Total Complaints
3 filings
HYUNDAI HYUNDAI · model year
1997 HYUNDAI HYUNDAI
3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997HYUNDAIHYUNDAI carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 HYUNDAI is air bags:frontal with 1 filings, followed by power train:clutch assembly (1) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1997 HYUNDAI, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050803LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH ON MY '97 HYUNDAI SONATA BROKE AND ITS REALLY BIG SAFETY CONCERN. I'VE BEEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND ITS NOT JUST ME WHO HAS THAT PROBLEM THE DOOR LATCH BREAKS EASILY AND IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT FIXED SINCE THE PART COSTS $93 +. AND SINCE THE DOOR CAN'T OPEN ITS GOING TO COST A LOST OF MONEY FOR LABOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET THE DOOR OPENED SOMEHOW AND LABOR GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE. HERE'S THE WEBSITE THAT REFERRED ME: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_46625.HTML. *NM
Mileage: 141,452
19990217POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH NOT ENGAGED ALTHOUGH CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN IGNITION IS SWITCHED ON.
19990126CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER HAD A FRONT END COLLISON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE SLIGHTLY INJURIED.
Compare 1997HYUNDAIHYUNDAI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 HYUNDAI HYUNDAI have?▼
The 1997 HYUNDAI HYUNDAI has 3 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 HYUNDAI HYUNDAI?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 HYUNDAI HYUNDAI is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1997 HYUNDAI HYUNDAI safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.