2008 HYUNDAI SONATA

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    airbag system

    107 unsafe

    107
    incidents
    Typical range: 27,500–102,000 mi

    Median 70,000 mi, based on 113 reports (31% had no usable mileage)

    • "IT WAS PURCHASED MARCH 2008 FROM DAVE MENGAY IN RAINBOW CITY, ALABAMA. WITHIN WEEKS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WAS NOT GOING OFF WHEN ADULTS WERE SEATED. PER THE MANUAL, THIS LIGHT SHOULD ONLY BE ON WHEN PASSENGERS LE…"~1,000 mi, complaint #732594
    • "2008 HYUNDAI SONATA : RECEIVED RECALL FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD CAR WAS NOT PART OF RECALL EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WHICH SHOWS THAT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED CAME ON WHEN PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT…"~48,000 mi, complaint #1143449
    • "DASHBOARD AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2012. AT THIS TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS OFF. THE PASSENGER SAFETY BELT LIGHT REMAINS PERMANENTLY ON SINCE SEPTEMBER 2012 AS WELL. CALLED THE DEALER HYUNDAI OF EL PASO AND THEY SAID MY C…"~75,000 mi, complaint #977408
    • "B1448 ISSUE SHOWING OCS MAT DEFECT. RED DASH LIGHT SAYING "AIR BAG" CAME ON @104000 MILES AND REMAINS ON. LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING WITH NO OCCUPANT IN PASSENGER SEAT. NO ACCIDENTS OR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS. DEALER INDICATES NO ACTIVE RECALL HOWEVER NHTSA SHOWS…"~104,000 mi, complaint #1310308
    • "AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND HAS NOT TURNED OFF."~177,000 mi, complaint #1648624
  2. #2

    other

    29 unsafe, 20 annoyance

    49
    incidents
    Typical range: 41,000–70,000 mi

    Median 55,000 mi, based on 41 reports (33% had no usable mileage)

    • "SUN VISOR ON BOTH PASS AND DRIVE SIDE WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION CAUSING A HAZARD AS THE VISOR IS IN THE LINE OF SIGHT AND WILL COME DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. *JS "~10,000 mi, complaint #1083899
    • "I WAS MOVING THE SUN VISOR AND HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC FELL IN MY LAP. NOW THE SUN VISOR JUST WANTS TO HANG. I CAN'T GET IT TO STAY UP OF STAY IN ONE PLACE. I END UP HOLDING IT UP WITH ONE HAND A GOOD DEAL OF THE TIME. I DON'…"~42,239 mi, complaint #959642
    • "VISOR ABOVE DRIVER WILL NOT STAY UP. WHENEVER DRIVING HAVE TO PUT THE VISOR TO THE SIDE TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION OF THE STREET. THIS IS A HAZARD EVEN WHEN THE SUN IS NOT SHINING. *TR"~58,597 mi, complaint #979789
    • "SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. FALLS DOWN EXACTLY AT THE HEIGHT OF MY FOREHEAD SO THAT IF I GET IN A WRECK, MY FOREHEAD WILL EXACTLY HIT THE "EDGE" OF THE VISOR AND CRUSH MY FOREHEAD. SINCE THE DIRECTION OF IMPACT AGAINST THE VISOR IS EXACTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF…"~70,000 mi, complaint #872860
    • "PASSENGER VISOR DROPPED DOWN, WOULD NOT STAY IN UP POSITION. BROKEN PLASTIC COMPONENT ON VISOR FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE. PURCHASED REPLACEMENT AT LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY DID NOT MENTION SERVICE BULLETIN NOW IN EFFECT. *TR"~130,000 mi, complaint #1048731
  3. #3

    sunroof

    31 unsafe, 1 broken, 8 annoyance

    40
    incidents
    Typical range: 40,000–65,000 mi

    Median 57,000 mi, based on 39 reports (17% had no usable mileage)

