21 of the
554 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Sonata are about the
other systems — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
88,000 miles.
F
21
Complaints
1
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Unknown OR Other
21100.0%
Other & Unspecified across every Hyundai Sonata year
Bought in 2023 @ 98k miles. Have had trouble with 1.it would only start in drive, then that seems to have self corrected. 2. In drive, car would not accelerate properly, and would slow as though I was braking, but no foot on brake. Had rear brake sensor replaced, seemed better for a while. 3. Developed oil leak at 120 miles which valvoline characterized as "not serious...just keep checking it and topping it off." So, have been doing that. Today after oil change, it began running rough, lots of vibration, then the shifting problem, sluggishness, and new..smoke from under hood on driver's side. No check engine lights at all. Nothing registered as hot or overheating. Turned off car, checked oil and trans fluid, both in proper range for warm engine. Let car sit and cool for an hour. Decided I had parked too close to the propane tanks for a smoking car, so I decided to start car just to back it into a space across the lot. Car had no issues- No smoke, no jerking or vibration, no sluggishness, no phantom braking. This car has done this same thing about once every 6 months since I've had it. Changed a tire sensor, that seemed to fix it once. Stopped using cruise control altogether, that seemed to help once. My brother is an ASE certified high school auto mechanics teacher who ran his own shop for 20 years and worked on trucks for VDOT for another 7 years and he cannot diagnose it. I know it has something to do with not being in the correct gear, but it's not reliable, and I have a hard time believing it's just my vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11656826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middletown, NYFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Just about 2 months ago i exit my vehicle after parking up. As i exit i smelled a burning smell and heard sparks so i stepped away from vehicle asap and then the horn start honking and lights flashing on own. Then the car started up by itself and started to run without me in car and keys in my hand. Police came from noise distubing and took the battery off to stop. After that i couldnt start car so had towed in shop for 5 weeks. Hot out of shop and can start now but now my a.c. and windows doesnt work because mechanic said that something keep blowing those fuses out and if he puts yhem back in then the car will go back to not starting. I am guessing this is part of the recall.
NHTSA complaint #11466018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florence, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Manufacturer has REFUSED to return My calls. Dragged me down there for an appointment, made me wait. Just to tell me they didn't order the specific part even though I made the appointment months in advanced.... and to call back in a week. That was September (6 months ago). I called, multiple times. Either I get no answer, voice mail, hung up on, laughed at OR told that they will urgently call me right back. All to no call back . I've reached out on social media, email, called managers, no one has followed up, Horne Hyundai AZ is a joke! And so is the surrounding certified dealers. No one has reached out and I've tried all outlets to dealers (somewhat) near me. No one finds this serious so if I get injured on the campus much longer and i will regret it.
NHTSA complaint #11455962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waco, TXCrash1 injured
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I put the car in reverse while parked in a parking lot, when I put the car in reverse, the car took off at a high rate of speed striking one vehicle and continued at a high speed in reverse about 20 or 30 feet also hitting a return cart station, knocking it over and the car still proceeded to crash into a large parked pickup truck causing significant damage to the truck and also my vehicle. The brakes would not stop the car. The car finally stopped after the hard impact with the truck. My car has been deemed a total by my insurance.
NHTSA complaint #11442023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,000 milesNewark, DEFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR MADE A POPPING NOISE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THEN LOST ACCELERATION. THE CAR THEN BURST INTO FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #11193377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 106,000 milesRancho Cucamonga, CAFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 ON, THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED DRIVING, THEN UP UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS A FIRE AND UNDER THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11057874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesReynoldsburg, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #11052099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Airy, MD
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM A OWNER OF A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA, I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE OF WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL FALL DOWN BLOCKING MY VIEW. I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THE VISOR WONT JUST STAY UP AND DOING THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THEY COME DOWN ALL THE TIME ONCE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND DOES NOT MATTER THE SPEED AND IT BLOCKS YOUR VIEW SUDDENLY. I TRIED TO FIX IT BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP,SO I TOOK TO THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT MANY HYUNDAI OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS LIKE MORE ON THE OLDER MODELS SAY 2001 UP TO 2008 OR SO. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE SADLY SOMEONE DIES OR GETS HURT. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO HAVE THE VISOR BLOCK YOUR VIEW WHILE DRIVING. YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS REPLACING THESE VISORS AND GUESS WHAT DOWN THE ROAD THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM COME BACK. I LOVE MY HYUNDAI BUT WITH THIS HAPPENING WITHOUT ANY WARNING I DONT FEEL SAFE BEING ON THE ROAD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS VISOR PROBLEMS, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CUSTOMERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH SINCE IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IN USE ALL THE TIME. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS, DONT WAIT TO A LIFE PERISHES OR SOMEONE GETS MAIMED BY THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #11019293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elmer, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUN VISORS FALL DOWN WHILE DRIIVING, BLOCKS VISION.
