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2010 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

345 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 281 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 135 of 345 complaints (39.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4312.5%
Transmission and shifting174.9%
Steering behavior164.6%
Engine operation102.9%
Electrical and battery issues82.3%
Fuel system concerns82.3%

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.

Structure:Body
135
Unknown Or Other
36
Engine
29
Service Brakes
28
Structure:Body:Door
28
Air Bags
18
Power Train
18
Electrical System
16
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure:Body135
Unknown Or Other36
Engine29
Service Brakes28
Structure:Body:Door28
Air Bags18
Power Train18
Electrical System16

Structure:Body: 135; Unknown Or Other: 36; Engine: 29; Service Brakes: 28; Structure:Body:Door: 28; Air Bags: 18; Power Train: 18; Electrical System: 16

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
41
25,000 to 49,999
46
50,000 to 74,999
81
75,000 to 99,999
60
100,000 to 149,999
41
150,000 and above
12
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00041
25,000 to 49,99946
50,000 to 74,99981
75,000 to 99,99960
100,000 to 149,99941
150,000 and above12

Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 46; 50,000 to 74,999: 81; 75,000 to 99,999: 60; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 12

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (81). 64 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.

2010
19
2011
10
2012
4
2013
47
2014
66
2015
45
2016
43
2017
27
2018
23
2019
24
2020
16
2021
4
2022
4
2023
5
2024
3
2025
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201019
201110
20124
201347
201466
201545
201643
201727
201823
201924
202016
20214
20224
20235
20243
20255

2010: 19; 2011: 10; 2012: 4; 2013: 47; 2014: 66; 2015: 45; 2016: 43; 2017: 27; 2018: 23; 2019: 24; 2020: 16; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 5

Pattern summary

Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 16 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 10422804 · 2011-08-31 (August 31, 2011)

HYUNDAI SONATA 2010 V6 SEDAN ROLLS BACKWARDS ON INCLINE WHEN IN DRIVE. BASICALLY GOES INTO FREEFALL IN TIME IT TAKES TO PUT FOOT FROM BRAKE TO ACCELERATOR. ALSO STEERING IS VERY SWIMMY. TEND TO OVER OR UNDER STEER AND LOTS OF SWAY IN CHASIS WHEN TURNING OR CHANGING LANES AT HIGH SPEEDS ON FREEWAY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND TOLD IT IS THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED. SOUNDS FLAWED TO ME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422804 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10429565 · 2011-10-12 (October 12, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS LOCATED IN MIDDLE OF THE REAR WINDOW FAILED AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLACE THE BULB WITHOUT REMOVING THE REAR SEAT BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,00. UPDATED 11/03/11 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST A 4140 TO REPLACE THE BULB DUE TO ITS LOCATION. UPDATED 11/18/11

Owner-reported narrative. 5,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429565 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10320829 · 2010-03-19 (March 19, 2010)

THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN MY 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS BEEN HAVING ABNORMAL ISSUES SINCE MY DATE OF PURCHASE. FIRST IT WAS JUST STALLING WHEN DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH FROM REVERSE AND FIRST GEAR; NOW IT IS PRIMARILY FROM FIRST GEAR. TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD YOU MUST DRAG THE CLUTCH AND PUSH THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING AN ODD CLACKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, OR SOMETIMES IT HAS A SQUEALING OR RUBBING SOUND AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD AND THERE IS A BURNING SMELL. TODAY, WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR, THE CAR LUNGED …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,504 miles reported. Look up ODI 10320829 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10402169 · 2011-05-20 (May 20, 2011)

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON LOW BEAMS,THERE IS A BLACK LINE MID-WAY THE WINDSHIELD DISRUPTING MY VIEWING FIELD. IT SO DISTRACTING I HATE DRIVING THIS CAR AT NIGHT!! IT IS HAZARDOUS TO MY DRIVING! HAD IT TO THE DEALER SERVICE 2 OR 3 TIMES TO CHECK THE LIGHTS AND THEY ALSO DROVE IT AT NIGHT AND SAW THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE WAY LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED AND THAT CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR IT!! VERY ANNOYING!! I ALSO HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT RIDE WITH ME AT NIGHT THAT" THOSE LIGHTS WOULD DRIVE THEM CRAZY DRIVING LIKE THAT"!! I MAY HAVE TO GE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10402169 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10351647 · 2010-08-25 (August 25, 2010)

AS I BACKED THE CAR FROM A PARKING SPACE AND STARTED FORWARD AND I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE PARKING LOT EXIT SAFELY. I TURNED LEFT FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS AND REACHED A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY TURN LEFT. I PROCEEDED SOUTH AND ENTERED THE LEFT TURN LANE AT ROUTE 104 AND WAS THE FIRST CAR AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING FOR TRAFFIC ALREADY ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT ONTO ROUTE 104. THE CAR ACROSS THE INTERSECTION BEGAN TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351647 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10373145 · 2010-12-28 (December 28, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO A SECOND LANE TO AVOID A VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO HER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ABNORMALLY STIFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING A STABILIZER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE CUOLD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT THE STABILIZER AND HE…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373145 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10446116 · 2012-02-01 (February 1, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FURTHER, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446116 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10366434 · 2010-11-16 (November 16, 2010)

2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. 9 MONTHS OLD, HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE CENTER 5 DIFFERENT TIMES. 2 TIMES FOR SENSOR REPLACEMENT. THE LAST 3 TIMES, DRIVING AT A NORMAL ACCELERATE PACE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER. ON ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONS, VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING THROUGH INTERSECTION, AND ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS REPLACED MANY PARTS FROM THROTTLE POSITION ASSEMBLY TO THERMOSTAT TO ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. IN MY OPINION, VEHICLE IS A LEMON. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10366434 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10544685 · 2013-09-20 (September 20, 2013)

CAME OUT TO WORK PARKING LOT. CAR WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS FAILING, NOT DEAD. REPLACED BATTERY [WITH DURALAST BATTERY (AUTOZONE - 09/19/2013) - $115]; DID NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. STARTER WAS TESTED AND HAD FAILED. REPLACED THE STARTER [WITH DURALAST STARTER (AUTOZONE - 09/20/2013) - $267.11]; RESOLVED THE ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 55,122 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544685 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10764646 · 2015-09-17 (September 17, 2015)

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE BELTWAY DOING 65 MPH, I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. I FELT I WAS LOSING SPEED. I NOTICE THE SPEEDOMETER DECELERATING DOWN TO 40MPH WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. I PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE NO WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, TO NOTIFIED ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DIAGNOSIS AS PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL PUMP. I CHECK WITH HYUNDAI THEY SAID, THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT HAVE A WARNING LIGHT. MY CONCERN IF SOME TYPE OF WARNING LIGHT …

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10764646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10846470 · 2016-03-14 (March 14, 2016)

WHEN I PUMP GAS EVEN WHEN ON A EMPTY TANK , THE GAS WILL SPLASH BACK ALL OVER THE PLACE ALMOST LIKE ITS FULL BUT WHEN IT'S REALLY EMPTY , ALSO THE ESC WILL TURN OFF AND ON BY ITS SELF FROM TIME TO TIME , HAD TOO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AT 90,000 MILES , NOW I'M GETTING A CODE PO449 EVEN WITH NEW GAS CAP .. LAST BUT NOT LEAST MY PAINT IS PEELING OFF MY CAR , ESPECIALLY THE HOOD AND ROOF . NOTICED HYUNDAI SHEDS THERE PAINT ,

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846470 at NHTSA ↗