2008 HYUNDAI SONATA : RECEIVED RECALL FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD CAR WAS NOT PART OF RECALL EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WHICH SHOWS THAT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED CAME ON WHEN PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT SEAT…

12/31/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10669333.0

2008 Sonata · engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD TICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE…

12/31/2013 · NHTSA ODI #10557976.0

2008 Sonata · airbags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF WHEN A LIGHTER WEIGHT PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHICH WE FIND VERY UNSAFE FOR OUR PASSENGERS. THE WEIGHT IT SHOULD REGISTER TO GO OFF AS WE UNDERSTOOD IS A BODY BEING OVER 85 LBS., BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO…

12/31/2007 · NHTSA ODI #10213310.0

2008 Sonata · brakes

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE IN PARKING LOT IN TYSONS CORNER, VIRGINIA. HAD TO PUMP BRAKES TO STOP HITTING THE EXIT GATE. BRAKE LINE RUSTED, BROKE, AND ALL BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT. CAR HAD 102127 MILES. NEVER HAD A CAR WITH A BRAKE LINE THAT RUSTED THROUGH.…

12/29/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938676.0

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Active recalls showing 2 of 2

severe NHTSA 08V161000 10/04/2008

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

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.

severe NHTSA 08E021000 07/03/2008

HYUNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 4,085 REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD FOR USE ON 2006-2008 SONATA AND AZERA VEHICLES

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.

Common questions

Is the 2008 Hyundai Sonata reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 425 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Hyundai Sonata has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2008 Hyundai Sonata?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 123 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Hyundai Sonata has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2008 Hyundai Sonata?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 425 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 8 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with hyundai. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.