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1993 Hyundai Sonata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Hyundai Sonata are lower than the model-year median of 161.

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 161

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
16
199029
199122
199226
19933
199466
199523
1996
Compare all Sonata years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
9Power Train
9Electrical System
7Steering
3Seat Belts
2
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Unknown Or Other
2Exterior Lighting
1Interior Lighting
1Seats
1Visibility
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 26 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.

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

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED AT PURCHASE BECAUSE OF SLOW REACTION AND NOISE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON HILL IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC, VALVE SEALS REPLACED AFTER CAR CONTINUALLY BLEW SMOKE FROM BURNING THE OIL, CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER FAILING TO WORK, FRONT CAM, LIFTERS AND A ROCKER REPLACED (NO IDEA IF THIS COULD BE A SAFTEY HAZA…

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BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED AT PURCHASE BECAUSE OF SLOW REACTION AND NOISE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON HILL IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC, VALVE SEALS REPLACED AFTER CAR CONTINUALLY BLEW SMOKE FROM BURNING THE OIL, CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AFTER FAILING TO WORK, FRONT CAM, LIFTERS AND A ROCKER REPLACED (NO IDEA IF THIS COULD BE A SAFTEY HAZARD OR NOT BUT IT IS UNUSUAL), POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED (MECHANIC SAID WAS IN POOR CONDITION AND WAS PITTED AND SUCH)CAR OVERHEATED SUDDENLY ONE DAY ON INTERSTATE-REPLACED WATER PUMP AND THE THERMOSTAT BUT APPARENTLY NEEDS A HEAD GASKET,FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW SLID DOWN BUT NOT UP ONE DAY AND IS PROPPED UP INSIDE PANEL WITH BOARDS REPAIRS TOTAL TO NEARLY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND I PAID SEVEN THOUSAND FOR THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735806

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

HAVE REPLACED TRANSMISSION, FRONT CAM, LIFTERS, ROCKER, TIMING BELT, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, POWER STEERING PUMP, VALVE SEALS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, BRAKES. TO BE REPAIRED ENGINE-WISE: REAR CAM, DRIVE AXLES, CYLINDER HEADS OR HEAD GASKETS

NHTSA ODI #734408

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1999
Power Train

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #715784

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Power Train

PROBLEMS WITH CHANGING GEARS. WOULD GO 30MPH. WOULD GET NO SPEED. TRANSMISSION MADE GRINDING NOISE. BEEN TO DEALER & HAD MECHANIC CHANGE TRANSMISSION. THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WAS SAME AS FIRST. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE AGAIN, 3 MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. FINALLY TOOK VE…

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PROBLEMS WITH CHANGING GEARS. WOULD GO 30MPH. WOULD GET NO SPEED. TRANSMISSION MADE GRINDING NOISE. BEEN TO DEALER & HAD MECHANIC CHANGE TRANSMISSION. THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WAS SAME AS FIRST. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE AGAIN, 3 MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. FINALLY TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER & MECHANIC NOTICED THE MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849014

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR/STARTER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #781744

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 1998
Power Train

4-SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #537542

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1998
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #524195

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1997
Electrical SystemPower Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE; ALSO REPLACED HORN AND IGNITION SWITCH, *AK

NHTSA ODI #515316

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1997
Electrical SystemPower Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HORN, AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #546735

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.