Problems · by component
1999 Hyundai Sonata engine and engine cooling problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata cite engine and engine cooling, 16% of all 170 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
16% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE THE MOTOR WAS EXCESSIVELY LOUD AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY BACK AND FORTH, THE MOTOR WOULD JUMP ABNORMALLY AND THE STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME HARD. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE LOOSE AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FRACTURED BUT DID NOT MAKE REPAIRS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY ABNORMALLY. A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE BUT DID NOT STOP. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS THAT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE KNEE, NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,633 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
“"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, NO ISSUE FOR FEW MONTHS, RECENTLY WHILE STOPPING AT RED LIGHT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THE RPM STARTED INCREASING AND VEHICLE TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD, IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE AND I WAS ABOUT TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAPPENED TO ME FEW TIMES ALREADY, AND EVERYTIME IT IS SCARY. I HAD TO PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM MOVING. I TIRED TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM D TO N, AND THAT HELPED PREVENTING THE CAR FROM MOVING BUT THE RPM JUMPED EVEN HIGHER AND THE ENGINE MADE LAUD NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, THEY CONNECT IT TO THE COMPUTER AND SAID THE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR AND CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED, THAT IS $140 PARTS PLUS 4 HOURS OF LABOR. TALKED TO HYUNDAI DEALER, THEY SAID NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT, SO THEY HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN TROUBLESHOOT AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL. VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 90K MILES ON IT, I DID NOT FIX IT YET, BUT I'M MINIMIZING MY DRIVING ON IT. *TR”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE CORRODED AND RUSTED INTO TWO PIECES, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL TO DETACH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.”
“ENGINE CRADLE HAS RUSTED OUT ON 1999 SONATA, ALSO CAUSING DAMAGED CONTROL ARM ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE. REPAIR COSTS ARE OVER $2000. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE AND HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS OR COLLISIONS. WHAT LOOKED LIKE SIMPLE MISALIGNMENT OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE TURNED OUT TO BE A MUCH BIGGER SAFETY HAZARD. *TR”
“I HAVE AN 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA MY ALIGNMENT WAS OFF FROM A POT HOLE. SO I TOOK IT TO GET IT REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE ARM CAME OUT OF IT. THEY SAID IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT ONLY HAS 85,225 MILES ON THE CAR TO REPLACE THE CRADLE IT IS 1,800.00. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI THEY SAID MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT. I FOUND THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF SONATA. ITS HAS CAUSED ONE WRECK THAT I NOW OF. THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE CRADLE. THERE IS ONLY ONE HOLE IN THE FRONT TO LET WATER IN AND OUT SO IF THE WATER GOES IN THE AIR BLOWS IT TO THE BACK AND THERE'S WHERE IT STAYS AND THAT'S THE RUST STARTS. *TR”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.