Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Hyundai Sonata, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 19% |
| Power train | 4 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 10% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 6% |
| Power train | 2 | 6% |
| Steering | 2 | 6% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DT: JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND IT STARTED SMOKING. ALSO, FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF IT, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO BROTHER'S HOUSE. DEALER HASDNOT LOOKED AT VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE ENGINE SMOKES ON START UP AND THE LIFTERS RATTLE AND KNOCK WAS IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR MONTHS. EVERY 850+ MILES BURNS A QUART OF OIL WAS TOLD THAT THE WAY THAT ENGINE WORKS.THE CAR WAS KEPT FOR FOUR MONTHS A
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ACTUALLY A QUESTION RE A CURRENT RECALL: 93V196000. I'M GETTING A RUNAROUND FROM HYUNDAI. THEY SAY MY VIN IS FOR A CANADIAN VEHICLE (?) AND SO THEY CAN'T ASSIST WITH THE SEAT BELT TRACKING PROBLEM. I WONDER IF THAT'S LEG
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED AT PURCHASE BECAUSE OF SLOW REACTION AND NOISE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON HILL IN 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC, VALVE SEALS REPLACED AFTER CAR CONTINUALLY BLEW SMOKE FROM BURNING THE OIL, CATALYTIC CONVERTER RE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
HAVE REPLACED TRANSMISSION, FRONT CAM, LIFTERS, ROCKER, TIMING BELT, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, POWER STEERING PUMP, VALVE SEALS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, BRAKES. TO BE REPAIRED ENGINE-WISE: REAR CAM, DRIVE AXLES, CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TOOK THE AUTOMOBILE INTO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A VEHICLE INSPECTION DONE. WHEN LEAVING DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS DID NOT WORK CIRCLED AROUND THE BLOCK AND DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAI
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
TOOK THE AUTOMOBILE INTO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A VEHICLE INSPECTION DONE. WHEN LEAVING DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS DID NOT WORK CIRCLED AROUND THE BLOCK AND DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I EXPLAI
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
PROBLEMS WITH CHANGING GEARS. WOULD GO 30MPH. WOULD GET NO SPEED. TRANSMISSION MADE GRINDING NOISE. BEEN TO DEALER & HAD MECHANIC CHANGE TRANSMISSION. THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WAS SAME AS FIRST. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & TRANSMISS
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1993 Hyundai Sonata. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
THE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT CAN TRAVEL SLOWLY OR CHATTER IN THE TRACK AND MAY EVENTUALLY STOP TRACKING AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL LUBRICATE THE TRACK ASSEMBLY AND, IF ANY SYSTEMS ARE FOUND INOPERATIVE, THE SYSTEM WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED, AS REQUIRED.
| Reliability raw | 92 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 69 | good |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 6 of them (19%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 92/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.