RecallMyCar

2003 Hyundai Sonata Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 2003 Hyundai Sonata, and owners have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
199
owner complaints to NHTSA
17 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–23
MPG combined (EPA)

6 safety recalls for the 2003 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. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 09V317000 Reported 82 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO

    Hyundai is recalling 82 model year 2002-2003 sonata vehicles. Repeated use of the interior door handle may cause wear of the chrome plating. If the top edge of the handle has very thin chrome plating that portion of the plating may wear away more easily than more thickly plated areas as the door handle is used. The worn chrome plating…

    Remedy: Dealers will repair the chrome plated interior door handle free of charge. The recall began on september 16, 2009. Owners may contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1-787-999-3333.

  2. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 09V171000 Reported 91,350 vehicles potentially affected Hyundai Motor Company

    Hyundai is recalling 91,350 my 2002-2003 hyundai sonata vehicles. Repeated use of the interior door handle may cause wear of the chrome plate. If the top edge of the handle has very thin chrome plating, that portion of the plating may wear away more easily than more thickly plated areas as the door handle is used. The worn chrome…

    Remedy: Dealers will repair the chrome plated interior door handle free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during june 2009. Owners may contact hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.

  3. Suspension

    NHTSA 09V124000 Reported 188,282 vehicles potentially affected Hyundai Motor Company

    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,…

    Remedy: Dealers will measure the thickness of the front sub-frame and inspect the front sub-frame for corrosion damage and, if necessary, the front sub-frame will be replaced with a new sub-frame that incorporates additional…

  4. Storage (fuel system)

    NHTSA 04V369000 Reported 919 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO

    Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity" a valve on the fuel tank assembly may not close properly. If a vehicle rolls over and the fuel tank assembly valve is not properly closed, fuel spillage may occur.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. The recall began on october 5, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai de puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.

  5. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 04V178000 Reported 263,968 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

    Some passenger vehicles contain a fuel tank assembly valve that may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage may occur.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began on june 30, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

  6. Temporary/emergency spare tire (tires)

    NHTSA 03V097000 Reported 8,315 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

    On certain passenger vehicles equipped with a traction control system (tcs), if the t125/70d-15 compact spare tire is installed on a front wheel position, the tcs may inadvertently activate beginning at speeds of 20 MPH.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the spare tire with a new larger diameter t125/80r-15 compact spare tire and a new tire pressure label will be installed on the driver's door to provide information applicable to the t125/80r-15…

199 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Hyundai Sonata have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA; 17 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 45 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 71,311 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 23 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at Valvoline for a service appointment, the contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 11, 2026 · Suspension

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 4, 2025 · Suspension

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Hyundai Sonata. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–23 mpg
City / Highway17–20 / 25–28
FuelRegular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.4/2.7 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 2003 Hyundai Sonata

How do I know if my 2003 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 2003 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 03V097000).

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.