Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Hyundai Azera problems

Owners filed 69 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Azera with NHTSA between Feb 2009 and Mar 2024. The most-cited component is seats (24).

Complaints
69
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Seats24
  2. Air bags16
  3. Electrical system14
  4. Service brakes14
  5. Engine6
  6. Seat belts5
  7. Vehicle speed control4
  8. Structure3
  9. Fuel system, gasoline3
  10. Engine and engine cooling2
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  12. Exterior lighting1
  13. Suspension1
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20093
20107
20115
20124
20135
20147
201512
20164
20176
20189
20192
20202
20211
20220
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Seats

24 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN MY WIFE RODE WITH ME AND THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. EVENTUALLY, IT STARTED TO REMAIN ON THE WHOLE TIME WITH HER IN THE SEAT. NOW THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNFASTENED LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL HYUNDAI TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND IT IS READING A FAULT CODE B1489 INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS). SINCE THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER HYUNDAI MODEL'S DATING BACK TO THE MID-2000'S THAT HAVE HAD RECALL'S ON THE PODS, I AM WONDERING IF MY VEHICLE MAY USE THE SAME SEAT SENSOR'S THAT THE OTHER MODEL'S USE. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A STRAIGHT ANSWER TO IF WHEN THE PODS IS DEFECTIVE, WILL THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOY, OR WILL THEY DEPLOY NO MATTER WHAT SHOULD THE EVENT BE TRIGGERED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2017Air bags, SeatsODI 10968828

Air bags

16 reports3 crashes2 related recalls
“THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT CONNECTED TO SEAT BELTS.AIR BAGS STAYS ON. #2 BRAKE PEDAL IS ON THE SPONGY SIDE. HYUNDAI DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM.THE MECHANIC TOLD ME FLUID WAS LEAKING EVERYWHERE.I TOLD HIM THERE ARE NO LEAKS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSE I CHECKED THE MASTER SYSTEM MYSELF IALSO HAD THE BRAKES BIEED=OK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2020Air bags, Service brakesODI 11298441

Electrical system

14 reports3 fires
“The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Azera. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the battery charging warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket was leaking onto the alternator, causing the alternator to fail. The mechanic replaced the valve cover gasket, the battery, and the alternator; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was repaired for a second time; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred every 3 years. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 21-01-047H-1. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2024Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11574875

Service brakes

14 reports1 crash2 fires
“RECALL NUMBER 18V026000 RECALL DATE 01/09/2018 COMPONENT SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK HYUNDAI RECALLS AZERA AND SONATA FOR FIRE DANGERS JANUARY 24, 2018 ' HYUNDAI IS RECALLING ABOUT 88,000 MODEL YEAR 2006-2011 HYUNDAI AZERA AND 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA CARS BECAUSE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS MAY CATCH ON FIRE. ON 1/10/18, 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS RECALL MY 2008 HYUNDAI AZERA CAUGHT FIRE IN MY BASEMENT WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND NO KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAPPENED AT 3:30AM, OUR ENTIRE HOUSE, INCLUDING BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED. NOTHING WAS SALVAGEABLE. THE AUTOMAKER REVEALS IN THE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS THAT WATER COULD ENTER THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF FIRE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF. HYUNDAI SAYS THE RECALL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON FEB. 23, AND THAT ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS WILL BE MADE BY DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. HERE IS AN ARTICLE THAT CLEARLY STATES WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN WITH THE RECALL. HYUNDAI HAS YET TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. HTTPS://WWW.MLIVE.COM/AUTO/2018/01/HYUNDAI_RECALLS_AROUND_88K_OLD.HTML”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2019Electrical system, Service brakesFire reportedODI 11202884

Engine

6 reports2 fires
“The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Azera. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V026000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The independent mechanic referred the contact to the dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module and wiring hardness had burned and needed to be replaced; however, the dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had discontinued the parts for the repair. The contact stated that the ABS, the brake, and the check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,539.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2023Service brakes, hydraulic, EngineODI 11544708

Seat belts

5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI AZERA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB STALLINGS HYUNDAI (214-694-2700, LOCATED AT 39444 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY, DALLAS, TX 75232) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2019Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11164750
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.