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#BS-2004-HYUSON-240B

2004 Hyundai SonataProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 288 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
288
Crashes
36
Fires
2
Recalls
1
TSBs
54
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 288 complaints, 36 crashes, 2 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

after filling with gas stalls out hard to keep running

3 complaints • Severity 6.7/10

$X,XXX
2

engine stalled while driving

2 complaints • Severity 7/10

$X,XXX
3

dust in the trunk

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
4

brakes wear out

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
5

overheating when fan in use

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SuspensionHIGH

53 owners reported suspension issues — failures commonly reported around 92K miles.

!Inspect the AirbagsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

25
0–30K
33
30–60K
44
60–90K
52
90–120K
36
120–150K
27
150K+

Peak failure range: 90–120K miles (52 reports) • Median: 92K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Suspension (53 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Suspension53 (18%)
Airbags43 (15%)
Structure:body22 (8%)
Electrical14 (5%)
Steering13 (5%)
Structure13 (5%)
Other13 (5%)
Wheels & Tires13 (5%)

2004 Hyundai Sonata: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, with 53 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 92,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 92K-mile mark.

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, with 43 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to airbags-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:body Issues

Structure:body complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, with 22 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

7
04
9
05
14
06
5
07
10
08
26
09
21
10
10
11
10
12
19
13
30
14
24
15
20
16
16
17
8
18
20
19
3
20
6
21
11
22
10
23
1
24
4
25
4
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

09V124000Jul 2009

SUSPENSION

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.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA08016ClosedOpened Aug 2008 · closed Apr 2009

FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

The worst model year for the Hyundai Sonata is the 2011 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2004 Hyundai Sonata vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

288

Class avg

247

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other midsize cars vehicles from 2004.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 288 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Hyundai Sonata Model Years

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891987
View all Hyundai Sonata years →

2004 Hyundai Sonata: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Hyundai Sonata?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2004 Hyundai Sonata is related to the suspension, with 53 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2004 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The 2004 Hyundai Sonata has 288 complaints, 36 crash reports, and 2 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Hyundai Sonata problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2004 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes, the 2004 Hyundai Sonata has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Hyundai Sonata problems start?
Based on 217 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 92,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 90–120K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2004 Hyundai Sonata data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 288 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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