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
345 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2018
PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF.3 MONTHS LATER OTHER PASSENGER HANDLE FELL OFF OPENING DOOR.
Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2018
I HAVE HAD INTERIOR LOCKS BREAK. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 DOOR HANDLES IN A YEAR AN A HALF. THEY FALL RIGHT OFF WHEN PULLING AND BREAK. NOT EXCESSIVELY USING THEM. OTHER SONATAS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. HYUNDAI WILL NOT DO A THING. VERY UNSAFE AND $250 EACH TIME TO FIX. CHEAP AND FAULTY PARTS. SAFETY ISDUE FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 5, 2018
ENGINE FAILED WOULD NOT START IN LESS THAN 55200 MILES
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.
Other or unspecified, Dec 10, 2017
THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE IN A YEAR HAS BROKEN. EARLIER THIS YEAR, MY DRIVERS REAR AND PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLES BOTH BROKE IN A WEEKS TIME. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD WAS BECAUSE HYUNDAI DIDNY RECOGNIZE IT AS A SAFETY RECALL. I CONTACTED CORPORATE, WHO AGREED TO REPLACE THE TWO. LAST WEEK MY DRIVERS FRONT DOOR HANDLE BROKEN. LUCKILY I AM PHYSICALLY ABLE TO CRAWL ACROSS THE PASSENGER SEAT AS I WASN'T AT HOME AND NEEDED TO GET INTO MY CAR. I ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED CORPORATE WHO TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NORMAL WEAR AND YEAR, AND THEY ALREADY GAVE ME TWO "GOOD WILL" FIXES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A 7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 105K MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE 3 BROKEN DOOR HANDLES. RESEARCHING ONLINE, MANY OTHERS HAVE FACED THIS ISSUE. THE FACT THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED IT WAS AN ISSUE AS WELL LET'S ME KNOW I'M NOT ALONE. THE COST FOR A HANDLE AND TO GET IT PAINTED WILL BE OVER $200. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, I WOULD BE TRAPPED IN MY SEAT SINCE A RESCUER COULD NOT OPEN MY DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE
Other or unspecified, Dec 9, 2017
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DIED. I RESTARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR JERKED A BIT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT THE ESC LIGHT OFF STAYED ON. AFTER SHUTTING OFF I STARTED IT THE NEXT DAY AND THE LIGHTS WERE OFF THEN AFTER A WHILE CAME BACK ON. IT IS EXPENSIVE TO TAKE TO DEALER TO TRY SOMETHING TO SEE IF IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. BRAKES JERKY WHEN APPLIED.
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.
Service brakes, Oct 11, 2017
THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE BURNED UP THREE TIMES NOW HAD THE CALIPERS CHANGED TWO TIMES ON RIGHT SIDE ONCE ON LEFT SIDE IN 90000 MILES THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM IN SYSTEM THAT'S INTERMENT I HAVE A NON CONTACT INFRARED THERMOMETER IN MY CAR THAT I CK TEMPS OF BRAKES WHEN I DRIVE I CK THEM WHEN I STOP IN PARKING LOTS REST STOPS TRYING TO CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE BRAKES BURN UP SOME TIMES I CAN DRIVE OVER 150 MILES NO PROBLEM SOME TIMES JUST 10 MILES BRAKES HEAT UP TO 315 DEGREES OR MORE LAST REPAIR THE REAR PADS ON RIGHT SIDE WHERE BURNT UP LEFT WHERE STILL GOOD THE DEALER SHOP CHECKED OUT BRAKES COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON THE RIGHT WAS STICKING OR DRAGGING THE DATE OF REPAIR WAS OCT 10- 2017. THAT WAS THE MOST RESENT.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 8, 2017
I'VE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE 2011 AND HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS BEFORE. LAST WEEK, (OCTOBER, 1, 2017). WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN OFF-RAMP AT ~35 MPH, MY 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA'S ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF ; AT THE SAME TIME MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, THE ESC OFF LIGHT IS OFF, BUT WITHIN 5-7 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN AND STAYS ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK NOW REGARDLESS OF IF THE ESC OFF LIGHT IS ON OR NOT. THIS OCCURS NOW EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. AT FIRST THE ESC OFF LIGHT IS OFF, AND EVERY TIME AFTER THE FIRST 5-7 MINUTES OF DRIVING IT LIGHTS UP. (AND PUSHING THE ESC OFF BUTTON DOES NOT AFFECT IT.) THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF WHERE I AM DRIVING OR HOW (ON ON A TWO-LANE, ON THE HIGHWAY, IN MY DRIVEWAY, TURNING, STOPPING, ACCELERATING ETC. THE ESC OFF LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I PUSH THE CC BUTTON, BUT WHEN I TRY TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO ENGAGE THE SPEED SET, NOTHING HAPPENS, IT WILL NOT ENGAGE.) I TOOK IT TO THE ONLY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WITHIN 100 MILES OF WHERE I LIVE, AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $120.00 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CSR THAT SET UP MY APPOINTMENT SAID HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE MYSELF, AND APPARENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE RECALL OF VARIOUS 2007-2011 HYUNDAI'S (SONATA'S INCLUDED) THAT HAD FAULTY BREAK LIGHT SWITCHES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS RECALL/DEFECT. NOW, AFTER 7 YEARS AND 133,000 MILES (I'M WAY OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD) AND HAVE TO PAY $ THAT I DO NOT HAVE JUST TO GET IT "DIAGNOSED" NOT TO MENTION HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. DOES THE RECALL STILL COVER MY VEHICLE? AND IF NOT, IS THERE A WAY I CAN ORDER THE PART MYSELF AND REPLACE IT TO SEE IF THAT CORRECTS THE ISSUE? -DESPERATE IN TN-
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.
Electrical system, Sep 7, 2017
HAD TO GET 3 STARTERS AND 2 BATTERIES FOR THIS VEHICLE DO TO THE IGNITION BEING BAD. AND WE JUST FIGURED IT OUT. IT'S WOULD START AND GO. BUT OVER TIME IT WOULD GIVE OUT AND I'VE BEEN STRANDED A COUPLE OF TIME WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Power train, Jul 14, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ONGOING FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND HAD GOTTEN WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIORITY HYUNDAI IN CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA THREE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER CONTROL VALUES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 10419964. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jun 7, 2017
DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. THE LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. CAR WAS IN DRIVEWAY, UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS IS MY 5TH OR 6TH ONE. OUT OF WARRANTY - HYUNDAI WILL NOT COVER. DENIES THERE IS AN ISSUE, DESPITE SO MANY CASES FILE. COSTS $175 + PAINT TO HAVE FIXED. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN, AND THESE DOOR HANDLES ON SONATA AND MANY OTHER MODELS AND YEARS SHOULD BE FIXED AND RECALLED.
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.