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2005 Hyundai Sonata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Sonata do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 161.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

128 reports with mileage · 37 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports2 fire reports19 injury reports

Engine complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2023
EngineSuspension

My car's engine cradle, cross member or subframe is rusted out and the OEM replacement for my VIN number won't fit it correctly I'm getting really upset because this could be dangerous for me and my two young kids. I've already paid the mechanic $600 for the replacement part when it really only costs $450 at the most and the two…

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My car's engine cradle, cross member or subframe is rusted out and the OEM replacement for my VIN number won't fit it correctly I'm getting really upset because this could be dangerous for me and my two young kids. I've already paid the mechanic $600 for the replacement part when it really only costs $450 at the most and the two he has ordered before have both been either too big and it says that it is the correct replacement part. What is going on?!!! If something isn't fixed soon and something happens to me or my kids there is going to be a lawsuit.

NHTSA ODI #11560872

170,000 miles · Jul 9, 2018
EngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO GET IT TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO GET IT TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #11110223

176 miles · Jul 9, 2018
Engine

EVER TIME I PRESS THE BRAKES HARD THE ENGINE TURNS OF COMPLETELY

NHTSA ODI #11110150

142,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. TRIED PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL TO RELEASE IT, CAR STILL ACCELERATED. BRAKES DID LITTLE GOOD. WAS ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, THEN INTO NEUTRAL AND UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO CUT THE ENGINE. SOME PROBLEM HAP…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. TRIED PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL TO RELEASE IT, CAR STILL ACCELERATED. BRAKES DID LITTLE GOOD. WAS ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, THEN INTO NEUTRAL AND UTILIZING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO CUT THE ENGINE. SOME PROBLEM HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON TRYING TO GET IT OFF THE FREEWAY OFF RAMP. WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY IN A PARKING LOT WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614958

51,456 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Engine

WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN THE ENGINE BEGIN MISSING AND SLOWING DOWN. BECAUSE OF THE RAIN TRAFFIC WAS RUNNING AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I DRIFTED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY (I 95). AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE RESTARTED , BUT WAS STILL MISSING BADLY I COULD ONLY GET TO APPROX. 20MPH. EACH TIME I ST…

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WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN THE ENGINE BEGIN MISSING AND SLOWING DOWN. BECAUSE OF THE RAIN TRAFFIC WAS RUNNING AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I DRIFTED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY (I 95). AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE RESTARTED , BUT WAS STILL MISSING BADLY I COULD ONLY GET TO APPROX. 20MPH. EACH TIME I STOPPED THE ENGINE WOULD STOP. USING THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT. I OPEN THE HOOD JUST TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING VISIBLY WRONG. I CHECKED THE AIR FILTER AND FIND THAT IT WAS FULL OF WATER. WITH WET FILTER OUT AND THE WATER REMOVED FROM THE FILTER HOUSING THE CAR RUNS WITH OUT A PROBLEM. I CAN'T LOCATE WHERE THE AIR INTAKE IS TO SEE IF THERE IS PART MISSING ETC. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN. THE DEALERS ANSWER FOR THIS PROBLEM "DON'T DRIVE IN HEAVY RAIN". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610990

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

I HAVE NOT OWNED MY 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR ONE YEAR YET AND IS EXPERIENCING A CONFUSING TIME WITH ONE SET OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING NOT WORKING AT ALL, THE FUSE WERE CHECKED SO I WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY BE THE SWITCH, ALSO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE POWER DOORS ALWAYS LOCK THREE OUT OF THE FOUR DOORS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES …

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I HAVE NOT OWNED MY 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR ONE YEAR YET AND IS EXPERIENCING A CONFUSING TIME WITH ONE SET OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING NOT WORKING AT ALL, THE FUSE WERE CHECKED SO I WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY BE THE SWITCH, ALSO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE POWER DOORS ALWAYS LOCK THREE OUT OF THE FOUR DOORS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF EVERY OTHER WEEK THE CODE SAYS ITS A OXYGEN SENSOR. THE LIGHTING IT RESTRAINING ME FORM DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533513

Official recalls

1

09V280000 · Exterior Lighting

Jul 21, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.