10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 6
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 60,388 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Brake lights stay on when the car is turned off. It is draining the battery and I cannot drive the car. No Hyundai dealers near me have availability until October or after.
- Glenside, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly began to lose power and stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. However, the failure reoccurred while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V759000 (Exterior Lighting). However, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,300.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
Brake lights frequently to go out. When I am driving on the road it is a game to find a Sonata with all 3 taillights functioning correctly. Many of the other Sonatas I pass on the road has a taillight that is out. Bulbs burn out but I have replaced my bulbs at least 7 times in the past 6 years.
- Severn, MD, USA
The brake pedal stopper pad deteriorated, allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal was released. This kept my break lights on even when the car was turned off, which lead to issues with my accelerator randomly giving out while I was on the road, and my traction control forced off.
- Lafayette, LA, USA
The bulbs keep blowing out and now the wiring harness is burnt. I have replaced bulbs multiple times and I have an upcoming appointment at my local dealership on April 4th. My concern is I thought bulbs were supposed to be replaced every few years not 7-8 in one month. Now due to the fact that the lighting housing assembly is melted it will not hold any bulbs. I have a small child that sits and the back and has a medical condition and I am scared to drive (at night especially) if he needs to go to the emergency room/doctors appointments due to the fact someone may hit me from behind because I have no lights back there. Where I stay every time I see a Hyundai Sonata it never fails they are always missing a light in the back due to the light assembly has melted. This is a safety concern for not only my children but for me. I am also concerned that due to it being melted it could potentially catch something on fire.
- Jackson, MS, USA
The contact's son owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated when she arrived at her residence, she noticed that her son's rear brake lights illuminated while the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated her son placed a can on the brake pedal to turn off the brake lights. The contact stated she had to disconnect the battery and reconnect before using the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V759000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
- Groton, CT, USA
My brake lights constantly burns out and I-??m having to repair them every month. My brake lights also stay illuminated when I am pressing the brake which does not show that I am stopping or slowing down. This is a MAJOR safety issue that needs to be repaired
- Kyle , TX, USA
I am experiencing the exact same issues described in a previous recall of 2006 to 2007 model affecting the brake lamp switch. My brake lamps remain illuminated after release of the brake pedal, and the ESC light illuminates on the dash
- Redlands, CA, USA
3 of my light lamps where burning and front headlight could have start a fire
- Stockton, CA, USA
Exact same symptoms as NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 15V759000 (Hyundai recall 136 - described below). The car was previously repaired for this issue. The brake lights come on without any pressure applied to the brake petal, both when the car is off or running. Besides the critical issues stated below, it also causes the brake light bulbs to burn out prematurely, and drains the car battery. Hyundai Motor America "Hyundai" is recalling certain model 2011-2012 Sonata vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. Consequence: If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to rearward following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash. Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 136.
- Morristown, NJ, USA
The rear brake lights burned out can't replace the light because the wiring harness melted and y'all no longer sell replacement wiring harness at the store or dealership for my vehicle make and model I was told I would have to make a out of pocket costly repair to install a new model wiring harness. I keep getting pulled over by the cops cause I don't have break lights. Worse case someone could run into the back of me. This issue is a Hyundai issue. It's so many Hyundai sonata riding around without break lights. Please fix this issue.
- Owings Mills, MD, USA
Break lights repeatingly burn out on both sides. Replace it and a few weeks later, need replacing again. It is an ongoing problem and a known defect, but hasn't been recalled yet. This is a safety hazard as you are at risk of being rear ended.
- Apex, NC, USA
My break lights and head lights are constantly blowing out, I've had multiple repair orders to prove this & can have records pulled from my pull overs. My back up camera now has an electrical issue and will no longer come on. Also when I'm driving the gas pedal just stops working while driving!!! Very very dangerous. My car is well kept and maintained there is NO reason for these issues to be happening aside from a manufacturer issue. I know plenty of people with the same year make and model as me and they all have the same issues. There really needs to be recalls put out on these issues as they are a safety concerns and they are putting me and my children in danger every day. I wish I had researched these issues before buying a Hyundai. I WILL NEVER BUY ONE AGAIN especially if these issues do not get resolved.
- Gambrills, MD, USA
My passenger rear light keeps blowing. I have replaced the bulb once a week since I bought the car two years ago. I have been pulled over multiple times, thankfully I was not ticketed and was given a warning all 3 times. The light went out again so I went to change the bulb and the the whole housing unit is melted. Now I am unable to take the bulb out to change it.
- Wilkes Barre, PA, USA
About 2 years ago I notice a little scratch on the dashboard, after a while I see that it was a danger crash after this time now are 3 big scratches that interfere with the deployment airbags of both from airbags if split could cost big injuries to the occupants of the vehicle.hyunday said they are not responsable for that defective part.(plastic) but they want me to pay. Also the lights never are right to cause difficulty at night driving also dangerous, the dealer said they are ok, but they are not in right position.
- Deerfield Beach, FL, USA
2012 Hyundai Sonata on May 8,2020 Hyundai replaced my engine due to a recall.on August 18,2020 I had complained about the smell of gas that I smelled in my car. They inspected my vehicle and said it was fine. But every so often I kept smelling gas inside my car but no engine light or any light turned on and plus I thought it was fine since Hyundai inspected my car but February 4, 2021 I was parked with my vehicle running and the fuel smell started getting worse, entering my vehicle through the air vent. My vehicle would smell like gas even when it was turned off. So I turned my car off and I heard loud boiling bubble noises inside my car which is strange. I waited a few minutes turned my car on and then my thermostat maxed out all the way to hot so I shut my car off. I callled Hyundai & took my car to the palm springs dealership and they inspected it and told me that it's the high pressure fuel pipe. My vehicle is still at the dealership because I can't afford $1000 to pay for something that's a recall. Especially since I complained about the gas smell on August 2020. Also my right tail light is completely out. I replaced the bulbs multiple times but it ended up burning out. The wires are burnt and melted. This is car is nothing but problems.
- Palm Springs, CA, USA
Brake and tail lights go out a lot and need to be replaced to often. The driver side brake and tail light are out now and when the bulb blew, it melted the housing element and can't get a new bulb in it. So now the vehicle is being operated with only the passenger side brake and tail lights.
- Greensboro, NC, USA
Brake lights are out and when I replace then they blow out within two days
- New Castle, DE, USA
Had back light issues for two yrs now lights going out harness burning up had one recall for wiring harness. Lights still burning out different side I believe I fixed the other side now having to replace bulbs on and off now it's a melted bulb socket they replaced the bulbs with your bulbs been going on for 2 yrs: Was told that my mechanic can hear a rod knocking when I was getting it serviced wrote it should be fixed took to your dealership told not loud enough and check engine light not on to wait till it goes on or it throws a rod!!!!!! hmm that's safe for 18 yr old, , then who will pay for the towing I live over 60 miles from dealer hope it doesn't catch on fire while I'm in it or cause a accident and really hurt someone! can't believe we can't do preventative care this to me is so unsafe !!! want to know can I get my money back on the light repairs that I had to fix ?
- Redding, CA, USA
- Granite Falls, NC, USA