Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into three vehicles before being able to come to a stop. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
2010 Hyundai Sonata cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Hyundai Sonata have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 25,072 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 Sonata | 32 |
| 2007 Sonata | 15 |
| 2008 Sonata | 13 |
| 2009 Sonata | 25 |
| 2010 Sonata (this page) | 10 |
| 2011 Sonata | 50 |
| 2012 Sonata | 47 |
| 2013 Sonata | 53 |
| 2014 Sonata | 14 |
4crashes
4injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2010 Sonata report two main cruise-control problem clusters. The first involves the cruise control system not engaging or maintaining speed, often paired with an ESC OFF light that stays on and won't turn off by button. One owner at 133,000 miles found a recall for faulty brake light switches on 2007-2011 Sonatas, which a dealership CSR suggested as the culprit—though the owner never received recall notification.
The second and more serious issue is uncontrolled acceleration, where the engine revs to full throttle without driver input, especially when backing up or shifting gears. Owners report brake pedal becomes useless; they've had to shift to Neutral and deploy the emergency brake to stop. One owner crashed into another vehicle when cruise control refused to disengage during braking. Hyundai replaced throttle bodies and throttle control assemblies on some vehicles, but the problem recurred within days on at least one car. The manufacturer acknowledged the acceleration issue was tied to fuel-economy optimization software but stated they had no fix at the time of complaint. Another defect involves ESC lights triggering transmission hesitation and throttle unresponsiveness lasting up to 30 seconds, leaving dealers stumped after multiple service visits.
Same Hyundai Sonata cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise control non-engagement / failure to set speed
Cruise control button illuminates but fails to set or maintain speed. Often accompanied by ESC OFF light staying illuminated. Owner reports pushing the speed-set button produces no response.
When: 5-7 minutes into driving after cold start; occurs consistently on repeated trips
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control light comes on when CC button pressed, but speed-set button does not engage; ESC OFF light remains illuminated and cannot be turned off via button; ESC OFF light turns off briefly after engine restart, then reappears within 5-7 minutes of driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owner suspects brake light switch based on online research; dealership quoted $120 for diagnosis. Hyundai recalls 2007-2011 Sonatas for faulty brake light switches; owner unsure if recall still applies at 133,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls for brake light switches on 2007-2011 Hyundai Sonatas issued; owner was not notified of recall
Uncontrolled acceleration without driver input
Engine accelerates to full throttle without driver pressing accelerator, particularly when backing or shifting between gears. Brake pedal becomes ineffective; driver must shift to Neutral and use emergency brake to stop.
When: While backing from parking space; when shifting from Park to Drive; while driving at highway speeds with cruise control set
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden full-throttle acceleration when backing up; Engine continues to race after brake pedal pressed; Engine will not disengage or slow when brake applied; RPMs increase to maximum capacity excessively; Vehicle shoots across intersection at full speed instantly
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $1,024 for throttle body replacement; Hyundai identified sticking throttle body. Another owner had throttle control assembly replaced; problem recurred two days later. One owner sold car for parts due to safety concerns
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated failure was connected to Hyundai's attempt to increase fuel economy; manufacturer admitted problem existed but had no resolution at time of complaint
Cruise control speed creep on downhill grades
Vehicle accelerates beyond the preset cruise control speed when descending hills. Speed increases uncontrollably despite cruise control set at lower speed.
When: While driving downhill at 70 mph with cruise control set
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates beyond normal preset speed on downhill grades; Speed increased from preset 70 mph to 80 mph while descending
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated there was a problem but was unable to repair the failure; manufacturer acknowledged issue connected to fuel economy optimization but provided no resolution
ESC OFF light illumination with transmission issues
ESC OFF light illuminates during acceleration or deceleration, accompanied by transmission trouble changing gears and unresponsive throttle. Light turns off after restart but reappears randomly.
When: During speeding up or slowing down; randomly during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: ESC OFF light comes on when speeding up or slowing down; Car has trouble changing gears when issue occurs; Jolting back-and-forth motion for several seconds after stopping or yielding; Unresponsiveness to gas pedal for up to 30 seconds; ESC light reappears randomly even after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to provide answer after 5 days in service shop
Cruise control switch open/short circuit
Cruise control switch fails due to internal open or short circuit, preventing cruise control operation.
When: At 4,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control switch malfunction
Codes mentioned: Open/short in switch
Repairs/costs cited: Part ordered and installed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under Hyundai warranty
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2010 Hyundai Sonata?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2010 Hyundai Sonata?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 4,500 and 133,000 miles, with the median around 25,072. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,500; a quarter make it past 133,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Hyundai/Sonata.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.