009

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2002 Hyundai Sonata has 64 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.