2002 Hyundai Sonata Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2002 Hyundai Sonata, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 129,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “sub frame” (32% of reports).
- 63suspension complaints
- 129,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 14%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Sub frame: mentioned in 20 of 63 complaints (32%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 12 of 63 complaints (19%)
- Front wheel: mentioned in 8 of 63 complaints (13%)
- Included suspension: mentioned in 6 of 63 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 53 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 63 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 3 an injury.
Hyundai Sonata suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Sonata | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2022 Sonata | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Sonata | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Sonata | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2018 Sonata | 5 | 1% | 86,800 |
| 2017 Sonata | 4 | 1% | — |
| 2016 Sonata | 3 | 0% | 12,500 |
| 2015 Sonata | 17 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Sonata | 7 | 1% | 33,100 |
| 2013 Sonata | 48 | 3% | 40,000 |
| 2012 Sonata | 36 | 2% | 20,000 |
| 2011 Sonata | 148 | 4% | 64,567 |
| 2010 Sonata | 8 | 2% | 65,000 |
| 2009 Sonata | 25 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 2008 Sonata | 9 | 2% | 105,500 |
| 2007 Sonata | 15 | 2% | 75,800 |
| 2006 Sonata | 86 | 8% | 112,000 |
| 2005 Sonata | 26 | 16% | 129,000 |
| 2004 Sonata | 56 | 28% | 105,000 |
| 2003 Sonata | 15 | 8% | 150,000 |
| 2002 Sonata | 63 | 20% | 129,000 |
| 2001 Sonata | 29 | 14% | 120,000 |
| 2000 Sonata | 64 | 23% | 118,750 |
| 1999 Sonata | 17 | 14% | 123,184 |
| 1997 Sonata | 2 | 4% | — |
| 1996 Sonata | 1 | 4% | — |
| 1995 Sonata | 1 | 2% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her husband was driving, the vehicle stopped independently. Upon inspecting the vehicle, it was observed that the front subframe had detached. A bystander assisted the driver in moving the vehicle off the road. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at a slow speed, the sub frame snapped and fractured the axle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The…
The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and slowing for a right turn, the contact heard an abnormal popping sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact was in the middle of the turn when the vehicle lost motive power. The contact…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Hyundai Sonatas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 63 owner complaints about suspension for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata (20% of the 320 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Hyundai Sonata suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 129,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2002 Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “sub frame”, in 20 of 63 complaints, followed by “control arm” (12).
Other 2002 Hyundai Sonata problems
- Structure problems (88)
- Air Bags problems (51)
See all 2002 Hyundai Sonata problems or suspension problems across all Sonata years.