FaultScore

2001 Hyundai Sonata electrical problems

10 of the 293 complaints about the 2001 Hyundai Sonata are about the electrical system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 44,001 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 4 40.0%
12V/24V/48V Battery 2 20.0%
Ignition 2 20.0%
Interior/Under Dash 1 10.0%
Switch 1 10.0%

Electrical System across every Hyundai Sonata year

1993 10 0.5%
1999 15 0.8%
2000 39 2.0%
2001 10 0.5%
2002 23 1.2%
2003 19 1.0%
2004 17 0.9%
2005 19 1.0%
2006 86 4.4%
2007 51 2.6%
2008 32 1.6%
2009 62 3.2%
2010 16 0.8%
2011 444 22.6%
2012 234 11.9%
2013 260 13.2%
2014 136 6.9%
2015 167 8.5%
2016 90 4.6%
2017 65 3.3%
2018 60 3.1%
2019 12 0.6%
2020 37 1.9%
2021 17 0.9%
2022 15 0.8%
2023 12 0.6%
2024 18 0.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 28,159 miles Laguna Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HYUNDAI SONATA 2011 PUSH BUTTON START. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY I WENT INTO MY CAR AND PROCEEDED TO START MY CAR. I HAD TO PUSH THE START BUTTON THREE TIMES BEFORE ACTUALLY STARTED UP. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 2 HOURS. 5 DAYS PRIOR MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL ON THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. AN EXISTING RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000) INDICATES THAT FOR THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA THE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THEY ,THE DEALERSHIP, PERFORMED THE SERVICE AND REPLACED THE STOPLAMP SWITCH. AS RESULT MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT SWITCH POINT CONTACT WITH THE PUSH-BUTTON START FEATURE. THIS IS CRAZY.

NHTSA complaint #10554273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowie, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

MY 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM THE TIME I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND AS SOON AS I HIT THE 60,000 MILE MARK (THE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY ENDED AT THIS POINT), THE CAR CONSTANTLY HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. THE AIRBAGS WERE FIXED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE BRAKES HAD A LOUD SQUEAK AND DEALER REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME). THE SIDE FRONT WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN FIXED TWICE AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR IS BROKEN AND I HAD TO PUT TAPE ON IT SO THAT IT WILL STAY UP. THE TIMING BELT WENT OUT AFTER THE WARRANTY. SOME KIND OF COIL BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS TURNING ON. I STOPPED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AFTER THE CAR BROKE DOWN, HAD IT TOWED, DEALER IN LAUREL, MD CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT, CHARGED ME $768, PICKED UP CAR, SAME PROBLEM, ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON AND TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THERE WAS YET ANOTHER PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND THEY CHARGED ME OVER $500. STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND WAS CHARGED $45 FOR THE REPAIR. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. I JUST SPENT $435 ON ANOTHER REPAIR. NOW, AFTER EACH REPAIR, I JUST WAIT FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON AGAIN FOR THE NEXT EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND YET I'M STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS. ABSOLUTE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER HAD.

NHTSA complaint #10155865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowie, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

MY 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS GIVEN ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM THE TIME I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND AS SOON AS I HIT THE 60,000 MILE MARK (THE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY ENDED AT THIS POINT), THE CAR CONSTANTLY HAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. THE AIRBAGS WERE FIXED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE BRAKES HAD A LOUD SQUEAK AND DEALER REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME). THE SIDE FRONT WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN FIXED TWICE AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR IS BROKEN AND I HAD TO PUT TAPE ON IT SO THAT IT WILL STAY UP. THE TIMING BELT WENT OUT AFTER THE WARRANTY. SOME KIND OF COIL BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS TURNING ON. I STOPPED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AFTER THE CAR BROKE DOWN, HAD IT TOWED, DEALER IN LAUREL, MD CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT, CHARGED ME $768, PICKED UP CAR, SAME PROBLEM, ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON AND TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THERE WAS YET ANOTHER PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT AND THEY CHARGED ME OVER $500. STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND WAS CHARGED $45 FOR THE REPAIR. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. I JUST SPENT $435 ON ANOTHER REPAIR. NOW, AFTER EACH REPAIR, I JUST WAIT FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON AGAIN FOR THE NEXT EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND YET I'M STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS. ABSOLUTE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER HAD.

NHTSA complaint #10155865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,305 miles Hartland, VT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS V6. AS I WAS COASTING DOWN THE EXIT RAMP OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, APPROACH A STOP LIGHT, MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS ABLE TO STOP ONLY BY APPLYING THE BRAKE WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE, BARELY AVOIDING A COLLISION WITH CARS STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. I THEN SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE BEGAN ALTERNATELY REVVING UP TO BEYOND 3,000 RPM AND BACK DOWN TO IDLE REPEATEDLY. THIS STOPPED AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAPPENED TWICE MORE AT SUCCEEDING STOP LIGHTS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY REPAIRED IT BY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH-INHIBITOR (PART NO. 42700-39050). ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT COVERED BY SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 03-40-013. WHILE I MANAGED TO AVERT AN ACCIDENT, THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A MANDATORY RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10109864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Macomb, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

RECALL 02V105000, AFTER IGNITION SWITCH RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED THE DEFECT RECURRED. 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 CUSHION ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS, AND COULD PREVENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR.*AK CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICES RENDERED AND THE HARSH TREATMENT RECEIVED.

