IllustrationAIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILED.
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 →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 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
What owners actually said
23 reportsWATER LEAKS FROM UNDERHOOD INTO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES AND SHAKES . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD STALL EVERY TIME A/C IS USED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. AS SOON AS CONSUMER SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO VIBRATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BATTERY BLOWING UP WHILE SITTING IN VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE BATTERY IN PIECES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH RIGHT TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. BULB WOULD LAST EIGHT MONTH OR LESS. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPLACING BULB AT THE COST TO CONSUMER.*AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWO TIMES.
TRANSMISSION, BRAKE, ENGINE, AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE.
Official recalls
197V026000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.