    • "I HAVE A HYUNDAI SONATA 2008 4 DOOR GLS FULL SIZE SEDAN 6 CYLINDER VIN: [XXX] THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR , WHEN TAKEN OUT TO PROTECT WHEN DRIVING EAST IN THE MORNING OR WEST IN THE EVENING TO AND FROM WORK, JUST HANGS , AND DOES NOT GO BACK UP TO ITS…"~15,300 mi, complaint #795415
    • "DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FLOPS DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S EYES. *TR"~40,000 mi, complaint #840463
    • "PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP. HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE LINE OF DRIVER'S VISION. *TR"~52,000 mi, complaint #1024375
    • "NORMAL USE HAS CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA TO NOT HOLD ITS POSITION. IT WILL NOT REMAIN IN PLACE WHETHER IT IS PLACED IN THE UPRIGHT OR DOWN POSITION. FURTHER, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE SUN VISOR WILL DROP SUDDENLY AND…"~61,500 mi, complaint #798919
    • "DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS IN UP POSITION, DROOPING DOWN INTO FIELD OF VIEW. IT APPEARS THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS BUT ONLY FOR SOUTHERN AND WESTERN STATES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT IS EASY TO FIND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABO…"~117,100 mi, complaint #1019513
  4. #4

    brake pads and rotors

    31 unsafe, 1 broken, 3 annoyance

    35
    incidents
    Typical range: 22,000–38,000 mi

    Median 29,000 mi, based on 35 reports (8% had no usable mileage)

    • "2008 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH ONLY 12,600 MILES, WHILE DRIVING WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN HEARD LOUD NOISE FROM BACK OF CAR WHILE TAKING A TURN. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS DUE TO RUST ON THE ROTOR. DIDN'T HAVE THEM DO THE WORK AS THE COST WAS…"~12,000 mi, complaint #730152
    • "TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR ANNUAL STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION AND TO HAVE "CHIRPING" NOISE FROM BRAKES CHECKED. REAR BRAKE PADS WERE AT 3/32"; MIN ALLOWED IS 2/32". FRONT PADS OK AT +7/32". REPLACED REAR PADS, MACHINED ROTORS. MILEAGE WAS 23,226; CAR PURCHASED FE…"~23,226 mi, complaint #841614
    • "THE FOLLOWING IS AN EMAIL THAT I SENT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I RECENTLY WENT TO FOR RECURRING BRAKE/CALIPER ISSUES ON THIS VEHICLE. AS YOU KNOW I WAS IN YESTERDAY (BUERKLE HYUNDAI WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN @ 8:48 AM INVOICE 183543) WITH MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA…"~29,975 mi, complaint #961867
    • "GRINDING OF REAR BRAKES BEGINNING AT 37,000 MILES. CAR IS DRIVEN ALL HIGHWAY MILES. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE AND MECHANIC WAS SHOCKED TO SEE PADS WERE GONE AND ROTORS WORN BEYOND REPAIR. HE SAID FRONT BRAKES SHOULD USUALLY GO FIRST. HYUNDAI CLAIMED PADS SHOU…"~38,000 mi, complaint #723089
    • "I BOUGHT A USED 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH APPROX 50,000 MILES ON IT IN 2012. SINCE PURCHASING IS ALL IT HAS BEEN WAS ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE OTHER. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED THIS WEEK (WHICH IS ANOTHER STORY) AND SINCE MY INSPECTION WAS DUE I ASKED THE…"~94,000 mi, complaint #1267216
  5. #5

    engine internal

    5 stranded, 19 unsafe

    24
    incidents
    Typical range: 90,000–149,000 mi

    Median 116,500 mi, based on 35 reports (5% had no usable mileage)

    • "CAR MADE A POPPING NOISE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THEN LOST ACCELERATION. THE CAR THEN BURST INTO FLAMES."~13,000 mi, complaint #1554305
    • "FIRST THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND AND THE CAR WOULD DRAG TO ACCELERATE. THIS LASTED 3 DAYS EACH DAY IT GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. BY THE THIRD DAY I WAS DRIVING THE KNOCKING SOUND GREW LOUDER, SOMETHING FELL OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME O…"~106,000 mi, complaint #1436825
    • "MY ERVIN CEASED UP ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. IT THRU AN ENGIN ROD.THE ENGIN OIL MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING. NOW AFTER JUST BUYING THIS CAR USED, THERE ARE NO ENGINES AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT. TOO MANY HAVE BLOWN UP. AND HYUNDAI SAYS THEY ARE NOT BEING…"~116,000 mi, complaint #1690361
    • "ENGINE OIL EVAPORATED. NO LEAKS OR DRIPS. NOW MOTOR MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE WHEN STARTED. HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC HE SAID THE ENGINE IS SHOT, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE BEARING IS BAD ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR AND THE CRANK SHAFT IS DAMAGED. LOOKING O…"~145,000 mi, complaint #1234125
    • "WAS HEADING TO WORK ON INTERSTATE 81, ENGINE MADE LOUD BOOM SOUND SCARED ME PULLED OVER BEING AFRAID TO DRIVE HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. NO ENGINE LIGHT ON. REPAIR DONE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST SAID ENGINE WAS BLOWN, OLL GOOD NO ENGINE LIGHT BUT ENGINE WO…"~180,000 mi, complaint #1595012
  6. #6

