2005 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 165 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 26 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 27 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lightingJul 21, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.
Campaign 09V280000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
55 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jan 27, 2007, crash
CAR RAN STOP SIGN IN FRONT OF ME. HIT OTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH DIRECTLY ON ITS FRONT AXLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF SONATA IN EXCESS OF $4000. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Air bags, Jun 13, 2006, crash
HUSBAND DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, CAR IN FRONT OF HIM STOPPED; BRAKES ON SONATA FAILED-HIT BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT SONATA STILL DID NOT STOP; CAR WAS AT THE DEALER (SAVAGE HYUNDAI) THE WEEK BEFORE FOR INSPECTION AND ALL WAS FINE; HUSBAND HIT CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AND THAT PERSON HIT ANOTHER CAR. IN ADDITION, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS $6700 WORTH OF FRONT END DAMAGE; TOLD DEALER-SAID HIGH HIT; CALLED HYUNDAI-IMPLIED DAMAGE WAS HIGH AND PERHAPS AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BUT MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT; SAID WE NEEDED PICTURES, ETC.; CAR WAS AT THE HYUNDAI DEALER BEING FIXED; BOTH HYUNDAI DEALER AND HYUNDAI CORPORATE NOT MAKING THINGS EASY. *NM
Air bags, Apr 11, 2006, crash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT TRIED TO AVOID AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE CONTACT'S HEAD BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD. ONLY MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND FILED A WRITTEN REPORT. ADDITIONAL, PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS TO THE PARKED VEHICLE. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - *NM
Air bags, Tires, Oct 5, 2005, crash
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AT 30-35 MPH WHEN I HAD A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT IN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE, THE BLOW OUT CAUSED MY AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY WHICH HAD KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS FOR A FEW MOMENTS. AFTER CONTACTING HYUNDAI, THEY ADMITTED THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE ON THEIR 2005 SONATAS, THEY HAVE NOT HOWEVER ISSUED A RECALL OR A NOTICE TO CONSUMERS WARNING THEM OF THE POSSIBLE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. AFTER BEING UNCONSCIOUS, I HIT 3 PARKED CARS AND PROCEEDED TO ROLL MY CAR UPSIDE DOWN. *NM
Steering, Suspension, Air bags, Jun 28, 2005, crash
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BEFORE IMPACT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART FAILED BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT WAS AT THE REPAIR SHOP. THE TIE ROD END WAS BENT. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH HEARD LIKE A CRACK, AND THEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND VEHICLE HIT A PARKED CAR. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL ON PAVEMENT. THERE WAS NO IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL OR HUB CAP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT NORMAL DRIVING. *AK