2003 HYUNDAI SONATA Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 190 complaints submitted for the 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - SPRINGFIELD, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - EAGLE MOUNTAIN, UT

    THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON, MEANING THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. THIS IS APPARENTLY DUE TO WIRING UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT STRETCHING AND PINCHING FROM MOVING THE SEAT ITSELF AND WHEN THINGS ARE PLACED UNDERNEATH THE SEAT THAT MAY DISTURB THE WIRING. I KNOW IT IS THE WIRING UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO CHECKING THE TROUBLE CODE AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE ISSUE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS BY GINGERLY MOVING THE WIRES UNTIL THE LIGHT WENT AWAY. NOW I CAN'T GET THE LIGHT TO GO AWAY NO MATTER WHAT METHODS I TRY. CAN'T FIND A REPLACEMENT SET OF WIRES NOR CAN I LOCATE WHICH WIRE SPECIFICALLY IS BEING AFFECTED TO TRY TO FIX THE ISSUE MYSELF. I HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF PEOPLE MAKING THIS SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON. THIS NEEDS A RECALL SINCE THIS CAN EASILY LEAD TO DEATH SINCE THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY TO ATTEMPT SAVING METHODS TO PASSENGERS. LIGHT WAS ON FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AND HAS BEEN ON FOR ME FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - TAFT, CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V178000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *TT *TR

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - MIAMI, FL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POTAMKIN HYUNDAI (6200 NW 167TH ST, MIAMI LAKES, FL 33014, PHONE: (305) 728-5030), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - POUGHKEEPSIE, NY

    THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS DURING BRAKING WITH A CLUNK. THE BRAKES ARE WEAK AT THAT POINT BUT RECOVER. I REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND MASTER CYLINDER, STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS A LOT. MY WIFE WON'T DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - LEXINGTON, KY

    6-22-17 MY DAUGHTER WAS RETURN TO WORK IN HER 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA, AS SHE WAS LEAVING AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT TO WHERE SHE PARKED, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL POPPED LOUDLY, THE CAR LOST POWER SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT AT A RELATIVE LOW SPEED. THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. 6-24-17 I BEGIN TO INSPECT WHAT HAPPENED, I JACKED THE RT FRT END OFF THE GROUND AND BLOCKED IT UP. I FOUND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS SOMEWHAT LOOSE. IT WAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE RT SIDE SUBFRAME. I CAME IN THE HOUSE AND RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH SONATA'S FROM 1999-2004 CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V12400, I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE 6-24-17 AROUND 12:30PM. I GAVE THE CAR INFO TO THE LADY AND SHE SAID ONLY AN A-C RECALL WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE CAR. I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL AND GAVE THE NUMBER, SHE SAID NOT FOR MY CAR AND THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD OFFER. WHEN THE CONTROL ARM BROKE LOOSE FROM SUBFRAME IT CAUSED THE AXLE TO PULL OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THAT WAS WHY IT LOST POWER. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE SUBFRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH AND WEAK.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - SPRINGFIELD, MA

    THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIR BAG IS ON AND DOESN'T GO AWAY. I HAD IT CHECK AND THERE IS NO CODE FOR IT SO THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSE THAT. I NEED A ANSWER BECAUSE I NEED TO HAVE INSPECT AND IS NOT GOING TO PASS.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - LOUISVILLE, KY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - NICHOLASVILLE, KY

    SUBFRAME RUSTING SO MUCH THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WON'T LET ME TAKE IT OUT.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA
    - LINCOLN, NE

    2003 HYUNDAI SONATA AFFECTED BY PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE RIGHT FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THE VEHICLE, AND RESULTING IN THINNING, RUSTING OR PERFORATION OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL. THE CORROSION/RUST IS VISIBLE AND DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION & ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND ALSO HEAR NOISES & NOTICE TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL.THESE SIGNALS ARE DETECTING THE CORROSION PROGRESSING AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DETACHING FROM THE SUB-FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN NEBRASKA, AND HAS REMAINED IN NEBRASKA ITS ENTIRE LIFE. NEBRASKA USES SALT ON ITS ROADS IN THE SAME CAPACITY AS IOWA AND OTHER "SALT STATES". SUCH CARS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN CONSIDERING THE LACK OF SAFETY AND DANGERS INVOLVED WHEN THE SUBFRAME DETERIATES DUE TO DEFECTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SAID CAR. HYUNDAI SHOULD HONOR AND EXTEND THE RECALL OF SAID CAR IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA BECAUSE THE DEFECT IN THE SUBFRAME HAS BEEN AFFECTED IDENTICALLY AS IN OTHER "SALT STATES".

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE