10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,654 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #20

Apr 202015

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 82,771 miles
My brake lights no longer function. My "ESC off" light and check engine light appeared. I had a mechanic scan my car regarding the aforementioned issues and the code that displayed was "P0504". after researching this code I have discovered: The engine control module (ECM) has detected a fault in correlation between the two brake switch circuits. This very problem has resulted a massive recall for Hyundai & Kia vehicles. Unfortunately, my vehicle is not eligible for the recall according to the VIN look up for this recall campaign (110). I should not have to pay out of pocket for this manufacturer defect!!!

- Greenwood, IN, USA

problem #19

Mar 182015

Sonata

  • 116,000 miles
While trying to park my 2007 Hyundai Sonata the automatic transmission shifter was stuck in drive and can only be moved into neutral. Leading up to this happening the ESC light kept coming on and eventually stayed permanently on. I later found out that my break light was also off. I am able to move the shifter by pressing down the bypass. As it is in order to take the car out of park I have to press down the bypass. I have to do the same when going from drive to reverse or from reverse to drive. Break light still not working and ESC light is on.

- Valley Stream , NY, USA

problem #18

Aug 012014

Sonata

  • 80,000 miles
Hyundai has changed my seat belt buckle numerous times because of an air bag related issue. Now that its out of warranty they will not cover it. Air bag light back on and they want, $400 to replace the bad seatbelt with any warranty. This is probably the 4th time since I had the vehicle brand new that im having this problem, I never in my life experienced so many airbag problems with a vehicle other then a Hyundai. Also now they are saying my brake light switch is bad yet again after they supposedly changed it out a few years ago for a recall, to many of the same problems with Hyundai. Scared to drive the car feels like I bought a lemon. Wish there was more that Hyundai could do for there customers but it seems like they don't care. What ever happened to Hyundai slogan about safety 1st..

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #17

Aug 012014

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 35,584 miles
I was parking the car (going about 5 mph ) at the food market, had coasted into the space and was using the brake ready to totally stop at the cement stop block..suddenly the motor sounded like a racecar and the car lurched forward and up over the cement stop block into the concrete wall /column where it stopped ! I was so fortunate to be in that parking space in front of the wall or I would have gone straight into the glass wall of the market !!several people ran out of the market to help me out of the car.there was steam coming from under the hood and some liquid was draining under the front of the car..someone decided to call the fire dept..because they thought it was gasoline.. someone else suggested that I turn off the motor because it was still running..I could not shift the car so I could not get the key out. The gear shift was stuck and would not work. We decided to leave it alone until the tow truck arrived.I was really reluctant to do too much because it was on a slight slant and I thought it might start moving again.noone else was in the car. The skin on my knee was scraped and my knee felt a little sore...no major injuries.just very shaken!!.the car was towed to a repair shop and my insurance company will schedule an inspector for the repair order. I am in no hurry to get it back. I'm feeling very nervous about driving it again....affected parts? ( item on this form) I can see that the hood and the front bumper are damaged..fluid and steam came from somewhere under the hood so maybe the radiator or hoses are also damaged.I am not a mechanic and I don't have the report yet but something else is going on if the car makes a racing car noise and then moves forward quickly. The mileage is only 35,584..a 2007 Hyundai Sonata..I have pictures if you need them.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #16

Jun 232014

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 60,188 miles
I was just driving to work and the ESC off light came on, the only way I have been able to get it to go off is to restart the car. One of the times I had trouble getting the car in to park but after playing around with the brake pedal it final allowed me to shift. It has been happening randomly, I had it check for error codes and nothing could be found.

- Parma, OH, USA

problem #15

Apr 032014

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 63,264 miles
I got into my car and came to stop sign and brakes were failing going to the floor! my mechanic showed the brake hoses to me and said the way they are installed they will just rub a hole in them. I had a hole in one and the other side was close to a hole rub thru.

- Eastson, PA, USA

problem #14

Mar 022014

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
During a snow storm, I was attempting to make a stop. My brakes would not engage (as if something was keeping the brake shoes from engaging onto the wheel). There also was a loud clatter. I disengaged my electronic stability control and was only then able to apply the brakes. Today I took my vehicle in for service and was told that the stop switch needed to be replaced. I saw Hyundai had a recall NHTSA campaign #: 09V-122 which was published April 15, 2009.. according to my VIN history, my stop lamp switch had been previously replaced on 4/4/09 by malone Hyundai. I contacted Hyundai corporation and asked if perhaps my stop switch, since being replaced before the recall, might have been replaced with also a defective stop switch. The case manager told me that the 5 year, 60,000 mile warranty on parts was 5 years, 60,000 miles from the time the vehicle was first driven new off the lot and Hyundai would not replace my defective stop switch unless I took the vehicle to a certified Hyundai dealership and they could certify that my switch was installed incorrectly. On safercar.gov, you have several documents published related to this recall. In the document entitled "owner notification letter", page 2 which is a notification to Hyundai dealership & service managers dated 6/24/2009, paragraph 5 says: "all Hyundai dealers will be shipped a supply of stop lamp switches..." which implies all existing stock of these switches were potentially defective! your assistance is greatly appreciated in getting Hyundai to take responsibility for this defect!

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #13

Nov 182013

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
ESC off light comes on periodically; cruise control not working. Stop lamp switch replaced in 2010 but problem persists. Dealer wants to charge fee to diagnose problem and additional charges to repair. Should have part of recall.

- Washington Dc, DC, USA

problem #12

Mar 012010

Sonata

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the emergency brake failed to engage when activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the cable needed to be replaced and the bracket needed to be welded into the frame. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. The VIN was not available.

