1987 Hyundai Sonata problems

General information about Hyundai-Sonata
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Hyundai Sonata (Korean: 현대 쏘나타) 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Sonata, which was introduced in 1985, was a facelifted version of the Hyundai Stellar with an engine upgrade, and was withdrawn from the market in two years due to poor customer reaction.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.

The Sonata is currently manufactured in South Korea where their headquarters are located, China and Pakistan. It was named after the musical term, sonata.

First generation (Y1; 1985)

The first Sonata was introduced to compete with the Daewoo Royale series and was a more luxurious version of the Stellar. It included cruise control, power seats, head lamp washers, power brakes, electric operated adjustable side mirrors and chrome bumper trims. The Sonata was available with two trim options in Korea: Luxury and Super (the latter only available with a 2.0-liter engine). In the domestic market Hyundai attempted to sell the Sonata as an executive car using catchphrases like "Luxury car for VIP"; however, as the Sonata was based on the Stellar without any major changes, it was seen by the public as no more than a luxury version of the Stellar. In 1987 Hyundai added two tone color schemes and a trip computer option, but sales soon went down and the car was discontinued in December of that year. The Sonata was sold only in the South Korean domestic market. The vehicle was unveiled in South Korea on 4 November 1985.

Engine choices included 1.6-liter Mitsubishi Saturn (only available outside the domestic market), 1.8- and 2.0-liter Mitsubishi Sirius inline-fours. The latter unit also found its way into the 1987 and later Stellar, and in MPI form the 1986 Hyundai Grandeur. The body was a largely unchanged Hyundai Stellar.

It was sold in New Zealand (right hand drive) with the 1.6-liter Mitsubishi engine with the five-speed manual gearbox; an automatic transmission was an optional extra. The original importer was a unit of the Auckland-based Giltrap Motor Group.

The final version of the Stellar was known as the Stellar 88 and was launched to celebrate the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Afterwards, Hyundai discontinued the Stellar and replaced it with the all-new Sonata.

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Common 1987 Hyundai Sonata problems

The Hyundai Sonata, first introduced in 1985, has been a popular midsize car option for Hyundai, with sales steadily increasing throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. However, not all owners have been completely satisfied with their vehicles. This article will discuss common problems with the Hyundai Sonata, specifically focusing on the 1987 model, based on complaints from owners.

One of the most significant issues with the 1987 Hyundai Sonata is engine problems. These issues can manifest in various ways, such as choppy idle, loss of power, milky oil, or white exhaust. If a Sonata experiences any of these symptoms, there is a high chance that the cylinder head gasket is blown or the cylinder head is cracked.

Another issue with the 1987 Hyundai Sonata is related to the engine's inline-4 cylinder design. While this engine layout offers good fuel efficiency and a compact size, it can also lead to engine problems as the car ages. The inline-4 cylinder engine's layout allows for a small, compact engine, with other components (radiator, battery, cooling system) fitted around the outside. However, this layout can make the engine more prone to issues as the car ages, especially if not properly maintained.

The Mitsubishi engines used in early Hyundai models, such as the 1987 Excel, also had issues with their propensity to wear out valve guides in short order, contributing to the poor reputation of early Hyundai vehicles. This issue, combined with the cheap feeling of early Hyundai models, led to a perception that these cars were not reliable or well-built.

In summary, the 1987 Hyundai Sonata has several common problems, primarily related to engine issues. These problems can include choppy idle, loss of power, milky oil, or white exhaust, which may indicate a blown cylinder head gasket or a cracked cylinder head. Additionally, the inline-4 cylinder engine's layout, while offering fuel efficiency and a compact size, can also make the engine more prone to issues as the car ages. Finally, the Mitsubishi engines used in early Hyundai models, such as the 1987 Excel, had issues with their propensity to wear out valve guides in short order, contributing to the poor reputation of early Hyundai vehicles.

What is the common problem of Hyundai Sonata?

Old and new Sonata model years had similar issues with their timing chain tensioner, which produced rattling noises upon engine startup. Many owners also reported a broken timing belt, which damaged the crankshaft position sensor.

Are old Hyundai Sonatas reliable?

Buy: 2003-2004 Hyundai Sonata

Many reviews say it's a very reliable car with little to no issues. And with a price tag of $586-$3,132, you're looking at an excellent value proposition.

Is Hyundai Sonata high maintenance?

A Hyundai Sonata will cost about $5,998 for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service. This beats the industry average for popular sedan models by $1,098. There is also a 17.73% chance that a Sonata will require a major repair during that time.

What is the most common problem of Hyundai?

1) Transmission Problems

Some of Hyundai's automobiles, particularly the Elantra and Sonata models, have experienced transmission issues. Issues with shifting gears, hesitancy, and even total transmission failure can all be brought on by transmission problems.

1987 Hyundai Sonata car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Hyundai Sonata problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Steering problems
Engine and engine cooling problems
Structure problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Hyundai Sonata vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: KMHLF322J4J
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: CROSS MEMBER BENT AND POORLY WELDED.

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1987 Hyundai Sonata problems:

How reliable are Hyundai cars after 100,000 miles? - Quora

https://www.quora.com/How-reliable-are-Hyundai-cars-after-100-000-miles

Jun 19, 2018 ... What are common problems with Hyundai cars? ... Jerry. , former Engineer at Ford Motor Company (1987 ... Model Matters: Some Hyundai models are like ...

Why is CarPlay not working properly on my 2021 Hyundai Sonata ...

https://www.reddit.com/r/CarPlay/comments/ohqe60/why_is_carplay_not_working_properly_on_my_2021/

Jul 10, 2021 ... Our dealer told us they are only having issues with folks who have iPhones because wireless CarPlay is relatively new to Apple. I previously ...