1995 Hyundai Sonata recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Equipment
What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE LABEL AFFIXED TO THE LEFT REAR DOOR STATES THAT THE VEHICLE CAPACITY IS "1,100 POUNDS". THIS INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. THE CORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT IS 860 POUNDS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
What could happen: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: LOADING OF THE VEHICLE BEYOND THE CAPACITY WEIGHT CAN CAUSE TIRE AND VEHICLE DAMAGE THAT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: HYUNDAI WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A NEW LABEL SHOWING THE CORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1995 SONATA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Hyundai dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 94V166000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Summary: THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE LABEL AFFIXED TO THE LEFT REAR DOOR STATES THAT THE VEHICLE CAPACITY IS "1,100 POUNDS". THIS INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. THE CORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT IS 860 POUNDS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: LOADING OF THE VEHICLE BEYOND THE CAPACITY WEIGHT CAN CAUSE TIRE AND VEHICLE DAMAGE THAT CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: HYUNDAI WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A NEW LABEL SHOWING THE CORRECT VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION.
Notes: SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; TIRE RESERVE LOAD LABEL. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. NOTE: IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-829-9956. ALSO, CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
2. Suspension
What's wrong, in plain English: Parts can break and cause loss of control. ONE OR BOTH OF THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER SPRING SEATS ARE NOT SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND CAN SLIDE LOWER ONTO THE SHOCK ABSORBER THAN INTENDED. THE REAR SPRING WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION TO SUPPORT THE VEHICLE BODY AT ITS NORMAL HEIGHT.
What could happen: LOSS OF REAR SPRING SUPPORT CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE FROM THE SUSPECT PRODUCTION. IF THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE FROM THE SUSPECT PRODUCTION, THE SHOCK ABSORBER/SPRING SEAT ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1995 SONATA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Hyundai dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 95V163000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
Summary: ONE OR BOTH OF THE REAR SUSPENSION LOWER SPRING SEATS ARE NOT SECURELY ATTACHED TO THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND CAN SLIDE LOWER ONTO THE SHOCK ABSORBER THAN INTENDED. THE REAR SPRING WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION TO SUPPORT THE VEHICLE BODY AT ITS NORMAL HEIGHT.
Consequence: LOSS OF REAR SPRING SUPPORT CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE FROM THE SUSPECT PRODUCTION. IF THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE FROM THE SUSPECT PRODUCTION, THE SHOCK ABSORBER/SPRING SEAT ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED.
Notes: SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; REAR; SHOCK ABSORBER. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GAS-FILLED SHOCK ABSORBERS (LOT NUMBERS 5C4 AND 5C9). NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-829-9956. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 1995 Hyundai Sonata owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Airbags (17), Transmission / drivetrain (16), Brakes (11), Hydraulic (11), Engine (9).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
08/18/2010 · Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 HYUNDAI SONATA GL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 60 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT MANUALLY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NOR…
02/20/2008 · Transmission / drivetrain · crash
I'M THE OWNER OF A 1995 HYUNDAI SONATA, 2.0L DOHC, AUTOMATIC. DRIVING ON A ICY ROAD IN MICHIGAN THE TRANNY DOWNSHIFTED BY ITSELF FROM 4TH(OD) TO 1ST GEAR AND LOCKED IN 1ST GEAR THROWING ME IN A SNOW BANK! IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SNOW BANK TO STOP THE CAR, I WOULD'VE ENDED IN FRONT OF A INCOMING SEMI! THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD HARSH SHIFTS/DOWNSHIFTS SINCE I PUR…
09/01/2006 · Body / structure
1995 HYUNDAI SONATA SUB-FRAME BROKE IN HALF WHILE MOVING. *KB THE CONSUME STATED THE REPLACEMENT CROSS MEMBER HAS NOW FORMED A CRACK. *JB
11/09/2004 · Vehicle Speed Control
SPEED CONTROL ISSUE: THE VEHICLE IDLE IS ROUGH & IRREGULAR, STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, $$$..EXPENSIVE REPAIRS-SAME PROBLEMS. THE STALLINGS ACCOUNTS FOR SEVERAL NEAR REAR-END COLLISIONS. FINALLY,ON NOV.8,2004. I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR,THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FROM 0 TO 40 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,ALMOST CRASHED INTO SOME PARKED VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE TRAN…
07/17/2004 · Transmission / drivetrain
MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT PULL FORWARD ONLY IN REVERSE AND I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND THERES A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE EXACT SAME CAR AS I DO THAT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. YOU CANT FIND LOCAL MECHANICS TO WORK ON THEM BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SO COMPLEX. AND BEINGS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA ARE…
08/30/2002 · Transmission / drivetrain
CONSUMER HAS 2 SONATAS, SAME YEAR, THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, ONE OCCURRED AT 96266 MILES AND THE OTHER AT 130294 MILES. *SLC
05/09/2002 · Engine
VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL . TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. TOOK VEHICLE AGAIN TO DEALER WHO INDICATED VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES CAMSHAFT SEALS WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE OIL LEAK. *SLC
12/07/2001 · Transmission / drivetrain
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, TRANSMISSION ROARS UP HIGH, AND WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN PLACE IT IS HARD TO STEER. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK