"How reliable is the 2008 Hyundai Sonata?"

"Based on 554 NHTSA complaints, the 2008 Hyundai Sonata has a median complaint mileage of 65000 miles. The most common issue is Air Bags."

"What are common problems with the 2008 Hyundai Sonata?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata is Air Bags, accounting for a significant portion of the 554 total complaints filed."

2008 Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 554 complaints

554

Total Complaints

65,000mi

Median Mileage

Air Bags

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

33,435 25th Percentile

65,000 Median Mileage

105,980 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Air Bags

119

Visibility

Engine

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Electrical System

Visibility/Wiper

Unknown Or Other

Service Brakes

Seat Belts

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM REMAINS OFF WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND HYUNDAI STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED FOR INFORMATION SHOWING WEIGHT RESTRAINTS OR LIMITS OF SYSTEM WITH NO ANSWERS. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONC..."

"THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN A PASSENGER WHO WEIGHS OVER 115 LBS IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT STATES THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THE AIRBAG IS OFF IT WILL NOT DEPLORE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. THEREFORE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SEA..."

"THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES THE CONDITION CAN BE CLEARED BY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE BUT OTHER TIMES THE CONDITION REMAINS THE SAME. ADJUSTING THE SEATING POSITION AND SEAT LOCATION DO NOT SEEM TO AFFECT THE PROBLEM AT ALL. ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Air Bags 119 complaints

25th: 41,150 mi Median: 76,000 mi 75th: 117,200 mi

Visibility 67 complaints

25th: 37,000 mi Median: 49,803 mi 75th: 65,000 mi

Engine 48 complaints

25th: 73,475 mi Median: 114,000 mi 75th: 130,000 mi

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 30 complaints

25th: 22,000 mi Median: 25,948 mi 75th: 29,930 mi

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 30 complaints

25th: 41,250 mi Median: 76,500 mi 75th: 107,441 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 55 NY: 53 CA: 51 TX: 35 OH: 33 VA: 27 PA: 26 NJ: 24 IL: 23 MD: 19

Who Files Complaints?

3.6%

Original Owners

96.4%

Second+ Owners

Hyundai Sonata — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1990	25	-	Automatic Transmission	0
1991	41	-	Seat Belts	3
1992	43	-	Automatic Transmission	1
1993	46	-	Automatic Transmission	1
1995	93	107,263	Frontal	17
1996	37	-	Gasoline	0
1997	74	86,000	Tank Assembly	6
1998	68	80,000	Automatic Transmission	3
1999	187	95,000	Frame And Members	25
2000	378	108,000	Frame And Members	22
2001	293	89,863	Frame And Members	34
2002	407	94,724	Frame And Members	50
2003	247	70,178	Air Bags	28
2004	285	91,138	Suspension	36
2005	217	80,000	Air Bags	44
2006	1422	73,838	Air Bags	55
2007	905	67,000	Air Bags	45
2009	610	68,783	Service Brakes	29
2010	415	65,000	Body	23
2011	4582	75,702	Steering	194
2012	2254	80,000	Engine	86
2013	2602	79,000	Engine	138
2014	1061	70,000	Engine	48
2015	1611	53,758	Engine	60
2016	960	62,100	Engine	37
2017	964	53,900	Engine	46
2018	519	19,862	Engine	26
2019	182	23,000	Engine	11
2020	236	2,700	Fuel/Propulsion System	8
2021	156	24,725	Engine	11
2022	123	13,500	Power Train	14
2023	130	11,000	Fuel/Propulsion System	12
2024	61	2,000	Electrical System	3

Active Recalls (5)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Air Bags

Campaign 08V161000 | 10/04/2008

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.

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

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Switch

Campaign 13V113000 | 01/04/2013

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

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.

Headlights

Campaign 08E021000 | 07/03/2008

IMPROPER AIMING OF THE HEADLAMP MAY RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Rear

Campaign 13V354000 | 12/08/2013

Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Airbag Safety

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28