2008 Hyundai Sonata Complaint Log

MY HYUNDAI SONATA 2008 GLS HAS AIRBAG SIGN ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT SIGN IS FLASHING WITHOUT ANYBODY SEATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER SAID MY CAR IS NOT BEING RECALLED THEY SAID I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER OWNERS THAT I CHECKED ONLINE HAD SAME ISSUES AND THEIR CARS GOT FIXED BY THE DEALERS AT NO COST BECAUSE THEY WERE RECALLED. PLZ RECALL MY CAR.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT PREVIOUSLY WOULD GO ON AND OFF AT TIMES. BUT NOW IT STAYS ON PERMANENTLY AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IS STILL ON. I HAD DIAGNOSTICS DONE AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND I PAID FOR IT. IT SAID IT IS B1448 DESCRIPTION PCS (OCCUPANTS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM) MAT DEFECT. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY OR MAY NOT WORK WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT.

SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING WHEN THE PASSENGER SHIFTED SLIGHTLY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. LIGHT REAPPEARS ON RESTARTS AND STAYS ON. OCS RECALL WAS DONE 9/23/11, BUT HAVE STILL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS. THINK THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE CUSHION, BUT KNOW HYUNDAI WON"T REPAIR A SECOND TIME. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL FROM READING OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE.

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON.

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT IS DEFECTIVE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING L;IGHT FLASHES WHEN THERE IS ON OCCUPANT UNLESS IT BUCKLED.

OIL LEAKS FROM FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET DRIPS ONTO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC WHILE IN MOTION

I GOT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON IN COUPLE DAYS AGO.

AIRBAG INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE ON

NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO MY ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. ISSUE WITH THE VALVE COVER GASKET.

THIS EVENING AT OUR LOCAL NEWS CHANNEL WFLX I SAW A STORY ABOUT HYUNDAI SONATAS'S DOOR HANDLES FALLING OFF.THIS LADY HAD ALL 4 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BREAK OFF. THE NEWS STATION SAID HYUNDAI TOLD THEM THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE. NOT TRUE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES AND TWO OF THE INSIDE HANDLES ON MY VEHICLE. JUST LIKE THE ONE THE NEWS SHOWED. MY SISTER IN LAW WHO LIVES IN JACKSONVILLE FL. HAD THE SAME ISSUE. SO IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. FIRST TIME MY DOOR HANDLE BROKE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER (NAPLETON'S HYUNDAI) AND IT COST ME $600 TO GET IT FIXED. SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN FIXING IT MYSELF. GUESS WHAT, THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF AGAIN. THIS WILL BE MY 5TH TIME FIXING THE DOOR HANDLES. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. IF YOU NEED A PICTURE I CAN UPLOAD ONE TOMORROW. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

FIRST THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND AND THE CAR WOULD DRAG TO ACCELERATE. THIS LASTED 3 DAYS EACH DAY IT GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. BY THE THIRD DAY I WAS DRIVING THE KNOCKING SOUND GREW LOUDER, SOMETHING FELL OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED DRIVING, THEN UP UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS A FIRE AND UNDER THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR.

CAR WILL NOT START. IT'S NOT BATTERY RELATED. I'VE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM SONATA OWNERS OF MODEL YEARS 2006-08. PEOPLE HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT'S IGNITION SWITCH RELATED. MY CAR WAS PARKED, IT HAS A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN IT.

SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO DUE TO A FAULTY SEAT SWITCH. HYUNDAI REPAIRED THE SEAT AT NO CHARGE. NOW THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAS COME AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE SEAT IS TO FAULT AGAIN. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO FIX THE SEAT SWITCH AGAIN UNLESS I PAY FOR IT, AND THAT IT IS NO A SAFETY HAZARD. I MAINTAIN THAT IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IF THE AIR BAGS REALLY BECOME DEFECTIVE, WE WILL HAVE NO WARNING. HYUNDAI HAS EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM TO 15 YEARS AND/OR 250000 MILES, BUT THEY WILL ONLY REPAIR IT ONCE.

DURING ROUTINE USE, WHILE A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ERROR CODE WAS B1448, WHICH APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING OCCUPANCY SENSOR. WHILE THERE IS A RECALL OF OTHER 2008 SONATAS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THE DEALER AND HYUNDAI CLAIM THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I AM CONCERNED THAT HYUNDAI HAS INCORRECTLY EXCLUDED VEHICLES FROM THIS RECALL. THIS MALFUNCTION APPEARS TO RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DISABLED, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO PASSENGERS. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS SIMILARLY IMPACTED BY THE MALFUNCTION. THE WARNING HAS NOT GONE AWAY, AND REAPPEARS AFTER BEING RESET.

