2007 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 696 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 30 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 20 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, rearAug 12, 2013
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 of Columbia. Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.
Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 13V354000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
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, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V113000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 15, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED 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, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 09V122000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsApr 10, 2008
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 393,308 MY 2006-2008 SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG WHEN IT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM OR SMALL CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH.
MISCLASSIFICATION OF A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND SHIP IT TO AN EVALUATION AND REPAIR FACILITY. THIS FACILITY WILL EVALUATE AND REPAIR OR REPROGRAM THE SEAT CUSHION AND OCS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 08V161000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMar 7, 2008
HYUNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 4,085 REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD FOR USE ON 2006-2008 SONATA AND AZERA VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ALIGNED PROPERLY AND FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
IMPROPER AIMING OF THE HEADLAMP MAY RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
HYUNDAI-KIA DEALERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR SUPPLY TO HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. NONE OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE SOLD AS RETAIL. AS A RESULT, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
Campaign 08E021000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: hydraulic
62 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 10, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS WERE CAKED WITH RUST. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT PREMATURELY. THE PADS WERE SO CORRODED THAT THEY WERE GRINDING INTO THE ROTOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 16,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 9, 2009
BRAKES FAILING ON 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 9, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE BRAKES NEVER OPERATED CORRECTLY ON HER VEHICLE. SHE FELT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE STICKING AND DRAGGING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE PAD FAILED AND THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING METAL-ON-METAL. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PADS WERE NEAR FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS DUE TO SNOW MELTING SALTS THAT WERE RUSTING THE METAL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $500 TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 22,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 1, 2009
MY HUSBAND NOTICE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND GOING OFF AS WE WERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 20,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES FOR BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE WE DIDN'T NOTICE IT HAPPENING UNTIL WE WERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FOR AT LEAST A HALF HOUR, I WASN'T SURPRISED THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE TEST DRIVING IT AT SLOWER SPEEDS IN TOWN. SINCE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR THE DEALERS, AND THE ABS LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIDN'T COME ON WHEN IT HAPPENED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AT 66,000 MILES, BOTH THE PASSENGER ABS LIGHT AND THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT HAVE COME ON AND WON'T GO OUT. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT WAS FLASHING WHEN MY HUSBAND HAD HIS SEATBELT ON AND BUCKLED. I AM BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THIS WILL BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY BUT AM SURE THEY WILL SAY IT'S NOT COVERED AND WILL COST ME. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 1, 2009
A CHIRPING NOISE AND BURNING SMELL IN MY 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA SENT ME TO MY HYUNDAI DEALER. $400 LATER THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE RUSTY AND SEIZING UP. INVOICE SAID, "20442 LR PADS SEPARATING LOCKED IN SLIDES RESURFACED REAR ROTORS, REPLACED PADS, ADJUSTED PARK BRAKE, AND SERVICED FRONT BRAKES." MANAGER SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE WINTER SALT ON OUR NH ROADS AND THAT HE'D BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THESE BRAKE ISSUES AND HAD BEEN COMPLAINING TO HYUNDAI WITH NO RESULTS. MANAGER SAID I NEED TO HAVE THE RUST REMOVED FROM THE BRAKES EVERY 15,000 MILES. CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER FOLKS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I SEE THE SAME COMPLAINT HERE IN YOUR DATABASE. SEE HTTP://HYUNDAIFORUM.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=6314. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 3, 2009
