Total Complaints
378 filings
Hyundai Sonata · model year
378 NHTSA complaints, 22 crash reports, and 4 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The verdict
The 2000 Hyundai Sonata posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
The 2000HyundaiSonata carries 378 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 22 crashes, 9 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2000 Sonata is structure:frame and members with 89 filings, followed by suspension (30) and suspension:front (26). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2000 Sonata, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
Total Complaints
378 filings
Crashes Reported
22 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume, review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 89 |
| SUSPENSION | 30 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 26 |
| AIR BAGS | 21 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 16 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 14 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 13 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 12 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 9 |
| STRUCTURE | 9 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 7 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 6 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
SUSPENSION
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, O
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
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 CUS
AIR BAGS
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
Rt passenger side wheel clunks when turning, loud noise when moving took to dealer they found nothing wrong. I returned to dealer again a couple weeks later to confirm my a arm needs repairs, safety issues airbag’s light remaining lit told repairs not available for year and make iwas told to deal with it by dealer even if it was a safety issue, driving car doesn’t matter what speed my back end sounds like it is falling apart and my car will slam out or into gear I have reviewed recalls and safety issues and I have been told that they have been closed even if my car is currently having issues with the vehicle recalls ie..slamming in and out of gear, arm issues and clunky noises on turns and driving,rear end clunk sounds like no shocks or struts
Rt passenger side wheel clunks when turning, loud noise when moving took to dealer they found nothing wrong. I returned to dealer again a couple weeks later to confirm my a arm needs repairs, safety issues airbag’s light remaining lit told repairs not available for year and make iwas told to deal with it by dealer even if it was a safety issue, driving car doesn’t matter what speed my back end sounds like it is falling apart and my car will slam out or into gear I have reviewed recalls and safety issues and I have been told that they have been closed even if my car is currently having issues with the vehicle recalls ie..slamming in and out of gear, arm issues and clunky noises on turns and driving,rear end clunk sounds like no shocks or struts
Rt passenger side wheel clunks when turning, loud noise when moving took to dealer they found nothing wrong. I returned to dealer again a couple weeks later to confirm my a arm needs repairs, safety issues airbag’s light remaining lit told repairs not available for year and make iwas told to deal with it by dealer even if it was a safety issue, driving car doesn’t matter what speed my back end sounds like it is falling apart and my car will slam out or into gear I have reviewed recalls and safety issues and I have been told that they have been closed even if my car is currently having issues with the vehicle recalls ie..slamming in and out of gear, arm issues and clunky noises on turns and driving,rear end clunk sounds like no shocks or struts
STEERING AND STABILITY UNSTABLE. MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME IS RUSTY AND CRACKED. THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS REPLACED AROUND 2010 BECAUSE OF A RECALL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP LOSE TRACTION AND BECOMES UNSTABLE. WANT TO KNOW IF THE REPLACEMENT FRAME HAS A WARRANTY. WANT TO KEEP THE CAR STILL RUNS GREAT. 170,000 MILES
Mileage: 170,000
STEERING AND STABILITY UNSTABLE. MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME IS RUSTY AND CRACKED. THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS REPLACED AROUND 2010 BECAUSE OF A RECALL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP LOSE TRACTION AND BECOMES UNSTABLE. WANT TO KNOW IF THE REPLACEMENT FRAME HAS A WARRANTY. WANT TO KEEP THE CAR STILL RUNS GREAT. 170,000 MILES
Mileage: 170,000
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN AIRBAG RECALL ON SOME MODEL CARS, I DRIVE A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS THAT HAS AN AIRBAG LIGHT ACTIVATED ON THE DASHBOARD. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE, I SHOULD NOT DRIVE IT, OR WHAT TO DO, PLEASE ADVISE. THIS AIRBAG LITE ON THE DASHBOARD GOES ON AS SOON AS I START THE ENGINE, AND STAYS ON ALL THE TIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THIS AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF UNTIL I TURN THE ENGINE OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CONTROL ARM FAILURE AND RUSTED SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CONTROL ARM FAILURE AND RUSTED SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Mileage: 140,000
"TAKADA RECALL " TRANSMISSION DON'T SHIFT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IT IS SUCK IN 3RD GEAR NEXT TIME START CAR NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR SHIFTS BUT BANGS HARD IN AND OUT OF NEXT GEAR THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR.ALSO AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL TIME.
Mileage: 212,234
"TAKADA RECALL " TRANSMISSION DON'T SHIFT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON IT IS SUCK IN 3RD GEAR NEXT TIME START CAR NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR SHIFTS BUT BANGS HARD IN AND OUT OF NEXT GEAR THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR IS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR.ALSO AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ALL TIME.
