Problems · by component

1999 Hyundai Sonata structure problems

71 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata cite structure, 42% of all 170 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
71
42% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08016 (STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2015Suspension, StructureODI 10735598
“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. NHTSA 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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2014Steering, Suspension, StructureODI 10575446
“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. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2013StructureODI 10552133
“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. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2013Suspension, StructureODI 10549738
“I OWN A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA AND WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTING THROUGH, PRESENTING A SEVERE SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. THERE IS CURRENTLY A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SHOWING FOR THE 2001-2004 MODEL FROM YOUR INVESTIGATION. SHOULDN'T THE 1999 BE INCLUDED DUE TO IT HAVING MANY COMPLAINTS DUE TO THIS CORROSION ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MARYLAND AND OWNED IN VIRGINIA FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. IT ALSO HAS BEEN IN OUT OF VIRGINIA FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS WHERE SALT IS APPLIED TO ROADWAYS LIKELY CONTRIBUTING THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2013Suspension, StructureODI 10505528
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2011Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Air bags, Structure, TiresODI 10439345

Showing 6 of 71 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.