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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

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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

What owners actually said

66 reports
125,000 miles · Aug 18, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 HYUNDAI SONATA GL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 60 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT MANUALLY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTRO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 HYUNDAI SONATA GL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 60 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT MANUALLY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ODI #10350240

142,000 miles · Feb 20, 2008
Power TrainCrashInjury

I'M THE OWNER OF A 1995 HYUNDAI SONATA, 2.0L DOHC, AUTOMATIC. DRIVING ON A ICY ROAD IN MICHIGAN THE TRANNY DOWNSHIFTED BY ITSELF FROM 4TH(OD) TO 1ST GEAR AND LOCKED IN 1ST GEAR THROWING ME IN A SNOW BANK! IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SNOW BANK TO STOP THE CAR, I WOULD'VE ENDED IN FRONT OF A INCOMING SEMI! THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD HARSH …

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I'M THE OWNER OF A 1995 HYUNDAI SONATA, 2.0L DOHC, AUTOMATIC. DRIVING ON A ICY ROAD IN MICHIGAN THE TRANNY DOWNSHIFTED BY ITSELF FROM 4TH(OD) TO 1ST GEAR AND LOCKED IN 1ST GEAR THROWING ME IN A SNOW BANK! IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SNOW BANK TO STOP THE CAR, I WOULD'VE ENDED IN FRONT OF A INCOMING SEMI! THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD HARSH SHIFTS/DOWNSHIFTS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT I NEVER HAD ANTICIPATED LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND A HYNUDAI TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THAT 1995 MODEL TRANSMISSIONS CONTROL UNITS MAY NEED TO BE REFLASHED WITH NEWER VERSION SOFTWARE OR REPLACED WITH NEWER UNITS. APPARENTLY HYUNDAI DIDN'T MAKE A PRIORITY IN NOTIFYING THE OWNERS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER CAUSING ERRATIC SHIFTS/DOWNSHIFTS! AFTER TALKING TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE I GOT THE FOLLOWING ANSWER: "THE 1995 MODEL SONATA IS KNOWN FOR RANDOM TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, AND LIMPING MODE ISSUES? .." I WAS SPEECHLESS KNOWING OTHER PEOPLE OWN AND DRIVE THIS MODEL AND THAT SAME THING MAY HAPPEN TO THEM. PLEASE, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218593

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2006
Structure

1995 HYUNDAI SONATA SUB-FRAME BROKE IN HALF WHILE MOVING. *KB THE CONSUME STATED THE REPLACEMENT CROSS MEMBER HAS NOW FORMED A CRACK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168017

107,263 miles · Nov 9, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

SPEED CONTROL ISSUE: THE VEHICLE IDLE IS ROUGH & IRREGULAR, STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, $$$..EXPENSIVE REPAIRS-SAME PROBLEMS. THE STALLINGS ACCOUNTS FOR SEVERAL NEAR REAR-END COLLISIONS. FINALLY,ON NOV.8,2004. I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR,THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FROM 0 TO 40 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,ALMOST CRASHED INTO SOME PARK…

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SPEED CONTROL ISSUE: THE VEHICLE IDLE IS ROUGH & IRREGULAR, STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, $$$..EXPENSIVE REPAIRS-SAME PROBLEMS. THE STALLINGS ACCOUNTS FOR SEVERAL NEAR REAR-END COLLISIONS. FINALLY,ON NOV.8,2004. I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR,THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FROM 0 TO 40 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,ALMOST CRASHED INTO SOME PARKED VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL & BRAKES APPLIED TO STOP THIS OUT-OF -CONTROL VEHICLE. A NON-EXPERIENCE DRIVER WOULD OF CRASHED, INJURING SELF,OTHER(S) & PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A PARKING SPOT WERE IT WILL REMAIN UNTIL EXAMINED. NOW,THE THROTTLE LINKAGE IS STUCK IN THE OPEN-POSITION. RESOLUTION: WHAT MUST BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS "DEATH-TRAP" ISSUE?? SHOULD THE HYUNDAI COMPANY BE NOTIFIED??*AK

NHTSA ODI #10098507

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2004
Power Train

MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PULL FORWARD ONLY IN REVERSE AND I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND THERES A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE EXACT SAME CAR AS I DO THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. YOU CANT FIND LOCAL MECHANICS TO WORK ON THEM BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SO COMPLEX. AND BEINGS THAT SO M…

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MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PULL FORWARD ONLY IN REVERSE AND I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND THERES A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE EXACT SAME CAR AS I DO THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. YOU CANT FIND LOCAL MECHANICS TO WORK ON THEM BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SO COMPLEX. AND BEINGS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA ARE HAVEING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME CAR THE COMPANY SHOULD HONOR THEIR COMPANY AND ADMIT THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAULTY AND RECALL THEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10081263

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER HAS 2 SONATAS, SAME YEAR, THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, ONE OCCURRED AT 96266 MILES AND THE OTHER AT 130294 MILES. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #567304

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE 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

NHTSA ODI #8009494

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2001
Power TrainVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, TRANSMISSION ROARS UP HIGH, AND WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN PLACE IT IS HARD TO STEER. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #6900589

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Power Train

TRASMISSION FAILED--LASTED 1 MONTH FAILED GAIN--NEEDED NEW COMPUTER BOARD AND TRANSMISSION A 2ND TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749960

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING 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

NHTSA ODI #748338

Official recalls

2

95V163000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.