Problems · by component

2008 Hyundai Sonata electronic stability control (esc) problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Sonata cite electronic stability control (esc), 7% of all 425 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
30
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electronic stability control (esc)

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TODAY MY ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND THE BRAKES BECAME ROCK HARD COULD NOT PRESS DOWN ON THEM. THEN I PARKED THE CAR CHECKED ALL FLUIDS AND BELTS, TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN THE ABS LIGHT TURNED OFF. STARTED TO DRIVE TRIED ACCELERATING FROM 25MPH TO 30MPH THEN ESC LIGHT WENT ON LOCKED MY BRAKES TRIED DRIVING TO PARK IN A SAFE PLACE AS SOON AS I PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED IT OFF A BAD SMELL AND LOTS OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF MY FRONT TIRES AND REAR TIRES. GOT CAR TOWED BREAKS ARE OK MY MECHANIC PRESSED THE ESC BUTTON OFF AND NOW BREAKS ARE SOFT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MALFUNCTION THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT WILL CAUSE A RECALL. ALSO TPMS LIGHT RANDOMLY GOES ON AND OFF. TIRE PRESSURE AGAIN IS FINE. PLEASE CONSIDER LOOKING INTO THIS. IT?S THE ONLY CAR WE?VE HAD FOR ABOUT 9 YEARS AND NOW MY DAUGHTER DRIVES IT TO SCHOOL. SAFETY PLEASE!! THANK YOU, [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2019Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11244305
“ESC OFF LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH RECALL "FIX". ISSUES WITH BRAKE LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATING AFTER CAR HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF. HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, NO SPECIFIC INCIDENT CAUSED IT TO OCCUR. IT BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE OCT 29.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2017Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11045619
“WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK TURN OFF THE CAR MY PARKING LIGHTS COME ON CANT TURN THEM OFF AT SWITCH HAVE TO DISCONNECT MY BATTERY FOR FEAR MY CAR WONT START, ALSO AT DARK WHILE IM DRIVING I SWITCH MY LIGHTS TO JUST THE RUNNING LIGHTS MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON. NO MATTER IF MY SWITCH IS ON AUTO OR OFF MY LIGHTS STILL STAY ON. WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR AND AT TIMES I CANT GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SHIFTIER, AND IF THAT DOSE NOT WORK THEN I PUT MY SEAT BELT BACK ON AND PUSH THE LOCK AND UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB. SO WITH ALL OF THIS I CANT USE THE ALARM NOR THE ABILITY TO UNLOCK MY DOOR AND TO HAVE MY INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AT NIGHT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE OF THE NIGHT TIME SECURITY FEATURES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11004939
“I WAS IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF AND USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THE TRUNK FLEW UP SO QUICKLY THAT THE HYDRAULIC HINGE SUPPORT, THAT PROPS IT OPEN, BROKE OFF AT THE TOP. THE ABS & ESC LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. SOMETIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING THOSE 2 WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH OFF, THEN BACK ON A FEW SECONDS LATER. WHEN THAT HAPPENS MY BRAKES DON'T WORK CORRECTLY, AND MAKE A RUBBING SOUND THAT I CAN FEEL THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE AUTOMOTIVE INSTRUCTOR AT THE COLLEGE I WORK AT LOOKED AT THE BRAKES AND IT'S THE CALIPERS STICKING. THE DASHBOARD SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THE PASSENGER SAFETY BELT LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. THE TPMS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR IS THE MOST RECENT WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. SEEMS LIKE HYUNDAI PRODUCED NOTHING BUT LEMONS FOR QUITE A STRETCH AND NOT MUCH IS BEING DONE TO HELP THE CONSUMER'”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2016Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 10854912
“THE ESC OFF DOES NOT TURN OFF EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE ESC SWITCH. BOTH ESC AND ESC OFF TURNS ON AFTER THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED ON AND STAYS FOR A FEW SECONDS. POST THAT THE ESC LIGHT GOES OFF. BUT AFTER FEW MINUTES ESC OFF LIGHT TURNS ON. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH MOST OF THE HYUNDAI SONATA”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2016Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10824734
“ESC OFF WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AT START UP AND DURING DRIVING OF VEHICLE, STALLS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AND FIND THAT SHUTTING OFF VEHICLE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RESTARTING SEEMS TO CLEAR THE ISSUE BUT THE ESC LIGHTS COMES BACK ON WITHIN MINUTES. HAPPENED 10 TIME IN PAST 2 MONTHS, THEN TWICE OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND,NOW THE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AND THE ESC SWITCH DOES NOT WORK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2016Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10818314

Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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