2006 Hyundai Sonata electrical system problems

“My parking and tail lights do not turn off when I turn off the car when it's dark. I have to turn the headlight switch on and off several times to see if they will turn off. If they do not I have to disconnect the battery so it doesn't discharge. I was told this is a fuse panel issue. If this is a fuse panel issue then I'm concerned what else will go wrong with the fuse panel. If the lights stop working altogether then that will be a problem. I have not taken this vehicle to a dealer due to financial responsibilities. This all started without warning. At about the same time, my ESC turned off and will not come back on. Curious if this is connected.”

“May 2019: Battery light came on and off for a few minutes. Car sputtered and engine quit. Replaced alternator and battery; problem went away. Feb 2022: Battery light came on and off for a few minutes. Car sputtered and engine quit. Replaced alternator and battery. This time the mechanic noticed that oil was leaking from the front valve cover gasket and was getting into the alternator; thus the most likely source of damage to alternator.”

“AROUND 5:30 PM DURING THE DAY I PARKED THE VEHICLE BY THE CURB ON THE STREET WITH NO LIGHTS ON AND NOTHING LEFT PLUGGED IN. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED ALL THE WAY UP AND THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. I LOCKED THE DOORS THEN WENT INSIDE THE APARTMENT AND ABOUT 30 MIN LATER THE NEIGHBORS INFORMED ME OF A FIRE INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I REACTED QUICKLY GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, RAN TO THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED THE DRIVER DOOR MANUALLY WITH THE KEY AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT SPREAD. THE CENTER COUNSEL AND CENTER DASH AREA WITH CONTROLS FOR THE AC, AND RADIO WERE ALL BURNED AND MELTED DOWN. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FINALLY ARRIVED AND TOOK THEIR REPORT AND LEFT I RESEARCHED WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. I LEARNED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST THESE PARTICULAR TYPES OF VEHICLES AND IN 2016 THE FIRST RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. THESE VEHICLES HAVE ABS MODULES AND HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS THAT ALLOW MOISTURE TO ENTER CAUSING CORROSION RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT. AND BECAUSE THEY STAY ELECTRICALLY POWERED WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF THESE SHORT-CIRCUITS CAN START A FIRE. HYUNDAIS NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 172.”

“MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON. I REPLACED THE BATTERY 2X, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, CHECKED THE GROUND AND ALL CONNECTIONS. MY BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES, THEN GOES OFF THEN MY SEATBELT LIGHT BLINKS AND GOES OFF AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT GETTING THE POWER TO WIPE AND THE REAR DEFROSTER TURNS OFF EVERY TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES. IVE BEEN TO 3 MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAY BRING IT TO HYUNDAI. WHEN I BROUGHT IT THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL SO I LEFT THE SERVICE ROOM AND AM NOW ON THE NHTSA SITE.ALL OF THIS IS WHILE BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION”

“REPLACED ALTERNATOR DUE TO FAULTY LEAK OIL GASKETS. OIL LEAKS ONTO ALTERNATOR IN 3.3 LITER V6 SONATA. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ALTERNATOR IN LESS THAN A YR. I ALSO READ IN A AUTO FORUM OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS CAUSING CAR TO JUST DIE WITH LITTLE WARNING OTHER THAN BATTERY LIGHT LIGHTING UP ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE BARELY MADE IT HOME.”

“CAR STALLED AND LOCKED UP THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE ABS MODULE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED AS I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL NOW.”