NHTSA complaint #10091660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,001 miles Kunkletown, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE MISSES AND BACKFIRES THROUGH THE INTAKE. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS IN PARK, OR IF YOU ARE DRIVING IT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS SITTING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATOR WENT UP TO 4200 RPM BY ITSELF WITH NO FOOT ON THE PEDAL. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT, I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD TO TAKE IT OUT OF DRIVE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE ENGINES RPMS CHANGE A LOT NOW AND WILL NOT IDLE RIGHT AT ALL; THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE ENGINE PROBLEMS; AND SHOULD NOT BE ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD A PENNSYLVANIA CERTIFIED INSPECTION MECHANIC LOOK AT AND DRIVE THE CAR; AND HE SAID THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE; AND IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DUE FOR STATE INSPECTION THAT IT WOULD HAVE NOT PASSED; BUT FAILED AND WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10064050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Covington, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED A SENSOR THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10022662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conyers, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CAR WENT DEAD UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM A VISITING TRIP. AND IS CONCERNED AS TO WHY WOULD A NEW CAR WOULD NEED A BATTERY, UNLESS IT DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #567471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DEALERSHIP STATES BRAKES ARE NORMAL. THEY SAID ALL HYUNDAI CAR BRAKES MAKES NOISE; WORKED ON AIR BAG LIGHT - STATED IT WAS ON DUE TO SOMEONE GIVING A JUMP IN MY CAR, LIGHT CAME BACK ON 3 DAYS LATER; CHANGED A SWITCH WHICH WAS CAUSING NO ACCERALATION, CAR STILL NOT GETTING THE ACCERATION IT SHOULD. NOW I'M GETTING SOME HUMMING NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD SOMEWHERE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR 8 MONTH. IT IS A LEMON AND JACOBS TWIN CONTINUES TO PUT A BAND-AID ON A PATIENT BLEEDING TO DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #755148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Syracuse, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WITH LESS THAN 1300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO BUCK AND SURGE IN TRAFFIC AT 65MPH, AND THE TACHOMETER BEGAN SWINGING WILDLY FROM 0 TO 2500RPM. AFTER GETTING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD QUICKLY, WHERE IT STALLED AGAIN AND AGAIN, I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW TO THE DEALER. THEY EXAMINED AND DROVE THE CAR, AND TOLD ME IT WASN'T ACTING UP FOR THEM, AND SUGGESTED I TAKE IT HOME WHILE THEY ORDERED AN EXHAUST PURGE VALVE PER A 2.4L ENGINE PROBLEM SERVICE BULLETIN FROM HYUNDAI. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TOWARD HOME, IT BEGAN BUCKING AND THE TACHOMETER WAS SWINGING WILDLY AGAIN, SO I GOT OFF TO THE SIDE, WHERE IT REPEATEDLY STALLED, AND AGAIN I CALLED HYUNDAI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY RENTED A CAR FOR ME, AND OVER THE NEXT WEEK REPLACED THE PURGE VALVE, BUT THE CAR ALSO DIED ON THEM, SO THEY DID A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS, WHICH SHOWED A FAILED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH CAUSED IGNITION SPARK FAILURE. AFTER REPLACING THAT, THEY CALLED ME TO COME GET THE CAR AND TAKE IT HOME. THIS TIME IT FAILED JUST AS I REACHED MY DRIVEWAY, AGAIN BUCKING AND STALLING WITH THE TACHOMETER SWINGING WILDLY UP AND DOWN. FOR A THIRD TIME, I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW TO THE DEALER, WHICH PROMISED A SEARCH TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES, INVOLVEMENT OF THE DISTRICT MANAGER, AND AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A DIFFERENT SENSOR MODEL IN CASE THE BATCH OF AVAILABLE SENSORS WAS "BAD". SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT PRODUCED ANY ANSWER AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES, DELAYS IN OBTAINING A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT PART, AND SO FAR, A TOTAL OF 18 INOPERABLE DAYS FOR MY NEW CAR. THIS FAILURE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE; A PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT "OTHER (HYUNDAI) VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM" ONE OF WHICH WAS THERE WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALER WAITING FOR MY SECOND RENTAL CAR. I REPEAT; THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE; SUCH SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN TRAFFIC CAN HAVE FATAL RESULTS!

NHTSA complaint #753012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Hyundai Sonata problems

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