Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2007 Hyundai Sonata — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2012 to Dec 2008
The most reported issue is air bags problems (176 complaints). 30 complaints involved crashes. 6 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (7)
NHTSA Campaign: 09V122000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Risk: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
NHTSA Campaign: 08V161000
Component: AIR BAGS
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
NHTSA Campaign: 09E012000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V113000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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: 08E021000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HYUNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 4,085 REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD FOR USE ON 2006-2008 SONATA AND AZERA VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ALIGNED PROPERLY AND FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: IMPROPER AIMING OF THE HEADLAMP MAY RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: HYUNDAI-KIA DEALERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR SUPPLY TO HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. NONE OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE SOLD AS RETAIL. AS A RESULT, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V354000
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
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.
Risk: Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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: 09V280000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Risk: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 696)
Air Bags →9 issues
Your air bag warning light came on, and your passenger seat belt warning light is activating even when no one is sitting there. You're concerned that your safety restraint system might not work properly in a crash. The dealer found this is related to a known recall (Campaign 08V161000), but your vehicle's VIN isn't registered for that recall, so it wasn't repaired. The fix will likely involve having the dealer diagnose and repair the air bag control module or seat belt sensor system.
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Your airbag warning light stays on constantly and won't turn off. Hyundai service previously repaired this issue under an extended warranty, but they're now refusing to fix it again. The airbag system may not deploy properly in a crash if this warning light indicates an active problem. You'll likely need diagnostic testing to identify the specific airbag system fault and replacement of the faulty component.
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Your air bag warning light is on, which means the occupant detection system in the front passenger seat isn't working properly. The dealer says the passenger seat cushion assembly needs to be replaced, but this part has been discontinued and is no longer available from Hyundai. Without this part, your air bag system cannot be properly repaired, which is a serious safety issue. Fixing this would require finding a used seat cushion assembly from a salvage yard or exploring other repair options with a qualified technician.
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Your airbag warning light came on while driving. A mechanic found the issue matches a known safety recall (Campaign 08V161000), but your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in that recall, so Hyundai says you're not covered. The problem hasn't been fixed. Getting this checked by a dealer is important since airbag systems are critical for safety.
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Your 2007 Hyundai Sonata has been subject to an airbag safety recall. The airbag system may not deploy properly in a crash, which could increase the risk of injury to you and your passengers.
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Your airbag warning light is on, which means your airbag system may not be working properly in a crash. You took the car to the dealer, but they didn't diagnose or fix the problem. You'll need to get the airbag system scanned with a diagnostic tool to find out what's triggering the warning.
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Your airbag warning light stays on while driving, and the passenger airbag sensor isn't working correctly. The lamp that indicates whether a passenger is in the seat flickers on and off instead of staying steady, which suggests a problem with the occupant classification system. This could affect whether the passenger airbag deploys properly in a crash. The issue may require replacement or recalibration of the passenger airbag sensor.
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Your airbag warning light came on while driving at 35 mph. Even though you contacted your dealer about this, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, and the manufacturer was not notified. A malfunctioning airbag system is a serious safety issue that needs immediate professional attention to determine why the warning light activated and ensure your airbags will deploy properly in a crash.
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Your airbag warning light came on while driving on the expressway and won't turn off, even after you disconnected and reconnected the battery. The airbags have never actually deployed. The issue likely requires a diagnostic scan of your airbag system to identify the fault code and determine what component needs replacement.
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Electrical System,engine →2 issues
Your alternator failed while driving, leaving you stranded with a dead battery. The owner discovered oil coating the alternator, traced to a known oil leak from the cylinder head cover onto the alternator—the same issue Hyundai recalled for 2007-2009 Santa Fe models with the identical V6 engine, but your 2007 Sonata wasn't included in that recall despite having the same problem. Fixing this typically involves replacing the faulty alternator and repairing the cylinder head cover gasket to stop the oil leak.
Parts you may need:
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Your car may feel sluggish and unresponsive when accelerating at various speeds. Engine oil is leaking from the valve cover gasket onto the alternator, which can damage it and cause electrical problems. The alternator will likely need to be replaced, and the valve cover gasket should be sealed to stop the oil leak.
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Engine →2 issues
Your 2007 Hyundai Sonata's engine has experienced a catastrophic failure. This is a serious mechanical breakdown that has already been reported to state authorities and is part of an ongoing NHTSA investigation affecting this model year. Fixing this will likely require engine replacement or major internal engine repair.
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You noticed oil leaking onto your alternator during a routine check of your 2007 Hyundai Sonata. A mechanic replaced the driver's side valve cover gasket to stop the leak. The dealer and manufacturer both confirmed there's no recall for this issue.
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Air Bags,seat Belts →1 issue
Your air bag warning light is on because the occupant classification system (OCS) on the passenger seat isn't working properly. This means the passenger-side air bags may not deploy in a crash, even if someone is sitting there. Your service center has confirmed the problem, and there's a known safety campaign for this issue on some Sonatas, but your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in the recall even though it has the same problem. You'll need the occupant classification sensor and related seat belt components inspected and likely replaced to restore proper air bag function.
Parts you may need:
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Service Brakes →1 issue
Your brake lights are staying on, and your traction control and engine warning lights have illuminated. This combination of warning lights suggests a problem with your brake system or related sensors that needs to be diagnosed. A mechanic will need to scan your vehicle's computer and inspect your brake components to identify the root cause.
Parts you may need:
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Seat Belts →1 issue
Your airbag warning light stays on because of a problem with the passenger seat belt pretensioner (the device that tightens the belt during a crash). While this doesn't mean the airbags themselves are broken, the warning light stays illuminated until it's fixed. Having the airbag light on continuously could be risky because you won't be able to tell if a new airbag problem develops.
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Tires →1 issue
Your car started pulling to one side like a wheel alignment problem, but a tire shop discovered the tread was separating on all four tires. After replacing two tires and driving a few hundred miles, the rear tires failed and caused severe shaking. This left your family stranded during their drive.
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Electrical System,exterior Lighting,vehicle Speed Control →1 issue
Your 2007 Hyundai Sonata is experiencing several electrical issues: brake lights stay on even when the car is empty, the ESC OFF warning light won't turn off, cruise control stops working when your headlights are on, and occasionally the key won't turn in the ignition. These problems suggest a serious electrical system malfunction that could affect your safety and others on the road. A complete electrical system diagnostic and repair of the wiring, modules, or switches controlling these functions will likely be needed.
Parts you may need:
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Exterior Lighting,electronic Stability Control (esc),service Brakes →1 issue
While driving at 30 mph, your electronic stability control (ESC) warning light came on, causing your brakes to lock up and preventing normal acceleration. The vehicle returned to normal operation after cooling down. Your dealer diagnosed a faulty hydraulic control unit and said it needs to be replaced, but the manufacturer has discontinued the necessary parts.
Parts you may need:
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Steering,suspension,electrical System →1 issue
Your car has experienced an issue involving the steering, suspension, or electrical system. Due to limited information in the complaint, the specific problem cannot be clearly identified. A diagnostic inspection will be needed to determine which component is affected and what repair work may be required.
Parts you may need:
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