10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Hyundai Sonata body / paint problems

body / paint problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Hyundai Sonata:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments

problem #5

Sep 032012

Sonata

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Chrome plated interior door handle on driver's side began peeling, leaving very sharp edges, which cut my finger. We covered the handle with tape to protect from future cuts. I looked for a recall notice on this part and found one and called the dealership and was told that I would have to pay for this repair myself. I filed a complaint with NHTSA and was told to contact Hyundai. I did nothing since I couldn't afford the repair. In the past 9 months, I have been the passenger more often than before and now the interior handle on the passenger side has same problem-peeling off, leaving sharp edges. Once again I nicked my finger on it. Recently had a repair done at the dealership and asked the adviser about the problem he said he had no record of a recall. I found the recall online & showed him. He said I should call Hyundai, .I spoke to a rep @ Hyundai who told me that even though I may have a problem described in the recall my vehicle was manufactured in 10/2001, which means I don't really have the problem described in the recall I was furious. This is not an imaginary problem - I have cut my fingers twice. She said she would have someone call me back to discus further & that never happened. That was about 3 weeks ago. I don't care what the recall date says - my car has the exact problem described in the recall notice. The rep also told me the recall goes by the date the car was put into service, not the date manufactured of 10/01; she said the car was not put into service until 3/03-after the recall date.the recall says 1/28/02-3/22/03. Also I the car had to be put into service earlier than 03 because I bought it on 10/16/02. I don't understand why this isn't covered by the recall/campaign - whatever you want to call it. Both handles are peeling & unsafe! we are keeping this car so it is important. Just bought a new Sonata.to replace another car.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #4

Sep 162009

Sonata

  • miles
The contact owns a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph the exterior rear passenger door chrome plating detached from the door landed onto the hood of the vehicle. Unintended separation and exposure of sharp fragments can cause a serious injury. The vehicle has not been inspected or repaired to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle identification number was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were unavailable.

- Lebanon, OR, USA

problem #3

Aug 302009

Sonata

  • 140,000 miles
Repeated use of interior door handles on my 2002 Hyundai Sonata caused wear of the chrome plating and handles cracked and then had sharp edges which cut myself and some of my passengers and then I had to tape them. I took car back to 2 dealers, 1 didn't respond and the other fixed the problem with a bandaid, literally. They fixed it by putting a chrome adhesive pad over each of them, when I drove the car out of the lot and it was parked in the sun, the chrome plated adhesive strips came loose. I feel the need to fully replace all the defective door handles. This didn't resolve the problem and only made it worse with the doorhandles being sticky and unable to open at times until you stick the adhesive strip back on. I love my car and Hyundai but don't think they did the right thing with just masking the problem to save a little money. Please help! no deaths, but there were three people who were injured by cutting through the skin and would have been in bad shape had I taken a hemophiliac with me at some point.

- Grandin, FL, USA

problem #2

Sep 082006

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
Hyundai Sonata 2002 outside and inside painted door handle peeling causing injury to hands. Injury more cause by inside door handles due to sliver painted door handles. Becomes very sharp once peeling.

- West Hempstead, NY, USA

problem #1

Jan 172004

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles
: the consumer stated the interior material on the passenger's door handle of the vehicle caused minor injuries to a child. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where they replaced the door handles. The consumer is now having the same type of problem with the driver's side door. Updated 3/9/2006 -

- Sacramento, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?