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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags257
  2. Visibility107
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic62
  4. Seat belts60
  5. Electrical system51
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)49
  7. Engine41
  8. Service brakes40
  9. Exterior lighting35
  10. Visibility/wiper34
  11. Structure21
  12. Vehicle speed control20
  13. Seats19
  14. 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
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
200718
200853
200953
201091
201144
201242
201372
201483
201552
201643
201741
201830
201924
202017
202111
20229
20235
20245
20251
20262

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

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2026Air bagsODI 11728523

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2017VisibilityODI 10946187

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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 10574497

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 22, 2023Seat beltsODI 11561584

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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11717330

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2022Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11480191
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.