Equipment complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2015 | 4 | 0% | 27,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 0% | 13,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 0% | 25,000 miles |
| 2011 | 13 | 0% | 7,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% | 118,000 miles |
| 2009 | 6 | 1% | 41,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 1% | 55,000 miles |
| 2007 | 7 | 1% | 43,000 miles |
| 2006 | 11 | 1% | 80,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% | 111,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% | 74,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% | 83,000 miles |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% | 140,000 miles |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accessories, trailer hitches and other equipment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My infotainment unit stoped working after an update that was pushed to the car by Hyundai. My battery was beginning to show signs that it needed replacing (not cranking in the cold temps or needing a few tries to start), so I went to Advance Auto to have the battery replaced. Once back in the car, everything was working fine (radio with sirius XM, back up camera, Navigation, Android and Apple car plan, the clock, everything). When I went to reset the clock, the car showed a software update was availabe and needed to be downloaded. Never before, had I seen this. So, I selected update. After 30 minutes of seeing it say downloading, it then started to say install. It gets to where it says, the radio needs to be restarted to complete the update and then gives error code 604. Now the telematics or infotainment works. …
Since leasing the vehicle on August 1 I constantly complained about the gas mileage which Hyundai indicated would be resolved on the following oil change. The oil change barely effected the mileage efficiency which leads to the second issue when the gas gauge shows below a quarter on the tank the cruise control does not work and is also affected in high mountain areas. When I explained these issues to Hyundai they said they never heard of it and would sent to the company for further review in the meantime I have a car with the gas gauge that does not show exact amounts from fill up to empty makes this car a safety risk that is totally unacceptable not to mention the car is running horrible which suggest other safety features are not working accurately. The dealers look over only suggested other underlying issues exist with this vehicle and is a clear safety hazard.
On Monday September 22nd around 540 pm on the 10 fwy going eastbound right before towne ave. As the traffic on the freeway began to slow I came to a complete stop. About 5 seconds after stopping I noticed that the car began to roll forward. I applied more pressure to the brake pedal however the car continued to slowly roll. I then stepped on the emergency break and the car did not stop. The car slowly rolled about 8 feet before it stopped on the back of a big rig trailer bumper. I called 911 and explained that I did not want to move the car as I was not sure it would stop. The chp advised that they would send out a tow truck to get me off the freeway. I was removed from the freeway and I had aaa tow my car to the nearest Hyundai dealer in glendora ca. They called me the next day and said they ran a full test on the car and could not find anything. …
On mar 18, 2014, at approximately 11:25 pm my wife and I heard a very loud noise, ie; explosion, that we knew came from the top of our car. We pulled over and noticed that our sunroof had exploded; over half the glass was gone and strewn all over the roof and trunk area of our car. We had just pulled away from a stop light after it turned green and were accelerating up to speed. We were traveling somewhere between 30 - 40mph when the sunroof blew for no apparent reason. We took the car to the Hyundai dealership for repair the next day. The dealership couldn't determine what caused the sunroof to rupture like it did. The dealership thought we were hit by a rock, but both the wife and I refuted that idea. We stand by our claim that it blew for no apparent reason. Even if a rock did hit us, the sunroof glass should not have exploded/ruptured like it did. …
I was driving down the interstate going around 60-65mph. I heard a loud boom that sounded like a gunshot, as soon as I had a safe moment to pull over I then realized it was my sunroof that has busted. I then was able to step out of my car and realized my sunroof had busted from the inside out. I am very thankful that I was able to stay calm, cool, and collective. I couldn't imagine if the pull of my sunroof from inside the call had been opened. It would have defiantly caused a hazard not only to myself but to other passengers and drivers on the highway.
While the vehicle was in reverse, the dashboard's back up camera screen remained completely unidentifiable throughout the rainy weather day, with only dark wavey jagged lines streaming throughout the back-up camera's live video display screen making it impossible to view who or what was behind the vehicle within the vehicle's blind spots.
I was having problems with my steering shaking and rattling, was waiting for my appointment at the dealership to resolve the problem as I noticed was on a recall NHTSA #10V457000 & 10V426000, dealer stated they were completed 05/ 2010. That I would have to pay $500 to fix the problem again. I was in process of transfering back to ft worth. Due to limeted budget could not fix the problem .. Several days later I was involved in an incident where a person had contacted my vehicle from the front. I managed to cause this possibly fatal front end collision to be a glancing blow. But not before having problems operating the vehicle's steering capability. The shaking and rattling in the steering wheel which they (dealership) said was corrected; come also with play in the steering it self the steering wheel is turned ...left or right. …
It happened in one afternoon in a company parking lot when all the employees were leaving for the weekend. The exit line was backed up and while waiting in line for traffic to clear, another employee backed up her car from the parking space. Although the car was moving slowly, the driver was paying attention to the other cars parked on sides but failing to assure that there is enough space behind. Immediatly I noticed that there is a potential for a collision and I activated the horn for at least 15 seconds. Unfortunatly the horn was not loud enough for the other driver to hear it (by her own admission the horn was innaudiable) and the colision could not be avoided. As a result the cars front right fender was slightly bended. The damaged resulted was valued at $708. …
Related recalls (3)
Equipment › Other › Labels
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Sonata vehicles produced between October 22, 2019 and February 13, 2020. The tire pressure label inside the driver's door and the owner's manual state an incorrect tire size.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers over the tire pressure label and in the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2020.
Equipment › Other › Labels
On certain passenger vehicles, the air bag warning label installed on the sunvisors had lost adhesion to the sunvisors and had distorted or separated from the sun visors.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the sunvisor assemblies free of charge. The recall began on October 2, 2006. Owners May contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Equipment › Other › Labels
The tire inflation pressure label affixed to the left rear door states that the vehicle capacity is "1,100 pounds". This information is incorrect. The correct vehicle capacity weight is 860 pounds. This does not conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Remedy: Hyundai will provide owners with a new label showing the correct vehicle capacity weight with instructions for application.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Sonata years have equipment problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (13), 2006 (11), 2007 (7), 2009 (6) and 2012 (5) model years. Equipment complaints make up 0% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Sonata equipment problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 20V-122 (labels, Feb 28, 2020); 06V-234 (labels, Jun 26, 2006); 94V-166 (labels, Sep 1, 1994). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Sonata equipment problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles; 58% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the electrical › radio/tape deck/cd etc. (5 mentions), followed by the other › labels (2).
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.