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1991 Hyundai Sonata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Hyundai Sonata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 161.

About this comparison →
29Owner complaints

Model-year median: 161

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
198811
198916
199029
199122
199226
19933
1994
Compare all Sonata years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
9Power Train
7Engine And Engine Cooling
6Electrical System
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
2Air Bags
1Steering
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports5 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM CAR, TURNED OFF IGNITION, RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT TURN. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OWNER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE, BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHCLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822236

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1998
Electrical System

STARTER FAILED TWICE/REPLACED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533329

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1996
Electrical SystemSeat Belts

IGNITION STUCK IN START POSITION, CAUSING STARTER TO BURN OUT/CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #508020

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

IGNITION COIL FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #503208

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

ALTENATOR AND STARTER ARE DEFECTIVE, RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #980939

Official recalls

1

93V196000 · Seat Belts

Nov 29, 1993

THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT CAN TRAVEL SLOWLY OR CHATTER IN THE TRACK AND MAY EVENTUALLY STOP TRACKING AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SLOWING, CHATTERING, OR FAILURE OF THE MOTORIZED SHOULDERBELT MAY DISCOURAGE USE OF THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURYIN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL LUBRICATE THE TRACK ASSEMBLY AND, IF ANY SYSTEMS ARE FOUND INOPERATIVE, THE SYSTEM WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED, AS REQUIRED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE94043 · Charging System Failures

Opened May 27, 1994 · Closed Oct 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE93061 · Pass.restraint System Fail

Opened Jul 8, 1993 · Closed Nov 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available