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, Sep 11, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. LESTER GLENN HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 386 RTE 37 E, TOMS RIVER, NJ) CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THE DOOR HANDLE BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Structure, Aug 16, 2018
HANDLES KEEP FALLING OFF IN MY HAND WHEN OPENING DOORS. THIS IS AT LEAST THE FOURTH TIME SINCE L HAVE THIS CAR. READ SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE, SOUNDS LIKE DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE TO ME. LAST ,TIME DEALER CHARGED ME $90.00 TO REPAIR AND IT FELL OFF NEXT DAY. NOW REAR PASSENGER FELL OFF. I AM 75 YEARS OLD, NEED DOORS TO OPEN AND CLOSE, VERY SCARY. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK OF A $23,000 CAR?
Structure, May 10, 2018
FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE OPENING DOOR TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. WENT ON-LINE TO RESEARCH REPAIR. FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL 4 DOORS OF THIS VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT FAILURES ON OTHER HANDLES TEND TO HAPPEN WITHIN MONTHS OF ONE-ANOTHER. DOORS THAT ARE INFREQUENTLY USED ALSO HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN REMOVING AN INFANT, SICK, OR INJURED PERSON FROM THE VEHICLE DURING AN EMERGENCY. THE HANDLES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. THE INNER FRONT OF THE HANDLE HAS A PLASTIC PIVOT WHICH SNAPS OFF, CAUSING THE HANDLE TO FALL OFF IN THE HAND OF THE PERSON OPENING THE DOOR.
Structure, Apr 30, 2018
IN THE LAST 2 YEARS, I HAVE HAD ALL 4 OF THE DOOR HANDLES BREAK OFF IN SOMEONE'S HAND, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE HAD 2 OF THEM REPLACED ALREADY, COSTING ABOUT $150 - 200 EACH. AT THIS TIME, BOTH OF MY REAR DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN OFF.
Structure, Feb 17, 2018
3 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES FELL OFF MY CAR WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE LAST ONE, THE DRIVERS DOOR, HAS JUST NOW FALLEN OFF, OUT OF WARRANTY. QUESTION - WHY DID THE ONE WITH THE MOST USE FALL OFF LAST? HYUNDAI 800-633-5151 REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION ON THE 4TH REPLACEMENT. THIS OBVIOUSLY WARRANTS A RECALL BECAUSE SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE WITH EVERY ONE.
Structure, Feb 7, 2018
WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, 2 OF THE 4 EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF IN MY HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN BOTH CASES. IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF OPENING THE DOOR, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.
Structure, Jan 20, 2018
ONE BY ONE ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF. IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS DOORS ARE UNSECURED.
Structure, Jan 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALLACE HYUNDAI (3801 SOUTHEAST FEDERAL HIGHWAY A, STUART, FL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED PURCHASED THE DOOR HANDLE. *TR
Structure, Jan 12, 2018
ON 12/2016 MY PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHILE LOADING MY VEHICLE AT SAMS CLUB. ON 11/2017 MY DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE AS I WAS GETTING IT FOR WORK. THIS MEANT I NEEDED TO CLIMB INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I DID GET IT FIX PAYING $170 FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ALSO A RENTAL CAR. I STILL NEED TO FIX THE PASSENGER SIDE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE EMS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO MY CAR THUS MAKING THE BROKEN HANDLES A SAFETY ISSUE.
Structure, Jan 11, 2018
4 OF MY DOOR HANDLES HAVE FALLEN OFF. I HAVE HAD 3 REPLACED WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE 4TH DRIVER DOOR THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD TO USE A ZIP TIE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET IN IT.
Structure, Dec 28, 2017
"HANDLE ISSUE" MY VEHICLE HAS AROUND 74K MILES ON IT AND SO FAR EVERY HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF IN THE WINTER. AFTER THE FIRST HANDLE BROKE I WAS MORE CAREFUL DURING THE WINTER ON OPENING THE DOORS. THIS IS NOT A CHEAP FIX.
Structure, Nov 19, 2017
THREE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE COME OFF IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. TWO CAME OFF IN PASSENGER'S HANDS (GENTLE PULL) AND ONE FELL OFF THE CAR AT UNKNOWN TIME. THE CAR HAD ONLY ABOUT 62,500 MILES ON IT WHEN THE LAST ONE CAME OFF.
