NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Hyundai Sonata Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2004 Hyundai Sonata has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 202 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Hyundai dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Hyundai Sonata owner complaints

Owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, describing incidents dated March 8, 2004 to April 28, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Suspension 56 complaints
  • Structure 47 complaints
  • Air Bags 46 complaints
  • Electrical System 17 complaints
  • Service Brakes 16 complaints
  • Steering 13 complaints

Of the 202 complaints on file, 22 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 202 complaints, owners report 32 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11734599 · Filed

    2004 Hyundai Sonata GLS front sub frame (K Frame) has rusted out but I guess for certain VIN numbers there was a recall. Mine has the same issue and has caused suspension issues with the control arms and axles, subframe has snapped due to rusting in Michigan.

  • ODI #11718609 · Filed

    On February, 16th 2026, I took my vehicle into the Automotive shop for an oil change. They inspected the car as well and they found that the front passenger side of the vehicle subframe has a substantial amount of the metal rusted through. The file attached was a photo of the repair invoice from…

  • ODI #11681163 · Filed

    I got this car a Hyundai sonata 2004 about 2 to 3 years ago. At first I didn't notice the problem until a couple months into me having the car I was on the freeway and it suddenly felt like I was out of control of my car and the back end was like swerving like I was pulling a trailer. And ever since…

Read all 202 complaints

Owner-reported

2004 Hyundai Sonata mileage at failure

153 of the 202 complaints on file for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
SuspensionMedian 120,000 milesMiddle half 80,000–150,000 milesBased on 42 complaints
StructureMedian 95,000 milesMiddle half 75,000–125,000 milesBased on 38 complaints
Air BagsMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 55,000–110,000 milesBased on 33 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Hyundai Sonata in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION

NHTSA #09V124000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported April 16, 2009 · Hyundai Motor Company

Potentially affected: 188,282 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 089 · Owners notified July 17, 2009 · Vehicles built September 15, 1998 – November 20, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT IN THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL. THE CORROSION IS FREQUENTLY VISIBLE AND OFTEN DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND OWNERS MAY ALSO HEAR NOISES OR NOTICE TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. IF THESE SIGNALS ARE UNDETECTED OR UNHEEDED, THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY DETACH FROM THE SUB-FRAME.

Safety consequence

IF THAT HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND THE FRONT WHEEL MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FENDER OR WHEEL WELL, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME FOR CORROSION DAMAGE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW SUB-FRAME THAT INCORPORATES ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME DOES NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE SUB-FRAME AND WILL TREAT THE SUB-FRAME WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO STOP THE CORROSION PROCESS. THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Notes

HYUNDAI RECALL NO. 089.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Hyundai Sonata model years

Check your 2004 Hyundai Sonata VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Hyundai Sonata at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Hyundai VIN