Most common 2004 Hyundai Sonata problems
Share of the 202 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Sonata complaints by model year
Best Sonata years: 2025, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2011, 2013, 2012, 2015, 2017. Compare all years →
2004 Hyundai Sonata recalls (1)
Suspension
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…
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Hyundai Sonata:
Front sub-frame corrosion
In a letter dated April 14, 2009, Hyundai-Kia America technical center, inc (Hyundai) notified NHTSA that hyundaiis conducting a safety recall of model year (my) 1999 through 2004 Hyundai sonata vehicles manufactured prior to November 20, 2003 that are registered and operated in the following salt belt states and the district of columbia: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland,…
What 2004 Hyundai Sonata owners say
Suspension all 56 →
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, she noticed that her brakes were failing. The contact stated that she drove her vehicle to an independent mechanic who attempted to replace the brakes however, the mechanic informed her that her vehicle had a lot of corrosion on the brakes, and underneath the vehicle, which caused the brakes to fail. The contact stated that the mechanic did fabrication and installation of the brake line. The contact stated that she then took her vehicle to be inspected and was informed that the corrosion on the vehicle was too severe and the vehicle would not pass State Inspection. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. …
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while performing a 4-wheel alignment, the independent mechanic informed her that he was unable to complete the alignment successfully because the sub frame was severely corroded. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, she heard and abnormal sound coming from the sub frame and the vehicle started shuddering. The contact stated that she almost lost control of the vehicle. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer who informed the contact that she needed to pay for the repair because the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension) or TSB Number: 12-01-029. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 310,000.
Body & structure all 47 →
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, she noticed that her brakes were failing. The contact stated that she drove her vehicle to an independent mechanic who attempted to replace the brakes however, the mechanic informed her that her vehicle had a lot of corrosion on the brakes, and underneath the vehicle, which caused the brakes to fail. The contact stated that the mechanic did fabrication and installation of the brake line. The contact stated that she then took her vehicle to be inspected and was informed that the corrosion on the vehicle was too severe and the vehicle would not pass State Inspection. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. …
The front subframe has a hole in it it rusted for some reason and upon research there was a recall on this particular issue but now there isn't one. I went to two dealerships and they informed me that Hyundai had recalls on this issue that's why I'm confused on why when I search by my VIN there isn't any open recalls. Just because they isn't any open recalls on this doesn't mean that people aren't still experiencing this issue.
Air bags all 46 →
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated her fiance was driving 20-25 MPH on a steep hill with her in the front passenger's side seat. The contact stated that her fiance depressed the brake pedal to come to a complete stop at the stop sign, but the brake pedal went down to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's fiance veered to the left and intentionally hit a telephone pole to avoid crashing into a parked vehicle, and to prevent a more severe accident from occurring as the road was significantly steep. The brake warning light was illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a seatbelt mark. The contact's fiance was not wearing a seatbelt and hit his head against the windshield. The contact's fiance sustained a concussion, a laceration on the chin, a chipped front left upper tooth and bruises on the bottom teeth. …
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated and the fog lights were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
2004 Hyundai Sonata engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Hyundai Sonata a good car?
Based on 202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Sonata rates better than average: 71% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Sonata at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Hyundai Sonata?
The suspension — 56 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the body & structure (47) and air bags (46).
How many recalls does the 2004 Hyundai Sonata have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, the most recent from April 16, 2009 (suspension). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Sonata?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2013, 2012, 2015 and 2017. See the full Hyundai Sonata years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Hyundai Sonata problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 86,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.