- Clinton, MD, USA

problem #11

Dec 022013

Sonata

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the brake lights would not illuminate when the brakes were being applied. In addition, the ESC-off light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer stated that the brake lamp switch was defective. The contact noticed NHTSA campaign id number: 13V113000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic) and called the manufacturer. The manufacturer stated the VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The failure mileage was 89,000.

- Marrietta, GA, USA

problem #10

Apr 122011

Sonata

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the brakes engaged independently and without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 89,000.

- Lompoc, CA, USA

problem #9

Nov 222006

Sonata

  • miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that both headlights and the brake lights failed intermittently. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 13V113000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic) and contacted the manufacturer, who stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- West Henrietta, NY, USA

problem #8

Nov 172013

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
The ESC off dashboard warning light is on and the brake lights are not working correctly.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #7

Oct 292013

Sonata

  • 56,000 miles
I was notified by another driver that the brake lights on my car were out. Specifically the left and center lights. The left was easy to fix but the center is a nightmare. I will have to take to a dealership. $50. After doing extensive reading on the internet, I found out that this is a known issue with several Hyundai cars and they and ntsa have done nothing about it. Hyundai is claiming that a brake switch recall they issued in 2009 solves the problem. It does not. People with this issue have been told by dealerships everything from bad ground to defective wiring harnesses. This virtually makes the car illegal and a death trap. I can't tell you how many people have been cursing me in the last few weeks, evidently because this issue has been in place. Thanks to one good samaritan I now now why. A recall needs to happen yesterday!!!!!

- Brunswick, OH, USA

problem #6

Sep 282007

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
The car now has 75K. I have needed to replace the rear pads three times and rear rotors twice. In addition, rear brakes have required "friction religning" at least annually, often twice per year. No matter how often these maintenance procedures are needed the emergency or parking brake, which I use each time I park the car, often does not release easily or fully. If I reverse up to about 8-10 mph and slam the brakes, when the dragging sound and sensation do not quickly abate, this seemed to seat the pads and or calipers. In the past week, in fact, the rear driver's brake assembly, aluminum wheel and components become very, very hot... have not needed to drive more than a mile or two at any time, but the dealer can not get me in until next week... I am unable to get around at all if need leave the car for extended time... it was when online seeking a temporary means by which I might try to adjust the caliper for the time being, that I found many, many forums and discussions of the deficiencies of the rear brakes in Sonatas... I did call Hyundai, they issued a case number and they would look at whatever...

- Kenmore, NY, USA

problem #5

May 212013

Sonata

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was found that the brake lights had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Johnson City, TN, USA

problem #4

May 042010

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
While driving down the freeway, car pulled to the left. It is still doing it to this day. Had to take the car back to the dealer after the dealer did a brake job at 77000 miles. Had to argue with the dealership to redo the rotors after paying money for a complete brake job. The dealership finally agreed to redo the job after a long argument. I am still having problems with brakes today. When making a right turn, can hear grinding noises. When backing up and coming to a complete stop, can hear grinding noises. I have had this car in for brake service many times. I hear noises from the back and front suspension that has been going on since 2009. After having the dealership change every gasket in the car because of leakage, I have been hearing tapping noises in the car, reported it to Hyundai motor, but they have ignored this. When I called the dealership after they fixed the gaskets, the gaskets leaked again and they said it was not their problem. This car is junk and it needs to be taken off of the road. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #3

Dec 032012

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
My air bag light stays on all the time. Whenever I am driving alone, my passenger seatbelt light flashes not stop. This two things been going on for a while now. Also my lights stay on even after I switch my lights off, I have to turn them on and turn them back off until they shut off. A mechanic told me its the brake light switch causing the problem. I have had technicians look at these issues, and it will cost hundreds to repair. I believe Hyundai is missing out the point that the 2007 Sonata models have an air bag issue too.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #2

Dec 152008

Sonata

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while parked the brake pedal was depressed but it became stuck and failed respond. As a result, the vehicle would not come out of park. The contact eventually placed the vehicle in drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 09V122000 (service brakes, hydraulic:switches:brake light) that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

- Apple Valley, CA, USA

problem #1

Oct 192009

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 17,513 miles
I heard high pitched noise from rear while driving 2007 Sonata gls. I found that the rear wheels were extremely hot. I was afraid the tires will catch fire due to the heat. I took it to the dealer in southfield Michigan. The manager said that it would cost me $300 to replace rear pads and they were not covered under warranty. Rear brake pads essentially were 95% worn out. Front brake pads were minimally worn during this time period and were ok. I got them replaced at "Napa complete car care center" for $176 in Oct 19, 2009 when it had 17,513 miles on it. At 40,042 miles while driving from detroit to milwaukee, I heard dreadful grinding noise. At "car-X auto service" in milwaukee they found the same problem with rear pads while front pads were ok. One rear pad was almost bare and others were more than 95% gone. I spent another $350 and this time the rotors also have to be replaced. There is definitely a design flaw and it is a safety issue due to heat which can cause tire fire. It seems the rear pads stop moving freely after certain pad wear. It could be too much hydraulic oil pressure in the rear brake lines or there is some defects due to ABS system. Hyundai must own this problem and fix this issue for good. Environment al (salt, water etc) effect is the same for both front and rear brakes. Front brakes do not need any adjustment or lubrication and they are ok. Why would only rear brakes need cleaning and lubrication at every 5000 miles as suggested by the dealer? in my driving for 40 years I have never seen this issue in any of the other vehicles I drove. On checking internet discussion boards I found that this issue is common and Hyundai is not doing anything. This is not fair at all while consumers are holding the bag with perpetual expensive repairs and fear of being stranded and tire catching fire.

- Farmington Hills, MI, USA