Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Hyundai Sonata owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Just about 2 months ago i exit my vehicle after parking up. As i exit i smelled a burning smell and heard sparks so i stepped away from vehicle asap and then the horn start honking and lights flashing on own. Then the car started up by itself and started to run without me in car and keys in my hand. Police came from noise distubing and took the battery off to stop. After that i couldnt start car so had towed in shop for 5 weeks. Hot out of shop and can start now but now my a.c. and windows doesnt work because mechanic said that something keep blowing those fuses out and if he puts yhem back in then the car will go back to not starting. I am guessing this is part of the recall.
The car was parked and turned off, not being driven and ignited on its own. The entire front end of the vehicle was on fire, according to the fire department it was some type of electrical short that started the fire. Vehicle was totaled out as it was a complete loss.
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. …
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. …
Tl 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 failure. The police and fire departments were called to the scene. The fire department representative stated that the failure was caused by an electrical breakdown. The passenger was injured and transported to the hospital by an ambulance. The insurance company has not yet determined if the vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 15,000.
While driving the seat belt light came on. About a minute later the radio shut off. Next most of the dash lights came on , the engine would not make power/accelerate, and the braking seemed weak/jerky. Pulled into a parking lot as soon as I could. Now all dash lights were on/blinking and the radio, sunroof, windows etc would not work. Thinking it was an electrical issue I left it running to investigate. Next thing I know the car is overheating even though the gauge isn't showing it. Steam everywhere and the overflow popped the cap off. Shut the car off. Once the car cooled I was able to see what happened. Oil has been dripping on to the alternator from a leak in the valve cover gasket. This killed the alternator which in turn caused the control/braking/acceleration issues one it was on battery only. I'm assuming the fan was not cooling either which resulted in the overheating.
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.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Sonata. While driving for approximately three hours, the contact noticed that the trunk ajar warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. Another motorist alerted him that the rear of his vehicle was on fire. The contact pulled over and noticed that the wires in the trunk were on fire. He was able to safely extinguish the flames and resume driving. While driving 40 MPH in third gear, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. In addition, the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. He is in the process of having the vehicle inspected to determine the cause of the failures. The failure and current mileages were 43,000.
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.
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
Electrical complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2008 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Hyundai Sonata, 8% of the model year's 425 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › rear compartment/trunk (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Hyundai Sonata electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Hyundai Sonata electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 4 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.