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: visibility
96 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Sep 27, 2022
Passenger side sun visor suddenly rotated down and will not stay up. This blocks drivers view. A few weeks prior to total failure, the visor would not stay completely up but was only about 10 degrees down. There is a plastic tube with a metal tube inside which the visor pivots on. The plastic tube is broken allowing it to hang straight down. If/when the same breakage occurs on the drivers side it could cause an accident due to blocking vision.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 11, 2021
The driver side sun visor on my 2008 hyundai sonata is defective. The visor will not stay up and hangs down obstructing the drivers vision. This is a serious safety issue! This seems to be an issue on many 2008 hyundai sonatas The only recall is for 2006-2007. Yet this dangerous issue is happening on other years. Please resolve this
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Jun 28, 2020
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR ARE ANGLED TOO LOW WHILE USING LOW-BEAMS AND THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT IS BAD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AND I AM NOW AWARE THAT I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST IT. HIGH-BEAMS SEEM TO FUNCTION OK.
Visibility, Other or unspecified, Dec 5, 2016
THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, AT ALL. THE DRIVER SIDE WILL SUDDENLY FALL AND IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT TO SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THEY ARE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ($200.00) AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS QUITE COMMON WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES. IT REALLY IS STARTLING. I'M REALLY GLAD I WASN'T ON A FREEWAY. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Nov 29, 2016
I HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE - BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD. I PUSHED IT BACK UP INTO ITS NORMAL "RESTING" LOCATION. UPON HITTING ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD IT SWUNG DOWN AGAIN IN FRONT OF MY FACE. THIS IS THE SECOND SUN VISOR IN THIS VEHICLE TO DO THIS. THIS ONE STARTED FAILING AROUND 10/1/2016, AND IS STILL DOING SO.
Visibility/wiper, May 22, 2015
THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS BOTH DROPPED TO A DOWNWARD POSITION AND WILL NOT HOLD THIER PLACE SO THEY BLOCK VIEW OF ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE DROPPED WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED MOMENTARY INABILITY TO VIEW THE ROAD. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLIANTS THIS DOESNT APPEAR TO BE ISOLATED AND HYUNDAI SHOULD SOLICIT A RECALL OF THESE VISORS AS THEY IMPAIR THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS EVENT HAPPENED RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING AND I WOULD CONSIDER A SAFETY HAZARD.
Visibility/wiper, Apr 30, 2015
BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER VISORS LOST THEIR GRIP AND FALL DOWN AUTOMATICALLY AND CAUSE SUDDEN IMPACT TO THE VIEW AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Apr 18, 2015
SUN VISOR PROBLEMS - DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL TO A DOWNWARD POSITION AND WOULD NOT HOLD ANY POSITION ADJUSTMENT, NOT EVEN ALL THE WAY UP. MADE DRIVING UNSAFE BECAUSE IT IMPAIRED VISIBILITY. HYUNDAI REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITH THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD TO PURCHASE THE PART FOR NEARLY $100 AND REPLACE IT MYSELF. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY RECALL, THANKFULLY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN DENSE TRAFFIC. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Mar 12, 2015
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, Visibility/wiper, Dec 31, 2014
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
Visibility, Dec 13, 2014
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
Visibility/wiper, Aug 29, 2014
SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AGAINST THE HEADLINER AND NOW OBSTRUCT MY VIEW. *TR
Visibility, Aug 21, 2014
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.
Visibility, Aug 4, 2014
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
Visibility, Aug 1, 2014
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
Visibility, Other or unspecified, Jul 8, 2014
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
Visibility/wiper, May 10, 2014
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
Visibility/wiper, Mar 26, 2014
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, Mar 22, 2014
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
Visibility, Feb 21, 2014
THE SUNVISOR CLIP TO HOLD IT UP FAILED. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OWNERS AS THERE IS MUCH INFO ON THIS IN THE INTERNET. THEY ALREADY HAVE PUT A RECALL IN FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS FOR THE SAME THING BUT DIDN'T INCLUDE THIS YEAR. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Feb 19, 2014
DRIVER SIDE VISOR HAS BROKEN IN A MATTER WHERE IT WILL NOT STAY UP. IT CONSTANTLY FALLS DOWN INTO FIELD OF VIEW. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED ON THE 06-07 MODELS. IT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE 08 MODELS ALSO. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 9, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT REMAIN IN ITS HOUSING, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Visibility, Dec 2, 2013
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP/ NO TENSION. HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN AND SWINGS FREELY INTO THE LINE OF DRIVER'S VISION. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Dec 2, 2013
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. ACCORDING TO MY ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A MOST COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS ALREADY THE SUBJECT OF A 2009 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD DESERVING OF A RECALL. *TR
Visibility, Nov 29, 2013
PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP. HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE LINE OF DRIVER'S VISION. *TR