IllustrationVEHICLE LEAKING OIL. NLM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonata years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
26 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND BOTH FRONT BACK SEATS BROKE. DRIVER WAS INJURED. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, BUT PROVIDED NO HELP. *AK *ML
ENGINE TIMING BELT MALFUNCTIONED FOUR TIMES, CAUSING THE VALVES TO BEND AND ENGINE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR/STARTER FAILED.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK
WHEN TURNING RIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON, THE SWITCH APPARENTLY SHORTS OUT ALL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR. HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTINGUISHED WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS APPLIED.
4-SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLS IN THE FAST LANE. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP. *AK
CONSUMER SUSPECTS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ROUGH SURFACE ROADS, BRAKES HAVE GIVEN AWAY A NUMBER OF TIMES. ON SMOOTH ROAD/RIDES BRAKES ARE FINE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN GUAM, WHERE PROBLEM BEGAN WHILE STILL UNDER WARRENTY. PROBLEM WAS RPORTED, BUTGAUM DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. FAIRFAX H…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER SUSPECTS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ROUGH SURFACE ROADS, BRAKES HAVE GIVEN AWAY A NUMBER OF TIMES. ON SMOOTH ROAD/RIDES BRAKES ARE FINE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN GUAM, WHERE PROBLEM BEGAN WHILE STILL UNDER WARRENTY. PROBLEM WAS RPORTED, BUTGAUM DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. FAIRFAX HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA, WILL NOT TOUCH/NO WARRENTY, AND CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH GAUM DEALERSHIP. *AK
Official recalls
193V196000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.