RecallMyCar

1997 Hyundai Sonata Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1997 Hyundai Sonata, and owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
49
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–21
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1997 Hyundai Sonata

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 00V314001 Reported 66,086 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: accent gt model vehicles equipped with dohc engines manufactured from december 19, 1996 through june 30, 1997; 1998 accent model vehicles manufactured from may 6, 1997 through june 25, 1998; 1997 sonata vehicles manufactured from august 1, 1996 through july 9, 1997 and 1998 sonata vehicles produced from july 9, 1997…

    Remedy: Dealers will pressure check the vehicle's fuel tank to determine if it has cracked. If it is cracked, a new fuel tank will be installed. A new fuel filler cap that decreases the amount of vacuum inside the fuel tank…

  2. Motor (visibility)

    NHTSA 97V026000 Reported 74,965 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    The windshield wiper motor circuit breaker electrical contacts were contaminated during assembly.

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the contaminants from the windshield wiper motor circuit breaker contacts.

49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Hyundai Sonata have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 80,167 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 8 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Failure/breakage of passenger side sun visor as addressed in hyundai tsb 09-01-003 NHTSA id:10028945 resulting in visor being unable to stay in position blocking visibility. *tr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 6, 2014 · Visibility

“After attempting to call hyundai, i am absolutely fed up with everything they are doing. I have "repaired" my vehicle on numerous occasions to no avail. After at least 5, definitely more, trips to the”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 27, 2011 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Hyundai Sonata. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–21 mpg
City / Highway16–19 / 22–26
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2/3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Hyundai Sonata model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Hyundai Sonata model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1987 Hyundai Sonata01
1989 Hyundai Sonata311
1990 Hyundai Sonata316
1991 Hyundai Sonata129
1992 Hyundai Sonata122
1993 Hyundai Sonata126
1994 Hyundai Sonata13
1995 Hyundai Sonata266
1996 Hyundai Sonata123
1997 Hyundai Sonata249
1998 Hyundai Sonata149
1999 Hyundai Sonata4124
2000 Hyundai Sonata4276
2001 Hyundai Sonata3205
2002 Hyundai Sonata7319
2003 Hyundai Sonata6199
2004 Hyundai Sonata1202
2005 Hyundai Sonata1165
2006 Hyundai Sonata91,047
2007 Hyundai Sonata5696
2008 Hyundai Sonata3425
2009 Hyundai Sonata2460
2010 Hyundai Sonata2345
2011 Hyundai Sonata143,377
2012 Hyundai Sonata81,557
2013 Hyundai Sonata91,912
2014 Hyundai Sonata7748
2015 Hyundai Sonata91,147
2016 Hyundai Sonata6726
2017 Hyundai Sonata3764
2018 Hyundai Sonata1374
2019 Hyundai Sonata0162
2020 Hyundai Sonata4179
2021 Hyundai Sonata4134
2022 Hyundai Sonata394
2023 Hyundai Sonata287
2024 Hyundai Sonata146
2025 Hyundai Sonata017
2026 Hyundai Sonata13

Checking a specific 1997 Hyundai Sonata

How do I know if my 1997 Hyundai Sonata has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 Hyundai Sonata; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Hyundai dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V314001).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Hyundai models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.