2008 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls

MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM REMAINS OFF WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND HYUNDAI STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED FOR INFORMATION SHOWING WEIGHT RESTRAINTS OR LIMITS OF SYSTEM WITH NO ANSWERS. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209390 at NHTSA ↗

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN A PASSENGER WHO WEIGHS OVER 115 LBS IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT STATES THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAG IS OFF IT WILL NOT DEPLORE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. THEREFORE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SEATBELT, THERE IS NO OTHER SAFETY FEATURE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THERE WERE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS WHICH APPARENTLY WILL NOT BE THE CASE BECAUSE OF SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10209742 at NHTSA ↗

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES THE CONDITION CAN BE CLEARED BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE BUT OTHER TIMES THE CONDITION REMAINS THE SAME. ADJUSTING THE SEATING POSITION AND SEAT LOCATION DO NOT SEEM TO AFFECT THE PROBLEM AT ALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10212615 at NHTSA ↗

THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF WHEN A LIGHTER WEIGHT PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHICH WE FIND VERY UNSAFE FOR OUR PASSENGERS. THE WEIGHT IT SHOULD REGISTER TO GO OFF AS WE UNDERSTOOD IS A BODY BEING OVER 85 LBS., BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN IT STAYS ON OR GOES OFF TO MAKE THE PASSENGER SAFER. MANY DRIVERS ARE LIGHT WEIGHT AS ARE MANY PASSENGERS AND THIS SHOULD BE FIXED FOR SAFETY. OCCASIONALLY WHEN RESTARTING THE CAR, THE LIGHT SUDDENLY GOES OFF AND SETS THE AIRBAG READY FOR USE IF NEEDED, BUT IT IS VERY …

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213310 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMMED. THE PASSENGER WEIGHED 105 LBS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG REMAINS OFF BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND MADE A NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A TORQUE CONVERTER SHUTTER THAT WAS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE BECAUSE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A FUEL ECONOMY FEATURE AND THE REPAIR WAS NOT …

Owner-reported narrative. 186 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217127 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER MAY NOT WEIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG FEATURE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE IS THE ONLY PASSENGER THAT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SHE WEIGHS 135 LBS. THE VIN WAS VERIFIED, BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,600. UPDATED 03/04/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217807 at NHTSA ↗

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226048 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A VERY LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND PROCEEDING THROUGH IT BY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HESITATED SEVERELY AND WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE ROOF AND THE INTERIOR FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILU…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233041 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-04-10 (April 10, 2008)

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 393,308 MY 2006-2008 SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG WHEN IT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM OR SMALL CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH.

Consequence: MISCLASSIFICATION OF A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND SHIP IT TO AN EVALUATION AND REPAIR FACILITY. THIS FACILITY WILL EVALUATE AND REPAIR OR REPROGRAM THE SEAT CUSHION AND OCS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

Reported: 2013-08-12 (August 12, 2013)

Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.

Consequence: Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.