Problems · NHTSA complaints
2007 Hyundai Sonata problems
Owners filed 696 complaints about the 2007 Hyundai Sonata with NHTSA between Feb 2007 and Apr 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (257).
Complaints
696
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
30
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags257
- Visibility107
- Service brakes, hydraulic62
- Seat belts60
- Electrical system51
- Electronic stability control (esc)49
- Engine41
- Service brakes40
- Exterior lighting35
- Visibility/wiper34
- Structure21
- Vehicle speed control20
- Seats19
- Suspension15
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
18
53
53
91
44
42
72
83
52
43
41
30
24
17
11
9
5
5
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 53 |
| 2009 | 53 |
| 2010 | 91 |
| 2011 | 44 |
| 2012 | 42 |
| 2013 | 72 |
| 2014 | 83 |
| 2015 | 52 |
| 2016 | 43 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
257 reports16 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was previously illuminated. Additionally, the seat belt warning light was activated for the passenger’s seat while the seat was unoccupied. The contact was concerned that the safety restraint system (SRS) might not function correctly in a crash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V161000 (AIR BAGS); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.”
Visibility
107 reports
“DRIVING AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY BROKE INTO PIECES. AS I DID MORE RESEARCH OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. COULD TELL NOTHING BUT IT, DID NOT SHATTER JUST FELL ALMOST, LIKE TOO MUCH PRESSURE. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
62 reports2 crashes
“DURING A SNOW STORM, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A STOP. MY BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE (AS IF SOMETHING WAS KEEPING THE BRAKE SHOES FROM ENGAGING ONTO THE WHEEL). THERE ALSO WAS A LOUD CLATTER. I DISENGAGED MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND WAS ONLY THEN ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. TODAY I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STOP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SAW HYUNDAI HAD A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN #: 09V-122 WHICH WAS PUBLISHED APRIL 15, 2009. . ACCORDING TO MY VIN HISTORY, MY STOP LAMP SWITCH HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON 4/4/09 BY MALONE HYUNDAI. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI CORPORATION AND ASKED IF PERHAPS MY STOP SWITCH, SINCE BEING REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL, MIGHT HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH ALSO A DEFECTIVE STOP SWITCH. THE CASE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE 5 YEAR, 60,000 MILE WARRANTY ON PARTS WAS 5 YEARS, 60,000 MILES FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST DRIVEN NEW OFF THE LOT AND HYUNDAI WOULD NOT REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE STOP SWITCH UNLESS I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD CERTIFY THAT MY SWITCH WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. ON SAFERCAR.GOV, YOU HAVE SEVERAL DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED RELATED TO THIS RECALL. IN THE DOCUMENT ENTITLED…”
Seat belts
60 reports2 crashes
“Red “airbag” light on dash illuminated while driving. Code read as B1706: passenger buckle pretensioner. May have been covered under Hyundai’s 15yr/250k warranty but owners never notified since not official recall. Although, this defect may not affect airbags themselves it causes “airbag” light to remain illuminated until addressed. Driving with the “airbag” light continuously illuminated may pose risk to unsafe conditions due to unknown new airbag codes since “airbag” light already illuminated with buckle pretensioner code B1706.”
Electrical system
51 reports1 crash1 fire
“I have a 2007 Hyundai Sonata SE v6 3.3L and on January 9th, 2026 I had an incident where on the road my charging system light on signifying alternator failure. I made it home, but the battery was dead which was recently purchased. After recharging the battery I conducted tests with a multimeter and have determined the alternator has failed. The alternator has accrued a coating of oil overtime that was unknown until my research into the matter of root cause. Hyundai manufactures a V6 engine family called Lamba in which a version called Lambda MPi G6DB was introduced in 2007–2009 Hyundai Santa Fe (CM) and 2005–2009 Hyundai Sonata (NF) models. In 2023 Hyundai issued a recall for the 2007-2009 Santa Fe for a Cylinder Head Cover Oil Leak Repair where oil drips from the valve cover directly onto the alternator causing it to fail. I have a 2007 Hyundai Sonata 3.3L V6 engine where the very same issue has occurred with photo evidence that has caused my alternator to fail and have tested the issue. This vehicle model was not included in the recall despite the engine being exactly the same as the recalled model, the year being the exact same as the Santa Fe, and the…”
Electronic stability control (esc)
49 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the electronic stability control (ESC) warning light illuminated causing the brakes to lock-up and the vehicle to not accelerate as needed. The contact stated that she waited until the vehicle cooled down for the vehicle to operate normally. The contact was then able to drive the vehicle home safely. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the hydraulic control unit needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V122000 (Exterior Lighting) and that she had to pay out-of-pocket for the repair. The contact agreed to the repair but was later informed that the parts were discontinued. The manufacturer was contacted and was working with the contact. The failure mileage was 210,075.”
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.