    stability and traction control

    19 unsafe

    19
    incidents
    Typical range: 51,000–102,500 mi

    Median 76,500 mi, based on 26 reports (4% had no usable mileage)

    • "BROUGHT IN 2008, AFTER 2 YEARS ESC LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON SOMETIMES DEALERSHIP CAN DETECT OTHER TIMES THE LIGHT IS NOT ON. THEY CLAIM THEY FIND NOTHING. *TR"~23,000 mi, complaint #955476
    • "I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED HYUNDAI SONATA 2008 A FEW MONTHS AGO AND WE DECIDED TO TEST IT ON A LONG DRIVE. WE CHANGED THE OIL, FILLED UP THE TANK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED WE TOOK OFF TO BOSTON (MA) A [REDACTED ADDRESS] FROM COLUMBUS (O…"~51,000 mi, complaint #986346
    • "THE ESC OFF DOES NOT TURN OFF EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE ESC SWITCH. BOTH ESC AND ESC OFF TURNS ON AFTER THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED ON AND STAYS FOR A FEW SECONDS. POST THAT THE ESC LIGHT GOES OFF. BUT AFTER FEW MINUTES ESC OFF LIGHT TURNS ON. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO…"~75,000 mi, complaint #1259118
    • "ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY ALONG WITH AIRBAG WARNING."~102,000 mi, complaint #1352002
    • "ESC OFF WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AT START UP AND DURING DRIVING OF VEHICLE, STALLS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AND FIND THAT SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RESTARTING SEEMS TO CLEAR THE ISSUE BUT THE ESC LIGHTS COMES BACK ON WITHIN…"~155,000 mi, complaint #1250351
  7. #7

    brake hydraulics

    17 unsafe

    17
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=23, median 61,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA AND HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKES AT 24,000 MILES. MY DEALER SAID THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CALIPERS STICKING AND THIS CAUSED MY REAR BRAKES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. MY DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS "A HYUNDAI PROBLEM…"~24,000 mi, complaint #813104
    • "BOTH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE REAR DASH LIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING (11-12-2011). I ALSO HAVE THE ESC INDICATOR LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF (PAST 6 MONTHS) THERE WAS A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT ON THE STOP LAMP SWITCH DONE ON 10-23-2009. SERVICE DEPARTMENT INVOIC…"~33,247 mi, complaint #890157
    • "AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2008 SONATA RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. REPAIR COSTS NEAR $600. SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT "EVERY ONE OF THESE CARS WILL BE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM" DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE…"~73,250 mi, complaint #1375551
    • "LAST WEEK WE NOTICED THAT THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT WAS ON. TONIGHT ON 5/24/2012 WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I HAD TO JUST BARELY PLUG IN THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WIRE FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO WORK AGAIN. THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH EARLIER SONATAS T…"~105,922 mi, complaint #920100
    • "THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF! A LIGHT SAYS ESC OFF, WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF , LATER THE LIGHT IS OUT BUT I STILL DO NOT HAVE FUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHTS THEY JUST STAY ON WHILE IN MOTION."~150,000 mi, complaint #1343226
  8. #8

