2008 Hyundai Sonata problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (77) · Visibility (66) · Engine (35)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Sonata model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
343 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Suspension:rear 2013-08-12 · campaign 13V354000 · 364,502 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District
Risk: Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V113000 · 1,712,336 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, m
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Service bulletins (56)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Showing the 6 most recent of 56 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-21 · Electrical System“car has a b1448 (active) passenger occupant detecting system (pods) circuit fault related to the passenger detecting pad in the front passenger seat problems started at 120,000 miles…”
2025-11-06 · Steering“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. …”
2025-04-25 · Unknown Or Other“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 cha…”
2024-11-23 · Service Brakes“on november 4, 2024 while coming to a stop in traffic, the brake pedal went to the floor without any warning. just prior to using the brakes, there was no feeling of softness in the pedal, and no indication a low pedal situation, and there was no indicator of pending brake failure. the brake light indicator only lit when the brake pedal went to the…”
2024-08-27 · Air Bags · 181,000 mi“the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 08v161000 (air bags); however, the dealer informed the contact that he had to pay for a diagnostic test prior to the recall repair. the contact declined. the vehic…”
2024-07-29 · Suspension · 142,000 mi“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 an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tie rod and control arms needed t…”
2024-02-01 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger“the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated the instrument panel. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the passenger's side occupancy sensor and occupant classification system. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufa…”
2023-09-27 · Electrical System · 🔥 fire“the car was parked and turned off, not being driven and ignited on its own. the entire front end of the vehicle was on fire, according to the fire department it was some type of electrical short that started the fire. vehicle was totaled out as it was a complete loss.…”
2022-12-13 · Seats“took vehicle to independent hyundai factory trained technician due to air bag light. was advised this is due to failure of occupant classification system sensor in front passenger seat. this is related to nhtsa campaign 08v161000, but technician advised my vin was not listed under this recall. technician advised me to contact hyundai due to the rec…”
2022-11-10 · Air Bags“air bag light is on, with defect in occupant classification system (passenger weight sensor), with ocs system lights flashing erratically with no passenger in seat. hyundai dealer and corporation keep telling me that there is no relevant campaign related to my vehicle. there is information for "campaign 083 – 2006 – 2008 sonata – occupant classific…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.