10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,845 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Hyundai Sonata engine problems

engine problem

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2001 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 052011

Sonata

  • 20,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

As I was driving down the road at apprx 30 mph. The car would de celerate. I would have to take my foot off the gas and then put back on to get the car to move. Also at the same time the car would bang into gear from park and into reverse. I was told it needed a new transmission. The car was purchased new out of the showroom with 10 miles on it and 6 months later a new transmission. ( well we were told at the time it was brand new, I have since learned that it was a rebuilt) shame on the dealer for lying to customers. The car did ok till about 3 months ago. The car will decelerate and I have to do what I stated above. Then cant get out of park and the traction control light comes on. This has happened numerous times. A new brake switch was put in and the car was fine for 7 full days and on the 8th day same thing. So back we go to the dealers and they are really rude and not happy to see me at all. ( I don't' want to see them either) I was told same problem and another switch has been put in this is the third one. The other issue is we are not being notified of recalls. And the dealership is so rude. Will never own another one.

- Spencer , MA, USA

problem #10

Feb 012011

Sonata

  • 82,300 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 to 25 mph when the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. Even after applying the brakes it continued to accelerate. The driver was able to stop by using the emergency brake. The vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic who advised the contact that he was unable to diagnose the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,300. The VIN was unavailable.

- Hernandez, NM, USA

problem #9

Aug 302008

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. While driving approximately 55 mph on normal road conditions, the contact heard a loud noise outside of the vehicle. The engine began to reduce power without assistance. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven cautiously to an authorized dealer for inspection and they replaced the frame cross member assembly and speed sensor. The failure mileage was 124,000 and current mileage was 130,000. Updated 04-23-09 updated 04/30/09.

- California, KY, USA

problem #8

Aug 202004

Sonata 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving, thr vehicle jerked to a stop. It was discovered that speed sensor was defective. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the manufacture will not accept responsibility. The brakes had worn away, one brake pad was missing, there was a loud grinding sound in the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle refused to shift when turning corners. The service dealer found it nessasary to replace the rear oxygen sensor and found that the output speed sensor was faulty.

- Clarks Summit, PA, USA

problem #7

Jun 152004

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles
I heard a repetitive clicking sound and turned my radio off to listen. The noise didn't change when I slowed down and I resumed my normal speed of 60 mph. After a few seconds the car slowly & gradually began pulling to the left. I was unable to steer the vehicle at all and was moving into the shoulder and median between the highways. I tried to apply my brakes but the car was not responding. I had no steering or brakes and was heading towards oncoming traffic at 60 mph. I hit the end of a guard rail and the air bags did not deploy. These cars are not safe to drive! we also had a problem w/it hesitating when it tried to switch gears & the dealership was unable to fix. And the driver window would not stay in the track and shut properly.

- Okeana, OH, USA

problem #6

Jun 172002

Sonata

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 35-40 mph and neither air bag deployed. Dealer and manufacturer were not notified at this time. Consumer also stated that he was stopping the vehicle when it stalled then suddenly it sped forward, even as consumer applied the brakes. Even after pulling the emergency brake, the vehicle continued on hi rev. There was one injury.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #5

Jun 172002

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While applying brakes for a stop light vehicle suddenly accelerated was force vehicle into an intersection, and get involved in a frontal collision with an ongong vehicle. Dealer and manufacuerer were not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further infromation.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #4

Jun 162001

Sonata

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle accelerated suddenly, resulting in a collision, and causing minor injuries to driver. Consumer states this accident happened the day that the vehicle was going to be taken to the dealer for this sudden acceleration problem.

- Oakdale, MN, USA

problem #3

Jun 212001

(reported on)

Sonata

  • miles
When driving and with no prior warning vehicle will start to jerk, and then it will accelerate.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #2

May 052001

Sonata

  • miles
While driving rpms go up high, idle will not drop. Been to dealer 5 times for same problem.

- Lacey, WA, USA

problem #1

Apr 282001

Sonata

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
On April 28, 2001 I and three other passengers were riding in the vehicle. I was traveling down a long grade at 35 to 40 miles per hour. Toward the bottom of the grade the road curves to the right and at the bottom there is a traffic signal. When I came around the curve I saw that the light was green and proceeded to accelerate in order to get up the approaching upgrade. When I attempted to accelerate the engine revved very high but the vehicle continued to slow down. Tansmission had shifted into neutral although the shifter still indicated that I was in drive. The vehicle would not automatically shift out of neutral. I had to manually shift into low gear. Two days later I took the vehicle to the dealer and, after three days, I was told that they could find nothing wrong and that they would make no repairs. On Friday May 4, 2001 I was contacted by the Hyundai regional service representative who tried to convince me that there is nothing the matter with my vehicle. He told me that it was the vehicles "adaptive learning" feature that caused the shift and that what I experienced was perfectly normal. I find it very hard to believe that the new car I own was designed to shift and stay in neutral when it is in a situation where acceleration is necessary. Both the dealer and the manufactuer continue to insist that there is nothing the matter with the vehicle and refuse to make any repairs. Also, one week before the incident, my wife and I were on the same road and the vehicle did nearly the same thing. The only difference was that after about a second or two of stepping on the gas pedal transmission shifted itself back from neutral into drive. Please help.

- West Mifflin, PA, USA

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