    door latch and hinge

    9 unsafe, 2 broken

    11
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=14, median 80,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF. WILL ENTER CAR AND SEE THAT" TRUNK OPEN" SIGNAL ON DASH IS ON. HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. I CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT. ONE TIME THE TRUNK WAS OPEN BUT THE LATCH WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND I COULD NOT CLOSE THE TRUNK…"~35,000 mi, complaint #977053
    • "THIS EVENING AT OUR LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL WFLX I SAW A STORY ABOUT HYUNDAI SONATAS'S DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF.THIS LADY HAD ALL 4 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BREAK OFF. THE NEWS STATION SAID HYUNDAI TOLD THEM THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE. NOT TRUE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OUTSI…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1439668
    • "FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE AND FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLE HAVE FALLEN OFF. TO GET INTO CAR TO DRIVE ANYWHERE I MUST CLIMB THROUGH CAR FROM BACK SEAT. RECALLS DO EXIST FOR LATER YEARS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL."~73,000 mi, complaint #1616229
    • "REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FOUND LYING ON THE GROUND WITH PLASTIC EXTENSION THAT ACTIVATES DOOR LATCH BROKEN--HAD FALLEN INSIDE DOOR. THREE WEEKS LATER, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL FAILURE. PURCHASED REPLACEMENTS FROM LOCAL HYUNDAI…"~128,000 mi, complaint #1048740
    • "EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE SHEARING OFF. LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF ON 4/24/2016. RIGHT FRONT DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF TODAY 11/29/2016. HANDLES BOTH CAME OFF WHEN I PULLED ON THEM TO OPEN THE DOOR. NO UNUSUAL FORCE INVOLVED. HANDLES ARE COMPLETELY PLASTIC.…"~176,523 mi, complaint #1336835
  9. #9

    engine stall or no start

    1 stranded, 7 unsafe

    8
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=13, median 117,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL TAPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COCONUT CREEK HYUNDAI ([REDACTED ADDRESS] 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL…"~35,000 mi, complaint #1543463
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…"~108,000 mi, complaint #1224594
    • "TL* THE CONTACT 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO…"~117,000 mi, complaint #1150077
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A…"~130,000 mi, complaint #1069250
    • "ON JULY 19, 2016 AT OR ABOUT 1500 HOURS, I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE TO GET SOME FOOD, ON THE WAY OUT MY APARTMENT COMPLEX, I BELIEVE MY HYUNDAI SONATA 2008 ALLOWED ME TO GO ABOUT TWO BLOCKS DOWN FROM WHERE I LIVE TO SHUT OFF IN THE STREET RIGHT BEFORE I APPROA…"~131,189 mi, complaint #1301082
  10. #10

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 102,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT RELEASE LATCH DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. IN COMPARISON TO PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCH THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN SMOOTH OPERATION TO RELEASE THE LATCH. ANY TENSION PLACED UPON THE STRAP CAUSES THE PROBLEM TO AMPLIFY DRASTICALLY. I…"~500 mi, complaint #717286
    • "THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FAILED, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND CODE OF B1518 CAME UP. BASICALLY THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THEN WHEN REPLACED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WILL GO AWAY. WITH THE ERROR IN THE SEAT BELT B…"~72,000 mi, complaint #1149232
    • "THE PASSENGER BUCKLE WAS REPLACED IN APRIL 2017 AFTER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. OCTOBER 2019 WENT TO DEALER TO HAVE AIRBAG LIGHT CHECKED AND THEY AGAIN SAY THE PASSENGER BUCKLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED BY HYUNDAI 15 YEAR WARRANTY ON SEAT BE…"~132,000 mi, complaint #1615600
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS LATCHED IN PLACE, THE AIR BAG AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED…"~170,000 mi, complaint #1166637
    • "AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. WAS TOLD PROBLEM WAS SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER ON THE DRIVER SIDE. ALSO, SEAT BELT BUCKLE SENSOR BAD IN PASSENGER BUCKLE. ON GOING INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA NOW FOR THESE ISSUES ON 2006-2008 HYUNDAI SONATA'S. QUOTED PRICE OF $575.00 TO…"~248,000 mi, complaint #1108993
  11. #11

    unintended acceleration

    7 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 19,000. UPDATED 3/12/10 *CN THE CONSUMER…"~19,000 mi, complaint #762696
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT THEN HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHI…"~30,000 mi, complaint #931653
    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT TRIED TO USE THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE, TO NO…"~30,000 mi, complaint #768483
    • "ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO WARNING. THE FIRST OCCURRED SAT SEPTEMBER 30. I FILLED MY CAR WITH GAS AND WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST CRASH THROUGH A…"~66,000 mi, complaint #1414438
    • "WHILE PASSING A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN A 50MPH ZONE, MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA EXPERIENCED 'SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION' APPROACHING A SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. EVEN AFTER APPLYING FIRM CONTINUOUS PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL WAS UNABLE TO SLOW VEHICL…"~76,000 mi, complaint #1689933
  12. #12

    engine oil consumption

    1 stranded, 5 unsafe

    6
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE MOTOR, THERE WAS NO OIL LEAN AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING A HIGH VOLUME OF OIL EVERY 30 DAYS. THE OIL AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASHED. TH…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1372075
    • "CARS VALVE COVER AND OR TIMING COVER LEAKS ON THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO BE "SOAKED WITH OIL "(DEALERS WORDS). AT ANY TIME THEREAFTER THE ALTERNATOR COULD FAIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND CAUSING INJURY. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE ALTERNA…"~41,620 mi, complaint #1097555
    • "UPON STARTING THE CAR, I HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE FROM THE ENGINE THAT INCREASED IN VOLUME AND INTENSITY AS I ACCELERATED (IN TOWN), AND THEN I OBSERVED TWO PUFFS OF SMOKE OR STEAM ARISE FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AT A NEARBY ME…"~72,300 mi, complaint #1288450
    • "I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA ON FRIDAY 08-05-[REDACTED ADDRESS] AND MY SEAT BELT AND BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO ALTERNATE FLASHING. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC A FEW DAYS LATER (THEY ARE CLOSED ON WEEKENDS). WHIL…"~103,200 mi, complaint #1312309
    • "I RECENTLY REVIEWED HYUNDAI RECALL CAMPAIGN 121 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #14V415000), WHICH DESCRIBES THAT 2007-2012 VERACRUZ MODELS MAY HAVE AN OIL LEAK AT THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET. THE RECALL STATES THAT "IF A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF OIL DRIPS ONTO THE ALTERNATOR, T…"~105,136 mi, complaint #1098399
  13. #13

    interior trim

    3 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS NOW DROOP INTO LINE OF VISION CAUSING HAZARDOUS CONDITION."~70,000 mi, complaint #918982
    • "I OWN A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN I WAS GETTING IN TO MY CAR, THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE POPPED AND BROKE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOT ONLY DOES IT OBSTRUCT MY VIEW IN THE WINDSHIELD BUT IT ALSO BLOCKS A PORTION OF MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I HAVE HAD IT REPLACED ON…"~102,000 mi, complaint #849759
    • "SUN VISORS DO NOT STAY UP. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, PARKED, ALL THE TIME. VERY UN"~111,000 mi, complaint #1300229
  14. #14

    engine head gasket

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "OIL LEAKS FROM FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET DRIPS ONTO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC WHILE IN MOTION"~73,000 mi, complaint #1486820
    • "NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO MY ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. ISSUE WITH THE VALVE COVER GASKET."~115,000 mi, complaint #1441009
    • "ON THE 3.3L ENGINE THERE IS A FAULT IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT CAUSES OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING PREMATURE ALTERNATOR FAILURE. IF THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING THIS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON O…"~130,000 mi, complaint #1368837
    • "I HAVE THE 3.3L V6 ENGINE THAT IS ALSO IN TWO OTHER VEHICLES MADE BY HYNDAI. BOTH OF THOSE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL FROM A FAULTY GASKET AND DRIPS ONTO THE ALTENATOR. THIS CAUSES THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL PREMATURELY A…"~130,000 mi, complaint #1445610
  15. #15

    fuel tank and lines

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "THERE IS NO SHUTOFF WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK. ONCE THE TANK IS FULL OR APPROACHING FULL, GASOLINE FORCEFULLY SPEWS OUT AND DOUSES THE INDIVIDUAL WHILE HOLDING THE NOZZLE. *TR"~28,000 mi, complaint #1024786
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, FUEL SPEWED FROM THE FILLER NECK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PURGE…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1020631
    • "FUEL GAUGE "FLOATS" AND THEN DROPS TO EMPTY. PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS ON "EMPTY" NOW WHICH LIGHTS MY CHECK ENGINE SENSOR, BUT EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE IT WILL RISE ABOVE EMPTY FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN DROP LIKE A ROCK AGAIN! HAVE BEEN TRACKING GAS MILEAGE WITH MY TRIP…"~105,000 mi, complaint #1190058
    • "FUEL LINE LEAKING UNDER DRIVERS SIDE, PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING. WHY WOULDNT THE MANUFACTURER MAKE THE LINES FROM A MATERIAL THAT CANNOT CORRODE OR RUST."~120,000 mi, complaint #1604788
  16. #16

    lighting exterior

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR ARE ANGLED TOO LOW WHILE USING LOW-BEAMS AND THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT IS BAD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AND I AM NOW AWARE THAT I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST IT. HIGH-BEAMS SEEM TO FUNCTION OK."~11,000 mi, complaint #1672748
    • " I WAS UNAWARE WHEN I HAVE TURNED ON MY PARKING LIGHTS - NOT MY HEADLIGHTS. DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE THE SAME FOR EITHER CHOICE. TOO OFTEN I AM UNAWARE WHEN I HAVE NOT TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON.. DEALER RESPONSE WAS - NO CARS GIVE YOU VISUAL INDICATION OF…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1134047
    • "I CANT KEEP HEADLIGHTS WORKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE WIRES ARE MELTED SO ITS HARD TO EVEN CHANGE THE BULBS. ANYWAYS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH 4-6 BULBS SINCE FEB. BUT MOST OF THE TIME I GO WITHOUT LIGHTS ON THAT SIDE EVEN THOUGH IT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE AT NI…"~184,526 mi, complaint #1104230
  17. #17

    wiring harness

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A VERY LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND PROCEEDING THROUGH IT BY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HE…"~15,000 mi, complaint #676494
    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK AJAR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ANOTHER MOTORIST ALERTED HIM THAT THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE…"~43,000 mi, complaint #723875
  18. #18

    starter

    3 stranded

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "WOULD NOT START, LIGHTS WORKED. TOW TRUCK DRIVER CHECKED BATTERY,ALTERNATOR, SUSPECTED STARTER. TOWED OVER 100 MILES HOME. (CONTACTED HYUNDAI ROAD SERVICE, ONLY TOWS TO DEALER.) CALLED DEALER TO CHECK IF COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. INFORMED IT WAS NOT. TOWED…"~60,052 mi, complaint #936603
    • "APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO I TRIED STARTING MY CAR (WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN) AND IT WOULD NOT START, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, THERE WAS NO SOUND (ALTHOUGH I DID HAVE POWER THROUGH THE BATTERY AS I HAD LIGHTS, THE LIGHTS WORKED,…"~72,000 mi, complaint #1094278
    • "CAR WILL NOT START. IT'S NOT BATTERY RELATED. I'VE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM SONATA OWNERS OF MODEL YEARS 2006-08. PEOPLE HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT'S IGNITION SWITCH RELATED. MY CAR WAS PARKED, IT HAS A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT."~86,000 mi, complaint #1429869
  19. #19

    steering rack mechanical

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "12/23/2015. 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THIS EVENING. I WAS DRIVING ON SECONDARY STREETS IN TOWN AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN WHILE NEGOTIATING A VERY…"~64,000 mi, complaint #1247631
    • "The contact's grandson owns a 2008 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds and driving over a bump in the roadway, the rear end of the vehicle started fishtailing from left to right. The vehicle was taken to…"~142,000 mi, complaint #2011479
    • "STEERING THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT AND A LOUD WHINING NOISE WOULD OCCUR TURNING RIGHT OR EVEN SLIGHTLY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD CAUSE THAT NOISE. PARKED CAR IN ALLEY TO WAIT ON IT TO BE FIXED SOMEONE DROVE ONTO MY PROPERTY AND SWIPED MY CAR. HAVE RECALL…"~169,000 mi, complaint #1599582
  20. #20

    tire failure

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "THE SIDEWALLS HAVE CRACKS IN THEM, ALL 4 TIRES. THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS (INSTALLED NOVEMBER 2011) AND HAVE 6000 MILES ON THEM. THE EXACT SAME TIRE THAT CAME ON THE CAR NEW, HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 17,000 MILES BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL CRACKING. THE ORI…"~23,000 mi, complaint #1024304
    • "FIRST INCIDENT, TRAVELING MD 4 WHEN TIRE INDICATOR CAME ON DASH BOARD (MAY 2014) BACK PASSENGER TIRE HAD HUGE BULGE AT RIM OF HUBCAP WITH HISSING SOUND DUE TO ESCAPING AIR (4 31816 215/60R16 YOKO AVID TOURING -S DOT CCF1 F2712 PURCHASED AUGUST 2013). TIRE REPL…"~116,302 mi, complaint #1142294
  21. #21

