2002 Hyundai Sonata Reliability
The 2002 Hyundai Sonata has 326 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby Sonata model years (2000–2004), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Sonata's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
326
NHTSA owner complaints
7
Recall campaigns
31
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2002 Hyundai Sonata complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 model year, filed between 2001 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 88 | 27% |
| Suspension | 64 | 20% |
| Air bags | 52 | 16% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 24 | 7% |
| Steering | 24 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 20 | 6% |
| Engine & cooling | 17 | 5% |
2002 Hyundai Sonata recalls
7 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2002 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02V145000 | May 24, 2002 | Air bags — side/window | On certain passenger vehicles, the supplemental restraint system (srs) side impact air bag satellite sensors may be too sensitive to some lateral accelerations that are not caused by side impacts to the vehicle, such as forcefully slamming a door closed. |
| 03V097000 | Mar 17, 2003 | Tires — temporary/emergency spare tire | 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. |
| 04V178000 | Apr 9, 2004 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly | 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. |
| 04V369000 | Jul 26, 2004 | Fuel system — storage | 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… |
| 09V124000 | Apr 16, 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,… |
| 09V171000 | May 21, 2009 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | 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… |
| 09V317000 | Aug 7, 2009 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | 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… |
How the 2002 compares with nearby Sonata years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sonata analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 278 | 4 | Body structure | Solid |
| 2001 | 219 | 3 | Body structure | Solid |
| 2002 (this page) | 326 | 7 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2003 | 199 | 6 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2004 | 202 | 1 | Suspension | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2002 Hyundai Sonata
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 7 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2002 Hyundai Sonata can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2002 Hyundai Sonata reliability FAQ
Is the 2002 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The 2002 Hyundai Sonata has 326 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby Sonata model years (2000–2004), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Sonata's typical year, while the 2003 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2002 Hyundai Sonata problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata are body structure (88), suspension (64), air bags (52), service brakes (26). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2002 Hyundai Sonata have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata, including 02V145000 (air bags — side/window) and 03V097000 (tires — temporary/emergency spare tire). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2002 Hyundai Sonata compare with the 2001 and 2003 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2001 has 219 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2003 has 199 complaints and 6 recalls (solid). The 2002 has 326 complaints and 7 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2002 Hyundai Sonata?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Hyundai Sonata research
Other Hyundai Sonata model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2002 Sonata, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.