Total Complaints
37 filings
HYUNDAI SONATA · model year
1996 HYUNDAI SONATA
37 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996HYUNDAISONATA carries 37 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1996 SONATA is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 5 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (4) and air bags (3). 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 37 investigation files overlapping the 1996 SONATA, 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.
37
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020813FatalAIR BAGS
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, STE 330, WASHINGTON, DC 20009. *YH
20020321AIR BAGS
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
20010725ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
20010228VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR RECALL REPAIR 97V-026 FOR THE INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
20010228STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE. NLM
20010102LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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 TAKE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK
20000727POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. *YH
20000727ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
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 CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. *YH
20000727POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
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 CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. *YH
20000727VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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 CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. *YH
20000727EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
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 CASSETTE PLAYER FAILED. *YH
20000623POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR WANTS TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFIC LIGHT .NEW TRANSMISSION IN CAR . PROBLEM STILL APPEARS.*AK
20000623VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WANTS TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFIC LIGHT .NEW TRANSMISSION IN CAR . PROBLEM STILL APPEARS.*AK
19991021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
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 AGAIN, AND IT OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEREFORE WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE MORE TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I, THE OWNER, BUILT A GUARD OVER THE ALTERNATOR TO PREVENT THE FLUID FROM LEAKING INTO THE ALTERNATOR. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS, BUT IT TOOK THE ENGINEERING OF MYSELF TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
19991021STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
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 AGAIN, AND IT OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEREFORE WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE MORE TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I, THE OWNER, BUILT A GUARD OVER THE ALTERNATOR TO PREVENT THE FLUID FROM LEAKING INTO THE ALTERNATOR. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS, BUT IT TOOK THE ENGINEERING OF MYSELF TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
19991019ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
19990908ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORT-CIRCUITED.
19981020POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWO TIMES.
19981008AIR BAGS
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
19980922EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED.
Compare 1996HYUNDAISONATA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 HYUNDAI SONATA have?▼
The 1996 HYUNDAI SONATA has 37 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 HYUNDAI SONATA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 HYUNDAI SONATA is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1996 HYUNDAI SONATA 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.