Is the 2002 Hyundai Sonata a bad year?
320 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sonata years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata are in line with other Sonata years. Body structure and suspension stand out for this year: see below.
7th quietest of 20 Sonata years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Sonata owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 105,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 88 (28%) | 83k–148k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 63 (20%) | 92k–156k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 25 (8%) | 77k–152k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 24 (8%) | 74k–147k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 23 (7%) | 28k–117k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 51 (16%) | 35k–104k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 26 (8%) | 15k–94k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Engine | 17 (5%) | 29k–88k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 11 (3%) | 14k–79k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 105,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 320 complaints: 31 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 35 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata: 7
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. A sharp edge could lacerate or otherwise injure a vehicle occupant.
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. This may inflict laceration injuries to anyone using the door handle.
Road salt applied in these jurisdictions during the winter months may result in progressive, internal corrosion of the front sub-frame on the vehicles, and may result in thinning or perforation of the sub-frame steel. If that happens, the vehicle may lose drive power to the wheels, and the front wheel may make contact with the fender or wheel well, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
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. Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
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. Inadvertent activation of the TCS will cause automatic application of the brake at the wheel where the compact spare tire is installed.
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. Inadvertent deployment of a SRS side impact air bag when a side impact crash has not occurred could increase the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 30
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Hyundai Sonata. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ata solenoid diagnostic trouble codes P0740, P0741, P0742, P0743, P0746, P0748, P0750, P0755, P0760, P0765, P0770
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Interior door handle laceration hazard
Front sub-frame corrosion
Front sub-frame corrosion
Tire valve stem failures
Neighbouring years
2001 Sonata: 205 complaints, keep it · 2003 Sonata: 199 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Sonata year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sonata years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Hyundai Sonata a bad year?
320 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sonata years. At 105,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Hyundai Sonata?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (88), suspension (63), fuel system (25), steering (24), electrical system (23).
How many recalls does the 2002 Hyundai Sonata have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Latches and locks (NHTSA 09V-317), Latches and locks (NHTSA 09V-171), Suspension (NHTSA 09V-124), Fuel system (NHTSA 04V-369) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.