Mileage: 212,234
WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ON SIDE ROAD, THE LOWER LEFT CONTROL ARM PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME. INSPECTION AFTER FOUND LARGE HOLE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME RAIL. INSPECTED RIGHT SIDE AND FRAME HAS SAME TYPE OF RUSTED AND MISSING FRAME SEGMENTS. THANKFULLY THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATE WHERE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEGINNING WITH 1999 MODEL. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ON SIDE ROAD, THE LOWER LEFT CONTROL ARM PULLED COMPLETELY OUT OF THE FRAME. INSPECTION AFTER FOUND LARGE HOLE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME RAIL. INSPECTED RIGHT SIDE AND FRAME HAS SAME TYPE OF RUSTED AND MISSING FRAME SEGMENTS. THANKFULLY THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AND NOT ON THE INTERSTATE WHERE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEGINNING WITH 1999 MODEL. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
2000 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RUSTED REAR CROSS MEMBER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN DECEMBER 2008, THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER BECAME RUSTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER AS IT WAS UNDER RECALL DUE TO RUST. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR CROSS MEMBER FRAME RUSTED AND ABOUT TO BREAK APART. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THE REAR CROSS MEMBER WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. AND THE COST TO REPLACE IT, WAS $3,000. *JB
THE FUEL TANK ON 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA IS CRACKED AND LEAKING GASOLINE. THERE IS A STRONG GAS ODOR IN THE CABIN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAZMAT TEAM RESPONDED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN EXPLOSION IF THE GAS VAPORS IGNITED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR HYUNDAI SONATA. THE FUEL TANK CAN CRACK AND LEAK GASOLINE. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY 2000 SONATA. THE CAR IS NOW AT A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE REPLACING THE SUBRAME BECAUSE IT HAS A RECALL FOR SEVER RUST. THEY DO NOT WANT TO RECALL THE ISSUE WITH THE RUSTED, CRACKED FUEL TANK. *TR
Mileage: 110,000
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DEALER (TAYLOR HYUNDAI) DENIED THAT THERE WAS AN AIR BAG RECALL ON THIS MODEL. *TR
Mileage: 53,231
WHEN DRIVING TO WORK THE WHEEL START TO PULL. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I TOOK A LOOK AT THE FRAME THERE WAS A 2 INCH CRACK IN ONE SIDE AND A 1/4 INCH BY 20 INCH CRACK IN THE OTHER SIDE. WHEN I TOUCH IT THE FRAME WAS ROTTEN. *TR
Mileage: 16,200
WHEN DRIVING TO WORK THE WHEEL START TO PULL. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I TOOK A LOOK AT THE FRAME THERE WAS A 2 INCH CRACK IN ONE SIDE AND A 1/4 INCH BY 20 INCH CRACK IN THE OTHER SIDE. WHEN I TOUCH IT THE FRAME WAS ROTTEN. *TR
Mileage: 16,200
WHEN DRIVING TO WORK THE WHEEL START TO PULL. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I TOOK A LOOK AT THE FRAME THERE WAS A 2 INCH CRACK IN ONE SIDE AND A 1/4 INCH BY 20 INCH CRACK IN THE OTHER SIDE. WHEN I TOUCH IT THE FRAME WAS ROTTEN. *TR
Mileage: 16,200
WHEN I TRY TO FILL THE VEHICLE WITH GAS IT STOPS EVERY FEW CENTS, SIMULAR TO WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL, EVEN WHEN IT IS ON EMPTY. IT TAKES UPWARDS OF 30-45 MINUTES TO FILL THE GAS TANK. SOMETIMES THE GAS GAUGE IS ON LOW WHEN I TRY TO FILL IT UP BUT IT STOPS FILLING SO OFTEN THAT I HAVE TO CHANGE PUMPS TO BE ABLE TO FILL MY TANK TO FULL. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE GAS SPILL OUT THE TOP OF THE TANK JUST BY TRYING TO PUT ENOUGH GAS IN MY VEHICLE TO MAKE IT HOME. I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG HYUNDAI VEHICLE. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR TO HAVE A GOOD, RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR OUR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE ALLOWING HER TO GO ON A LONG ROAD TRIP WHEN SHE HAS TO SPEND SO LONG FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 HYUNDAI SONATA ON GOOD ROAD AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN THE LEFT THROUGH-LANE OF A MULTILANE STREET, I MADE A QUICK STOP (NOT AND EMERGENCY STOP) WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW. THE ROAD WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND DRY, AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT ABOUT 80 DEGREES F. UPON MAKING THIS STOP THE CAR PULLED UNUSUALLY SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT - IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE, I WOULD HAVE HIT IT. AFTER THIS STOP, THE FRONT TIRE(S) MADE UNUSUAL SQUEELING NOISES UPON TURNING, AND THE STEERING FELT UNUSUAL AND SHAKEY. I DROVE THE CAR DIRECTLY (ABOUT A MILE) TO THE PLACE WE WERE VISITING IN LAS VEGAS AND THE NEXT MORNING TOOK THE CAR DIRECTLY TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FRAME CROSSMEMBER (FRONT SUBFRAME) HAD A CORROSION HOLE THROUGH THE FRONT SUBBFRAME AND THE FRONT SUBFRAME HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) TIRE TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND SITTING AT AN ANGLE. THE DEALER'S ADVICE WAS T
Mileage: 197,700
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2000 Hyundai Sonata; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.