Page 4 of 9 · complaints 151–200 of 425

2008 Hyundai Sonata complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Mar 12, 201570,000 milesIL

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. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Mar 11, 2015162,000 milesVA

WHEN MY DAUGHTER BUCKLED THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT SHE STATED IT FELT FUNNY. DURING THAT EXACT TIME THE SEATBELT LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2015117,000 milesNC

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 AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 19, 201572,000 milesNV

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 BUCKLE, THIS THUS ILLUMINATES THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AND YET HYUNDAI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND WANTS US TO PAY EVERYTHING OUT OF POCKET. *TR

Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2015139,881 milesVA

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 THE HYUNDAI SONATAS HAVE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS. I WENT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED ME $1,100 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND MADE ME AWARE THAT THERE WAS A TSB BUT NOT A RECALL ON THE PART EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A REVISED TENSIONER. THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE AND A HAZARD BECAUSE THE CHAIN COULD HAVE TO MUCH SLACK AND CAUSE THE THE TIMING TO BE OFF AND FUTURE DAMAGE FOR THE ENGINE. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Dec 31, 201448,000 milesNY

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,. *JS

Tires
Filed Dec 27, 2014116,302 milesMD

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 REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME DUE TO NO EVIDENT OF DAMAGE INSIDE THE TIRE, THUS A "DEFECT" ACCORDING TO SERVICE TECH. DECEMBER 24, 2014 TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 97 S; FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING; ABS SYSTEM SLOWED CAR DOWN WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM SECOND LANES TO RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. TIRE HAS ABOUT A 3-INCH RIP FROM RIM UP. WITH BOTH TIRES, I WAS ASKED WHAT DID I HIT AND BOTH TIMES THE ANSWER WAS NOTHING. THIS IS THE SECOND OF FOUR TIRES TO GO BAD IN A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. I NOW FEEL THE OTHER TWO TIRES ARE TICKING TIME BOMBS AND MY FAMILY AND I MAY NOT BE SO FORTUNATE THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS. *TR

Visibility
Filed Dec 13, 201460,000 milesSC

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). *TR

Engine
Filed Dec 8, 2014113,000 milesPA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR THREW A CRANK ROD. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVING FAULTY BOLTS ON THE CRANK ROD CAP. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL BUT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MANY OWNERS. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Nov 30, 2014104,743 milesWA

ESC LIGHT ON ALONG WITH CHECK ENGINE....NEED PUSH BUTTON AND TURN OFF ENGINE A COUPLE OF TIME. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 24, 201450,000 milesGA

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 THE SELECTED LEVEL OF OUTSIDE LIGHTING. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS CAUSE NEAR MISSES OFTEN AT DUSK. *TR

Engine
Filed Nov 14, 201497,000 milesNY

I HEARD A TICKING WHILE TRAVELING TO MA ON 684 NORTH OF CT WHEN THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. I STOPPED AND HAD TO TOW THE CAR HOME. WHEN I WHEN ON IN THE HYUNDAI SONATA FORUM THERE WERE A LOT OF FOLKS TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY MENTIONED TALKING TO THE DEALERS BUT NO ONE HEARD OF A RECALL ON THE ENGINE. SO I JUST LIKE THEM HAD TO FIX THE ENGINE BY THE WAY WHICH IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE OUT THERE. I ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURE ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NO RECALL YET AND I HAVE TO FIX IT MYSELF. WELL I WENT TO GOT THE BEARING AND CRAFT AND A OIL PUMP. THIS IS WHEN I LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE REDESIGNED A OIL PUMP THAT CAR 06 07 08 09 MODELS. I ASKED THE GUY WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT, CAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO BUY A NEW OIL PAN AND BOLTS, HE SAID THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL OIL PUMP. SO I SAID IT'S COSTLY FOR US SO WHY THEY DON'T DO A RECALL? HE SAID NO ONE IS COMPLAINING AND IT'S VERY COSTLY FOR THE COMPANY. SO I ASK CAN SOMEONE LOOK INTO IT . REALLY WHY WOULD THEY REDESIGN A OIL PUMP FOR A CAR AS OLD AS JUST FIVE YRS OLD. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 26, 201469,000 milesIL

