2007 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
696 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 569 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 230 of 696 complaints (33.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 130 | 18.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 33 | 4.7% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 3.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 1.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 230 |
| Visibility | 103 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 58 |
| Seat Belts | 56 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 49 |
| Electrical System | 47 |
| Engine | 41 |
| Service Brakes | 40 |
Air Bags: 230; Visibility: 103; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 58; Seat Belts: 56; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 49; Electrical System: 47; Engine: 41; Service Brakes: 40
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 103 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 117 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 121 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 94 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 98 |
| 150,000 and above | 36 |
Under 25,000: 103; 25,000 to 49,999: 117; 50,000 to 74,999: 121; 75,000 to 99,999: 94; 100,000 to 149,999: 98; 150,000 and above: 36
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (121). 127 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 53 |
| 2009 | 53 |
| 2010 | 91 |
| 2011 | 44 |
| 2012 | 42 |
| 2013 | 72 |
| 2014 | 83 |
| 2015 | 52 |
| 2016 | 43 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2007: 18; 2008: 53; 2009: 53; 2010: 91; 2011: 44; 2012: 42; 2013: 72; 2014: 83; 2015: 52; 2016: 43; 2017: 41; 2018: 30; 2019: 24; 2020: 17; 2021: 11; 2022: 9; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 130 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10184407 · 2007-03-07 (March 7, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT ROCKED BACKWARDS, AND WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES THE DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED FORWARD. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT. HOWEVER , THE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS AN ENGINEERING ERROR. HYUNDAI WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINEERS WERE WORKING ON THE SEAT FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 7400 MILES. *AK UPDATED 03/30/07. *…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217921 · 2008-02-13 (February 13, 2008)
DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT MOVES WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING AT LOWER SPEEDS. MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND STARTING OUT. SEAT FAILURE CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HYUNDAI DEALER AND HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE STATE THAT IS A ENGINEERING DEFECT ON 2007 AND 2008 MODELS, AND THAT THERE IS NO REMEDY. FAULT BECAME REALLY NOTICEABLE AT AROUND 5,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201874 · 2007-09-04 (September 4, 2007)
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM. 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA SE V6 AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT 6500 MILES AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. *JB UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE INTERIOR WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 01/08/08. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,555 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210759 · 2007-12-04 (December 4, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY TURNED IN THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES REGARDING THIS FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE SECOND TIME PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY WITH THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 940 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 03/06/08. *LJ THE POWER SEAT SWITCH WAS REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279065 · 2009-08-02 (August 2, 2009)
MY 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO GRINDING NOISE OCCURRING AT APPROXIMATELY 25,450 MILES. THEY SAID I NEEDED A BRAKE JOB AND THAT THE LEFT REAR BRAKE WAS BAD AND ROTOR HAD TO BE RESURFACED. NO CHIRPING WARNING TONES HAD PRECEDED THE GRINDING NOISE. THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT, SAYING IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. I HAD A BRAKE CHECK DONE AT MY LAST OIL CHANGE (THE NEXT ONE WAS NOT DUE FOR ANOTHER MONTH TIME-WISE, LONGER THAN THAT MILEAGE-WISE) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS 40-60% OF GOOD WEAR LEFT ON ALL OF THE PADS. I ALSO COMPLAINED THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330252 · 2010-05-13 (May 13, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND PINNED THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL FOR FOUR HOURS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER ADJUST SWITCH, RADIO AND PANIC BUTTON ON THE REMOTE WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE POWER SEAT SWITCH. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10330252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227263 · 2008-05-11 (May 11, 2008)
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA (V6 - LIMITED - AUTO TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. BOTH TIMES, FAILURE BEGAN WITH AUTOMATIC DEACTIVATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM (AS INDICATED BY A LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL), FOLLOWED SEVERAL DAYS LATER BY FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT THE CAR TO/FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE (OR PARK). WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2008, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT BUT SUDDENLY NEEDED TO REVERSE MY DIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244742 · 2008-10-08 (October 8, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR IDLING ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ROLLS BACKWARDS AS IF IT HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS INCREASES THE RISK OF A SERIOUS CRASH OR INJURY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC. HE CALLED THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE, BUT NEVER TOOK ANY ACTION. AS OF OCTOBER 8, 2008, THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367294 · 2010-11-23 (November 23, 2010)
UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION INCIDENT REPORT INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 5:05 PM FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2010 VEHICLE: 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA FROM ABOUT 50 MPH, I CHANGED LANES AND ACCELERATED INTO THE LANE'S TRAFFIC BY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO. WHEN I PARTIALLY LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING, WITH THE ENGINE ROARING, AND I FOUGHT IT WITH THE BRAKE. I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE ROARED STILL MORE LOUDLY, SO I PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND USED THE BRAKE MORE WHILE THE ENGINE ROARED AT ITS PREVIOUS RATE, WHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,538 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465839 · 2012-07-16 (July 16, 2012)
THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND STOP RUNNING. UPON CHECKING FOR REPAIR THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE WIRES LEADING TO THE FUEL PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK WERE MELTED AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS ENCOUNTERING ELECTRICAL SHORTING. EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821215 · 2016-01-20 (January 20, 2016)
TRAVELING AT 50 MPH HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. A RATTLING IN THE ENGINE - BROKEN ROD - LOSS OF POWER AND NO ACCELERATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821215 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11280223 · 2019-11-14 (November 14, 2019)
I FIRST NOTICED THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AT ABOUT 121,000 MILES AND AT 140.000 MILES I HAD THE VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED, THERMOSTAT, INTAKE PLENNOM GASKET ALSO. AND HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED AFTER IT FAILED BECAUSE OF THE OIL LEAKING ONTO IT AT 156,092. LUCKILY I JUST DROVE BY MY MECHANICS GARAGE AT ABOUT 50 MPH AND ABOUT A MILE PASSED HIS GARAGE THE CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND STALL AND ALL THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ALONG WITH THE CD TURNING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WHICH WAS FLASHING ON A…
Owner-reported narrative. 156,092 miles reported. Look up ODI 11280223 at NHTSA ↗