IllustrationVEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL . TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. TOOK VEHICLE AGAIN TO DEALER WHO INDICATED VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES CAMSHAFT SEALS WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE OIL LEAK. *SLC
1995 Hyundai Sonata
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 3 of 66 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
9 reportsTIMING BELT BROKE AT 50,739 IN JUN 99, STILL WAS UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACED TIMING BELT, ALONG WITH HEAD, VALVES, PISTONS. TIMING BELT BROKE AGAIN IN JUN 2001 AT 80,000. HYUNDAI SERVICE SAYS THAT THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. WILL COSTS 3300.00. *AK
STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, COMPLETELY STOPPED AND NEVER RESTARTED.
#1: TRANSMISSION GIVES VERY HARD SHIFT WHEN FIRST GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ALSO VERY HARD DOWN SHIFT THAT SHAKES ENTIRE CAR WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. #2: TRANSMISSION FAILS TO RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING DURING VERY LONG DISTANCE DRIVES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE ON A 400 MILE DRIVE DURING THE MOUNTAIN PORTION AND A 2ND TIME ON …
Read full complaint
#1: TRANSMISSION GIVES VERY HARD SHIFT WHEN FIRST GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. ALSO VERY HARD DOWN SHIFT THAT SHAKES ENTIRE CAR WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. #2: TRANSMISSION FAILS TO RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATING DURING VERY LONG DISTANCE DRIVES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE ON A 400 MILE DRIVE DURING THE MOUNTAIN PORTION AND A 2ND TIME ON A 90 MILE DRIVE. #3: ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. DEALERSHIP STATED IT IS A SHORT, IGNORE IT. #4: GAS GAUGE ON E WHEN NOT EMPTY AND FUEL LIGHT NEVER COMES ON. #5: DEALERSHIP BROKE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FIX #6. NEVER REPLACED. #6: POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN DRIVER DOOR BURNT OUT. REAR PASSENGER SIDE IS FAILING. #7: POWER LOCKS UNLOCK/LOCK BY THEMSELVES OR DO NOT UNLOCK ALL WITH KEY.
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AND STOPS . INCIDENT OCCURS. WHEN MOVING THE VEHICLE JUMPS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER FAILED. ALSO REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND RADIO.
WHEN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON . SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG EXPLODED, SLIGHTLY INJURING THE PASSENGER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING.
ENGINE NOISE. *SKD
Official recalls
295V163000 · Suspension:rear:shock Absorber
Aug 23, 1995
ONE OR BOTH OF THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER SPRING SEATS ARE NOT SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND CAN SLIDE LOWER ONTO THE SHOCK ABSORBER THAN INTENDED. THE REAR SPRING WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION TO SUPPORT THE VEHICLE BODY AT ITS NORMAL HEIGHT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF REAR SPRING SUPPORT CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE FROM THE SUSPECT PRODUCTION. IF THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE FROM THE SUSPECT PRODUCTION, THE SHOCK ABSORBER/SPRING SEAT ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED.
94V166000 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 1, 1994
THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE LABEL AFFIXED TO THE LEFT REAR DOOR STATES THAT THE VEHICLE CAPACITY IS "1,100 POUNDS". THIS INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. THE CORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT IS 860 POUNDS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: LOADING OF THE VEHICLE BEYOND THE CAPACITY WEIGHT CAN CAUSE TIRE AND VEHICLE DAMAGE THAT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: HYUNDAI WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A NEW LABEL SHOWING THE CORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION.
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.