FaultScore

2008 Hyundai Sonata window and wiper problems

97 of the 554 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Sonata are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 55,000 miles.

B

97

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Visibility 67 69.1%
Visibility/Wiper 30 30.9%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Hyundai Sonata year

1998 10 1.7%
2006 187 31.7%
2007 141 23.9%
2008 97 16.5%
2009 20 3.4%
2011 26 4.4%
2012 23 3.9%
2013 22 3.7%
2014 10 1.7%
2015 29 4.9%
2016 12 2.0%
2021 12 2.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Sioux City, IA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Passenger side sun visor suddenly rotated down and will not stay up. This blocks drivers view. A few weeks prior to total failure, the visor would not stay completely up but was only about 10 degrees down. There is a plastic tube with a metal tube inside which the visor pivots on. The plastic tube is broken allowing it to hang straight down. If/when the same breakage occurs on the drivers side it could cause an accident due to blocking vision.

NHTSA complaint #11486754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Veneta, OR

VISIBILITY/WIPER

The driver side sun visor on my 2008 hyundai sonata is defective. The visor will not stay up and hangs down obstructing the drivers vision. This is a serious safety issue! This seems to be an issue on many 2008 hyundai sonatas The only recall is for 2006-2007. Yet this dangerous issue is happening on other years. Please resolve this

NHTSA complaint #11436349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Arcade, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11331347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Paradise, CA

VISIBILITY

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 174,000 miles Stanhope, NJ

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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. THIS IS THE SECOND SUN VISOR IN THIS VEHICLE TO DO THIS. THIS ONE STARTED FAILING AROUND 10/1/2016, AND IS STILL DOING SO.

NHTSA complaint #10928512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Waterboro, ME

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS BOTH DROPPED TO A DOWNWARD POSITION AND WILL NOT HOLD THIER PLACE SO THEY BLOCK VIEW OF ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE DROPPED WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED MOMENTARY INABILITY TO VIEW THE ROAD. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLIANTS THIS DOESNT APPEAR TO BE ISOLATED AND HYUNDAI SHOULD SOLICIT A RECALL OF THESE VISORS AS THEY IMPAIR THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS EVENT HAPPENED RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING AND I WOULD CONSIDER A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10720987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,500 miles Frisco, TX

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10713919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,680 miles Mooresville, NC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

SUN VISOR PROBLEMS - DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL TO A DOWNWARD POSITION AND WOULD NOT HOLD ANY POSITION ADJUSTMENT, NOT EVEN ALL THE WAY UP. MADE DRIVING UNSAFE BECAUSE IT IMPAIRED VISIBILITY. HYUNDAI REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITH THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD TO PURCHASE THE PART FOR NEARLY $100 AND REPLACE IT MYSELF. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY RECALL, THANKFULLY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN DENSE TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10706461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Wheaton, IL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE SUN VISOR FELL IN FRONT OF MY FACE, IMPEDING VISIBILITY. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH, BUT IT COULD HAVE. NOW, THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. THIS DEFECT IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT THERE IS A CAMPAIGN FOR IT, BUT IT APPLIES ONLY TO CERTAIN REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. VISITING ONLINE FORUMS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, EVEN IN LOCATIONS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE CAMPAIGN. THIS CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IS BEING TREATED AS A COSMETIC ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10693958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles East Meadow, NY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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 SEAT INTERMITTENTLY. NOW DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ON STEADY, MECHANIC STATES SENSOR ISSUE AND AIR BAG WILLNOT DEPLOY IN CRASH, CALLED HYUNDAI AND INFORMED 'AFTER SOME DIGGING' MY CAR MAY BE COVERED UNDER OCS RECALL??? HYUNDAI CALL CENTER ASSISTED ME IN GETTING APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP IN A FEW DAYS, UNSURE WHAT REPAIRS WILL BE DONE. ALSO BOTH VISORS ARE BROKEN, WILL NOT STAY UP, ISSUE WITH VISIBILITY,.

NHTSA complaint #10669333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Simpsonville, SC

VISIBILITY

THE SUN VISORS ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA (68,865 CURRENT MILES) ARE EACH (PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES) DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE LIVED WITH THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR THE PAST YEAR, AND NOW, WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALSO GAVE WAY, HANGING LIMPLY, OBSTRUCTING THE VISION OF THE DRIVER AND CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS RESOLUTION. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE VISORS (OBSTRUCTION OF VISION WHILE DRIVING).

NHTSA complaint #10664078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lisbon, OH

VISIBILITY/WIPER

SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AGAINST THE HEADLINER AND NOW OBSTRUCT MY VIEW.

