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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
105,000 miles · Oct 23, 2009
Structure

THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE HAS A CHROME COVER ON IT, THAT AT ONE POINT WAS GLUED TIGHT TO THE HANDLE, BUT NOW DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, THE EDGE OF THE PLASTIC CHROME PIECE IS EXPOSED AND IT YOUR NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND SLIDE YOUR HAND ACROSS IT WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, IT CAN RESULT IN A CUT.GASH IN SOMEONE'S HAND. (INJURY) I HAVE GOTT…

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THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE HAS A CHROME COVER ON IT, THAT AT ONE POINT WAS GLUED TIGHT TO THE HANDLE, BUT NOW DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, THE EDGE OF THE PLASTIC CHROME PIECE IS EXPOSED AND IT YOUR NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND SLIDE YOUR HAND ACROSS IT WHEN OPENING THE DOOR, IT CAN RESULT IN A CUT.GASH IN SOMEONE'S HAND. (INJURY) I HAVE GOTTEN A FEW CUTS, NOTHING SERIOUS, BUT IF SOMEONE REALLY WAS IN A RUSH, IT COULD BE QUITE A DEEP CUT/GASH IN YOUR HAND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289634

75,000 miles · Sep 21, 2009
Exterior Lighting

1)NO CHANGES OR EVENTS THAT LEAD TO THIS CONCERN. 2)HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT. IT USUALLY STARTS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS EVERY MONTH IF NOT MORE. 3)THESE BULBS ARE PURCHASED BRAND NEW. DEALER STATES NO RECALL. I REPLACED THE BLOWN PASSENGER BULB ON …

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1)NO CHANGES OR EVENTS THAT LEAD TO THIS CONCERN. 2)HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GO OUT. IT USUALLY STARTS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS EVERY MONTH IF NOT MORE. 3)THESE BULBS ARE PURCHASED BRAND NEW. DEALER STATES NO RECALL. I REPLACED THE BLOWN PASSENGER BULB ON A TUESDAY, IT BLEW OUT TWO DAYS LATER AND THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE BLEW OUT; WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD TRIP LATE AT NIGHT! NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED. SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME OCCURRENCES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10284741

30,000 miles · Jul 14, 2009
Structure

PAINT IS PEELING FROM EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES OF MY 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276734

20,700 miles · May 11, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2005 HYUNDAI SONATA - 20,700 MILES FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO SEVERE BRAKE RUST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268343

56 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE CRUISE WILL NOT WORK. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DONT GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10258392

60,000 miles · Jan 23, 2009
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. TOOK IT TO AN AIRBAG SPECIALIST AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR IS BAD AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1,600. I CANNOT GET AN ANSWER FROM HYUNDAI AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR IS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256158

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2008
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior LightingCrashInjury

THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AND RECALLED, CLOSE TO THE 2006 RECALLS. WE OWN A COMPANY AND HAVE PURCHASED OVER 12 TO 14 HYUNDAIS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE SONATA GLS 2005 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SEATBELT RESTRAINT, THE FRONT TIRES ARE CLOSER TO THE BACK & NOT CENT…

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THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AND RECALLED, CLOSE TO THE 2006 RECALLS. WE OWN A COMPANY AND HAVE PURCHASED OVER 12 TO 14 HYUNDAIS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE SONATA GLS 2005 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SEATBELT RESTRAINT, THE FRONT TIRES ARE CLOSER TO THE BACK & NOT CENTERED ON THE WHEEL WELL (HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASED, BUT THEY DO NOT CORRECT.), HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS & THAT UNIBODY TYPE FRAME & SO ON. IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A TRUCK LEFT THE TAIL GATE DOWN & A LADDER HIT THE WINDSHIELD, THE CAR WAS THEN PARKED, TURNED OFF , THE KEYS TAKING OUT OF THE IGNITION & THEN BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE CELL PHONE THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT INFER ALL THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TO LOCK UP & CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT TO WEAR. HYUNDAI STATES THAT THIS IS NOT WARRANTED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DEPLOYED AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. HYUNDAI HAD A GREAT WARRANTY 10 YEARS AGO. THEY DO NOT STAND UP TO THEIR WARRANTY AS BEFORE & I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME OF THE WARRANTY HAS CHANGED. I HAVE SWITCHED TO TOYOTA. HYUNDAI HAS DONE NOTHING SO FAR TO CORRECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237787

