1,040 of the
22,259 complaints filed about the Hyundai Sonata
are about the lighting —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2011.
On the freeway at night when headlights and back lights quit working. Got off freeway and were able to temporarily fix it. A few months later while parked in driveway and not in use for a couple of days, lights came on without our knowledge and drained our battery. Neighbor alerted us to the situation.
NHTSA complaint #11756748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was traveling along [XXX]. This is a dangerous road it has hills and curves. I was driving my 2024 Hyundai Sonata, where all of a sudden headlights went off and the infotainment center went off I couldn’t see anything on the road. Luckily I was right by a gas station (Circle K). This isn’t the first time this has happened with this car. Three different times, I was on the express way and almost crashed because the exterior lights and headlights shut off while driving.I couldn’t see a thing and I drifted off the road. I thought I was dead I literally saw my life flash before my eyes. I’m honestly scared to drive this car at night. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11753913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving at night and my passenger headlights went out. About 2 years prior the same thing happened but it was the driver side headlight that went out. It was $1100 to get the driver side replaced and now here i am having to pay the same amount to replace the passenger side headlights. It was not a simple replacing the bulb. Something inside went broke causing the dealership to have to install a whole new headlight set.
NHTSA complaint #11741649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, both rear tail lights have melted to the point that the lightbulbs cannot be extracted and the brake and tail lights no longer work. When I looked into this, I found out this is a common issue on 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. It is almost always caused by excessive heat from the standard incandescent bulbs, which damages the wiring harness and deforms the plastic housing. When I called the closest Hyundai dealer (in Chico, California), they told me the warranty had expired last year and that I should have received a notice about it after I obtained ownership of the car in March 2025 (a little over a year ago). However, I did not receive a notice about this. Since the tail lights do not work properly as a result of this problem, it is a safety issue as it could cause an accident. It should be a recall repair instead of a warranty that expires. My car is still well under the 200,000 mile limit that was set on the extended warranty, but they're refusing to honor that because of the warranty being expired.
NHTSA complaint #11738903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side brake light was inoperative. The failure occurred on several occasions. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
NHTSA complaint #11732852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on the highway on 4/4/26 at 10:40 pm the dashboard and the headlights went out. The outage lasted about 5 seconds and then they came back on. I drove another 40 minutes and did not have another problem. My safety was put at risk because I could not see the road and others could not see me! There were no warnings prior to the problem. This is the second time in a year that this incident has happened. The first time was in September 2025.
NHTSA complaint #11729236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the dashboard headlights and all safety systems shut off for a brief period and then reset and if driving at night this leaves you completely in the dark till the system resets. All lights exterior and interior all the safety sensors, adaptive cruise control everything shuts off. Anything tied to the electrical system shuts off. The only thing that remains running is the engine.
NHTSA complaint #11716388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The exterior lights such as head lights and brake lights aswell as all interior electronics shut off at random intervals while driving posing a serious danger early in the morning and at night.
NHTSA complaint #11710434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wiring for headlights, and break lights has been malfunctioning. It is not a fuse and i have tried changing them to the point i keep extra in my trunk and still won't work. yes, available for inspection, I have been pulled over multiple times and was written a citation yesterday.
NHTSA complaint #11709768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11697901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I bought this car from someone in April of 2024 and the person who i bought it from said everything was perfectly fine, they brought it to the Hyundai dealership and according to the mechanic there the engine was fine….i have taken care of the engine since i bought the car, kept up with oil changes and everything….until a few days ago when the whole thing ceased up on me while driving down the road to my sons school. I wasnt going fast either, the speed limit is 40mph where i was when it happened, but I’m glad i have quick reflexes because otherwise we would have wrecked the car. Everything shut off on me and now its knocking. There is alot of metal shavings in my oil and my mechanic tried to drain it a few times to get the debris out of the oil but it does no good.
