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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 425

Of the 2008 reports, 19 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags137 reports · 32% of complaints
Owner complaints425Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags137
  2. Visibility67
  3. Service brakes55
  4. Engine48
  5. Electrical system32
  6. Electronic stability control (ESC)30
  7. Hydraulic30
  8. Visibility/wiper30

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

425 reports, newest first.

  1. Exterior lighting, Air bags, Nov 14, 2018

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. IN ADDITION, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME MISALIGNED TO THE LEFT AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE FULL VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD. DOWNEY HYUNDAI (7550 FIRESTONE BLVD, DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA 90241, (562) 314-4331) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FAILURE AND DISCONNECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. KEYES MISSION HILLS HYUNDAI (10240 SEPULVEDA BLVD, MISSION HILLS, CALIFORNIA 91345) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE HEADLAMP LIGHTING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT PARTS AND LABOR WOULD NOT BE COVERED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E021000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) IN REGARDS TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS) AND 08E021000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AS POTENTIAL CAUSES OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,605.

  2. Air bags, Nov 14, 2018

    HAVEN'T BEEN IN A CRASH RECENTLY, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON FOR NO REASON. WILL NOT GO AWAY (3 DAYS NOW)

  3. Engine, Oct 16, 2018, fire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING AND RATTLING NOISE, SIMILAR TO METAL ON METAL, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,500.

  4. Air bags, Aug 28, 2018

    AIR BAG LIGHT IS TURN ON AND NEVER GET TURN OFF FROM LAST TWO MONTH , I NEED TO FIX SO PLEASE MAKE A RECALL FOR AIR BAG.

  5. Suspension, Aug 26, 2018

    RECEIVED NOTICE FOR RECALL

  6. Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 12, 2018

    MY HYUNDAI SONATA 2008 GLS HAS AIRBAG SIGN ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT SIGN IS FLASHING WITHOUT ANYBODY SEATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER SAID MY CAR IS NOT BEING RECALLED THEY SAID I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER OWNERS THAT I CHECKED ONLINE HAD SAME ISSUES AND THEIR CARS GOT FIXED BY THE DEALERS AT NO COST BECAUSE THEY WERE RECALLED. PLZ RECALL MY CAR.

  7. Electrical system, Jul 30, 2018, crash

    OIL LEAKS FROM FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET DRIPS ONTO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC WHILE IN MOTION

  8. Air bags, Jun 26, 2018

    AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STILL ON. I HAD DIAGNOSTICS DONE AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND I PAID FOR IT. IT SAID IT IS B1448 DESCRIPTION PCS (OCCUPANTS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM) MAT DEFECT. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY OR MAY NOT WORK WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT.

  9. Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 4, 2018

    THE AIRBAG LIGHT PREVIOUSLY WOULD GO ON AND OFF AT TIMES. BUT NOW IT STAYS ON PERMANENTLY AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF.

  10. Air bags, May 11, 2018

    SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE PASSENGER SHIFTED SLIGHTLY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. LIGHT REAPPEARS ON RESTARTS AND STAYS ON. OCS RECALL WAS DONE 9/23/11, BUT HAVE STILL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS. THINK THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE CUSHION, BUT KNOW HYUNDAI WON"T REPAIR A SECOND TIME. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL FROM READING OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE.

  11. Air bags, Apr 30, 2018

    FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT IS DEFECTIVE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING L;IGHT FLASHES WHEN THERE IS ON OCCUPANT UNLESS IT BUCKLED.

  12. Air bags, Apr 20, 2018

    THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON.

  13. Air bags, Mar 10, 2018

    I GOT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON IN COUPLE DAYS AGO.

  14. Air bags, Feb 22, 2018

    SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO DUE TO A FAULTY SEAT SWITCH. HYUNDAI REPAIRED THE SEAT AT NO CHARGE. NOW THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAS COME AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE SEAT IS TO FAULT AGAIN. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO FIX THE SEAT SWITCH AGAIN UNLESS I PAY FOR IT, AND THAT IT IS NO A SAFETY HAZARD. I MAINTAIN THAT IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IF THE AIR BAGS REALLY BECOME DEFECTIVE, WE WILL HAVE NO WARNING. HYUNDAI HAS EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM TO 15 YEARS AND/OR 250000 MILES, BUT THEY WILL ONLY REPAIR IT ONCE.

  15. Electrical system, Feb 5, 2018

    I HAVE THE 3.3L V6 ENGINE THAT IS ALSO IN TWO OTHER VEHICLES MADE BY HYNDAI. BOTH OF THOSE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL FROM A FAULTY GASKET AND DRIPS ONTO THE ALTENATOR. THIS CAUSES THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL PREMATURELY AND OFTEN WITHOUT WARNING. I AM ON MY THIRD ONE NOW AND IT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THIS SCENARIO HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE NOW. NO HEADLIGHTS, NO DASHBOARD INDICATORS, NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NO TURN SIGNALS. AT 70MPH THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SCENARIO.

  16. Air bags, Jan 29, 2018

    AIRBAG INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE ON

  17. Electrical system, Jan 17, 2018

    NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO MY ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. ISSUE WITH THE VALVE COVER GASKET.

  18. Structure, Jan 11, 2018

    THIS EVENING AT OUR LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL WFLX I SAW A STORY ABOUT HYUNDAI SONATAS'S DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF.THIS LADY HAD ALL 4 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BREAK OFF. THE NEWS STATION SAID HYUNDAI TOLD THEM THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE. NOT TRUE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES AND TWO OF THE INSIDE HANDLES ON MY VEHICLE. JUST LIKE THE ONE THE NEWS SHOWED. MY SISTER IN LAW WHO LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE FL. HAD THE SAME ISSUE. SO IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. FIRST TIME MY DOOR HANDLE BROKE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (NAPLETON'S HYUNDAI) AND IT COST ME $600 TO GET IT FIXED. SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN FIXING IT MYSELF. GUESS WHAT, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AGAIN. THIS WILL BE MY 5TH TIME FIXING THE DOOR HANDLES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. IF YOU NEED A PICTURE I CAN UPLOAD ONE TOMORROW. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

  19. Other or unspecified, Jan 1, 2018, fire

    FIRST THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND AND THE CAR WOULD DRAG TO ACCELERATE. THIS LASTED 3 DAYS EACH DAY IT GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. BY THE THIRD DAY I WAS DRIVING THE KNOCKING SOUND GREW LOUDER, SOMETHING FELL OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED DRIVING, THEN UP UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS A FIRE AND UNDER THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR.

  20. Air bags, Dec 12, 2017

    DURING ROUTINE USE, WHILE A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ERROR CODE WAS B1448, WHICH APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING OCCUPANCY SENSOR. WHILE THERE IS A RECALL OF OTHER 2008 SONATAS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THE DEALER AND HYUNDAI CLAIM THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I AM CONCERNED THAT HYUNDAI HAS INCORRECTLY EXCLUDED VEHICLES FROM THIS RECALL. THIS MALFUNCTION APPEARS TO RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DISABLED, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO PASSENGERS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS SIMILARLY IMPACTED BY THE MALFUNCTION. THE WARNING HAS NOT GONE AWAY, AND REAPPEARS AFTER BEING RESET.

  21. Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2017

    CAR WILL NOT START. IT'S NOT BATTERY RELATED. I'VE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM SONATA OWNERS OF MODEL YEARS 2006-08. PEOPLE HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT'S IGNITION SWITCH RELATED. MY CAR WAS PARKED, IT HAS A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT.

  22. Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 16, 2017

    I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA AND I HAVE WELL MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE BUT ONE DAY I HEAR A SMALL TICKING NOISE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS SO I GOT THE FULL TUNE UP. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE CAR DIDNT WANT TO START. IVE TRIED EVERYTHING BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. I ALSO DID RESEARCH AND A FEW OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS IN THEIR CARS. ALSO LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATAS ALSO. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY USE THE SAME ENGINES FOR THE 2008 I THINK WE ALLL SHOULD GET A FAIR PLAY

  23. Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 13, 2017

    ESC OFF LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH RECALL "FIX". ISSUES WITH BRAKE LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATING AFTER CAR HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT CAUSED IT TO OCCUR. IT BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE OCT 29.

  24. Vehicle speed control, Oct 15, 2017, crash

    ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO WARNING. THE FIRST OCCURRED SAT SEPTEMBER 30. I FILLED MY CAR WITH GAS AND WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST CRASH THROUGH A RESTAURANT WALL. THE SECOND WAS OCTOBER 14, WHEN I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AND WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND HIT MY FREEZER. I READ SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE.

  25. Engine, Aug 28, 2017

    THIS ISSUE EFFECTS 2.4 LITER GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE MODEL SONATAS. METALLIC DEBRIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY REMOVED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. IF THE DEBRIS WAS NOT COMPLETELY REMOVED, OIL FLOW MAY BE RESTRICTED THROUGH THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS, CAUSING CONNECTING ROD DAMAGE. A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING WILL PRODUCE A METALLIC, CYCLIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REBUILD OR REPLACE ENGINE. MY ENGINE FIRST FAILED OUT IN OCTOBER OF 2016 AND CAUSED ME TO REQUIRE AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. IN AUGUST 2017 THAT SAME ENGINE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN TO IT. THIS HAS BEEN 2 OF THE 2.4 CYL I-4 ENGINES HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON THE EXACT SAME CARE WITH AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE ON BOTH ENGINES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY VARIOUS COMPLAINTS REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET EFFECTING THIS ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL BY HYUNDAI FOR THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BECAUSE THE 2011 SONATA USED THE EXACT SAME ENGINES THAT ARE IN THE 2008 SONATA. THE LINK FOR THAT RECALL IS HERE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 URL: HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/VEHICLE/2011/HYUNDAI/SONATA/4%252520DR/FWD%252520LATEST%252520RELEASE#RECALLS