15,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ON NINE OCCASIONS, SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY NUMEROUS DEALERS, BUT NONE OF THE TECHNICIANS COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE O…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ON NINE OCCASIONS, SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY NUMEROUS DEALERS, BUT NONE OF THE TECHNICIANS COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10235742

40,000 miles · Apr 21, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES, THE REAR BRAKE DISINTEGRATED DUE TO DRAGGING AND I WAS INFORMED IT WAS MY DRIVING. ONLY ONE REAR BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED IN THIS WAY, HOWEVER ALL ROTORS HAD TO BE "TURNED DOWN" AND NEW BRAKES WERE INSTALLED ALL AROUND EVEN THOUGH ALL OTHER 3 PADS WERE LIKE NEW. AT 72,000 THE FRONT BRAKE DID THE EXACT…

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AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES, THE REAR BRAKE DISINTEGRATED DUE TO DRAGGING AND I WAS INFORMED IT WAS MY DRIVING. ONLY ONE REAR BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED IN THIS WAY, HOWEVER ALL ROTORS HAD TO BE "TURNED DOWN" AND NEW BRAKES WERE INSTALLED ALL AROUND EVEN THOUGH ALL OTHER 3 PADS WERE LIKE NEW. AT 72,000 THE FRONT BRAKE DID THE EXACT SAME THING AND THE REAR BRAKE WAS CLOSE TO BEING DETRIMENTAL TO THE ROTOR. THE FRONT ROTORS COULD NOT BE "TURNED-DOWN" AGAIN, SO NEW ROTORS WERE APPLIED. THIS PARTICULAR MECHANIC, AT A WELL KNOW FACILITY INFORMED ME THAT HYUNDAI'S ARE NOTORIOUS FOR WEARING OUT BRAKES AND THEY SEE THIS CONTINUED PROBLEM. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE HYUNDAI DEALER IS QUITE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I AM NOW ON A "WATCH" AT THIS MECHANIC'S SHOP TO KEEP FROM HAVING YET ANOTHER BRAKE ISSUE. SOMETHING CAUSES THE BRAKES TO DRAG AND WEAR QUICKLY AND NOT ALWAYS THE SAME BRAKE. THE BRAKE PEDDLE, AFTER THE FIRST HYUNDAI SERVICE, WENT TO FLOOR AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SONATA IS DESIGNED FOR THE "OLDER" CUSTOMER WHOSE REACTION TIME IS SLOWER AND MORE UNSTEADY, THEREFORE THE BRAKING IS LONGER AND SOFTER. AFTER THE NEW MECHANIC ADJUSTED EVERYTHING, MY BRAKES ARE NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225259

60,000 miles · Feb 3, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON DECEMBER 17, 2007 AT APPROX 5:30PM MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WEST ON OSUNA AT INTERSECTION OF SEAGUILL , DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, 35 BEING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. AS SHE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT, A LATE MODEL FORD RANGER TRIED TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION CROSSING HER PATH. AS SHE A…

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ON DECEMBER 17, 2007 AT APPROX 5:30PM MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WEST ON OSUNA AT INTERSECTION OF SEAGUILL , DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH, 35 BEING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. AS SHE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT, A LATE MODEL FORD RANGER TRIED TO GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTION CROSSING HER PATH. AS SHE ADVANCED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION SHE STRUCK THE FORD RANGER BROAD SIDE. FORTUNATELY FOR MY DAUGHTER SHE HAD HER SEAT BELT ON, BECAUSE THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE HYUNDAI 'S AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING BECAUSE THE IMPACT WAS STRAIGHT AHEAD HIT, UNLESS THE HYUNDAI 'S AIR BAG WERE DEFECTIVE. MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT HURT BAD, ALTHOUGH SHE HAS BEEN HAVING NECK & BACK PAIN AND IS UNDER A DOCTOR'S SUPERVISION. I HAVE WRITTEN TO HYUNDAI., TO THIS DATE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY UNRESPONSIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THERE COULD BE A DEFECT IN HYUNDAI'S AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. NEXT TIME THEY MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN THE CITY LIMITS OF ALBUQUERQUE NM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216804

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.