    battery and charging

    1 stranded, 1 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE WAS ALTERNATOR FAILURE DUE TO OIL LEAK FROM FRONT VALVE COVER. THIS IS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA 2008 WITH 3.3 LITERS V6. *TR *JS"~69,000 mi, complaint #1123850
    • "WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER THE RADIO SHUT OFF. NEXT MOST OF THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON , THE ENGINE WOULD NOT MAKE POWER/ACCELERATE, AND THE BRAKING SEEMED WEAK/JERKY. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AS SOON AS I COULD. NOW ALL D…"~108,000 mi, complaint #1278043
  22. #22

    control module

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CROWN HYUNDAI ([REDACTED ADDRESS] N, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33714, [REDACTED PHONE]) REGARDING THE REAR BACK-UP SENSORS AND AN UNKNOWN NHTSA RECALL RELATED TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (EC…"~3,000 mi, complaint #1554514
    • "ENGINE CONTROL MODULE(ECM) FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, REQUIRING EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. MAY HAVE ALSO CAUSED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BRAKE SWITCH, CONDENSER FAN, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL."~118,000 mi, complaint #1329325
  23. #23

    corrosion and rust

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V354000 (SUSPENSION). INSTE…"~46,000 mi, complaint #1275162
    • "REFUSAL OF HYUNDAI TO REVIEW LEVELS OF REAR CROSSMEMBER CORROSION ON VEHICLES OPERATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES BECAUSE OWNER REGISTERED IT IN CITY/STATE ADJOINING THIS RECALL. AFTER FURTHER REVIEWING THE SURVEY RESULTS, HYUNDAI HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY…"~84,000 mi, complaint #1016314
  24. #24

    key fob and immobilizer

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEA…"~45,000 mi, complaint #1174085
    • "WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK TURN OFF THE CAR MY PARKING LIGHTS COME ON CANT TURN THEM OFF AT SWITCH HAVE TO DISCONNECT MY BATTERY FOR FEAR MY CAR WONT START, ALSO AT DARK WHILE IM DRIVING I SWITCH MY LIGHTS TO JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON…"~121,738 mi, complaint #1391577
  25. #25

    mirror

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER VISORS LOST THEIR GRIP AND FALL DOWN AUTOMATICALLY AND CAUSE SUDDEN IMPACT TO THE VIEW AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR"~65,500 mi, complaint #1179190
    • "I HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE - BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD. I PUSHED IT BACK UP INTO ITS NORMAL "RESTING" LOCATION. UPON HITTING ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD IT SWUNG DOWN AGAIN IN FRONT OF MY FACE. THI…"~174,000 mi, complaint #1336830
  26. #26

    throttle and pedal

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY [REDACTED ADDRESS] CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE SPEED REDUCED WHILE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; FOLLOWED BY NO POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRI…"~14,000 mi, complaint #736768
    • "WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE THE THROTTLE HAD STUCK, I PULLED ON THE FLOOR MAT AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AS THE CAR WASN'T SLOWING DOWN. I POPPED THE THROTTLE WITH MY FOOT HOPING THIS WOULD FREE UP THE THROT…"~40,000 mi, complaint #823796
  27. #27

    timing belt or chain

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "ON STARTUP WHEN COLD, ENGINE MAKES KNOCKING OR TAPPING NOISE. NOISE GOES AWAY AFTER +/- 30 SECONDS. I'M TOLD IT'S A TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THESE 3.3 V-6 ENGINES, BUT HYUNDAI WILL NOT RECALL THEM. THE REASON, I'M TOLD, IS THAT THE ENGINE…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1088815
    • "WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED FROM A COLD START, THERE IS A NOTICEABLE RATTLE COMING FROM ENGINE THAT LASTS ABOUT 3-7 SECONDS. ALSO WHILE ACCELERATING, THE RATTLE IS PERSISTENT WITH THROTTLE INPUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND THAT T…"~139,881 mi, complaint #1144195
  28. #28

    abs module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TODAY MY ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND THE BRAKES BECAME ROCK HARD COULD NOT PRESS DOWN ON THEM. THEN I PARKED THE CAR CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND BELTS, TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN THE ABS LIGHT TURNED OFF. STARTED TO DRIVE TRIED ACCELERATING FROM 25MPH TO 30MPH THEN ESC LIGH…"~130,789 mi, complaint #1594669
  29. #29

