Problems · by component

1999 Hyundai Sonata suspension problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Hyundai Sonata cite suspension, 16% of all 170 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
28
16% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

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
“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] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2015Steering, SuspensionODI 10680767
“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
“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
“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 (NHTSA 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2012SuspensionODI 10487546

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Suspension

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Apr 16, 2009NHTSA 09V124000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.