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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

What owners actually said

165 reports
115,000 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON (AND PRODUCES CODE OF P0441) . FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, WHENEVER YOU ADD GAS TO THE TANK, THE CAR HARD STARTS AND CONTINUALLY STALLS. PURGE CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT BECOMES NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY HYUNDAI (PERHAPS ALL) MODE…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON (AND PRODUCES CODE OF P0441) . FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, WHENEVER YOU ADD GAS TO THE TANK, THE CAR HARD STARTS AND CONTINUALLY STALLS. PURGE CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT BECOMES NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY HYUNDAI (PERHAPS ALL) MODELS, AND THEREFORE A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394376

18 miles · Jan 31, 2011
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING DUE TO WET PAPER TOWELS UNDER THE SEAT CAUSING CORROSION. THE PAPER TOWELS WERE REMOVED BUT THE FAIL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING DUE TO WET PAPER TOWELS UNDER THE SEAT CAUSING CORROSION. THE PAPER TOWELS WERE REMOVED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10379647

63,000 miles · Jan 30, 2011
Air Bags

I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. SINCE THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR'S AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. EACH TIME, THE DIAGNOSIS IS EITHER CODE B1378 OR B1382. CONNECTORS ARE THEN RETAPED. REPAIRS LAST FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE AIRBAG…

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I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. SINCE THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR'S AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. EACH TIME, THE DIAGNOSIS IS EITHER CODE B1378 OR B1382. CONNECTORS ARE THEN RETAPED. REPAIRS LAST FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON AGAIN. THE LAST "REPAIR" LASTED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS BECAUSE THE SERVICE CONSULTANT SUGGESTED THAT I NOT ADJUST MY SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARD AS THIS MIGHT LOOSEN THE WIRING/CONNECTORS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I DID NOT ADJUST MY SEAT (RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE GETTING IN AND OUT OF CAR) BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT DID STAY OFF. IT IS NOW ON AGAIN. HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND DEALERSHIP SAY THAT I NEED TO BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN ARGUING THAT I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING. THEY HAVE NEVER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD I BRING VEHICLE IN AGAIN FOR THE SAME "DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR" WHEN THE REPAIR IS NEVER ACHIEVED. I AM BEYOND FRUSTRATION. PLEASE HELP! MY CAR IS RUNNING WITH INACTIVE AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379612

70,000 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND SHE MERGED INTO THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND SHE MERGED INTO THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10378800

10,000 miles · Dec 27, 2010
Exterior Lighting

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.

NHTSA ODI #10372472

135,237 miles · Dec 23, 2010
Seat BeltsInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A CHILD OCCUPANT WAS SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK SEVERAL TIMES. THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT FROM AROUND HIS NECK. HE WAS SUSTAINED LACERATIONS ON HIS NECK AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH A CHILD OCCUPANT WAS SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK SEVERAL TIMES. THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT FROM AROUND HIS NECK. HE WAS SUSTAINED LACERATIONS ON HIS NECK AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,237.

NHTSA ODI #10372189

67,000 miles · Dec 13, 2010
Air Bags

AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS TURNED ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370407

175,000 miles · Nov 2, 2010
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED BUT IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BODY DAMAGES REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 175,000.

NHTSA ODI #10363679

90,000 miles · Oct 27, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

CUT VALVE IN GAS TANK NECK FAILED. WHEN FUELING VEHICLE GAS WOULD SHUT OFF WITHIN 2 SECONDS, ATTEMPTING TO FUEL AGAIN GAS WOULD SHOOT OUT SPLASHING GAS ON YOU. QUICKLY MOVING OUT OF THE WAY I BROKE OFF THE COVER PLATE TO FUEL CAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362614

50,125 miles · Sep 30, 2010
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA IS ALWAYS ON. I HAD IT RESET 1X. I CANNOT GET MY CAR TO PASS INSPECTION AND FROM WHAT I'M READING ONLINE THIS COULD COST UP TO 1600$..I CANNOT AFFORD THAT KIND OF FIX AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 05/06 S…

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AIR BAG LIGHT 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA IS ALWAYS ON. I HAD IT RESET 1X. I CANNOT GET MY CAR TO PASS INSPECTION AND FROM WHAT I'M READING ONLINE THIS COULD COST UP TO 1600$..I CANNOT AFFORD THAT KIND OF FIX AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 05/06 SONATA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358463

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.