ESC OFF LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH RECALL "FIX". ISSUES WITH BRAKE LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATING AFTER CAR HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT CAUSED IT TO OCCUR. IT BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE OCT 29.

CAR MADE A POPPING NOISE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THEN LOST ACCELERATION. THE CAR THEN BURST INTO FLAMES.

I HAVE A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA AND I HAVE WELL MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE BUT ONE DAY I HEAR A SMALL TICKING NOISE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS SO I GOT THE FULL TUNE UP. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE CAR DIDNT WANT TO START. IVE TRIED EVERYTHING BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. I ALSO DID RESEARCH AND A FEW OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS IN THEIR CARS. ALSO LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATAS ALSO. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY USE THE SAME ENGINES FOR THE 2008 I THINK WE ALLL SHOULD GET A FAIR PLAY

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO WARNING. THE FIRST OCCURRED SAT SEPTEMBER 30. I FILLED MY CAR WITH GAS AND WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ALMOST CRASH THROUGH A RESTAURANT WALL. THE SECOND WAS OCTOBER 14, WHEN I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AND WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND HIT MY FREEZER. I READ SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. IN ADDITION, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME MISALIGNED TO THE LEFT AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE FULL VIEW OF THE ROAD AHEAD. DOWNEY HYUNDAI (7550 FIRESTONE BLVD, DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA 90241, (562) 314-4331) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FAILURE AND DISCONNECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. KEYES MISSION HILLS HYUNDAI (10240 SEPULVEDA BLVD, MISSION HILLS, CALIFORNIA 91345) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE HEADLAMP LIGHTING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT PARTS AND LABOR WOULD NOT BE COVERED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E021000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) IN REGARDS TO THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS) AND 08E021000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AS POTENTIAL CAUSES OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,605.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MY DRIVER-SIDE INNER DOOR HANDLE BEGAN TO BECOME LOOSE AND POP OUT. IT IS STILL PARTIALLY FUNCTIONAL SO THAT I CAN OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE OTHER DAY, THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF WHEN I WAS OPENING THE CAR DOOR. I NOW HAVE TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOTHING TRAUMATIC HAPPENED TO CAUSE THIS, AND I DON'T USE EXCESSIVE FORCE ON MY DOOR.

WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK TURN OFF THE CAR MY PARKING LIGHTS COME ON CANT TURN THEM OFF AT SWITCH HAVE TO DISCONNECT MY BATTERY FOR FEAR MY CAR WONT START, ALSO AT DARK WHILE IM DRIVING I SWITCH MY LIGHTS TO JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON. NO MATTER IF MY SWITCH IS ON AUTO OR OFF MY LIGHTS STILL STAY ON. WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR AND AT TIMES I CANT GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SHIFTIER, AND IF THAT DOSE NOT WORK THEN I PUT MY SEAT BELT BACK ON AND PUSH THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB. SO WITH ALL OF THIS I CANT USE THE ALARM NOR THE ABILITY TO UNLOCK MY DOOR AND TO HAVE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AT NIGHT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE OF THE NIGHT TIME SECURITY FEATURES.

WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME, I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND THE AIRBAGS LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. I DROVE IT WORK AND HOPING THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND IT DID NOT. I TOOK THE PROBLEM TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. A LITTLE HISTORY, MY AIRBAG LIGHTS CAME ON BACK IN 2012, CASE #10352554, THE VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR IT. THE DEALERSHIP SENT THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT TO CALIFORNIA FOR REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. NOW JUMP FORWARD 2017, MY AIRBAGS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THE PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL BACK IN 2012. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THE PROBLEM NOW HAD TO DO WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE SENSOR (CUSHION) FOR THE AIRBAGS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN ORDER FOR MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY PROPERLY DURING AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THIS HYUNDAI VEHICLE AND A SECONDARY PROBLEM RELATED TO THE AIRBAG RECALL. I FEEL THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER TO PREVENT ANY INJURY OR DEATH.

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT IS MALFUNCTIONED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THE ITEM AND IT'S EVERYWHERE ONLINE BUT YET MY CAR WASN'T IN THE RECALL BUT IT'S THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED COMPANY THEY WON'T SAY WHY ONLY SOME CARS WERE IN THE RECALL BUT YET MINE WASN'T EVEN THOUGH IT'S SAME PROBLEM.

AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2008 SONATA RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. REPAIR COSTS NEAR $600. SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT "EVERY ONE OF THESE CARS WILL BE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM" DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE TWO BRAKE LINES AND TWO FUEL LINES WHICH RUN FROM FRONT TO REAR ON THE VEHICLE (UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT) ARE HELD IN PLACE WITH CLIPS AND THEN THE ENTIRE LENGTH IS COVERED WITH A RECTANGULAR PLASTIC COVER (OR RACEWAY). WHILE THIS MIGHT WORK WELL IN OTHER CLIMATES, HERE IN THE NORTHEAST "SALT BELT", THIS COVER TRAPS THE ROAD SALT WHICH COLLECTS AT THE CLIPS AND ROTS THROUGH THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. FUEL LINES ARE NOT STEEL AND ARE NOT AFFECTED. AT THE VERY LEAST, HYUNDAI SHOULD REQUIRE CUSTOMERS TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE TO HAVE THE COVER REMOVED AND DISCARDED, AND THE LINES WASHED OFF AND INSPECTED. IF CORROSION IS PRESENT, THEY SHOULD REPAIR THE DAMAGE. DUE TO THE WAY THE LINES ARE ROUTED, THE POSITION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND OTHER COMPONENTS, THE REPAIR IS COSTLY - BUT IS ALL LABOR. IT IS ABOUT $50 IN PARTS AND $500 IN LABOR.

I HAVE THE 3.3L V6 ENGINE THAT IS ALSO IN TWO OTHER VEHICLES MADE BY HYNDAI. BOTH OF THOSE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL FROM A FAULTY GASKET AND DRIPS ONTO THE ALTENATOR. THIS CAUSES THE ALTERNATOR TO FAIL PREMATURELY AND OFTEN WITHOUT WARNING. I AM ON MY THIRD ONE NOW AND IT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THIS SCENARIO HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE NOW. NO HEADLIGHTS, NO DASHBOARD INDICATORS, NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NO TURN SIGNALS. AT 70MPH THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SCENARIO.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING. MOMENTUM AND STRUGGLE STEERING ALLOWED ME TO MOVE FROM CENTER LANE TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD SAFELY. INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE LEAKY HEAD COVER GASKET THAT SLOWLY LEAKED ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. HAD IT TOWED TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO LATER INFORMED ME THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. HE DID VERIFY THAT WAS OIL IN THE ENGINE AT THE TIME. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN 10 YRS OLD AND PURCHASED BRAND NEW.

SUN VISOR DROOPS DOWN WILL NOT STAY UP BLOCKING VISUAL FIELD.

VISORS DROOPING DOWN WILL NOT STAY UP, BROKEN UNABLE TO DRIVE VISUALY.

SUN VISORS FALL DOWN WHILE DRIIVING, BLOCKS VISION.

I AM A OWNER OF A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA, I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE OF WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL FALL DOWN BLOCKING MY VIEW. I DONT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THE VISOR WONT JUST STAY UP AND DOING THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THEY COME DOWN ALL THE TIME ONCE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND DOES NOT MATTER THE SPEED AND IT BLOCKS YOUR VIEW SUDDENLY. I TRIED TO FIX IT BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP,SO I TOOK TO THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT MANY HYUNDAI OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS LIKE MORE ON THE OLDER MODELS SAY 2001 UP TO 2008 OR SO. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE SADLY SOMEONE DIES OR GETS HURT. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL TO HAVE THE VISOR BLOCK YOUR VIEW WHILE DRIVING. YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS REPLACING THESE VISORS AND GUESS WHAT DOWN THE ROAD THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM COME BACK. I LOVE MY HYUNDAI BUT WITH THIS HAPPENING WITHOUT ANY WARNING I DONT FEEL SAFE BEING ON THE ROAD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS VISOR PROBLEMS, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CUSTOMERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH SINCE IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IN USE ALL THE TIME. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS, DONT WAIT TO A LIFE PERISHES OR SOMEONE GETS MAIMED BY THIS DEFECT.