NHTSA complaint #11694680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS ARE DANGEROUS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED ASAP? After his death, I acquired this vehicle from my father who had stopped driving at night thinking he had developed a vision issue. The first time I drove it at night I discovered the low beams are defective, and that was the problem, not my dear old Dad’s vision. The light emitted does not extend far enough in front of the vehicle to light a large enough safe distance. There are also large black areas at the far edge of each light that float from side to side with the beam while making turns. This also causes the areas on one side or the other to loose lighting. While turning they are often facing the wrong direction making it virtually impossible to see the unlit areas. We live in the country down a 20 mile long two lane road with many turns and minimal lighting compared to city driving. We then turn onto a 3 mile very narrow road with numerous turn, minimal shoulders, and a double hairpin turn with a dip at the end. It required us to leave the high beams on at all times even when other vehicles are approaching because it would be too dangerous to only use the low beams. When I took it to the dealer they ignored the problem. I then insisted they examine them immediately—since that was my #1 PRIORITY when I dropped it off for inspection during a regular service. Their conclusion was that there was nothing they could do to fix it. THAT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE! THOSE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. My research has found that this has been an issue since the vehicle was first made and when purchased by my dear old Dad, his only way of dealing with it was to stop driving at night.
NHTSA complaint #11693951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car has a problem whith the break lamps, the sockets that hold the bulbs are melting and they have deformed making it hard to replace the fused bulbs. Also the brake light stay on even after the engine is off draining the Battery and causing a short circuit.
NHTSA complaint #11692347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I bought this car before less than 3 months when. When I was drive the car on [XXX] the car just stop stopped no power without any warning when the car stop I just came from home. It’s far it’s like the distance between my home and the place the car stop in the highway. It’s like 5 miles. when I park the car to the side road right side road I open the hood. I see some smoke coming from the engine and smell like fire or burn or some plastic fire. I’m a mechanic he said before I bring the mechanic I seen that the screen light it’s like a car with the key in the middle of the car. The picture is the light the car stop starting. I thought I call somebody he told me maybe the car is the program or disconnect. We need to program it or they bring the battery I bring a battery. I tried to start the car again. It’s not working the mechanic. He told me that starter. I bought the starter and I start in the car. You still not working they told me after that. They told me the battery maybe I checked the battery I took the AutoZone. I took the battery. It was 95%. I called the company and the company. If they check the car, they say the car they have to recall just I get appointment with them the first time on October 1, 2025, but when I take the car there the end VIN number different with an appointment not my car. I get another appointment October 8. I told the car over there. Dixie Highway highway Louisville Kentucky. When I arrive to the car dealership in Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY they told me your car is rebuilt title. I told them what they mean. He said we can’t do nothing with it because it’s built. I told them why they didn’t tell me before I wouldn’t give the car here. They told me to bring the car appointment before you get appointment. You have to check the car as if you can see it’s built you are a company Even that time I don’t know what’s rebuilt car mean , idk if Hyundai worry just about people they have clean title? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11692386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I bought the car before less than 3 months the car was good but before 10 days when I was driving it on highway , suddenly the car stopped without any light warnings I was In dangerous situations hard to got the car to right side way exit 19 A express highway when I opened the hood was smoking from engine and smile like plastic fire I brought the mechanic said starter I bought starter I replaced it the same problem they said the key I changed the battery program the key same problem they told me battery I checked the battery 95 % another mechcheck by computer said the engine and he said most of these car has manufacturers problems the engine replaced recall 162 before bought the car what my solutions and I know ther is extended warranty
NHTSA complaint #11691817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rubber stopper for the brake light switch on the brake pedal deteriorated and fell apart. This resulted in the brake lights remaining on constantly, cruise control being disabled, and low battery voltage.
NHTSA complaint #11688660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Back up lights. The lights constantly burn out causing the harness light holder to burn out. The lights will not come on even after replacing fuse and lights There are not back lights to warn patrons on the road for turning or stopping Yes it was taken to a dealership No it has not been inspected my either , but there is a recall on models of the same car but years 2011-2014 No there were no warnings , someone told me they were out
NHTSA complaint #11683921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
.Car is using or burning alot of oil. After oil change. It went 2800 miles on the oil change and the cars oil light come on. Checked oil and nothing on the dip stick. Headlights randomly shut off at night. Had the wiring checked and didnt find any issues
NHTSA complaint #11683066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.