TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ALWAYS ILLUMINATED, WHICH DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonata years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Exterior Lighting complaints
17 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO SHUT OFF. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HUB CAP AND SWITCHED THE WIRES IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. HUB HYUNDAI OF KATY (877- 773-4656, LOCATED AT 1700…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO SHUT OFF. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HUB CAP AND SWITCHED THE WIRES IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. HUB HYUNDAI OF KATY (877- 773-4656, LOCATED AT 17007 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77094) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL AND TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPPEDS OR SWITCHING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLEN TURNER HYUNDAI (6000 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505 (850) 479-9667) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPPEDS OR SWITCHING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLEN TURNER HYUNDAI (6000 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505 (850) 479-9667) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) ONLINE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCULED IN THE RECALL AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,050.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE A…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND PARKED, ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHTS DID NOT DIM UNTIL THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND PARKED, ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHTS DID NOT DIM UNTIL THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
I HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, AS I PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR, I FELT IT GO DOWN UNDER MY FOOT, THUS HITING THE RIGHT REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED IN JANUARY. 2012. I WAS TURNING INTO MY PARKING SPOT, AND I HAD SOFTLY BRAKED. AND AS I PRESS…
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I HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, AS I PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR, I FELT IT GO DOWN UNDER MY FOOT, THUS HITING THE RIGHT REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED IN JANUARY. 2012. I WAS TURNING INTO MY PARKING SPOT, AND I HAD SOFTLY BRAKED. AND AS I PRESSED ON THE ACCELEATOR, AND LIKE THE FIRST TIME, I FELT THE ACCELERATOR GO DOWN BENEATH MY FOOT, WITHOUT PRESSING TOO HARD. I RAN INTO MY APARTMENT, AND CAUSED A GOOD DEAL OF DAMAGE TO IT.AS WELL AS MY CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT SINCE, BUT I REMAIN SCARED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOOK VEHICLE TO OXMOOR HYUNDAI, IN LOUISVILLE, AND COULD NOT FIND FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND I HAD TO PAY JUST UNDER $100.00 TO TELL ME THIS. AND MY AUTO INSURANCE WENT UP DRASTICALLY. *JS
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE HIGH BEAMS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, BUT THE LOW BEAMS FAILED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT DID NOT DISCOVER ANY TYPE OF ELECTR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE HIGH BEAMS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, BUT THE LOW BEAMS FAILED SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT DID NOT DISCOVER ANY TYPE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE BULBS WERE CONSTANTLY CHANGED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATEL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE BULBS WERE CONSTANTLY CHANGED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000.
Official recalls
109V280000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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