Hyundai Sonata Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 690 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Hyundai Sonata across 27 model years. The 2011 model year has the most (148). The words owners use most often: “control arm” (14% of reports).
- 690suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 18mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $1,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%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.
- Control arm: mentioned in 96 of 690 complaints (14%)
- Sub frame: mentioned in 80 of 690 complaints (12%)
- Coil spring: mentioned in 37 of 690 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the Hyundai Sonata at $1,400, and half of them between $870 and $2,650.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 522 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 690 complaints, 18 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 10 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 (4)
Suspension:front:springs:coil springs
Model years: 2011
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2011 Elantra vehicles manufactured November 12, 2010, to March 31, 2011, and Sonata vehicles manufactured December 11, 2009, to February 28, 2010, originally sold in, or currently registered in, 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 may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing.
Risk: If a front coil spring fractures, it may contact the tire, possibly puncturing it, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front coil springs, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed on November 17, 2015. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 133. Note: Vehicles that were previously registered in salt belt states but are currently registered elsewhere are eligible to be inspected and repaired.
Suspension:rear
Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Problem: Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, 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 and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.
Risk: Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
Suspension
Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
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.
Suspension:rear:shock absorber
Model years: 1995
Problem: One or both of the rear suspension lower spring seats are not securely attached to the shock absorber and can slide lower onto the shock absorber than intended. The rear spring would no longer function to support the vehicle body at its normal height.
Risk: Loss of rear spring support can increase the potential for a vehicle accident if it occurs while the vehicle is moving.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to determine whether the rear shock absorbers are from the suspect production. If the shock absorbers are from the suspect production, the shock absorber/spring seat assemblies will be replaced.
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…
Vehicle has been making a clunking noise (front passenger area). Brought to independent service center where they determined that the strut tower is failing. Current mileage 66000. Appt set for Checkered Flag Hyundai to evaluate on 9/11/2026.
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at Valvoline for a service appointment, the contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the subframe assembly and…
[XXX] [XXX] [XXX]; [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Date: XXX To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) Subject: Formal Safety Defect Complaint â 2017 Hyundai Sonata Theta II Engine Failure, Excessive Oil Consumption, Intake/Engine Component Failure and Safety…
My 2009 Hyundai Sonata was taken to the Hyundai of Lincolnwood dealership on May 19th. The certified technician formally diagnosed severe structural corrosion on both front and rear subframes (engine cradles), declaring the vehicle completely unsafe to drive. The dealership is withholding the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Sonatas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 690 owner complaints about suspension for the Hyundai Sonata. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Sonata suspension?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the Hyundai Sonata?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,400 (half paid between $870 and $2,650), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “control arm”, in 96 of 690 complaints, followed by “sub frame” (80).
Other Hyundai Sonata problems
- Engine problems (4,702)
- Steering problems (2,363)
- Air Bags problems (2,045)
- Electrical System problems (1,975)
- Structure problems (1,066)
- Power Train problems (1,050)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,013)
- Service Brakes problems (901)
See all Hyundai Sonata problems.