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

Air Bags
Filed Oct 16, 2014110,000 milesCA

MY CAR'S AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. MAYBE SOMETHING PROBLEM FOR AIR BAG FUNCTION. AIR BAG WILL BE NOT WORKING. I THINK THE AIR BAG IS VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION REGARDING SAFETY. HOW CAN I DO ? *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 3, 2014149,000 milesFL

ENGINE FAILURE -LOWER ROD BENT NO CAUSE BY OPERATOR CAR WELL MAINTAINED. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 23, 2014125,000 milesTX

1ST AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SECOND SEAT BELT LIGHT KEEPS ON BLINKING. *TR

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Sep 12, 2014143,056 milesCA

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. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Sep 12, 2014248,000 milesAL

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 FIX PROBLEM. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 30, 2014184,526 milesNC

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 NIGHT. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Aug 29, 2014100 milesOH

EVER SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TPMS AND ESC LIGHTS/SYSTEM. OVER THE YEARS IF I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON IT SEEMED TO RESET THE SYSTEM AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. I DID HAVE THE TPMS SYSTEM REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY YEARS BACK AND IT SEEMED TO LESSEN THE PROBLEM HOWEVER NOW 8/29/2014, THE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING THE CAR. I HAD THE WHEEL SENSORS TESTED AND THEY ARE ALL WORKING. THE REPAIRS DONE WHEN I FIRST HAD THE CAR TOOK DAYS AND I REMEMBER THEY HAD TO REPLACE SOMETHING BEHIND MY GLOVE BOX WHICH THEY SAID WAS A RADIO THAT READ THE SIGNAL FROM THE WHEEL SENSORS. SEEMS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM AND I SEE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THESE LIGHTS. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (PRESTON HYUNDAI IN BOARDMAN, OH) AND AM WAITING FOR A RETURN CALL. *TR

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Aug 29, 2014OH

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

Visibility
Filed Aug 21, 201466,000 milesMI

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.

Engine
Filed Aug 15, 2014105,136 milesIN

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, THE ALTERNATOR CAN BE DAMAGED RESULTING IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM BECOMING INOPERATIVE." IT GOES ON TO STATE A RISK OF VEHICLE RUNNING ON BATTERY POWER, UNTIL BATTERY VOLTAGE DROPS, AND THEN POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE SHUT OFF, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. IN JULY, I TOOK MY 2008 SONATA TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTED ON MY INVOICE THAT "LEFT AND FRONT VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING", AND THAT "THE FRONT IS LEAKING ON THE ALTERNATOR." THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME MECHANICAL ISSUE NOTED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 121, IT IS JUST HAPPENING ON A DIFFERENT HYUNDAI MODEL. IN MY OPINION, THE RISK OF DAMAGE TO THE ALTERNATOR ON MY SONATA (VIA THE CONFIRMED OIL LEAK ONTO IT) IS THE SAME AS WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN HYUNDAI RECALL CAMPAIGN 121. I BELIEVE THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK ISSUE WITH MY SONATA SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY HYUNDAI IN THE SAME MANNER AS HOW RECALL CAMPAIGN 121 IS ADDRESSING THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAK ON THE VERACRUZ MODELS. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 13, 201441,620 milesOH

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 ALTERNATOR BUT IS REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR IN THE 07-12 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ UNDER RECALL WITH THE SAME ENGINE DESIGN AND THE SAME ALTERNATOR PLACEMENT. I HAVE 2 CARS AN 08 AND AN 07 SONATA THAT BOTH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY DOES HYUNDAI WANT TO RECALL THE VERACRUZ AND NOT THE HYUNDAI WITH THE SAME PROBLEM? THE CAR HAS BEEN IN 3 TIMES FOR INSPECTION AND A CALL TO HYUNDAI ON 04-13-2014. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 12, 201445,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V161000 (AIR BAG). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 7, 201431,000 milesOH

PEDAL TO THE METAL RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINE CLOSE TO $1,000 TO REPAIR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 7, 201431,000 milesOH

I AM #84 HAVING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE AND THE $300 REPAIR SO THE AIR BAG WILL WORK IN CASE OF A CRASH. *TR

Visibility
Filed Aug 4, 2014CO

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. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 4, 201472,000 milesCO

