2010 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 345 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 19 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 19 people were injured and 2 people died.
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
Representative owner complaints: structure
164 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Nov 17, 2025
External Handles made of plastic continue to break and do not allow access to open car doors
Suspension, Exterior lighting, Structure, May 30, 2023
I have several recalls on my vehicle and the dealership only scrub and they did not replace the crossmember and other parts. I need help to see if this is OK
Structure, Nov 1, 2020
IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE FALLEN OFF/BROKEN. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT (SEPT 2020), THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF THE CAR WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE SECOND INCIDENT (NOV 2020), THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR HANDLE REMAINED ON THE CAR BUT BROKE SO THAT IT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. BOTH INCIDENCES OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT IS UNKNOWN WHY THE DOOR HANDLES BROKE; I DID NOT USE EXCESSIVE FORCE NOR WAS THERE ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENCES.
Structure, Sep 14, 2020
LAST MONTH, THE DOOR HANDLE TO THE DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN MY DOOR, IT DID NOT OPEN. THAT IS IN THE PICTURE ATTACHED. ON SATURDAY, I OPENED MY DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE IN MY HAND. NOW I HAVE ONLY TOW DOORS THAT I CAN OPEN. I LOOKED ONLINE AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE HYUNDAI SONATA. I FEEL LIKE CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE THIS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, MY CAR WAS PARKED. I AM GOING TO HYUNDAI TO GET THIS REPAIRED BECAUSE I AM SCARED THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN MY CAR IF ALL THE HANDLES GETS LIKE THIS.
Structure, Aug 16, 2020
DRIVER'S EXTERIOR DOOR LATCH BROKE INTO TWO WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO OPEN DOOR WITH HAND TO ENTER THE CAR. THE DOOR HAD BEEN UNLOCKED VIA REMOTE CONTROL.
Suspension, Power train, Structure, Aug 13, 2020
WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD, WHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN TO 20 MHP THE CARD JERKS, HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 3RD TO 2ND, AND RPM INCREASE BY SEVERAL HUNDRED RPS. ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WARMS UP, ISSUE MOSTLY GOES AWAY. ISSUE STARTED THIS YEAR. SECOND ISSUE IS THE WHITE PAINT EASILY COMES OFF ALL OVER THE CAR, EVEN JUST FROM HOSING THE CAR WITH WATER. ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. ITS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CAR PAYMENT. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE ISSUE BEFORE, HOWEVER I SEE ALOT OF OWNERS WITH WHITE COLOR HAVE THIS ISSUE. SUSPENSION SEEMS TO BE VERY HARD WHILE GOING OVER ANY BUMPS. FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO SUSPENSIONS MECHANISMS AT ALL.
Structure, Jul 11, 2020
REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE (EXTERIOR) BROKEN - FEBRUARY 2020. ALL 4 DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN ON THIS CAR BETWEEN 2015-2020! HYUNDAI PAID FOR THE FIRST 1 BUT FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD TOLD ME, ESSENTIALLY, "TOO BAD, DOOR HANDLES BREAK." APPARENTLY THEY DO ON 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA'S AS THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND ALL 4 DOOR HANDLES BROKE ON MY CAR. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. I EXPECT HYUNDAI TO COVER THIS ONE. THE CAR HAS 66K MILES ON IT. IT DOES NOT GET HEAVY USE. THE FIRST 5 YEARS, I TOOK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO WORK, THEN STARTED WORKING FROM HOME. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE HANDLES TO BREAK. THE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE GOT NORMAL USE; NOTHING EXCESSIVE OR UNUSUAL.
Structure, Jun 25, 2020
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2016 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY 1 DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF, SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD 1 MORE TO COME OFF AND 1 IS JUST HANGING ON SO I DO NOT TOUCH IT. UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I AM CONSTANTLY CLIMBING OVER MY SEATS OR ATTEMPTING TO OPEN FROM ANOTHER DOOR JUST TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND ESPECIALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN I HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING DOOR HANDLES AND THE ONLY ONES AVAILABLE DO NOT MATCH CAR COLOR. AFTER SEARCHING I SEE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE I PURCHASED MY CAR. I CAN NOT HONESTLY RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE TO ANYONE FOR THE FACT THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET INSIDE JUST TO TEST DRIVE AND THE DOOR HANDLE MIGHT POSSIBLY COME OFF. THE CAR RUNS FINE BUT I WOULD LIKE IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENTS FOR DOOR HANDLES SO THAT I CAN GET INSIDE THE CAR CORRECTLY AND WITHOUT HAVING TO CLIMB OVER OTHER SEATS ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2020
DOOR HANDLES FALL OFF. THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. I HAVE NOW LOST TWO MORE HANDLES WHICH AT 58$ A PIECE, I AM BECOMING FRUSTRATED THAT I CANNOT GET IN MY CAR QUICKLY GOD FORBID SOMETHING HAPPENS, NOR GET TO MY BABY IN THE BACK SEAT QUICKLY AS I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS, RUN AROUND THE VEHICLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE SEEN 2011 HYUNDAI SONATAS RECALL THE HANDLES, HOWEVER MINE IS A 2010 AND THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY HYUNDAI AS IT HAS BECOME A NUISANCE. *TR
Structure, Feb 8, 2020
CAR PURCHASED JUNE 2016. 17,000 MI. THREE MONTHS LATER THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. WITHIN SIX MONTHS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE HANDLE FELL OFF THEN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. HYUNDAI WANTS $350.00 FOR EACH HANDLE. I CAN NO LONGER HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR IT IS UNSAFE. MY FEAR IS MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE WILL FALL OFF. I AM 70 AND TOO OLD TO CLIMB THRU THE TRUNK. IF THIS ISN'T A RECALL IT SHOULD BE. I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB IF NECESSARY. THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THE HANDLES FELL OFF.
Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 5, 2019
DOOR HANDLES EASILY SNAPPED OFF AND SENSOR WENT OUT FUEL TANK. THIS HAPPENING ON ALL CARS I HAVE 5 CO WORKERS SAME VEHICLES ALL HAVE SAME PROMBLEM THIS SHOULD BE FIXED WE CANT ENTER IN REAR OF CAR WITHOUT GETTING IN FRONT TO OPEN BOTH BACK DOORS
Structure, Oct 12, 2019
THE DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM IS ERRATIC. IN ADDITION THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN MECHANISM WORKS INCONSISTENTLY.
Structure, Oct 12, 2019
DOOR HANDLES CCS ME RIGHT OFF. HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM
Structure, Jun 24, 2019
I HAVE HAD THREE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BRAKE OFF THE DOOR ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.. THE ENTIRE HANDLE BROKE OFF UPON GETTING TO GET INTO THE CAR. ONE HANDLE BROKE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, THE OTHER TWO BROKE ON MAY 5, 2019. AND JUNE 22, 2019.
Structure, May 23, 2019
I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 3 DOOR HANDLES, TRANSMISSION, LICK SEAT BELT, SUNROOF MOTOR, SINCE BUYING THIS CAR. IT IS 9 YEARS OLD AND THE SEALS ON THE DOORS ARE GOING BAD. AIR AND PESTS ARE GETTING IN THE CAR. AND THE NOISE LEVEL IS HORRIBLE. I WAS TOLD 2 WEEKS AGO THAT THE RATTLING I KEEP HEARING IS THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS AND FRAME AND WILL COST ABOUT $1000 TO FIX. CAR WAS OK UNTIL IT JUST HOT 100000 MILE MARK.
Structure, May 7, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALLACE HYUNDAI (3801 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL) ALL 4 OF THE DOOR HANDLES WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ALL FOUR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *BF *JB
Electrical system, Structure, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 20, 2019
I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER & PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES. HAD TO GET SWITCH TO OPEN GAS TANK REPAIRED. WHEN FUELING CAR, PUMP CONTINUESLY STOPS WHEN TANK IS NOT FULL.
Structure, Apr 10, 2019
WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2010, A DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS. HYUNDAI REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE. FAST FORWARD TO 2019. CAR HAS ONLY 45,000 MILES AND IN THE SPAN OF 2 WEEKS, THE EXTERIOR REAR RIGHT PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER SIDE HANDLES CAME OFF. THIS OCCURRED WHEN OPENING THE DOORS. WHILE WE HAVE A 10 YEAR/100,000 WARRANTY, HYUNDAI WILL NOT HONOR REPLACING THE DEFECT. ESTIMATED REPAIRS ARE NEAR $500. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE INOPERABLE AND REQUIRING DRIVER TO CLIMB INTO CAR. WE SEE MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH HYUNDAI FOR NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. WE PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE OF RELIABILITY AND TRUST AND WENT ON TO PURCHASE 2 MORE HYUNDAI VEHICLES. WE KEEP OUR CARS FOR A LONG TIME - UP TO 200,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD HANDLES FALL OFF.
Structure, Mar 28, 2019
TAKATA RECALL...I HAVE A COMPLAINT ON THE PAINT ON MY CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH PAINT ON A CAR LIKE THIS ONE. IT SEEMED TO BE SO CHEAP THAT EVEN A STICKING TAPE WILL RIP OFF THE PAINT.
Structure, Feb 5, 2019
"TAKATA RECALL" SONATA DOOR HANDLES BREAK FOR NO REASON. IN AN EMERGENCY, FIRST RESPONDERS WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO EVACUATE PASSENGERS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 3 OF MY 4 DOORS: CAR IS PARKED. I UNLOCK CAR WITH KEY IN DOOR. I PUSH UNLOCK BUTTON. DOORS UNLOCK. PASSENGER USES OUTSIDE HANDLE, BUT HANDLE DOES NOT RESPOND. DOOR HANDLE IS BROKEN INSIDE THE DOOR.CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. NO ONE HAS JERKED THE HANDLE OR PULLED ON IT ROUGHLY WHEN IT BROKE. IN ALL THREE INSTANCES A SIMPLE LIFT ON THE HANDLE AND IT BROKE.
Structure, Jan 3, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS BECOMING LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW HANDLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.*BF .. *TR *DT*JB
Structure, Oct 31, 2018
HYUNDAI SONATA 2010 - THE FRONT, DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED FROM THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME THAT THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. A STANDARD AMOUNT OF DOOR OPENING FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE HANDLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DAMAGE APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED WITH A WEAKENED OR DEFECTIVE CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE DOOR HANDLE TO THE OPENING MECHANISM INSIDE OF THE DOOR. THIS IS THE SECOND DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT HAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING ONLY 2 FUNCTIONAL DOOR HANDLES ON THE VEHICLE.
Structure, Oct 31, 2018
HYUNDAI SONATA 2010 - THE REAR, DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED FROM THE CAR, WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED IN FRONT OF A HOUSE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. A STANDARD AMOUNT OF DOOR OPENING FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE HANDLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DAMAGE APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED WITH A WEAKENED OR DEFECTIVE CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE DOOR HANDLE TO THE OPENING MECHANISM INSIDE OF THE DOOR.
Structure, Oct 28, 2018
PLASTIC EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BREAK, COME LOOSE, AND THEN CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR. 3 DOOR HANDLES NOW.
Structure, Oct 19, 2018
WENT TO OPEN OUTSIDE PASSENGER BACK DOOR - OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. WENT TO OPEN OUTSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR - OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF.