2004 Hyundai Sonata Reliability
The 2004 Hyundai Sonata has 202 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and body structure. Compared with nearby Sonata model years (2002–2006), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sonata's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
202
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
22
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Hyundai Sonata complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2004 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 56 | 28% |
| Body structure | 47 | 23% |
| Air bags | 46 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 16 | 8% |
| Steering | 13 | 6% |
| Wheels | 13 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 6% |
2004 Hyundai Sonata recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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,… |
How the 2004 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 326 | 7 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2003 | 199 | 6 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2004 (this page) | 202 | 1 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2005 | 165 | 1 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2006 | 1,047 | 11 | Air bags | Caution |
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 2004 Hyundai Sonata
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- 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.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign 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 2004 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.
2004 Hyundai Sonata reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
The 2004 Hyundai Sonata has 202 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and body structure. Compared with nearby Sonata model years (2002–2006), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Sonata's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Hyundai Sonata problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata are suspension (56), body structure (47), air bags (46), electrical system (17). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Hyundai Sonata have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2004 Hyundai Sonata, including 09V124000 (suspension). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Hyundai Sonata compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 199 complaints and 6 recalls (solid); the 2005 has 165 complaints and 1 recall (better year). The 2004 has 202 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2004 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 2004 Sonata, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.