2008 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 425 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 19 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 14 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 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: electronic stability control (esc)
30 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 3, 2011
THE ESC OFF LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA COMES ON AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A FEW MILES. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING. IF I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE CAR, THE ESC OFF LIGHT IS UNLIT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FUNCTION NORMALLY. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2006 AND 2007 SONATAS FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V280000) THAT INVOLVED A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE DUE TO EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MY FAMILY. *KB
Visibility, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 24, 2011
DRIVER SIDE VISOR IMPAIRS VISIBILITY SIGNIFICANTLY. THE VISOR HANGS DOWN IN DRIVERS VIEW AND STAYS THERE. WE HAVE HIT OUR HEAD ON THE VISOR MANY TIMES, WHICH HURTS AND CAUSES MORE DISTRACTION FROM DRIVING. WE HAVE NOT HAD LUCK IN FIXING IT AND DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO REPLACE IT DUE TO JOB LOSS AND HIGH MONTHLY PAYMENTS. WHEN I SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, I GET THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT WHICH COMES ON RANDOMLY AND I AM WAY OVER THE LIMIT IN WEIGHT FOR IT TO HAPPEN. I HAVE SAT CORRECTLY AND STILL DO AS TOLD BY MY DEALER. (WHICH WAS TOLD TO ME WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT ON/OFF RANDOMLY). THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON RIGHT AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE EX. LETTING OFF EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND PLACING IN 1ST GEAR. THIS CONTINUES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS MAYBE A MONTH OR MORE, THEN WILL RANDOMLY GO AWAY. THIS IS A DANGER AS WE RELY ON OUR CAREFUL DRIVING AND THE ESC WHICH HAS SAVED US MANY TIMES IN OUR OTHER VEHICLE. THE PAINT STARTED WEARING A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR (WHICH WE BOUGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR AND IT ONLY HAD 32 MILES ON IT) AND "WARRANTY" DOES NOT COVER IT. WE NOW HAVE A POLKA-DOTTED CAR. IT CONTINUES TO RUST AND PEEL AND MAKES US EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH OUR CARS LOOKS AS WE WERE SO PROUD TO HAVE BOUGHT OUR 1ST BRAND NEW CAR. THE PAYMENTS ARE PAINSTAKING BUT WE SAID, "IT HAS SUCH GREAT REVIEWS AND IT IS A SAFE CAR FOR US AND OUR SON, SO IT'S WORTH IT" BUT YOU CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON SAFETY AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE IMPAIRING A SAFE DRIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN MY HUSBAND HAS TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO WORK EVERYDAY-YES, ONE WAY. *TR
Visibility, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 14, 2011
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WAS PULLED DOWN, THE VISOR COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO THE UP POSITION. THE VISOR IS IN LINE OF SIGHT OF THE DRIVER. I REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR IS DOING THE SAME THING. A WEEK AGO THE ESC OFF LIGHT TURNED ON AND NOW IT TURNS ON RANDOMLY BUT RESETS IT SELF WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 18, 2010
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RANDOM POINT AND TIME THE E.S.C CONTROL COMES ON BY ITSELF AND IF I DO NOT NOTICE RIGHT AWAY AND APPLY THE BRAKE THE BRAKE SEEM TO BECOME EFFECTED I WILL HEAR A GRINDING NOISE THE CAR WILL SLIDE AS OPPOSE TO COMING TO A STOP THIS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. AS YET I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), May 17, 2010
I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA AND THE ESC IS ON AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF. I NOTICED THE YEAR 2006 AND 2007 SONATA'S WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE 2008 SONATA'S SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR