There are 11 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Sonatain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated her fiance was driving 20-25 MPH on a steep hill with her in the front passenger's side seat. The contact stated that her fiance depressed the brake pedal to come to a complete stop at the stop sign, but the brake pedal went down to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's fiance veered to the left and intentionally hit a telephone pole to avoid crashing into a parked vehicle, and to prevent a more severe accident from occurring as the road was significantly steep. The brake warning light was illuminated. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a seatbelt mark. The contact's fiance was not wearing a seatbelt and hit his head against the windshield. The contact's fiance sustained a concussion, a laceration on the chin, a chipped front left upper tooth and bruises on the bottom teeth. The ambulance transported both the contact and her fiance to the hospital, where they received medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
I own a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. On 1/19/22, while driving the car, the brakes started failing. I was able to drive the car to my independent mechanic's shop and they repaired the brake issue with a fabrication and installation of the brake line. As my inspection was due, I made an appt with them to bring it back for inspection before the month was over. When I did bring it back however, another mechanic (who apparently had seen underneath the car when they did the brake work) stated that it would never pass inspection as the corrosion was severe. I then made an appt on 2/9 with the dealer who sold me the vehicle. The dealer however stated that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign 09V124000 (Suspension). I believe it should have been included in that recall and that I am entitled to the "Remedy" outlined in the NHTSA recall.
EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE IT SEEMS TO ACCELERATE FOR A SECOND BEFORE BRAKING. I HAVE DOUBLE CHECKED AND I AM NOT PRESSING THE GAS ON ACCIDENT. IT HAS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER I START DRIVING (SO GOING UNDER 25 MPH) ON SIDE STREETS IN TOWN. I AM UNSURE OF THE EXACT DATES THIS HAS HAPPENED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC REAR BRAKE LINE AND REAR CYLINDERS WERE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. AS THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED; HE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND MADE A NOISE AS IF PRESSURE HAD LEFT THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.
DISC BRAKE PAD SEPARATION RESULTED IN SEVERE ROTOR WEAR AND LOSS OF BRAKES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. LOW MILEAGE ON VEHICLE, 19K, ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS. REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS, OLD PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2005 ON 1-95 2004 AT 6 MPH THE HYUNDAI SONATA WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT DUE TO THE BRAKES LOCKING. THE CONSUMER'S WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND HAD DECIDED TO OVERTAKE THE CAR AHEAD. THE CONSUMER MOVED TO THE LEFT LANE AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEED WAS MORE THAN 75 MPH. THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, MADE A 360-DEGREE TURN, SKIDDED, AND MERCIFULLY STOPPED ON THE GRASSY SHOULDER. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT NO CAR BUMPED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DURING THIS EPISODE. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THOUGHT THAT ONE OF THE TIRES HAD BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE TIRES AND SAW SKID BURNS. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER. THE CONSUMER THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN. ON LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 THE CONSUMER CALLED THE HYUNDAI DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD THEM THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR. THE CONSUMER TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED AND HE SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER CALL A HYUNDAI SERVICE OUTLET FOR A SERVICE CHECK-UP APPOINTMENT. THE CONSUMER CALLED BOB BELL HYUNDAI IN GLEN BURNIE FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND THE RECORDING SAID THEY WOULD CALL HIM WITHIN THE HOUR. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JULY 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON RITCHIE HIGHWAY NEAR PASADENA, MARYLAND AT 60 MPH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE WHITES ROAD INTERSECTION TURNED RED CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES A LITTLE HARD AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I THAT THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *AK *MR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A POPPING NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL FOUR ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
NEAR ACCIDENT REPORT DUE TO A POSSIBLE BRAKE LOCK UP OF THE 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES,THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN AND SKIDDED TO A STOP ON A GRASSY SHOULDER. *JB
CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BECAME UNATTACHED IN THE COLLISION.*AK THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL BY CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER 2004, WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONOTA. TRAFFICE WAS HEAVY AND A DRIVER, 3 CARS AHEAD, SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AS ALL THOSE BEHIND HER DID. I HAD AMPLE TIME TO STOP BUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES REPEATEDLY KEPT TURNING. MY CAR CONTINUED TO HIT THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME AND MY CAR ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB ON THE BACK OF THE OTHER CAR. THE REPETITIVE HITTING OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE BRAKES OF BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES, THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AT INTERMITTENT TIMES, YET THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO INFORM ME THAT THEIR IS NOTHING ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO ACT UP ON DRY SURFACES STILL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT CANNOT SEEM TO CONVINCE THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS AN ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES GRABBIND AND CONTINUE TO ROTATE. THE IMPACT, FROM THE REPETITIVE HITTING OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSED IT TO BE TOTALED. MY CAR, EVEN AFTER EXTENSIVE FRAME DAMAGE AND SHIFTING OF THE ENTIRE MOTOR CARRIAGE, WAS NOT TOTALLED. IT SHOULD BE ALSO NOTED THAT WHEN THE INSURANCE CARRIER HAD THE CAR DELIVERED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MOTOR REPLACEMENT THAT THEY WERE NOT ADVISED OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WAS SENT TO HOSPITAL FOR A CHECKUP AS THE REPETITIVE HITTING CAUSED THE SEATBELT TO CAUSE NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT ARM AND NECK. I WAS TREATED AND RELEASED WITH A PRESCRIPTION FOR MUSCLE RELAXERS FOR A FEW DAYS.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026