HyundaiSonata2004Overview/hyundai/sonata/2004/base/

2004 Hyundai Sonata

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Sonata.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2004 Hyundai Sonata is a passenger car that requires 4.5 quarts of engine oil with a recommended viscosity of 5W-20 or 5W-30 API. During its production period, this model year accumulated 202 owner complaints with Air Bags cited as the most frequently reported concern and one recall issued. Within the broader 1990-2026 Sonata complaint history—which ranges from a peak of 3,368 complaints in 2011 to just 2 in 2026—the 2004 model demonstrates moderate reliability performance relative to the nameplate's overall trajectory.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 560 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 560 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3217 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sonata of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5–10.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 2002 GLS V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2003GLS V6 2.7L V68.60 sec16.70 sec170 hpFWD
2002GLS V6 2.7L V68.50 sec16.40 sec170 hpFWD
2002GLS V6 2.7L V68.80 sec16.70 sec170 hpFWD
2000GLS V6 2.5L V610.30 sec17.50 sec170 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0-32.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.2
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs14-15 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts94-101 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-32.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15-20 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub148-206 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub177 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.67-.81 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance11,300-15,300 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.44-1.55 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.07 oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance560 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)38.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)47.0-50.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression171 minimum PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression149-170. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure11.6 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle67-81 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-24 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0012 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.96 in / 0.39 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.96 in / 0.39 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
118 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
260 ft. lbs.60 ft. lbs
345
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Power Steering Line (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
Every 75,000 miDrive Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2004 Sonata sits at a notable low point in the first-generation arc (1999–2005), with complaints (202) down from the 2002 peak (325) and 2003 (199), while recalls drop sharply to just one — the fewest since 1994 — and investigations fall to a single case. TSBs also decline steadily from 89 in 2002 to 52, suggesting diminishing service complexity as the platform matured. The dominant complaint categories — Air Bags (35), Suspension (32), and Structure (23) — align with aging-vehicle patterns rather than systemic defects, and the 22 crash and 2 fire complaints do not trigger elevated federal scrutiny. By contrast, the redesigned 2006 model year explodes to 1,047 complaints and 11 recalls, underscoring that 2004 benefits from a settled, well-understood architecture. The data doesn't specify root causes for the air bag or suspension reports, but the metrics collectively indicate a stable, low-regulatory-risk year. This is a good year to buy if you prioritize a mature platform with minimal recall exposure and declining complaint velocity.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
52
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
202
Owner complaints
22 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 202 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags35
Suspension32
Structure23
Suspension,Structure7
Latches/Locks/Linkages6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Electrical System5
Fuel System, Gasoline5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09V124000SuspensionReported 16/04/2009

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 188,282 MY 2001-2004 SONATA AND MY 2001-2004 XG300 AND XG350 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND… Remedy: DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME FOR CORROSION DAMAGE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 52 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
24-BD-001H2024-02-14VisibilityThis bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade…
23-EM-005H2023-10-13Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sonata. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Sonata take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 Sonata have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.