NHTSA complaint #10629284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,000 miles Niles, MI

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR FAILED TO CLOSE AND OPENED INDEPENDENTLY, OBSTRUCTING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA complaint #10627152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Littleton, CO

VISIBILITY

MY DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS -- IT GOT STUCK AND VERY HARD TO MOVE AND WHEN I TRIED MOVING IT TO THE DOWN POSITION ONE TIME IT "CLICKED" AND SINCE THEN IT CONSTANTLY FALLS -- USUALLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP -- THEN IT IS DIRECTLY AT MY FOREHEAD. IF I WERE TO EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT I BELIEVE THE VISOR WOULD FALL TO THIS POSITION (DUE TO THE BUMP) AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY HEAD OR POSSIBLE DEATH. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD BE $155 TO FIX THIS. THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR IS ALSO NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE HAS BROKEN AND IT DOESN'T FIT IN THE HOLDER WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10618861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Prescott, AZ

VISIBILITY

BOTH SUN VISORS NO LONGER STAY IN THE UP ( AGAINST THE HEADLINER ) POSITION, ONE IS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE THE OTHER HANGS DOWN AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY HYUNDAI'S FROM ABOUT 2005 AND UP, I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON 2006 OR 2007, OR VOLUNTARY ACTION BY HYUNDAI, BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX 2008 AND IT IS THE IDENTICAL PART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MANY MESSAGE BOARDS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. LIVING IN ARIZONA WITH CONSTANT SUN GLARE MAKES DRIVING THESE VEHICLES DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10618232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Little Falls, NY

VISIBILITY

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.

SAN Jose, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE SUN VISORS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE ARE BROKEN THEY WILL NOT STAY UP. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE. NO REPAIR WAS DONE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS COMMON ISSUE FOR HYUNDAI OWNERS AND PARTIAL RECALLS WERE DONE BUT NOT FOR 2008.

NHTSA complaint #10587594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Waterloo, IA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. SOME PIECE UP INSIDE BROKE OFF AND NOW SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHEN DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10574982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Rockwall, TX

VISIBILITY/WIPER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10574195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Bothell, WA

VISIBILITY

THE SUNVISOR CLIP TO HOLD IT UP FAILED. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OWNERS AS THERE IS MUCH INFO ON THIS IN THE INTERNET. THEY ALREADY HAVE PUT A RECALL IN FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS FOR THE SAME THING BUT DIDN'T INCLUDE THIS YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10565347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 116,000 miles Tell City, IN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DRIVER SIDE VISOR HAS BROKEN IN A MATTER WHERE IT WILL NOT STAY UP. IT CONSTANTLY FALLS DOWN INTO FIELD OF VIEW. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED ON THE 06-07 MODELS. IT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE 08 MODELS ALSO.

NHTSA complaint #10564907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 59,000 miles Mountain House, CA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT REMAIN IN ITS HOUSING, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA complaint #10555314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Indialantic, FL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. ACCORDING TO MY ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A MOST COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS ALREADY THE SUBJECT OF A 2009 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD DESERVING OF A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10554412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,544 miles Greenwood, IN

VISIBILITY

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP/ NO TENSION. HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN AND SWINGS FREELY INTO THE LINE OF DRIVER'S VISION.

NHTSA complaint #10554416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Roseburg, OR

VISIBILITY

PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP. HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE LINE OF DRIVER'S VISION.

NHTSA complaint #10554136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,500 miles Danville, IL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

PASSENGER SIDE VISOR HAS BEEN LOOSE FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS. NOW IT STAYS DOWN ALL THE TIME AND IS IN THE LINE OF SIGHT OF THE DRIVER TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10554070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,100 miles Bluffton, OH

VISIBILITY

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 ABOUT THIS ISSUE. CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO ONLY SOUTHERN STATES AND LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10550706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD

VISIBILITY

2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR PARK AND FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH . *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER SON DROVE THE VEHICLE TO SCHOOL, AND WHEN HE TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THAT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR PARK. HER SON HAD TO GET ASSISTANCE, TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, SO HE COULD SHIFT INTO DRIVE. HER SON WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY, AND WHILE DRIVING, IT BECAME APPARENT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT RESPONDING NORMALLY BY DISENGAGING WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. HE IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO AN AUTO CENTER. THE AUTO CENTER DETERMINED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED IT. THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BOWER/FAN SWITCH, WHICH WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER, THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE FAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2011. ON OR ABOUT JULY 2012, SHE AGAIN BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE BLOWER/FAN OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER OFFERED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY ONE WEEK. UPDATED 11/25/13

NHTSA complaint #10550200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moultrie, GA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR RELEASED DOWNWARD, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VISION OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE ALSO RECENTLY OCCURRED WITH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10548152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Five Points, AL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR FAILED TO REMAIN SECURE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHICH DISTORTED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10543229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2008 Hyundai Sonata problems

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