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: other or unspecified
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 13, 2016
ALL OF MY DOOR HANDLES ARE DEFECTED NOW THE OTHER 2 IN THE BACK DOOR CAME OFF BROKEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2016
EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN 6 TIMES ON SEVERAL DOORS. HHTSA MAY FEEL THIS IS COSMETIC BUT EMERGENCY PERSONAL MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY MAKING ENTRY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, HE SEES THIS IN MORE 2010 HYUNDAI'S THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. SIMPLE WEB SEARCH FOUND 100S OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. AT ONE POINT, 3 OF 4 OF MY HANDLES WERE BROKE AT ONCE. AVERAGE PRICE TO FIX ONE DOOR IS $250. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS!
Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2016
MY 2010 HYUNDAI SONOTA'S DOOR HANDLES BROKE AND WERE REPLACED ON THE PASSENGERS FRONT AND REAR SIDE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER A FEW DAYS BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY TOLD US THEY WERE GIVEN A VOUCHER FROM HYUNDAI TO REPLACE THE HANDLES AND THIS WAS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE A THIRD DOOR HANDLE BROKE ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS FOR THE THIRD HANDLE. WHILE TRYING TO RESOLVE THE THIRD HANDLE BREAKAGE, A FOURTH HANDLE BROKE ON THE PASSENGERS FRONT DOOR. NOTE THAT THIS PASSENGERS FRONT DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED 5 MONTHS AGO AT THE DEALER. I WOULD LIKE THESE HANDLES LOOKED INTO AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE A RECALL TO FIX THESE HAZARDOUS DOOR HANDLES. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD IN A CAR SEAT AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET THEM OUT.
Suspension, Other or unspecified, May 13, 2016
WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROAD, POTHOLES, BUMPY ROADS, ETC., BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM, EMITS A RUMBLING, KNOCKING, LIKE A LOSE PART SOUND. ON THE HIGHWAY IT SOMETIMES CAR BECOMES UN-STABLE, AND LOSES CONTROL. CAR IS ONLY 21,000 MILES, SUSPENSION SEEMS LIKE AN OLD 100,000 MILES CAR. HYUNDAI SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT, SINCE IT IS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2016
TWICE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. ONCE IT WAS GOING THROUGH AN AUTO BELL CAR WASH. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR COMPLETELY CAME OFF ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN MY WIFE OPENED THE DOOR, AS WE WERE GETTING INTO THE CAR. THE ENTIRE HANDLE CAME OFF IN HER HAND. SHE OPENED THE DOOR THE SAME AS SHE NORMALLY DOES. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. AT THE TIME WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. SIX MONTHS AGO WHILE GOING THROUGH AUTO BELL CAR WASH THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR HANDLE CAME LOOSE AND WAS NO LONGER OPERATIONAL. NOW THIS EVENING I OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO TAKE GROCERY'S OUT OF THE CAR AND THE DOOR OPENED. HOWEVER WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR I NOTICED THAT THE HANDLE WAS PROTRUDING. I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THERE IS TOO MUCH MOVEMENT IN THE DOOR HANDLE AND IT IS NOT OPENING THE DOOR. I NOW HAVE 3 DOORS THAT ARE NOT USABLE. I AM DISABLED AND IT IS GOING TO MAKE LIFE VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT GROCERIES AND OTHER ITEMS IN THE CAR. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO AFFORD TO FIX 3 DOORS SINCE I COULDN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE EVEN ONE DOOR. THESE DOORS ARE CHEAPLY MADE AND THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY HYUNDAI. SHAME ON HYUNDAI FOR MAKING SUCH A POOR PRODUCT THAT IS ESSENTIAL ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S WORLD WHEN NEEDING TO GET INTO THE CAR FAST FOR SAFETY REASONS IS IMPERATIVE. IF I WASN'T DISABLED I COULD CRAWL INSIDE TO OPEN THE OTHER DOORS, HOWEVER I AM NOT MOBILE ENOUGH TO REACH OR CLIMB TO THE BACK. LUCKILY I CAN ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS BUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF MY WINDOWS EVER FAIL. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE NOT IN THE BEST LOCATIONS EITHER. THIS WILL BE THE LAST HYUNDAI I BUY AND IT'S A SHAME JUST BECAUSE OF THE CHEAP DOOR HANDLES.
Other or unspecified, Dec 23, 2015
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD IN THE LAST WEEK IS THAT THE REAR PASSENGER OUT SISE DOOR HANDLE JUST BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I FIGURED THIS WAS SOMTHING THAT JUST SOMETIMES HAPPENS. I GOT ON THD INTERNET TO BUY A REPLACEMENT AND THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SO I THOUGHT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ANYONE IN THE CAR IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. NO ONE CAN GET IN THE CAR TO HELP IF THESE DOOR HANDLES BREAK OFF WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO RESCUE YOU. LAST NIGHT MY WIFE CAME HOME AND SAID THAT HER PASSENGER DOOR DID THE SAME THING. TWO DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF IN LESS THEN ONE WEEK. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 34000 MILES ON IT AND I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE HANDLES. MY WIFE HAS OUR GRAN CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK AT TIMES AND SINCE THESE CHILDREN OUR IN CAR SEATS ITS IMPERATIVE THAT IF SHE HAS AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER EMERGENCY PEOPLE CAN GET IN THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Dec 8, 2015
WHEN MY CAR IS BEING SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME LIKE MORE THAN TWO HOURS AND WHEN I START DRIVING AND I HAVE TO BREAK OR REDUCE SPEED FEELS KIND OF ROUGH OR HARD TO BREAK BUT AFTER A WHILE DRIVING START BRAKING LIKE NORMAL I THINK IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT START DOING IT AFTER I TOOK THE CAR TO UNIVERSAL HYUNDAI IN ORLANDO THEY RECOMMENDED NEW BRAKE PAD IN REAR AND TIRES I REPLACE THEM BUT CAR STILL DOING IT ALSO THE DEALER SAID THATS NOT IN THE RECALL I DO HAVE THE DOCUMENTS WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2015
THE BACK PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE BACK DOORS ARE RARELY USED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR PASSENGERS THAT MAY RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2015
THIS IS ON BEHALF OF MY ELDERLY MOTHER WHO S NOW HAD 2 DIFFERENT OUTSIDE HANDLES FALL OFF UPON TRYING TO OPEN THE DOORS. EXACT DATES ARE UNKNOWN, BUT WE'D ESTIMATE THE 1ST HANDLE FELL OFF EARLY 2014 OR EVEN 2013--THE BACK DRIVER-SIDE DOOR. AS SO MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED HERE, IT SIMPLY FELL OFF IN HER HAND WITHOUT OPENING THE DOOR. SHE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE WAS NO FIX AVL. FROM THE MFR STANDPOINT--AND DUE TO THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF NEARLY $200 TO FIX IT, LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, SHE'S GONE WITHOUT THIS REPAIR. THE DRIVER'S DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE LIKEWISE FELL OFF A SHORT TIME LATER, WHICH CAUSED MUCH MORE NUISANCE SINCE SHE WAS REQUIRED TO GET IN THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CRAWL ACROSS THE FRONT SEAT TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE. FINDING THAT DIFFICULT TO SAY THE LEAST, SHE PAID $182.63 TO GET THAT HANDLE REPLACED AT THE DEALER. ASIDE FROM BEING A MAJOR NUISANCE, THIS COULD PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IN AN ACCIDENT OR SIMILAR SITUATION, IT COULD CAUSE A DELAY OF SEVERAL MINUTES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO REACH SOMEONE INSIDE. IN MANY DECADES, WEVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER CAR DOOR HANDLES BREAK-BUT WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE HANDLES, IT SEEMS HYUNDAI MUST BE USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS FOR THESE PARTICULAR PARTS. COULD NHTSA CONSIDER FORCING HYUNDAI TO REPLACE THESE HANDLES AS PART OF A RECALLAND PERHAPS EVEN PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS ALREADY MADE? NHTSA JUST REPORTED AN "ENGINE RECALL" THIS MORNING FOR THIS SAME HYUNDAI MODEL, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER MODEL YEARS, WHICH WILL APPARENTLY RESULT IN ENGINES NEEDING TO BE REPLACEDPERHAPS THEY COULD DO A JOINT RECALL TO FIX BOTH ISSUES. ALTHOUGH AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS ARE NOT "OUT" YET FOR THAT RECALL, WHEN I SAW THERE WERE ALREADY 17 OTHER COMPLAINTS JUST SINCE JANUARY ABOUT THIS SAME DOOR HANDLE ISSUE, WE DECIDED TO ADD OUR VOICES. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2015
THE CAR IS EQUIP WITH CHILD SAFETY LOCK, I STOP TO LET OUT A PASSENGER ON THE DRIVER SIDE,AND THE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND, WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $400.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACE, LOOK ON LINE AND THE DIRECT FIT HANDLE COST IS ONLY $34.00 THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE HANDLE IS JUST A PEACE OF POORLY MADE PLASTIC, THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPEN NOW.
Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2014
DRIVER SIDE - OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE JUST FELL OFF IN HAND. THIS IS THE 3RD HANDLE THAT HAS FALLEN OFF IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS - WHEN IT DOES THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. YOU ASK WHY IT IS A SAFETY HAZZARD - WHEN THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON AND YOU GO SOME WHERE IN THE CAR - THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET IN IS TO OPEN ANOTHER DOOR AND RELEASE THE BROKEN HANDLE DOOR BY THE INSIDE AND THEN WALK AROUND AND GET IN - THIS IS NOT SAFE IN PARKING LOTS AT THIS DAY AND TIME - BY THAT TIME SOME ONE ELSE CAN SLIDE INTO THE CAR WITH YOU - PLEASE LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS - MOST OF US HAVE HAD MORE THAT ONE BREAK - THIS IS WAY TO MANY AND THE CAR MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND GET THIS STRAIGHT - A DOOR HANDLE THAT YOU USE TO GET IN AND OUT OF EVERYDAY (THE HINGE) BEING MADE OUT OF PLASTIC - TO ME IF FEEL LIKE THEY DESIGNED IT TO BREAK