Structure, Nov 14, 2017
I REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE A MONTH AGO BECAUSE IT BROKE OFF WHEN I WAS OPENING THE DOOR TO LET MY CHILD OUT AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN I WAS OPENING THE DOOR FOR MY CHILD. VERY DANGEROUS AS I WAS IN BOTH INSTANCES HELPING MY YOUNG CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. IN MY DRIVING YEARS, WHICH SPANS 34 YEAR AND COUNTLESS VEHICLES, I HAVE NEVER HAD A DOOR HANDLE MALFUNCTION LET ALONE BREAK OFF. I HAVE OWNED EHICLES FOR 13-15 YEARS TYPICALLY AND HAD NO INSTANCES OF DOOR HANDLE MALFUNCTIONING OR BREAKING OFF. THE REPAIR COSTS $130 OR SO FOR EACH DOOR HANDLE, BUT MORE IMPORTANT IS MY LACK OF CONFIDENCE THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT MAY BE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. NHTSA PLEASE ENSURE HYUNDAI IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND REQUIRED TO DESIGN A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE AND OFFER A REFUND TO ALREADY REPAIRED DOOR HANDLES.
Structure, Oct 28, 2017
DOOR HANDLES FALL OFF. I HAVE REPLACED 3 OF 4 HANDLES SO FAR. REAR DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED BUT IS NOT OPENING NOW. DRIVERS DOOR OPENS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES NOT. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. IT COSTS $140 PER UNIT.
Structure, Oct 26, 2017
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, THE DOOR HANDLES OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AND LEFT REAR DOORS CAME OFF IN MY HAND WHILE OPENING THE DOORS. I WAS THEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO LET MY ELDERLY PASSENGER OUT OF THE CAR.
Structure, Sep 27, 2017
I HAVE A HYUNDAI 2010 AND IN ONE YEARS TIME BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE SECOND ONE AND THE FIRST COST ME $160. NOT ONLY IS THIS AN INCONVENIENCE WHEN TRYING TO GET MY CHILDREN OUT, BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK IF THERE EVER WERE AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A REFUND.
Structure, Jul 7, 2017
OUR 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA'S OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE JUST FELL OFF RIGHT IN MY HAND. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE 2010 MODEL. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF WE ARE IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE HANDLE FALLS OFF THE PERSON THAT IS TRYING TO HELP US THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL WE WERE DOING WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET MY SON OUT OF HIS CAR SEAT AND IT FELL OFF RIGHT IN OUR HANDS. UNACCEPTABLE.
Structure, Jun 6, 2017
EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE BREAKING OFF WHEN USED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY. THUS FAR, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF. VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS IN THE 75K TO 78K MILE RANGE. I AM READING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE AND THAT IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR (ESTIMATED $200). I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS ENTRY TO THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY IS COMPROMISED.
Structure, May 31, 2017
THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND A YEAR AGO.NOW THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR HANDLE DID THE SAME THING.
Structure, May 14, 2017
THE OUTER DOOR HANDLES ARE WEAK AND BREAK OFF EASILY. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE BROKEN HANDLES, AND THE FOURTH ONE IS ABOUT TO BREAK. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE HANDLE MIGHT BREAK OFF WHEN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR, DELAYING OR PREVENTING NEEDED HELP. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.
Structure, Mar 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE PARKED AND ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE HANDLES WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
Structure, Feb 25, 2017
THIS 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA OBVIOUSLY HAS A DOOR HANDLE DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AS I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN NUMEROUS COMPLAINT FORUMS. IN 2014, MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND FELL OFF UPON NORMAL USE. THAT WAS FIXED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN (AGAIN, UNDER NORMAL USAGE) AND CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. I ONLY HAVE 66,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, TO DATE, AND PROBLEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING SO SOON. HYUNDAI SHOULD RECALL THIS MODEL AND FIX THE PROBLEM!
Structure, Dec 31, 2016
TODAY THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN ON MY HYUNDAI SONATA IN SIX YEAR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MAKE AND MODEL.
Structure, Nov 14, 2016
THE DOOR HANDLES KEEP BREAKING OFF. TWO YEARS AGO THE THE BACK PASSANGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THERE WAS NO SNAPPING SOUND JUST A DOOR HANDLE NOT ATTACHED TO THE DOOR. WE PAID OUT OF POCKET AND GOT THIS FIXED SINCE IT IS UNSAFE SINCE EMERGENCY HELP WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE BACK SEAT IF THE PASSENGERS WERE INCAPACITATED. THEN TODAY THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WE ARE ONCE AGAIN GOING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THIS FIXED SINCE IT IS UNSAFE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO ANYONE IN THE BACK SEAT, INCLUDING CHILDREN. EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NOT USED (BARELY ANY PRESSURE WAS USED), NO SOUNDS ACCOMPANIED THE BREAKAGE, AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE DOOR PREVIOUSLY. THERE WAS NO LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THE DOOR HANDLES TO BREAK.
Structure, Nov 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE, THE CHROME SPLIT AND CREATED TWO RAZOR SHARP EDGES. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD THREE LACERATIONS ON HIS POINTER FINGER, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,007.