I was driving home from work on jan 30th, 2015 and the car started pulling to the right. The next day, sat the 31st, I jacked up the right front of the car to see why the car steered to the right. I found the lower wheel assembly attachment to the frame had come loose. That was because the frame had three of four sides rusted thru. The condition could have caused a more severe accident if the attachment to the frame had pulled completely apart. I will check with hyundai to see what they can do about it. Thanks for listening. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The worst 1999 Hyundai Sonata problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Body36
- Airbags31
- Engine23
- Suspension17
- Transmission14
- Electrical11
- Brakes6
- Seat belts6
- Steering6
- Tires6
- Visibility5
- Acceleration4
- Lights3
- Fuel system2
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Hyundai Sonata
Airbag light 23Ball joint 13Stalling 12No deployment 8Check engine light 7Pulling 7Grinding brakes 5
Recalls 4
Suspension
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 09V124000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, an intermittent condition that leads to the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag warning light illumination could result from motion of the side impact air bag wiring harness and side impact air bag wiring harness connector which mount to the adjustable seat cushion assembly. This condition only relates to the side impact air bags and could prevent air bag deployment during a crash where such deployment should occur.
- Risk
- Non-deployment of the SRS side impact air bag could increase the risk of injury during a side impact crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will more securely fasten the side impact air bag wiring harnesses and connectors to the vehicle's front seat cushion frames. Owner notification began may 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai at 1‑800‑633‑5151.
Recall number 02V105000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag warning light could illuminate due to motion of the side impact air bag wiring harness and side impact air bag wiring harness connector that mount to the adjustable seat cushion assembly. This condition only relates to the driver and/or passenger seat-mounted side impact air bag(s).
- Risk
- This condition could prevent seat mounted side impact air bag deployment during an accident where such deployment should occur. Non-deployment of the SRS side impact air bags could increase the risk of injury during an accident where side impact air bag deployment is intended.
- Remedy
- Dealers will more securely fasten the front seat side impact air bag wiring harness and connectors to the vehicle's front seat cushion frames. Owner notification will occur in six mailings on may 27, june 3, june 10, june 17, june 24, and july 1, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai at 1‑800‑633‑5151.
Recall number 01V347000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: some sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5 liter v-6 engines and all elantra model vehicles may have experienced intermittent low-speed engine stalling, which could occur if the maf (mass air flow) sensor electrical signal is interrupted as a result of engine vibration transmitted to the maf sensor connector wiring harness.
- Risk
- This condition can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will re-route the maf sensor connector wiring harness.
Recall number 00V259001 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 1999 Hyundai Sonata
Defect investigations
Front sub-frame corrosion
In a letter dated april 14, 2009, hyundai-kia america technical center, inc (hyundai) notified the federal safety agency 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, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin.hyundai is recalling the vehicles to remedy a condition where internal corrosion of the front subframe may lead to separation of the lower control arm at the forward mounting point and/or separation of the axle from the transaxle.this could result in a loss of vehicle control and/or vehicle disablement. The subframes will be inspected in the recalled vehicles using a procedure developed by hyundai to measure metal thickness.parts with perforations from corrosion or with metal below the specified thickness will be replaced with redesigned subframes.if the minimum metal thickness is met, drainage holes and rust proofing material will be added to the existing subframe. Odi's analysis of complaint data revealed that 98% of the consumer complaints were from vehicles either originally sold or operated in saltbelt states. Similarly 99.7% of the warranty claims were from vehicles originally sold or operated in saltbelt states.odi identified 105 reports of lower control arm detachment and/or axle separation from the transaxle through analysis of warranty and complaint information and consumer interviews.one hundred three (103) of the 105 incidents involved vehicles in states covered by the recall.in addition to the subject vehicles, hyundai also noted in the april 14, 2009 letter that my 2001 through 2004 xg300 and xg350 were also being recalled as they were manufactured with subframes similar in design the subject vehicles.based on hyundai's decision to conduct a safety recall this engineering analysis is closed.
EA08016
Front sub-frame corrosion
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened preliminary evaluation, pe08-029, on april 22, 2008, based on 40 consumer complaints alleging front sub-frame corrosion in model year (my) 1999 through 2002 hyundai sonata vehicles.complaints describe severe corrosion of the vehicle sub-frame in the area where the right-front lower control arm is attached.in some vehicles, sub-frame corrosion has caused complete or partial detachment of the control arm, resulting in wheel collapse or separation. In response to odi's information request letter for pe08-029, hyundai provided owner complaints, field reports, and warranty claim data for approximately 197,906 my 1999 through 2002 subject vehicles sold or leased in the united states.the base warranty for the subject vehicles is 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first.according to hyundai, prolonged exposure to the road salts may result in corrosive damage to the subframe.hyundai redesigned the sub-frame early in the my 2004 production (november 2003) to address problems with premature corrosion of the crossmember near the right-front suspension attachment. Odi's analysis of both complaint and warranty data for the my 1999 through 2002 sonata vehicles shows that the failure rates are significantly higher in salt belt states, which account for approximately 50 percent of vehicle sales and over 90 percent ofcomplaints and warranty claims related to the alleged defect (note:for purposes of this investigation the salt belt includes connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia and wisconsin).according to hyundai, the alleged defect results in a progressive loss of structural integrity of the subframe and there is ample opportunity for the problem to be detected (by inspection, steering feel or tire wear anomalies) and repaired before it reaches a state where a safety related incident may occur.hyundai identified 4 allegations of vehicle disablement and 1 allegation of a crash; where the lower control arm broke from the vehicle while driving at 55 MPH and the driver lost control and drove into a yard.there were no reported injuries.odi received a separate allegation of a crash, where the complainant alleged that while driving around a slight curve at 65 MPH on a freeway, the vehicle sub-frame fractured and the driver lost control of the vehicle and went off the road.again, no injuries were reported.approximately one-third of the complaints to odi allege that the sub-frame corrosion resulted in a loss of control and/or a vehicle disablement due to wheel collapse or separation.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea08-016) covering my 1999 through early-2004 hyundai sonata vehicles in salt-belt states and equipped with the subject sub-frame design to further assess the frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect.
PE08029
Improper frontal air bag performance
Hyundai has received 49 reports from customers stating the frontal air bags did not deploy in a crash for the subject vehicles.examination of suplimental information provided to odi by the manufacturer for the reported cases it appeared that the necessary air bag deployment threshold was not met.there have been no fatal incidents or reports of serious injury as a result of being in a frontal crash and the air bags not deploying.in view of the foregoing, it is unlikely that the federal safety agency would issue an order for the notification remedy of a safety defect in the subject vehicles as defined by the petitioner at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.for further details, refer to odi?s response to the petitioner published in the federal register vol. 68, no. 148, dated august 1, 2003.
DP03001
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Hyundai Sonata 122
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
- Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- Follow the guidelines outlined in
- Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for...
- Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicleâs ownerâs manual
- This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing
- This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.
- This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below.
- This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake...
1999 Hyundai Sonata fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 18-19 | 26-27 | 21-22 |
| 2.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 26 | 21 |
What 1999 Hyundai Sonata owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
After removing the drivers front wheel I noticed the control arm attachment point severely rusted, & the sub frame cracked ready to break. I know about the recall. Unfortunately nebraska along with other states were not included. This car was well maintained by the original owner, & driven very little in salt/ snow conditions. She purchased @ approx. 80 years of age. The federal safety agency should take a look at this again. Water being trapped in the sub frames is the real problem, salt may have only made the failure happened a bit sooner. I have talked with hyundai customer assistance, & was told the car would not be covered by the recall. I live 8 miles away from iowa, which is covered by the recall. Omaha does use salt on the streets. 14 -15 years for a sub frame to rot away seems quite short. The problem is a design defect not allowing the water to get out. No states should have been left out! Who doesn't wash their car regularly? How many 1999-2004 models of this car are still on the road? Fortunately for our family we noticed the steering wheel significantly out of position, & both front wheels leaning in at the top. Separation of the control arm from the frame would not pretty at a higher rate of speed. People that have looked at the pictures I took of both sides on this car seem to agree, we were probably only a few more chuck holes away! Will hyundai notify current owners of any of these cars regardless of which state & remedy correctly?? Will hyundai, or government put out tsb's or psa's alerting any current owners of the potentially catastrophic condition which may cost someone their life?