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, RADIO ETC) -- I CALLED MY FATHER AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TRY STARTING IT WHICH IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY AT THAT TIME. NOW THREE MONTHS LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, TURNED THE KEY AND NOTHING -- NO SOUND (EXCEPT RADIO, LIGHTS ETC -- NEW BATTERY NOT THAT) -- I TRIED REPEATING PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL AND DIDN'T WORK -- I TRIED MOVING BACK AND FORTH FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AND TRIED STARTING THE CAR EACH TIME TO NO AVAIL. I STOPPED FOR A SHORT TIME AND CALLED MY FATHER AGAIN FOR ANY ADDITIONAL ADVICE WHICH HE HAD NONE AT THAT TIME. WHEN I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AGAIN IT FINALLY STARTED. I DROVE RIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE STARTER GOING BAD AND WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $350 -- I LATER SPOKE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO MENTIONED THAT IF THE STARTER WERE GOING BAD THAT THERE WOULD BE A "CLICKING" NOISE WHEN I TRIED STARTING THE CAR WITH NO START. THIS WAS NOT HAPPENING. IT APPEARS BY BLOGS IN THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 SONATA YET ALL THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO DO IS CHARGE ME A LOT OF MONEY. *TR

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Aug 1, 201490,000 milesCT

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.

Visibility
Filed Aug 1, 201454,000 milesAZ

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. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 29, 201497,000 milesMO

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN DRIVING AND PASSANGER SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES WHEN A PASSANGER IS PRESENT, EVEN WHEN THE PASSANGER SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE PASSAGER SEAT BUCKLE AND WAS NOT COVERED. I STILL HAVE NOT FIXED, BUT I MUST BEFORE NEXT STATE INSPECTION. I AM REPORTING BECAUSE I SAW RECENT REPORT OF INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. *JS

Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Jul 29, 2014100 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE THREE INJURIES REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE...UPDATED 08-11-14 *BF

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 28, 201479,374 milesNH

AIRBAG INDICATOR LITE UP AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. *JS

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jul 21, 201450,000 milesNJ

"ESC OFF" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES OCCASIONALLY. SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR USUALLY FIXES IT. *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 21, 201450,000 milesNJ

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 MUST ALMOST BE COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE CAR FOR REPAIR. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 16, 201460,000 milesCO

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 OF CRUISE CONTROL. I TRIED CANCELING CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKING AND CAR REMAINED IN CRUISE CONTROL. AT THE LAST MOMENT, I TRIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS I CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE BUS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH. I NEARLY DIED. I COULDN'T BREATHE FOR 20 SECONDS. I HAVE FRACTURED RIBS AND FRACTURED BONES IN MY BACK. THE CAR IS TOTALED. IT LOOKS LIKE A SQUASHED ACCORDION. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jul 9, 201484,109 milesPA

WIFE WAS TRAVELING TO WORK AT 0550 ON RT. 147, WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF CAR. SHE HIT THE DEER, WITH THE CRUISE SET FOR 65 MPH. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT FILED.WE HAVE CONTACTED HYUNDAI WITH OUR TERMS, BUT HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM THEM. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 8, 201410,000 milesNY

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

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jul 6, 201430,000 milesWI

HIT SEVERAL RURAL MAIL BOXES AND CAME TO A HALT AGAINST TWO SMALL TREES. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OVER $7000.00 OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *JS

Air Bags
Filed Jun 9, 201493,000 milesCA

SINCE BUYING MY VEHICLE IN FEB 2013. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. AIR BAG LIGHT, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN ON ME. TOOK CARE TO GET FIXED FROM DEALERSHIP WITHIN IN MY 30 DAYS WARRANTY. ROBERTSONS HONDA FIXED THE BATTERY PROBLEM AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT NOT THAT OTHER 2. THEY STATED TO ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRECT EQUIPMENT TO FIX IT. WHICH IS NOT MY PROBLEM. *TR

EngineFire
Filed May 27, 2014130,000 milesMO

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 SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Engine
Filed May 22, 2014118,942 milesCA

