Model year guide

1991 Hyundai Sonata

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1991 Hyundai Sonata is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 5 on record.

1991 Hyundai Sonata — representative photo
Representative photo

1991 Hyundai Sonata at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints45
Combined18–21 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1991 Hyundai Sonata recalls 1

Seat Belts NHTSA Campaign #93V196000 · 29/11/1993

THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT CAN TRAVEL SLOWLY OR CHATTER IN THE TRACK AND MAY EVENTUALLY STOP TRACKING AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL LUBRICATE THE TRACK ASSEMBLY AND, IF ANY SYSTEMS ARE FOUND INOPERATIVE, THE SYSTEM WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED, AS REQUIRED.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1991 Hyundai Sonata common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1991 Hyundai Sonata MPG & running costs

Combined18–21 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway24 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,417
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume100 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,083 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1991 Hyundai Sonata costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,085
Fuel only$17,085
Per mile$0.23

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
184.3 in
Width
68.9 in
Height
55.5 in
Wheelbase
104.3 in
Curb weight
2,703 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1991 Hyundai Sonata. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURES Closed

NHTSA #PE94043 · Electrical System · opened May 1994 · closed Oct 1994

PASS.RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL Closed

NHTSA #PE93061 · Seat Belts · opened Jul 1993 · closed Nov 1993

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 11

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 11.

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lam…

Bulletin 23-BD-002H · Visibility · Jan 2023

This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below.

Bulletin 21-EM-003H · Engine And Engine Cooling, Equipment · Mar 2021

This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area.

Bulletin 20-BR-002H · Service Brakes · Nov 2020

This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the “Tire Balance Data Sheet” must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) d…

Bulletin 20-SS-004H · Wheels, Tires · Nov 2020

This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: • A Battery SOC alert - low Battery State of Charge (SOC) at or below 50%. • A 30 Day alert - vehicle has not started and reported an SOC in 30 days.

Bulletin 20-EE-003H · Equipment, Electrical System · Apr 2020

The Blind Spot Detection (BSD) or Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) is a system that measures the speed of and distance from the following vehicles by using two magnetic wave radar sensors attached in the rear bumper. The BSD/BCW detects vehicles within the b…

Bulletin 19-BE-011H-1 · Back Over Prevention, Lane Departure · Nov 2019

THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON COMPONENTS, ATTRIBUTES, AND PRECAUTIONS OF THE 7-SPEED DRY-TYPE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION (DCT).

Bulletin 5NP-S9D9P-10 · Power Train · Sep 2016

PROVIDED PROCEDURES FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A BLOCK HEATER. *YC

Bulletin 97110120014 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 1997

SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION ON CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. *YC

Bulletin 97100120012 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 1997

SHIFT CONDITION CAUSED BY SHORT CIRCUIT IN INHIBITOR SWITCH. *TW

Bulletin 9740002 · Power Train · Jan 1997

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the SONATA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size car that has been manufactured by Hyundai since 1985. The first generation Sonata, which was introduced in 1985, was a facelifted version of the Hyundai Stellar with an engine upgrade, and was withdrawn from the market in two years due to poor customer reaction. While the nameplate was originally only sold in South Korea, the second generation of 1988 was widely exported.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1991 Hyundai Sonata vehicles on record

Other Hyundai Sonata model years

1991 Hyundai Sonata — frequently asked questions

Does the 1991 Hyundai Sonata have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Hyundai Sonata. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1991 Hyundai Sonata?

Across all 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are seat belts, engine and engine cooling, power train.

What gas mileage does the 1991 Hyundai Sonata get?

The 1991 Hyundai Sonata has U.S. EPA estimates of 18–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.