RoadVitals

2004 Hyundai Sonata Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Sep 19, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 202 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 19, 2023

UNKNOWN, I recently purchased it from a dealership in Lemon Grove Cailfornia. Ever since I bought it,it has never had a catalytic converter and only one muffler. It is a 2.7L motor DOHC and requires 2 catalytic converters and dual exhaust due to the double overhead cam. It has cause motor oil into my engine block and has coughed my heater core. Also blown head gasket. I have hired certified ASE mechanics to replace parts and then I run into another problem.

NHTSA ID
11545320
Incident
Aug 25, 2023
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Feb 20, 2021

I ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER ON THE HAS BUDDY APP AND IT SAYS THAT I HAVE A RECALL FOR SUSPENSION BUT CALLED A DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT DOESN'T. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE WIRING TOO BECAUSE MY DOORS LOCK AT RANDOM TIMES MY SEAT GOES FORWARD AND BACK RANDOMLY MY SPEAKERS DON'T WORK. WHEN I HIT A BUMP JT FEELS LIKE MY TIRES ARE GONNA FALL OFF

NHTSA ID
11397102
Incident
Jan 27, 2021
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Mar 8, 2019

SUB FRAME ON FRONT PASSENGER RUSTED AND CORRODED. CAUSED DAMANGE TO CV AXLE ON SAME SIDE. CAUSED ALIGNMENT ISSUES ON FRONT END. CAUSES TIRES TO WEAR QUICKLY, WITHIN A WEEK. ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LOCKS THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSES ALARM TO SOUND WHILE DRIVING AND MUST OPEN OTHER DOORS AND STOP DRIVING TO STOP THE ALARM FROM GOING OFF, HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS COME ON WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED AND GO OFF WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED BUT THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT IN USE

NHTSA ID
11185120
Incident
Mar 1, 2019
Mileage
207,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 27, 2019

LEAKING VALVE COVER IS ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK DOWN ONTO THE ALTERNATOR. CAR CAN BE STATIONARY OR RUNNING. MOST NOTABLE WHEN CAR ENGINE IS RUNNING. OIL LEAKING ONTO ALTERNATOR CAN CAUSE ALTERNATOR TO SHORT. ALTERNATOR FAILED AND CAR BATTERY COULD NOT CHARGE BATTERY. CAR DIED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SHE HAD TO PULL QUICKLY OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11182857
Incident
Feb 27, 2019
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Apr 30, 2017

SUSPENSION FAILURE JULY 2016-BOTH ENGINE MOUNTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED. REPLACED 2016 JULY. APRIL 2017 BOTH ENGINE MOUNTS AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AGAIN. IN ADDITION VIOLENT JERKING WHILE DRIVING,THEN LOSS OF POWER. USUALLY OCCURRED GOING UP HILLS,COMING OFF FROM MAKING A TURN OR DRIVING SPEEDS UNDER 25MPH.BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON UNABLE TO INDICATE STOPPING TO OTHER CARS.UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE AND MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHETHER DRIVING OR IN PARK. JERKING DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR,BUT WHILE DRIVING SPEED DECREASES RAPIDLY AND CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. SUSPENSION FEELS LOSE IN ADDITION THERE ARE NOISES AS IF BOLTS ARE BROKEN. PER A RECALL SEARCH CAMPAIGN 089 IS OPEN MEANING UNDER BODY ISN'T COATED. UPON FURTHER READING OF THE CAMPAIGN SUSPENSION FAILURE CAN OCCUR AND OTHER ISSUES. UNSURE IF ALL RELATED,BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS,AND JERKING OCCURRED THE SAME TIME AS SUSPENSION FAILED,WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED.HUGE SAFETY ISSUES FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS AROUND,ESPECIALLY WHEN JERKING OCCURS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED,PER AN INTERNET SEARCH THESE ISSUES ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. ALL ISSUES SEEN ONLINE HAPPEN WITH CARS AT OR AROUND THE 130,000 MILE MARK.

NHTSA ID
10981531
Incident
Apr 29, 2017
Mileage
127,949 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER BULBS ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/08/15*LJ

NHTSA ID
10691526
Incident
Sep 5, 2014
Mileage
15,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 29, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10679746
Incident
Jan 27, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 22, 2014

THE HORN STARTED SOUNDING FOR NO REASON IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE HORN SWITCH IN THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY IS BROKEN AND IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THE PART COST IS A RIDICULOUS $1,000.00. ALL AIRBAG ASSEMBLIES IN ALL THE LOCAL WRECKING YARDS ALSO HAVE BROKEN HORN SWITCHES. HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED? THE HORN IS A VERY NECESSARY SAFETY DEVICE THAT SHOULD LAST THE ENTIRE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. WHY HASN'T A RECALL NOTICE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CONDITION? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10627557
Incident
Jun 25, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 5, 2014

