2010 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 43 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 16 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10312473 · 2010-02-21 (February 21, 2010)
I WAS BACKING UP SLOWLY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS. I WAS ABOUT TO PUT IT INTO FORWARD GEAR WHEN IT SUDDENLY LURCHED BACKWARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 859 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312473 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 10322991 · 2010-03-31 (March 31, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF THE KEY WAS REMOVED WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE DRIVE POSITION. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE INCLINE INTO ANOTHER PARKING SPACE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322991 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343310 · 2010-07-15 (July 15, 2010)
2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SOMETIMES INDICATED OFF AND OTHER TIMES, IT DIDN'T. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10343310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347985 · 2010-08-08 (August 8, 2010)
I NOTICED THIS IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND DRIVING OFF AT NIGHT. I HAD TEST DRIVEN IT FOR A LONG PERIOD IN THE DAYTIME, BUT NOT AT NIGHT. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EITHER FAULTY OR A PRODUCT WITH VERY POOR ENGINEERING. THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT HORIZONTAL LINE DIVIDING DARKNESS AND LIGHT WHERE HEADLIGHTS SHINE. THAT LINE JUMPS UP AND DOWN AS BUMPS IN THE ROAD ARE CROSSED WHILE DRIVING. VISION WITH LIGHTS AT NIGHT IS SO POOR THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWER THAN THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT. IT IS VERY SHADOWY WITH BLOTCHY AREAS OF DARKNESS TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 71 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10349191 · 2010-08-13 (August 13, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IT STARTED ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE DRIVER SAID THE RPMS INCREASE TO ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY EXCESSIVELY. HE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO SLOW IT DOWN AND DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. HE THEN DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. HYUNDAI WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE OWNER DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349191 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 10351699 · 2010-08-25 (August 25, 2010)
CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED AT 4500 MILES DUE TO OPEN/SHORT IN SWITCH. PART WAS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. COVERED UNDER HYUNDAI'S WARRANTY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351699 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V113000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V354000 · Suspension:Rear
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