10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,271 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Hyundai Sonata engine problems

engine problem

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2010 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments

problem #11

Aug 152018

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car had unsolicited acceleration when backing up. Car went flying back in full acceleration. Hit railing/stairs.I put car in park. Thought I must have hit acceleration by mistake so I went to put car in drive to pull into parking space, when I took for of brake the car careened out of control full acceleration. I tried brake foot pressing pedal down car wouldn't stop. I steered into low cement parking space bumper and bushes to stop car. - $1024 to replace throttle body that Hyundai checked out and said it was sticking. Hyundai charged me for the throttle body replacement - I am waiting on estimate of property damage I did when I attempted to back out of parking space at my doctor's office.

- West Babylon, NY, USA

problem #10

Jun 182018

Sonata

  • 215,000 miles
Approximately 6 months ago I was driving on a secondary road in heavy traffic. With cruise control at 45 mph I stepped on the brake as traffic slowed ahead of me and the engine would not disengage or slow. I had to put the car in neutral and assist the brakes with the emergency brake to stop. The throttle control assembly was replaced. Two days ago on a highway the situation repeated; I stepped on the brake and the engine would not disengage or slow and I had to stop with putting the car in neutral and the emergency brake. I am selling the car at a loss for parts. It is not safe to drive

- Lillington, NC, USA

problem #9

Oct 012017

Sonata

  • 133,000 miles
I've driven this car since 2011 and have not had an issue like this before. Last week, (October, 1, 2017). While driving down an off-ramp at ~35 mph, my 2010 Hyundai Sonata's ESC off light came on and would not go off ; at the same time my cruise control has stopped working. When I turn the car off and back on again, the ESC off light is off, but within 5-7 minutes of driving it comes back on again and stays on and the cruise control does not work now regardless of if the ESC off light is on or not. This occurs now every time I drive the car. At first the ESC off light is off, and every time after the first 5-7 minutes of driving it lights up. (and pushing the ESC off button does not affect it.) this occurs regardless of where I am driving or how (on on a two-lane, on the highway, in my driveway, turning, stopping, accelerating etc. The ESC off light stays on and the cruise control light comes on when I push the cc button, but when I try to push the button to engage the speed set, nothing happens, it will not engage.) I took it to the only Hyundai dealership within 100 miles of where I live, and I was told it would be $120 just to diagnose the problem. The csr that set up my appointment said he thought it might be the break light switch. I researched the issue myself, and apparently there has been a massive recall of various 2007-2011 Hyundai's (Sonata's included) that had faulty break light switches and needed to be replaced. I was never made aware of this recall/defect. Now, after 7 years and 133,000 miles (I'm way over the warranty period) and have to pay $ that I do not have just to get it "diagnosed" not to mention how much it will cost to "fix" the problem. Does the recall still cover my vehicle" and if not, is there a way I can order the part myself and replace it to see if that corrects the issue" -desperate in tn-

- Kingsport, TN, USA

problem #8

Dec 142014

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #7

Aug 202014

Sonata

  • 60,050 miles
When speeding up or slowing down the ESC light can come on. Car appears to have trouble changing gears when this happens. When the issue occurs after stopping or yielding then the car can go into a jolting back and forth motion for a few seconds up unto about 30 seconds before it smooths out. Also, some times, the car is unresponsive for a few seconds up unto 30 seconds before it will respond to the gas pedal being pushed. Stopping the car and restarting the engine appears to clear the ESC light, but it can come back on randomly at another speeding up or slowing down. Dealer appears to have no answer after 5 days in their service shop.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #6

Aug 302013

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 25,072 miles
I had the cruise control set to 47mph, I was approaching the road to turn right and I tapped the brake to kick off the cruise control as I have done before. I then looked at the traffic around me and had to fix my seat belt which tightened too much, taking my eyes off the road a moment. When I looked up the car in front of me was at a dead stop, and I was still traveling at 47mph! the cruise control never turned off to slow the car down, I hit the car in front of me, which hit the car in front of her. My insurance decided to total my vehicle.

- Lake Wales, FL, USA

problem #5

Jul 252013

Sonata

  • 59,870 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the engine rpms increased excessively as the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact crashed into a building and the air bags did not deploy. The contact was not taken to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 59,870.

- Lakeville, MN, USA

problem #4

Sep 182010

Sonata 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,490 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that when you set the cruise control the vehicle accelerated beyond the normal speed while driving down hill. While driving down a hill at 70 mph the vehicle accelerated up to 80 mph. The dealer stated that there was a problem with the vehicle, but they were unable to repair the failure. The dealer also stated that the failure was connected to Hyundai's attempt to increase the miles per gallon. The manufacturer admitted that this was a problem, but at the time there was no resolution. The failure and current mileages were 1490. Updated 12/23/10. Updated 01/04/11.

- Yakama, WA, USA

problem #3

Aug 122010

Sonata

  • 4,500 miles
Cruise control switch failed at 4500 miles due to open/short in switch. Part was ordered and installed. Covered under Hyundai's warranty.

- Wilton, CT, USA

problem #2

May 112010

Sonata

  • 7,000 miles
As I backed the car from a parking space and started forward and I experienced a sudden acceleration. I was lucky that there was no car in front of me and I was able to reach the parking lot exit safely. I turned left for several hundred yards and reached a traffic signal, I was able to immediately turn left. I proceeded South and entered the left turn lane at route 104 and was the first car at the traffic light waiting for traffic already across the intersection waiting to turn left onto route 104. The car across the intersection began to move and I stepped on the accelerator and the car shot across the intersection at full speed instantly and I was driven into the car in front. There was no chance to stop the car. The steering wheel airbag deployed and cut both my wrists when they held the steering wheel. The engine continued to race until I turned off the ignition. A police officer arrived shortly asked one or two questions and suggested I remain in the car. Medics from a private ambulance service who had been in the evening traffic immediately stopped and I opened my front door windows and spoke to them (a man and woman emt). They applied bandage pads to airbag cuts on both wrists through the open windows. I remained in the car and indicated I did not need hospitalization. The driver of the other car immediately got out of his ca.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #1

Aug 122010

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 3,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while her son was driving the vehicle approximately 55 mph it started accelerating without driver intent. The driver said the rpms increase to its maximum capacity excessively. He shifted the vehicle in neutral gear in order to slow it down and drove onto the emergency lane. He then drove it home and parked it without further incident. Hyundai was not notified at the time of the complaint. The owner does not feel that the vehicle is safe to drive. The current and failure mileages were approximately 3,000. Updated 12/01/10. Updated 12/14/10

- Saint James , NY, USA

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