WE RETURNED TO THE CHICAGO AIRPORT FROM A VACATION AND WERE GOING TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME, 200 MILES TO GREEN BAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO DEPRESS FURTHER THAN NORMAL RIGHT AWAY BUT WE FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO THE CAR SITTING FOR A WEEK. WE PROCEEDED WITH OUR DIVE BUT AFTER ABOUT 100 MILES NEEDED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING AS THEY SHOULD. WE PUT BRAKE FLUID IN THE VEHICLE BUT STILL THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. AT ONE POINT I HAD DEPRESSED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING. I FOUND A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE ISSUE RIGHT AWAY AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER GETTING A LOANER TO GET HOME, I HAD TO DRIVE BACK THE NEXT DAY AND RETRIEVE MY CAR. THIS WAS AT A COST OF $750.00. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE HAD WE CONTINUED OUR DRIVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL ISSUED. I HAVE REVIEWED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE OF BRAKES FAILING ON THIS VEHICLE, YET A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BRAKE LINES. THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION OR WARNING LIGHT THAT WENT ON IN THE CAR, ONLY THE PRESENCE OF MIND THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I HAVE THE INVOICE FROM THE REPAIR THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT BOTH BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. I HAVE ASKED THE MECHANIC IF HE COULD SALVAGE THE PARTS FOR ME TO KEEP IN CASE WE NEED THEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED HYUNDAI AS WELL VIA E-MAIL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND TURNED OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. ...UPDATED 06/13/17 *BF UPDATED 10/11/2017*JS

ON THE 3.3L ENGINE THERE IS A FAULT IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT CAUSES OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING PREMATURE ALTERNATOR FAILURE. IF THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING THIS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ENGINE SUCH AS THE VERACRUZ AND A RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED. FOR SOME REASON THE RECALL DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE SONATA AS IT SHOULD. THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE VERACRUZ RECALL INVOLVING THE SAME ENGINE. "HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (HYUNDAI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2012 VERACRUZ VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 26, 2006, THROUGH JULY 24, 2012. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN OIL LEAK FROM THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK VALVE COVER GASKET. IF THERE IS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF OIL DROPPED ONTO THE ALTERNATOR, THE ALTERNATOR WILL BE DAMAGED CAUSING THE CHARGING SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE." MY ALTERNATOR HAS FAILED TWICE NOW, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT IT EASILY COULD HAVE GONE BAD ON ME AS I WAS ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC. ONCE MY ALTERNATOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY MY BATTERY DIED I WAS LEFT WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF MY SITUATIONS.

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR MAY BE DEFECTIVE. SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES ALL THE TIME UNLESS THE SEAT BELT IS HOOKED. THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL TO GET THE AIR BAGS FIXED. CAR NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED AND WON'T PASS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON.

MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOT DETECTING ANYONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH MY AIRBAGS AND MAY BE DUE TO A FAULTY WIRING ISSUE UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOW BEAM ON MY DRIVER SIDE LIGHTING FIXTURE IS NOT WORKING, ALTHOUGH I'VE HAD THE BULB REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. FURTHER, THE HEADLIGHTS, ALTHOUGH ALSO REPLACED, DON'T WORK AT ALL.

ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY ALONG WITH AIRBAG WARNING.

THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF! A LIGHT SAYS ESC OFF, WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF , LATER THE LIGHT IS OUT BUT I STILL DO NOT HAVE FUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHTS THEY JUST STAY ON WHILE IN MOTION.

IM JUST WRITING BECAUSE IM GETTING ALOT OF ALERTS FROM YOU GUYS AND I DONT LIVE AT THE SAME ADDRESS WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR. SO IM NOT GETTING MY RECALL LETTERS OR NOTICES. SO WHAT IM WOUNDERING IS WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE MY CAR IS NOT BEING EFFECTIVE BY THESES RECALLS. THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY.

THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING LOUDLY, SLOWING DOWN AND IDLING ROUGH. I PULLED OVER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT REMAIN RUNNING IN IDLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND INSPECTED AT THE HOUSE AND THE VALVES ARE BAD. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, LIGHTS OR GAUGES COMING ON OR PRIOR NOISE. I WAS DRIVING AROUND 45-50 TO WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENED OUT OF THE BLUE. 179,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE WITH 60,000 MILES. *TR

MY CAR ONLY HAS 82,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER. FOR SOME REASON THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTIFICATION EARLIER THIS YEAR IN REGARDS TO SEAT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES ON 2006-2008 SONATAS, WHICH APPLIED TO MY CAR. AT THAT TIME HOWEVER, I HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT BUT NOW THE LIGHT HAS COME ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT MY ISSUE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOWEVER IT HAS TO DO WITH A B1448 080 (OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM) (MAT DEFECT) I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME DOING RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE WHATS GOING ON HERE BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THE AIR BAG ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A COST OF $1,300 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE AND THAT THE COST SHOULD NOT BE PUSHED ON TO THE CONSUMER, GIVEN THAT IT APPEARS TO BE MAT DEFECT WHICH PROBABLY STEMS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE ALSO TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE SAME DEALER FOR SERVICE AND ALL THE RECORDS OF SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE. I AM JUST CONCERNED THAT THIS AIR BAG ISSUE MAY BE VERY SERIOUS.

EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE SHEARING OFF. LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF ON 4/24/2016. RIGHT FRONT DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF TODAY 11/29/2016. HANDLES BOTH CAME OFF WHEN I PULLED ON THEM TO OPEN THE DOOR. NO UNUSUAL FORCE INVOLVED. HANDLES ARE COMPLETELY PLASTIC. SHEAR POINT IS NARROW PIECE WHICH CONNECTS HANDLE TO INTERIOR CONNECTOR TO DOOR LATCH. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HEARD OF CAR DOOR HANDLES FAILING.

THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, AT ALL. THE DRIVER SIDE WILL SUDDENLY FALL AND IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT TO SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THEY ARE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ($200.00) AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS QUITE COMMON WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES. IT REALLY IS STARTLING. I'M REALLY GLAD I WASN'T ON A FREEWAY. *TR

I HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE - BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD. I PUSHED IT BACK UP INTO ITS NORMAL "RESTING" LOCATION. UPON HITTING ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD IT SWUNG DOWN AGAIN IN FRONT OF MY FACE. THIS IS THE SECOND SUN VISOR IN THIS VEHICLE TO DO THIS. THIS ONE STARTED FAILING AROUND 10/1/2016, AND IS STILL DOING SO.

LOUD KNOCKING SOUND FROM UNDER HOOD. GETS LOUDER AS ENGINE HEATS. UNSAFE TO DRIVE

THIS ISSUE EFFECTS 2.4 LITER GASOLINE DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE MODEL SONATAS. METALLIC DEBRIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY REMOVED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. IF THE DEBRIS WAS NOT COMPLETELY REMOVED, OIL FLOW MAY BE RESTRICTED THROUGH THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS, CAUSING CONNECTING ROD DAMAGE. A WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING WILL PRODUCE A METALLIC, CYCLIC KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REBUILD OR REPLACE ENGINE. MY ENGINE FIRST FAILED OUT IN OCTOBER OF 2016 AND CAUSED ME TO REQUIRE AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. IN AUGUST 2017 THAT SAME ENGINE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN TO IT. THIS HAS BEEN 2 OF THE 2.4 CYL I-4 ENGINES HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON THE EXACT SAME CARE WITH AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE ON BOTH ENGINES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY VARIOUS COMPLAINTS REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET EFFECTING THIS ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL BY HYUNDAI FOR THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE BECAUSE THE 2011 SONATA USED THE EXACT SAME ENGINES THAT ARE IN THE 2008 SONATA. THE LINK FOR THAT RECALL IS HERE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 URL: HTTPS://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/VEHICLE/2011/HYUNDAI/SONATA/4%252520DR/FWD%252520LATEST%252520RELEASE#RECALLS

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE(ECM) FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, REQUIRING EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. MAY HAVE ALSO CAUSED BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BRAKE SWITCH, CONDENSER FAN, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOESN'T GO OFF, IT STAY ON AT ALL TIMES. I CALL HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLES INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SET SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA ON FRIDAY 08-05-16 WHEN I EXITED A HIGHWAY AND MY SEAT BELT AND BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHTS BEGAN TO ALTERNATE FLASHING. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC A FEW DAYS LATER (THEY ARE CLOSED ON WEEKENDS). WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVER THAT WEEKEND THOSE SAME TWO INDICATOR LIGHTS WOULD CONTINUE TO ALTERNATE FLASHING WHEN DRIVEN BELOW 40 MPH. ON 08-09-16, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO THE MECHANIC, NUMEROUS OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASH BEGAN TO TURN ON ONE BY ONE. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING AND ULTIMATELY LOST POWER. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK NEAR THE ALTERNATOR. HE STEAM CLEANED THE ENGINE AND THEN FOUND AN OIL LEAK FROM THE "FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET" WAS THE CAUSE. HE REPLACED IT. I'M AWARE OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WE ALSO OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ AND WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM TO THAT VEHICLE ONE YEAR AGO, WHEN THE VERACRUZ WAS 8 YEARS OLD. THIS HAPPENED TO MY SONATA AT THE SAME "AGE", 8 YEARS OLD. THE VERACRUZ DAMAGE WAS COVERED BY A HYUNDAI RECALL. I BELIEVE THE 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN HYUNDAI'S RECALL.