L was stopped on traffic on high way ,and some one, hit me on the back ,the guy was so fast problem more than 75 MPH ,than my car float 20 foot ,and hit the car on my front and my air bags did not deploy or open , so the question is hyundai sonata 1999 usually have this problem , ????
The sub frame/k frame on my 99 hyundai sonata rusted out causing my driver side rear tire and passenger side rear tire to face outwards almost coming off and damaging my left control arm. I heard a loud pop and couldn't figure out what it was then realized the steering wheel was cocked at 180. I had to drive it home which was luckily only 2 minutes down the road, I had to drive 10mph smelling burning rubber.
I was pulling in a shopping center turning the steering wheel to the right, I heard a loud bang and got out of car, the drivers side wheel was caved in, had car towed to mechanic, he said the subframe was completely rusted and broke away from the car, and I was lucky that I wasn't going at a higher speed.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, he heard noises and noticed that the tire was misaligned causing the steering wheel pulling abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic and after inspection, they found that the front sub-frame was rusted and corroded. There were also holes next to the bolts that held the sub frame in place. The dealer was notified who advised the contac that there was a recall for the failure but his VIN was not included (the federal safety agency campaign id number: 09v124000: suspension). The manufacturer was notified who confirmed that the contact's VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 157,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was being examined by an independent repair shop and she was informed that the front sub-frame was corroded. The manufacturer was then notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 09v124000 (suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 125,764.
I purchased my 1999 sonata from a used car dealer & have had numerous problems with the car, its been a nightmare, one problem after another!!!! The crankshaft sensor had to be completely replaced because the component had severely melted, issues with the transmission, ABS/airbag warning light on, & have had to change out the half shaft on both drivers/passenger side, numerous tires, brakes but the most severe of all the problems which puts my safety, my 12 yr old son & fiance's safety, along with family/friend's safety at risk is the complete corrosion of the subframe I too to a mechanic today & he told me to not drive this car for anything because it will result in an accident where I can potentially end up hurting myself or other innocent bystanders because hyundai made a defective subframe especially for us that live & drive in hazardous conditions of the wintry/icy elements for 5+months out of the year in upstate new york!!! I will be calling hyundai's customer assistance ctr & fuccillo hyundai(local dealer)& the attorney general for new york. I cannot imagine what could've happened if I drove over a pot hole resulting in my tire(s) falling off especially if I was on the expressway doing 55mph my loved ones or other's loved ones, & myself could've been severely injured or worse dead due to hyundai using a subframe that would severely corrode the subframe especially in the "snow belt" states!!!!! I just hope that I do not have a difficult time having hyundai fix the problem in a speedy fashion without trying to strong arm me into paying for repairs that I am not responsible for because it is an inconvenience being without a vehicle now until it gets repaired.
Tl*the contact owns 1999 hyundia sonata. The contact was driving approximately 35 MPH, and when the brake pedal was engaged there was a loud popping noise outside of the vehicle. The steering wheel would require excessive force to avoid turning in a 360 degree which allowed the vehicle to drive straight on the road. When the contact reached her destination, she noticed that the front passenger tire was positioned slightly inward. The vehicle was driven with caution to an independent auto sales center, and then towed to the dealer. The technician informed her that the front sub-frame and connecting parts were significantly corroded. There was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 09v124000 (suspension). The dealer stated that the replacement of the sub-frame cross member would be under the recall and that the additional repair cost of $10,000 was the financial responsibility of the owner. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the front passenger side axle fractured while driving 25 MPH. The vehicle was towed to his residence where he noticed that the sub frame was also rusted. The vehicle was not repaired or inspected. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 09v124000 (suspension) and any repairs would be at the contact's expense. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
Compare the 1999 Hyundai Sonata
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata
Is the 1999 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Owners have filed 124 complaints about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata, fewer than a typical Sonata model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Hyundai Sonata?
Body and structure, with 36 complaints, typically around 105,000 miles. Next is airbags (31).
How many recalls does the 1999 Hyundai Sonata have?
4 recalls, covering suspension, air bags and electrical system.
What year does the Hyundai Sonata have the most body problems?
The Hyundai Sonata model years with the most body complaints are 2010 (164 complaints), 2000 (109 complaints) and 2002 (88 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1999 Hyundai Sonata get?
Official estimates for the 1999 Hyundai Sonata range from 21 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 18-19 city and 26-27 highway.
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