    brake booster

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I PURCHASED MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA IN FEBRUARY, 2008 BRAND NEW. SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE CAR OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER FOR SERVICE AND THEY DID REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH ONCE, BUT THIS IS STILL OCCURRING DAILY AND…"complaint #725074
  30. #30

    cruise control conventional

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I25 IN COLORADO NEAR DENVER. THE CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL, GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I SAW A BUS A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YARDS AWAY. THE BUS WAS EITHER STOPPED OR GOING VERY SLOWLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND MY 2008 SONATA WOULD NOT GO OUT…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1087004
  31. #31

    engine cooling

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "OIL LEAKING DOWN FROM TIMING COVER ONTO ALTERNATOR AND DOWN TO OIL PAN FOUND DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. TOOK TO ONE DEALER, WAS TOLD NO LEAK. TOOK BACK TO MY MECHANIC, TOOK PICTURES, TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. FOUND TIMING COVER LEAKING, REMOVE…"~44,644 mi, complaint #936590
  32. #32

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "PROBLEM: VISOR, WINDSHIELD, DRIVER. PLASTIC SHEATH AROUND METAL BAR, WHICH IS PART OF THE VISOR POSITION CONTROL MECHANISM, BROKE DURING NORMAL USE. THIS RESULTED IN VISOR NOT STAYING IN POSITION SET BY DRIVER. VISOR WILL DROP DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND PARTIAL…"~12,500 mi, complaint #704113
  33. #33

    hv system fault reduced power

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT GO ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR GOES INTO REDUCED POWER MODE ("LIMP MODE") AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE ABOVE 15 OR 20 MPH. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE…"~37,000 mi, complaint #1185339
  34. #34

    noise or vibration unspecified

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "I find replacing the light bulbs for head lights and brake lights and flood lights more often than any other cars I have owned. The steering wheel makes a noise when turning left. And a noise is getting louder not sure what it’s related to. "complaint #2146403
  35. #35

    power windows and locks

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY, HIS CHILD WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD, STRUCK A UTILITY BOX, AND DROVE OVER A BICYCLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE UT…"~19,000 mi, complaint #720414
  36. #36

    seat mechanism

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "DRIVERS SEAT LUMBAR ADJUSTING CAM BROKE WHILE DRIVING, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS BROKEN AND THE LOWER BACK OF THE SEAT PUSHED IN ABRUPTLY. THIS WAS VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGH SPEED TOLL ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE METAL CAM WHICH WAS BROKEN OFF…"~61,584 mi, complaint #1004540
  37. #37

    steering column

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "ON 04/08/2014, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED; THEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR. ONCE WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION I PARKED THE CAR. LATER, WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR T…"~146,430 mi, complaint #1055742
  38. #38

    suspension arms and bushings

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING OR MAKING TURNS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1589349
  39. #39

    torque converter

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR"complaint #667713
  40. #40

    tpms

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE REAR DRIVER 'S SIDE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOW…"~26,000 mi, complaint #1220834
  41. #41

    transmission automatic

    1 stranded

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED OF A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY A SERVICE FLAG WAS SENT TO DEALERSHIPS AND JUST "FLUSH" THE TRANSMISSION. 5 DAYS LATER AND 550 MILES FROM HOME, THE CAR BROKE DOWN, WAS TOWED AND ADVISED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. STILL…"~34,000 mi, complaint #744436
  42. #42

    transmission manual clutch

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WHILE STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND CLUTCH TO THE FLOOR (DISENGAGED), THE CAR BEGAN TO LURCH AGAINST THE BRAKE. THE CLUTCH BEGAN ENGAGING BY ITSELF BECAUSE THE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER HAD FAILED AT 61,500 MILES. THE DEALER ADVISED…"~61,500 mi, complaint #899230
  43. #43

    trunk or liftgate

    1 broken

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY ON NOVEMBER 24, 2013 AT AROUND 11 AM. I OPENED MY TRUNK WITH THE REMOTE KEY AND THE TRUNK OPENED UP SO FAST, THE HINGE TOPS ON BOTH SIDES THAT SUPPORT AND GUIDE THE TRUNK LID BROKE OFF AT THE TOP. JUST DISINTEGR…"~93,678 mi, complaint #1023693
  44. #44

    wiper and washer

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WINDSHIELD WIPERS SOMETIMES STOP WORKING. *TR"~45,000 mi, complaint #797224

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for HYUNDAI SONATA directly.