I CALLED HYUNDAI REGARDING THE BRAKE LAMP RECALL ISSUE IN MY CAR. I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OF MY BRAKE LAMPS. WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE BRAKES THE LAMPS ARE ALWAYS ILLUMINATED IT ONLY GOES OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THIS CAUSES SEVERAL PEOPLE TO MISTAKE IF I AM BRAKING OR NOT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL PEOPLES COMPLAINTS ON THE RECALL WEBSITE, AND ALL OF US ARE TOLD THAT " THE RECALL HAS NOT AFFECTED YOUR CAR" AFTER GIVING THEM THE VIN. WELL I SAY IT IS. I HAVE THE VERY PROBLEM SPOKE OF IN THE RECALL. SECOND THE RECALL DOES NOT SAY THE CAR MUST ALSO BE UNABLE TO COME OUT OF PARK. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE ISSUES. I WANT THIS CAR LOOKED AT HOW CAN SEVERAL CARS IN DIFFERENT STATES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE SAME YEAR CAR???? *TR

NHTSA ID
10567504
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 15, 2012

EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON MY 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA BEGAN FLASHING FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF (IGNITION WAS OFF), THIS CONTINUED FOR 15-30 MINUTES FROM THE TIME IT WAS NOTICED (NEIGHBORS KNOCKED AT THE DOOR TO REPORT THAT THE FLASHERS HAD BEEN LEFT ON). THE OCCURRENCE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY. ACCESSING THE VEHICLE USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY, THE DOORS RE-LOCKED THEMSELVES, AND THIS REPEATED EACH TIME I UNLOCKED THEM. THE FLASHERS STOPPED WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPEN OR THE CAR WAS TURNED ON, BUT WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE DASH (AT THE SAME RATE AS THE FLASHERS HAD BEEN FLASHING). WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR AND THEY SAID IT IS THE EMERGENCY FLASHER 4-WAY SWITCH (PART #937903C000) -- WHICH IS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER FOR ONE MONTH! THIS PART IS APPARENTLY NOT COVERED ON THE GOLD PLUS PROTECTION PLAN! *TR

NHTSA ID
10448060
Incident
Feb 13, 2012
Mileage
99,549 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Dec 19, 2010

AIRBAG SAFETY LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10371188
Incident
Feb 15, 2010
Mileage
110,865 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Oct 14, 2010
Crash reported

THE AC/HEATING ELECTRIC [FAN] CONTROL COMES ON WHEN IT WANTS TO BUT WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHEN TURNED ON. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC ON 3 OCCASIONS, IT ACTIVATES AND REMAINS ON FOR DAYS THEN STOPS AND WILL NOT COME ON AGAIN. MECHANICS DO NOT WANT TO WORK ON IT UNLESS IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. EVERYONE WANTS TO "INVESTIGATE" AND CHARGE ME ACCORDINGLY BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TELL ME THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY MONTHS ON MY CAR, AS WELL AS OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS. THE UNRESOLVED SITUATION REMAINS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF WINDOW FOGGING AND LACK OF AIR FLOW THROUGH THE VENT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT AND REAR. LAST WINTER A PARTIALLY FOGGED WINDOW, WHILE THE FAN WAS RUNNING, CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT DURING A VERY HEAVY RAIN STORM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10360482
Incident
Dec 9, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 2009

04 HYUNDAI HORN BLOWING ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290843
Incident
Jun 15, 2009
Mileage
12,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 12, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED IN HER VEHICLE AND DOES NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS LOOSE OR A SHORTAGE WAS PRESENT. HYUNDAI STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,700.

NHTSA ID
10273609
Incident
Mar 12, 2009
Mileage
53,700 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 2008
Fire reported

DROVE CAR 3 MILES FROM POINT A TO POINT B. IT WAS PARKED AT POINT B FOR APPROX 45 MINUTES. THEN DRIVEN 300FT TO POINT C. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I SMELLED SOMETHING UNUSUAL BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE AUTO SHOP NEXT DOOR. WHEN I WENT INTO THE STORE, AN EMPLOYEE LOOKED THROUGH THE GLASS WINDOW AND SHOUTED "SOMEONE'S CAR IS ON FIRE." I LOOKED AND SAW IT WAS MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. THE CAR NO LONGER STARTS. I WILL WRITE AGAIN TO UPDATE ON DIAGNOSIS FROM HYUNDAI. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243618
Incident
Sep 27, 2007
Mileage
96,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2008

BATTERY, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACE IN 12/05/05, THEN AGAIN IN 10/05/06, ON 7/31/08 THE BATTERY THIS TIME DIE WITH NO WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. BOTH TIME THE BATTERY WAS REPLACE BY RICK CASE HYUNDAI, STATED BAD BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236596
Incident
Jul 31, 2008
Mileage
62,022 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .