2004 Hyundai Sonata
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Suspension, Wheels & Tires leads by volume: 65 of 202 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (15) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 199 in 2003 to 202 in 2004.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | vs. 2004 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,100 | 2,700–3,100 | 2,700–3,100 | 2,700–3,100 | 2,500–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–23 | 20–23 | 20–23 | 20–23 | 21–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18–20 / 25–28 | 17–20 / 25–28 | 17–20 / 25–28 | 17–20 / 25–28 | 18–21 / 27–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–444 | 386–444 | 386–444 | 386–444 | 355–423 | |
| Complaints filed | 319 | 199 | 202 | 165 | 1,047 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 31 | 17 | 22 | 26 | 43 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | |
| Injuries reported | 54 | 45 | 32 | 27 | 38 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2004 Hyundai Sonata have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires: 65 of 202 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Hyundai Sonata get?
EPA rates it 20–23 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Hyundai Sonata?
EPA estimates $2,700–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 19 mpg | 28 mpg (high) | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 18 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 16 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 65 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 46 | 15 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 56 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
SUSPENSION · Campaign 09V124000 · Apr 16, 2009
Defect: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 188,282 MY 2001-2004 SONATA AND MY 2001-2004 XG300 AND XG350 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT IN THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL. THE CORROSION IS FREQUENTLY VISIBLE AND OFTEN DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND OWNERS MAY ALSO HEAR NOISES OR NOTICE TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. IF THESE SIGNALS ARE UNDETECTED OR UNHEEDED, THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY DETACH FROM THE SUB-FRAME.
Consequence: IF THAT HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND THE FRONT WHEEL MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FENDER OR WHEEL WELL, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME FOR CORROSION DAMAGE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW SUB-FRAME THAT INCORPORATES ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME DOES NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE SUB-FRAME AND WILL TREAT THE SUB-FRAME WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO STOP THE CORROSION PROCESS. THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.