2007 SONATA W/ 34000 HIGHWAY MILES. CAR WAS MAKING A HIGH PITCHED SOUND FROM THE BACK LEFT, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK WHEEL WAS BECOMING VERY HOT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER, NAPLETON HYUNDAI BASICALLY SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE, I JUST NEED TO PAY FOR A WHOLE NEW SET OF BACK BRAKES. KNOWING THE HEAT WAS FROM THE PADS NOT RELEASING, I REFUSED THE WORK AND INVESTIGATED MYSELF. LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE, I FOUND THAT THE PADS ARE TOO TIGHT IN THE CALIPERS, AND ALSO ARE CORRODED. THE HEAT ISSUE ONLY MAKES THEM FIT TIGHTER. THE PAD GUIDES NEEDED TO BE LIGHTLY FILED AND COATED WITH ANTI-SEIZE TO FIT AND SLIDE PROPERLY. I GOOGLED THIS AND SCANNED THE HYUNDAI FORUMS, AND THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH SONATAS AND OTHER HYUNDAIS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HYUNDAI WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE, PREFERRING TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR NEW BRAKES AND REGULAR BRAKE "LUBE" SERVICE. HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS ALSO DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FLAW. SOONER OR LATER THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE AN OVERHEATED WHEEL/TIRE TO FAIL, OR A WHEEL TO LOCK UP UNDER SLIPPERY ROADS, AND SOMEONE WILL BE OUT MORE THAN JUST REPAIR MONEY. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 1, 2009
22,000 MILES ON MY HYUNDAI SONATA AND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BRAKE CALIPER STUCK. THE STUCK CALIPER LEFT THE PAD AGAINST THE ROTOR. BOTH THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ROTOR AND BOTH REAR BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY ALMOST $400 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITH ONLY 22,000 MILES HAVE A BRAKE PROBLEM LIKE THIS. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 16, 2009
I HAVE 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH 21,000 MILES. BRAKE PADS WERE STICKING CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING AND BRAKING. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED 3 TIMES WITHIN 46,000 MILES ON MY PREVIOUS 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. I BELIEVE THE BRAKES ARE IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED WITH METALS WHICH CORRODE PREMATURELY IN SALT/SNOW. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 24, 2008
I BROUGHT MY 2007 SONATA INTO THE DEALER TO GET IT INSPECTED THE FIRST YEAR WITH 17,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE A NOISE FROM THE WHEELS LOOKED AT AND IT HAD TO HAVE NEW BRAKES. I WAS ASTONISHED THAT AFTER 17,000 MILES I NEEDED A $600 PLUS BRAKE JOB, BUT THE WARRANTY COVERED IT. FIVE MONTHS LATER THE NOISE CAME BACK AND I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY BRAKES TAKEN APART, CLEANED OUT AND LUBED ($150) OR I WOULD NEED NEW BRAKES AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. I WAS APPALLED AND ASKED THE MECHANIC HOW A NEW CAR COULD POSSIBLY NEED NEW BRAKES ONCE A YEAR? I HAVE NEVER REPLACED BRAKES ON ANY OF MY CARS BEFORE AT LEAST 70,000 MILES, SO I KNOW AS THE SOLE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT I'M NOT CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR BY MY DRIVING. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE NEW HYUNDAI BRAKES ARE GREAT EXCEPT IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE THEY CORRODE VERY QUICKLY FROM THE SALT, AND THAT IF I DON'T HAVE THEM CLEANED AND LUBED ($150) AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR I WILL NEED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED EVERY YEAR. I DID PAY TO HAVE THEM CLEANED AND LUBED, BUT THIS IS CRAZY. THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE SELLING CARS WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES IF THEY WILL ONLY LAST FOR ONE YEAR. I THEN ASKED AROUND TO THE 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO I KNEW WHO ALSO HAD NEWER HYUNDAI'S (3 SONATA'S AND ONE ELANTRA) AND THEY SAID THEY ALSO HAD TO HAVE THEIR BRAKES REPLACED BEFORE 20,000 MILES. SINCE THE BRAKES ARE ONLY UNDER WARRANTY UP TO 25,000 MILES I AM NOW LOOKING AT HAVING TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR TO KEEP THE CAR WITH BRAKES, SO I'M THINKING I SHOULD TAKE THE LOSS AND TRADE IT IN. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Sep 1, 2008
LEFT REAR WHEEL BRAKE COMPONENTS HAD BEEN EXCESSIVELY RUSTED, PREVENTING THE PADS FROM RELEASING OUT OF THE DRUM. WHEEL WAS DANGEROUSLY OTHER HEATED. PAD AND DRUM WERE WORN AND REQUIRED PAD REPLACEMENT AND DRUM RESURFACING. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Apr 8, 2008
REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED/LOCKED WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 12, 2008
BRAKES BURNED INTO ROTOR ON DRIVERSIDE REAR ONLY,HYUNDAI REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT AS A DEFAULT,HAD BRAKES FIXED AT ANOTHER SHOP AND TAKING HYUNDAI TO COURT. *TR