Sign inCreate free garage
Problems · by component

2007 Hyundai Sonata exterior lighting problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2007 Hyundai Sonata cite exterior lighting, 5% of all 696 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 5 recalls on this component.

All 2007 Sonata problems
Complaints
35
5% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I have been encountering issues with my 2007 Hyundai Sonata SE in the following manners: 1- At times the brake lights will be on and the car will have anyone inside. 2- My ESC OFF light comes on will not go off. 3- When using my headlights the cruise control will not work. (Specifically when the automatic lights would come on the cruise goes off) 4-At random times the key will not turn. All the above mentioned issues concern the electrical system!, Speed Control!, and lighting systems. All are available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others has been put at risk because of system failures causing the car to operate improperly and dangerously. I have not had the extra money to take it to the dealership. No other reports have been made. The only warning light is the ESC OFF light comes on occasionally. This light began coming on 6 months ago.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2023Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 11520158
“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
“WHEN I EXIT MY CAR AND MY HEADLIGHT ARE TURNED TO OFF POSITION AND CLOSE DOOR, MY RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON. WHICH I HAVE JAD TO CHARGR MY BATTERY DUE YO THIS. SO ER THOUGHT IT WAS THE HEADLAMP SWITCH. STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SO LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A COUPLE DIFFERENT FORUMS STATING THAT THIS IS A RELAY PROBLEM. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THIS RELAY IS INTEGRATED INTO THE FUSE BOX. SO IN ORDER FPR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED I AM TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE A FUSE BOX. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THOS ISSUE. THIS HAPPENES EVERY TIME I EXIT MY VECHICLE AFTER DRIVING IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. 2. MY DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER VISORS DO NOT STAY UP. I HAVE GOTTEN HIT IN THE HEAD. THIS SHOULD ALSO BE ON RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 11182431
“HEAD LIGHTS BULBS KEEP BLOWING OUT. THEY WILL LAST ABOUT A MONTH OR MORE. ALL OF THE HEAD LIGHTS BULBS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT BLOW ABOUT THE SAME TIME. IT DOES NOT MATTER DRIVING OR SITTING STILL OR THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10991648
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V122000 (SERVICES BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakesODI 10959841
“VISORS ON BOTH SIDES FALL AND OBSTRUCT VISION CAR HAS ONLY 28000 MILES AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON , CONCERN IT WILL SUDDENLY DEPLOY. THERE'S LOOSE SUSPENSION BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED ALREADY FEARFUL IT MAY BE A SIGN THERE MAY BE SOMETHING WRONG YET I HAVEN'T BEEN CONTACTED BY MANUFACTURE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2017Suspension, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 10950214

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

5 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 1, 2013NHTSA 13V113000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Exterior lightingReported Jul 21, 2009NHTSA 09V280000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 15, 2009NHTSA 09V122000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

HYUNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 4,085 REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD FOR USE ON 2006-2008 SONATA AND AZERA VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ALIGNED PROPERLY AND FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Mar 7, 2008NHTSA 08E021000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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