NHTSA complaint #10971550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elmer, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VISORS DROOPING DOWN WILL NOT STAY UP, BROKEN UNABLE TO DRIVE VISUALY.
NHTSA complaint #10971551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elmer, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUN VISOR DROOPS DOWN WILL NOT STAY UP BLOCKING VISUAL FIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10971552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,000 milesParadise, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, AT ALL. THE DRIVER SIDE WILL SUDDENLY FALL AND IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT TO SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THEY ARE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ($200.00) AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS QUITE COMMON WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES. IT REALLY IS STARTLING. I'M REALLY GLAD I WASN'T ON A FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10930097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesSouthaven, MS
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WONT STAY UP.I HEARD , THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON SOME MODELS. THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10893257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 131,189 milesMiami, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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 APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN. I ALSO REMEMBER HEARING TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF, WHILE DRIVING I HEARD THIS KNOCKING SOUND IN MY ENGINE, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NEW STARTER THAT WAS REPLACED BUT THEN A DAY OR TWO LATER IT STOP MAKING THAT KNOCKING NOISE. I CALLED AROUND TO FIND ANSWERS NO ONE HAD A CLUE TO WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THIS VEHICLE. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING JUST FINE UNTIL JULY 16, 2016. I HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 17, 2009 AND I CAN'T NOT BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR ISSUE LIKE THIS AT POINT AND TIME. I COULD DEAL WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE SERVICES BUT ON THIS FLIP SIDED COIN; NOT HAVING A VEHICLE TO CRANK OR ONE THAT JUST SHUTS OFF WITH OUT ANY ENGINE LIGHTS OR WARNING IS A COMPLETE MYSTERY FOR ME, BUT I THINK IT IS TIME HYUNDAI GIVE ME SOME ANSWERS TO THIS PROBLEM... LETS ALSO BE CLEAR THERE WAS OIL AND GAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME OF VEHICLE IN MOTION SHUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10888023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 111,000 milesWatkins Glen, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUN VISORS DO NOT STAY UP. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, PARKED, ALL THE TIME. VERY UN
NHTSA complaint #10887375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Delaware, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I READ YOUR RECALL TODAY RE: THE SAME MAKE/MODEL OF CAR THAT I OWN. MY HYNDAI SONATA IS A 2008. I AM EXPERIENCING EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES LISTED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 2015. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY THAN I HAVE TRYING TO FIX THIS CAR (WHICH I AM FINANCING CURRENTLY). THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CAR WILL NOT "GET UP AND GO" AND FEELS AS IF IT MAY STALL OUT UPON TAKING OFF FORWARD AFTER COMING TO A STOP. LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS. THEY ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF THE NOISE IS TO LET OFF OF THE GAS.
NHTSA complaint #10778056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 19,550 milesEugene, OR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 50/55 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL LOOSELY RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY VISION. AS I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I GRABBED IT AND HELD IT UP WHILE DRIVING WITH ONE HAND UNTIL I COULD GET OFF AT THE NEXT OFF RAMP. LUCKILY, I HAD SOME DUCT TAPE IN THE TRUNK AND WAS ABLE TO TAPE IT UP. IF A WOMAN HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE A CHILD WAS IN THE CAR, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD!
NHTSA complaint #10726441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 143,056 milesELK Grove, CAFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE, AIR BAG, AND E.S.C LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, A SIMULTANEOUS INTERNAL ENGINE EXPLOSION RESULTED IN AN INSTANT FIRE AS WELL AS A ROD THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE DAMAGING BLOCK AND SETTING THE CAR ON FIRE FROM A RESULTING MASSIVE OIL LEAK. THERE WAS NO PRIOR DAMAGE LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT NOR ANY INDICATION TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WERE ANY CONCERNS WITH MY CAR TILL IT WAS TOO LATE UNFORTUNATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10632892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesRedding, CTFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE STARTING FROM THE REAR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10618142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesLittle Falls, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #10608846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesMaple Glen, PA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSENGER VISOR PIVOT ARM FAILED TO RETRACT AFTER A FEW USES. VISOR HUNG DOWN SLIGHTLY AND WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. PASSENGER WOULD HIT THEIR HEAD GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE CAR ON THE VISOR. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER SIDE VISOR PIVOT ARM FAILED TO RETRACT SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AFTER FEW USES. DRIVER SIDE VISOR HANGS AT AN ANGLE THAT OCCLUDES DRIVER'S LINE OF VIEW, THUS A HAZARD FOR DRIVER SAFETY. ALSO IF A COLLISION WOULD OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD COLLIDE WITH HANGING VISOR THAT POINTS TOWARD FACE, CAUSING HEAD TRAUMA.
NHTSA complaint #10406298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.