Hyundai Sonata / 2003
2003 Hyundai Sonata problems
Owners have filed 249 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Sonata with NHTSA. Air bags account for 18.1% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of structure at 15.7%.
Complaints249
Crashes28
Fires2
Injuries60
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Air bags 18.1% · 45
Structure 15.7% · 39
Electrical system 7.6% · 19
Suspension 6.0% · 15
Engine and engine cooling 5.6% · 14
Latches/locks/linkages 5.2% · 13
Service brakes, hydraulic 4.8% · 12
Wheels 4.4% · 11
Severity
Of those complaints, 28 describe a crash, 2 describe a fire and 60 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 25 model years of the Hyundai Sonata in this data, 2003 sits 19th by complaint volume. 2011 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 5 in the last three years against 8 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 70,872 miles.
In owners' own words
In 2005 while driving my girl friends 2003 Hyundai Sonata, I went to make a left turn of a main street in oakland, ca. And was hit by a 2006 mercedes benz own the passenger side. No air bags where deployed at all. $8.000 Dollars in damage was done. Hyundai corporation never came out to look at the car, but ruled that the sensors acted properly. The car wa equipped I believe with front and side air bags. Air bags · reported at 46,800 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated and the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician advised the contact that the vehicle would have to undergo diagnostic testing at the contact expense. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 06/07/11*lj updated 06/1311 Air bags · reported at 40,000 miles
My 2003 Hyundai Sonata gls has a dash air bag light continually on. The local dealer said they have seen this problem before. The car has never been in an accident and has @ 70,000 miles. He said a diagnostic test would be needed to figure out why the light stays on and I would have to pay for this, I noticed similar complaints on the web site. Has Hyundai done anything about this problem? Air bags · reported at 69,500 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…