1996 Hyundai Sonata problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1996 Hyundai Sonata have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1996 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.

Q: What is the 1996 Hyundai Sonata safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1996 Hyundai Sonata crash-test ratings of frontal 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

Q: What gas mileage does the 1996 Hyundai Sonata get?

The 1996 Hyundai Sonata has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

1996 Hyundai Sonata at a glance

Safety recalls1

Owner complaints29

Combined19–22 mpg

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

1996 Hyundai Sonata recalls 1

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor NHTSA Campaign #97V026000 · 26/02/1997

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.

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.

1996 Hyundai Sonata common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

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.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Equipment

Test all accessories — sunroof, climate, seats, electronics — for proper operation.

Service Brakes

Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

1996 Hyundai Sonata safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★

Frontal — driver★★★★★

Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1996 Hyundai Sonata 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1996 Hyundai Sonata MPG & running costs

Combined19–22 mpg

City18 mpg

Highway25 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,267

EPA size classMidsize Cars

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd

Passenger volume101 cu ft

Cargo volume13 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$4,333 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 1996 Hyundai Sonata costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,335

Fuel only$16,335

Per mile$0.22

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

185.0 in

Width

69.7 in

Height

55.5 in

Wheelbase

106.3 in

Curb weight

2,769–3,018 lb

Front track

59.8 in

Rear track

59.4 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1996 Hyundai Sonata — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 47

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 47.

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 âTire Balance Data Sheetâ must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) d…

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

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

Bulletin 20-BD-014H · Exterior Lighting, Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Jul 2020

This bulletin provides information on tire maintenance best practices and procedures for dealers and customers to maximize tire life and performance.

Bulletin 20-SS-002H(1) · Tires, Wheels · May 2020

This bulletin describes the general guidelines to help disinfect and protect vehicle exterior/interior surfaces using recommended safe chemical products.

Bulletin 20-BD-007H-1 · Equipment · May 2020

This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: â¢ A Battery SOC alert - low Battery State of Charge (SOC) at or below 50%. â¢ 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 automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions:

Bulletin 20-AT-016H · Power Train, Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Apr 2020

This bulletin describes the general guidelines to disinfect and protect vehicle interior surfaces using certain safe chemical products.

Bulletin 20-BD-007H · Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Mar 2020

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

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1996 Hyundai Sonata. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Visual System

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH SOLDERING FLUX. THIS CONTAMINATION COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENT THE WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHICH MAY IN TURN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: CONTAMINA…

Transport Canada #1997045 · Mar 1997

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

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.

1996 Hyundai Sonata vehicles on record

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF21FPTU590331

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU755265

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU738978

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU685234

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPTU505317

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF21FPTU589667

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU768022

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU780204

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPTU589498

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU769828

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU740133

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU738769

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU691537

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU737787

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU692982

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU814448

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU725455

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU757283

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPTU612157

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF21FPTU638893

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPTU590450

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU738919

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPTU561176

1996 Hyundai SonataKMHCF31FPVU737825

Other Hyundai Sonata model years

1996 Hyundai Sonata — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Hyundai Sonata have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1996 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 1996 Hyundai Sonata?

Across all 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling, power train, electrical system.

What is the 1996 Hyundai Sonata safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1996 Hyundai Sonata crash-test ratings of frontal 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1996 Hyundai Sonata get?

The 1996 Hyundai Sonata has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–22 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.