The 1989 Hyundai Sonata has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 182,951 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS93V1960001993-11-29100,000 affected
Defect
THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT CAN TRAVEL SLOWLY OR CHATTER IN THE TRACK AND MAY EVENTUALLY STOP TRACKING AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence
SLOWING, CHATTERING, OR FAILURE OF THE MOTORIZED SHOULDERBELT MAY DISCOURAGE USE OF THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURYIN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL LUBRICATE THE TRACK ASSEMBLY AND, IF ANY SYSTEMS ARE FOUND INOPERATIVE, THE SYSTEM WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED, AS REQUIRED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING90V0370001990-02-2143,590 affected
Defect
THE SPRING CLAMP TANGS ON THE COOLANT BYPASS HOSE MAY CONTACT AND POSSIBLY DAMAGE THE ENGINE FUEL SUPPLY HOSE.
Consequence
FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE DAMAGED HOSE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
ROTATE SPRING CLAMP TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH FUEL HOSE; REPLACE DAMAGED HOSES.
INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE COULD CAUSE THE SAFETY CATCH ON THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH STRIKER TO BIND.
Consequence
IF PRIMARY LATCH IS RELEASED OR IF HOOD IS NOT COMPLETELY CLOSED, HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS WOULD BLOCK DRIVER'S VISION AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE HOOD LATCH STRIKER ASSEMBLY.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
1fires
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
1fires
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
1
SEAT BELTS
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
1crashes
Total complaints18
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“During a frontal impact accident at 35 mph. The front automatic seat belt system did not hold the driver in place, upon impact. *ak”
“Motorized seat belts stick.”
“Consumer was driving and car stalled, consumer got out car to make phone call and car caught on fire. Please describe . *ak”
“There is a temperature sensor that has failed causing high rpm's in the vehicle. Tt”
“Engine failed. *sd”
“Engine failed. *sd”
“Bolts holding hood fell out, causing hood to fly up obscuring vision. *dsh”
“Recall related,90v038000 went for appointment of 5/27/95 dealership has notification letter, never received part, experience problem on 6/11/95 hood fly up.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE93061 Opened 1993-07-08 · closed 1993-11-30
PASS.RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAIL
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE94043 Opened 1994-05-27 · closed 1994-10-31
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Hyundai Sonata as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.