There are 12 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Sonatain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced by an independent mechanic, the mechanic informed the contact that the front subframe was severely corroded. The mechanic determined that the failure was related to a recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced; however, the repair could not be covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension) because the parts had been discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic, the mechanic discovered severe corrosion on the suspension. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that due to the severe corrosion, the recall repair could not be performed. The mechanic at the dealer described the vehicle as being unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, SHE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS CORROSION TO THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SWAY BAR LINKAGE AND BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AS OF YET. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,077.
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.
SUBFRAME RUSTING SO MUCH THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WON'T LET ME TAKE IT OUT.
VERY HEAVY RUST ON RIGHT SIDE ,THE SUB FRAME GAVE WAY AND RIPPED THE CV AXLE OUT OF ITS HOUSING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH REAR STRUTS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WHILE THE REPAIR WAS BEING PERFORMED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM AND FRAME WERE SEVERALLY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 1/6/14*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED CORROSION NEAR THE SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V124000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
THE CAR IS NOT MINE, I AM A MECHANIC,A 2003 SONATA I DO A LOT OF WORK ON JUST HAD A RR LOWER CONTROL ARM FAIL, I KNOW THEY HAVE A SUBFRAME ISSUE,SO KNOWING THIS, HOW MANY MORE OF THESE"TIME BOMBS" ARE OUT THEIR,THEY SELL ALOT OF THESE CARS IN THE STATE I LIVE IN[NEW YORK], HOW MANY MORE MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ARE FAILING DUE TO CORROSION! ALOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE BUY THEM BECAUSE OF PRICE,THE ELDERLY ALSO,THAT IS WHY IM WRITING THIS CAR BELONGS TO AN OLDER WIDOW WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS,THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR BUT HER LATE HUSBAND BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY!! *TR
YOU CAN NOT FILL GAS TANK PASS HALF WITH OUT THE SMELL FILLING THE CAR .THE BACK SUSPENSION WHEN YOU GO OVER 40 TALES FROM SIDE TO SIDE .THE CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY .
I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI SONATA. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I PURCHASED 2 SETS OF NEW TIRES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS AND HAVE HAD ROUGHLY 15 FLAT TIRES. I ALSO MOST RECENTLY ALMOST KILLED MYSELF AND MY 3 KIDS W/ HAVING THE TIRE ROD ALMOST CRACK. I HAD A BILL OF $385 TO HAVE JUST THAT ONE PART TO BE FIXED. I HAVE BEEN ON HOLD FOR OVER AN HOUR NOW FOR THE RECALL NUMBER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND NEED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY TROUBLES AS THIS WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL LETTER I JUST RECEIVED. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR
WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CONSUMER HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SOON AFTER THAT. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN SITTING AT IDLE AND MORE WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026