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).
I was in a parking lot with the car turned off and used the keyless entry fob to open the trunk. The trunk flew up so quickly that the hydraulic hinge support, that props it open, broke off at the top. The ABS & ESC lights stay on when the car is running. Sometimes while I'm driving those 2 warning lights will flash off, then back on a few seconds later. When that happens my brakes don't work correctly, and make a rubbing sound that I can feel through the brake pedal. The automotive instructor at the college I work at looked at the brakes and it's the calipers sticking. The dashboard SRS warning light stays on, and the passenger safety belt light flashes constantly when the car is running. It doesn't matter if there is someone in the passenger seat or not. The TPMS malfunction indicator is the most recent warning light to come on and stay on until the car is turned off. …
Today my ABS light went on and the brakes became rock hard could not press down on them. Then I parked the car checked all fluids and belts, turned the car on again the ABS light turned off. Started to drive tried accelerating from 25mph to 30mph then ESC light went on locked my brakes tried driving to park in a safe place as soon as I parked the car and turned it off a bad smell and lots of smoke came out of my front tires and rear tires. Got car towed breaks are OK my mechanic pressed the ESC button off and now breaks are soft. I believe there is a malfunction that you should look into that will cause a recall. Also TPMS light randomly goes on and off. Tire pressure again is fine. Please consider looking into this. It?s the only car we?ve had for about 9 years and now my daughter drives it to school. Safety please!! Thank you, [redacted]
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.
While driving the check engine light and ESC light go on simultaneously. When this occurs, the car goes into reduced power mode ("limp mode") and you are not able to drive above 15 or 20 MPH. This is a very dangerous situation, especially when driving on the highway. This is a known issue with Hyundai in which they issued TSB #'s 09-fl-003-2 and 10-fl-010. The TSB's address a faulty throttle position sensor which is to be replaced with a new one with different settings than the original. One the part is changed, an update to the electronic control module is required. There are numerous accounts of this incident happening. How can a flaw of this magnitude not warrant a recall?
ESC off warning light comes on intermittently at start up and during driving of vehicle, stalls at traffic lights or stop signs and find that shutting off vehicle for a few seconds and restarting seems to clear the issue but the ESC lights comes back on within minutes. Happened 10 time in past 2 months, then twice over this past weekend,now the light will not go off and the ESC switch does not work.
ESC off warning light comes on intermittently at start up and during driving of vehicle where the engine is sluggish, stalls at traffic lights or stop signs and find that shutting off vehicle for a few seconds and restarting seems to clear the issue. Happen one time in past 2wks, then twice over this past weekend. Surprised to find all these claims on this issue and no recall notice.
ESC off light flashes intermittently after the stop light switch recall "fix". Issues with brake lights still illuminating after car has been put in park and turned off. Has been happening in all types of weather, no specific incident caused it to occur. It began to occur more frequently since oct 29.
The ESC off does not turn off even after pressing the ESC switch. Both ESC and ESC off turns on after the ignition is switched on and stays for a few seconds. Post that the ESC light goes off. But after few minutes ESC off light turns on. This problem seems to be with most of the Hyundai Sonata
The ABS ESC off dash light is coming on while driving down the road, will not go off until car is turned off. Began doing this about once a week, now it is doing every day. Does not help to turn the button on/off.
Driver side visor impairs visibility significantly. The visor hangs down in drivers view and stays there. We have hit our head on the visor many times, which hurts and causes more distraction from driving. We have not had luck in fixing it and do not have money to replace it due to job loss and high monthly payments. When I sit in the front passenger side, I get the "passenger airbag off" light which comes on randomly and I am way over the limit in weight for it to happen. I have sat correctly and still do as told by my dealer. (which was told to me was the cause of the light on/off randomly). The ESC light comes on right after starting to drive ex. Letting off emergency brake, and placing in 1st gear. This continues for several weeks maybe a month or more, then will randomly go away. …
Traction Control complaints in other Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2008 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2008 Hyundai Sonata, 7% of the model year's 425 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Hyundai Sonata traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control 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 traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
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.