WAS DRIVING TO MARTINEZ AND HEARD A SLIGHT CLICKING SOUND BY THE TIME WE EXITED FREEWAY AT MARTINEZ EXIT THE SOUND BECAME VERY LOUD. WHEN WE STOPPED AT LIGHT CAR DIED AND WOULDN'T RESTART. HAD CAR TOWED TO WHEEL WORKS AND THE TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE HAD OIL EVERYWHERE AND NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE BACK PART OF THE ENGINE. MECHANICS CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY OR HOW IT HAPPENED. IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. *TR

Visibility/Wiper
Filed May 10, 2014CA

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. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed May 9, 201472,600 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN ON BY ITSELF WHEN THE IGNITION WAS PLACED IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,700.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 29, 201471,000 milesIL

THE MORNING OF THE FLASH FREEZE ON FEBRUARY 21, 2014, MY DAUGHTER WAS TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR DUE TO SLICK ROADS. WHEN SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, IT SLID AND CRASHED HEAD ONTO A TRAFFIC LIGHT POLE. PART OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHT BROKE OFF AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT. HER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HER CHEST AND MOUTH HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN AND IT HURT HER TO BREATHE SO WAS SENT FOR X-RAYS. SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BROKEN RIBS BUT MAY HAVE HAD INTERNAL BRUISING BECAUSE SHE NEEDED PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND A CHIPPED TOOTH. WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI AND TOLD HER WHAT HAPPENED, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I WAS MAILED OUT PAPERWORK TO FILL OUT. I COMPLETED ALL THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. THEY THEN INSPECTED THE CAR. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE ACCIDENT DID NOT MERIT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THEY CLOSED MY CASE WITHOUT ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION. I CALLED AFTER I RECEIVED THE LETTER AND THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS WAS HYUNDAI'S FINAL DECISION AND THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO FOR ME. *JS...UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF

EngineFire
Filed Apr 28, 2014123,000 milesFL

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN I HEARD POP. SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. PULLED OVER. POPPED HOOD. SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. CHECKED DIPSTICK AND NO OIL. NEVER HAD OIL LEAK. NO OIL LIGHT EVER CAME ON. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO OVERHEAT OR HOT ENGINE LIGHT. JUST A SMALL FIRE UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE ON GROUND. BOUGHT OIL THAT JUST LEAKED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUTTING IN. NO WARNING. NO SIGNALS. NO ALERTS. BLOWN ENGINE. THEY WANT $5300 FOR A USED ENGINE. *JS

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Apr 10, 2014146,430 milesCA

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 TO RETURN HOME, MY CAR'S IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT TURNING AND THE STEERING GOT LOCKED AS WELL. ON 04/09/2014, I TOWED MY SONATA CAR TO THE DEALER AT MOMENTUM HYUNDAI: 2775 AUTO MALL PKWY, FAIRFIELD, CA 94533 FOR SERVICE. I DESCRIBED THE ISSUES TO THE SERVICE AGENT AND I ASKED HIM IF MY ISSUE WAS A RECALL AND HE SAID "NO". THE DEALER CHARGED ME $736.40 FOR LABOR AND FOR THESE CAR PARTS: BODY & SWITCH ASS [FP NUMBER: 81910-3K010] CYLINDER ASSY-STR [FP NUMBER: 81920-3KA10] BOLT-SAFETY LOCK [FP NUMBER: 81919-31000] NOTE: ON 04/06/2014, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD LOCKED; BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT AND THE IGNITION SWITCH FINALLY TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED. BUT ON 04/08/2014,I COULDNT SOLVE THE ISSUE MYSELF. THIS IS SCARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. GM, AND TOYOTA HAVE RECALLED MILLIONS OF CARS BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE; AND I DONT KNOW WHAT HYUNDAY IS WAITING FOR TO DO THE SAME. I HOPE HYUNDAI IS NOT WAITING ON PEOPLE TO GET SEVERELY HURT TO RAISE A FLAG AND ANNOUNCE A RECALL ON THEIR MODELS. HYUNDAI SHOULD RECALL ITS MODELS TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF LIVES. IF HYUNDAI DOES A RECALL OF ITS MODELS TO SOLVE THE ISSUE I HAVE EXPERIENCED, I WOULD APPRECIATE

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Mar 26, 201461,000 milesIA

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. *TR

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Mar 22, 2014130,000 milesTX

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

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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