10 of the
288 complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata are about the
engine — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
102,500 miles.
UNKNOWN, I recently purchased it from a dealership in Lemon Grove Cailfornia. Ever since I bought it,it has never had a catalytic converter and only one muffler. It is a 2.7L motor DOHC and requires 2 catalytic converters and dual exhaust due to the double overhead cam. It has cause motor oil into my engine block and has coughed my heater core. Also blown head gasket. I have hired certified ASE mechanics to replace parts and then I run into another problem.
NHTSA complaint #11545320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newark, DE
ENGINE
LEAKING VALVE COVER IS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK DOWN ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. CAR CAN BE STATIONARY OR RUNNING. MOST NOTABLE WHEN CAR ENGINE IS RUNNING. OIL LEAKING ONTO ALTERNATOR CAN CAUSE ALTERNATOR TO SHORT. ALTERNATOR FAILED AND CAR BATTERY COULD NOT CHARGE BATTERY. CAR DIED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE HAD TO PULL QUICKLY OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11182857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesRittman, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC FOR FUEL PUMP WORK. HE INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE IS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR AND IS UN-SAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND THE RECALL ONLINE AND CALLED HYUNDAI. THEY INFORMED ME THAT REMEDIATION HAD BEEN DONE IN 2009. (A NEW HOLE FOR DRAINAGE HAD BEEN DRILLED IN THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME AND A SEALANT APPLIED). EVIDENTLY THIS DID NOT STOP THE CORROSION OF THE FRAME AND CAUSED A WEAKENING OF THE FRAME AND A CRACK IN THE STRUCTURAL AREA OF THE FRAME. IS HYUNDAI LIABLE TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT? I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES OF THE DEFECT AND CRACK IN FRAME IF NECESSARY.
NHTSA complaint #10679022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesSierra Madre, CA
ENGINE
THE CAR STARTED LOSING SPEED AND STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 6 MONTHS LATER.
NHTSA complaint #10574627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesBattle Creek, MICrash
ENGINE
BACKING INTO THE GARAGE, MY FOOT ON BRAKE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED TO HIGH RPM, THE CAR SHOT BACKWARDS, PROPELLING A HEAVY RUBBER MAT ON WHICH THE CAR IS NORMALLY PARKED OUT OF THE GARAGE AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE THEN IMPACTED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE REAR GARAGE WALL BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I MANAGED TO PRY THE GEAR LEVER OUT OF REVERSE, HIT DRIVE INSTEAD AND SENT THE CAR, WHEELS STILL SPINNING AND LAYING DOWN RUBBER, FORWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE. ON ITS WAY OUT THE CAR SWIPED ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE THE GARAGE DOOR POST BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO A STOP IN THE DRIVEWAY. FINAL RESULT, SERIOUS DAMAGE TO BOTH THE CAR AND THE GARAGE. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT OCCUR IN TRAFFIC OR WITH PEDESTRIANS IN THE AREA. ON-LINE RESEARCH HAS SINCE SHOWN ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS WHERE HYUNDAI SONATAS HAVE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON THEIR OWN. SEE HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/HYUNDAI/SONATA/CAR-ACCELERATES-ON-ITS-OWN-PROBLEMS.PHP.
NHTSA complaint #10504759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 131,000 milesPortage, MI
ENGINE
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE (DUE TO CORROSION); THE RESULT OF THIS BROKE THE RIGHT FRONT HALF AXLE, AND DETROYED RIGHT FRONT TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10502166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesRockfield, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2004 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS DIES RANDOMLY WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR TURNING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THEN STARTS RIGHT UP AND MAY NOT DO IT AGAIN FOR A MONTH OR A FEW DAYS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND VEHICLE RUNS GREAT BESIDES DYING IN TRAFFIC WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10348606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,100 milesSanta Cruz, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA AT LOW SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS SPACE FOR ME TO PULL TO THE CURB AND NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF TRYING THE CAR STARTED UP AND I DROVE IT HOME. THREE DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON A BUSY STREET AT ABOUT 10 MPH. AGAIN I WAS FORTUNATE AND COULD PULL TO THE CURB. THIS TIME I COULD NOT START IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A "DEFECTIVE EVAP. SOLENOID THAT WAS CAUSING ENGINE FLOODING." THIS WAS A VERY SCARY OCCURRENCE--IF IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER (DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING) AND MY SUDDEN SLOWING COULD CAUSE REAR-END CRASH. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10252206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesNewton, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2004 HYNDAI SONATA STALLS ON HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10246690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,500 milesFlemington, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS. WHEN IT OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME HE ATTEMPTED THREE TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNED OVER. THE SECOND TIME THE KEY REMAINED IN THE IGNITION FOR FOUR MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND ONLY OCCURRED ONCE. BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM NO REPAIRS WERE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10143766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.