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1996 Hyundai Sonata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Hyundai Sonata are lower than the model-year median of 161.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 161

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
26
19933
199466
199523
199649
199749
1998124
1999
Compare all Sonata years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
6Electrical System
5Power Train
5Air Bags
3Equipment
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Structure
2Visibility
2Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Steering
1Suspension
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
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 23 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999
Electrical SystemSteering

THE POWER-STEERING PUMP S LEAKING DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR, AND SHORTING IT OUT. DEALER LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES AND REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE GOING INTO THE PUMP, AS WELL AS THE CRUSH WASHERS. THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE AGAIN, AND IT OCCURRED THREE MORE …

Read full complaint

THE POWER-STEERING PUMP S LEAKING DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR, AND SHORTING IT OUT. DEALER LOOKED AT IT THREE TIMES AND REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE GOING INTO THE PUMP, AS WELL AS THE CRUSH WASHERS. THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PSI LINE AGAIN, AND IT OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEREFORE WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE MORE TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I, THE OWNER, BUILT A GUARD OVER THE ALTERNATOR TO PREVENT THE FLUID FROM LEAKING INTO THE ALTERNATOR. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS, BUT IT TOOK THE ENGINEERING OF MYSELF TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #713643

Official recalls

1

97V026000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Feb 26, 1997

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.

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.