RoadVitals

2005 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.
18
Latest Feb 2, 2017
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.
11%
of 165 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 2005 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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

Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 2017

COMPLAINT INVOLVES PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN TO AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT PLACES TO ATTEMPT GET THIS DIAGNOSED- THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON OVER 5 MONTHS. CAR HAS BEEN EXCELLENT UNTIL THE PAST FEW MONTHS. ENGINE IS FINE. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE THERE IS SOME KIND OF SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE CAR TURNS OFF. NO WARMING. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT- AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS THE CAR GOES COMPLETELY DARK. SOMETIMES YOU CAN SORT OF GLIDE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMETIMES THE SHORT HAPPENS AND THEN WHATEVER IS NOT WORKING WILL RECONNECT AND THE CAR WILL NOT TOTALLY SHUT OFF. IT IS VERY DISTURBING AND FRIGHTENING. SOMETIMES MY CAR COMPLETELY DIES IN TRAFFIC- IT MIGHT BE DEAD FOR 20 OR SO MINUTES AND THEN WILL ALL OF SUDDEN RESTART AND I CAN MAKE IT HOME. I HAVE BEEN TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO HAS TAKEN CARE OF THIS CAR FOR YEARS HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT. TOOK TO A HYUNDAI GARAGE/ DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN THERE 3 TIMES- THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THIS WEEK TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GARAGE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THIS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT FEEL VERY UNSAFE. I NO LONGER DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I FEEL SO UNSAFE. IF THERE IS ANY HELP OR DIRECTION YOU CAN GIVE TO HELP DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN SONATAS IT WOULD BE WELCOME. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR HE PAST 4 MONTHS- SOMETIMES MY CAR DIES 7 TO 8 TIMES A DAY- SOMETIMES IT RUNS PERFECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10949180
Incident
Jan 28, 2017
Mileage
1,477,900 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 29, 2017

AIR BAG DASH LIGHT IS ON FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. IT USED TO BE INTERMITTENT, BUT IT EVENTUALLY STAYED ON. MECHANICS AND HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP HAVE NO ANSWERS. IT COMES ON AS SOON AS I START THE CAR AND DOESN'T TURN OFF UNTIL THE CAR IS OFF. I WAS TOLD MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. HOW DELIGHTFUL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10948181
Incident
Nov 30, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 18, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

NHTSA ID
10749376
Incident
Aug 17, 2015
Mileage
58,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 4, 2015

ELECTRICAL ISSUES BEGAN A MONTH AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. FRONT AND REAR LIGHT BULBS CONTINUE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, THE DASH LIGHT ALSO WILL FLASH WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED. THE TRUNK LEAKED THE FIRST CHRISTMAS, DEALER CLAIMED TO REPAIR IT, BUT FAILED, STILL LEAKS. AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON, WENT OFF EVENTUALLY, AND IS BACK ON AGAIN. FINALLY, CAR BEGAN LOSING POWER LAST YEAR AND CUTTING OFF SPORADICALLY IN TRAFFIC, AND NOW THE REAR AND WINDOW BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOT WHEN TURNED OFF. RECALL INFO POINTS TO DEFECTIVE STOP BRAKE SWITCH THAT FAILED EVEN AFTER REPAIR/REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, MY VIN DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE RECALL LIST AND THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE. CURIOUS, SINCE MY CAR IS OF THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR REPORTED! GREEDY AND IRRESPONSIBLE ! *TR

NHTSA ID
10692184
Incident
Nov 24, 2014
Mileage
103,000 mi
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 4, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported

I WAS DRIVING IN MY OWN LANE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THIS BUS WITH OUT LIGHTS CAME AND WAS SPEEDING HE CUT IN FRONT OF ME SO CLOSE IT SCRATCHED MY SIDE DOOR AND I HIT THE BRAKES AND I STILL HIT HIM GOING 55 SPEED LIMIT WAS 70 THE CAR ALL MOST EXPLODED THERE IS THINGS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691998
Incident
Feb 28, 2015
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Nov 18, 2014

THIS IS THE FIRST DATE THAT I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. SINCE THAT TIME, THE LIGHT HAS GONE OFF AND COME BACK ON A MANY TIMES. IT WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY THE DEALER AND ALSO BY A LOCAL, CERTIFIED MECHANIC. IT USUALLY STAYS OFF FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, BUT COMES BACK ON. IT IS NOW ON AGAIN. IN ADDITION, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE DOOR JAM SWITCH IN JAN. 2014. THE DOOR CHIMES (SEATBELT SOUND) GOES OFF RANDOMLY. NOW, THIS SOUND IS BACK. THE CAR RANDOMLY LOCKS ITSELF AND THE RADIO RANDOMLY GOES ON AS WELL. I FEEL THAT THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY MAKE IT UNSAFE. I AM ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG ISSUE. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN RECALLED FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10658986
Incident
Dec 21, 2010
Mileage
39,158 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jul 28, 2014

YOUR PROBE INTO THE HYUNDAI SONATA AIRBAG ISSUE SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO EARLIER MODELS AS WE HAVE A 2005 AND WHAT YOU ARE INITIALLY EXPLAINING AFFECTS OUR VEHICLE ALSO. WE HAVE HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT RESET A FEW TIMES BY THE DEALER (ZIMBRIK HYUNDAI IN MADISON, WI). THEY INITIALLY STATED THAT IT WAS JUST A WIRE UNDER THE SEAT THAT NEEDED TO BE REATTACHED. THEY'D DO THAT AND TURN OFF THE AIRBAG LIGHT, IT'D BE OK FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. THEY EVENTUALLY STATED THEY WANTED TO REPACK THE AIRBAG FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, SEEMED SOMEWHAT LIKE A SCAM, SO WE NO LONGER GO IT FIXED AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. *JS

NHTSA ID
10616748
Incident
Jul 28, 2014
Mileage
126,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 27, 2014

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN MY AUTO, WHICH MANIFEST ITSELF WHEN I SWITCH ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON NORMALLY, BUT INSIDE THE CABIN THE DASHBOARD AND ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS WOULD START BLINKING ON/OFF LIKE THE HAZARD LIGHT. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD ALSO COME UNLOCK AND WHEN I CHECKED ON THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE STEADY, BUT THE INDICATOR (AMBER) LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD BE BLINKING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE AS THEY SAY, THERE ARE NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOWING FOR ELECTRICAL FAULTS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10594426
Incident
Apr 11, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectrical
Filed Sep 23, 2013

2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AC COMPRESSOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SMD ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR INVOICE, THE AC COMPRESSOR HAD AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN. THE AC CLUTCH CAME APART AND THE CLUTCH MELTED ONTO THE COMPRESSOR.

NHTSA ID
10544754
Incident
Sep 10, 2013
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Aug 13, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE WIRING TO THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10535111
Incident
Aug 15, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Aug 4, 2013

I HAVE NOT OWNED MY 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA FOR ONE YEAR YET AND IS EXPERIENCING A CONFUSING TIME WITH ONE SET OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING NOT WORKING AT ALL, THE FUSE WERE CHECKED SO I WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY BE THE SWITCH, ALSO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THE POWER DOORS ALWAYS LOCK THREE OUT OF THE FOUR DOORS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF EVERY OTHER WEEK THE CODE SAYS ITS A OXYGEN SENSOR. THE LIGHTING IT RESTRAINING ME FORM DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533513
Incident
Jul 28, 2013
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+3 more
Filed Aug 11, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY AND RECALLED, CLOSE TO THE 2006 RECALLS. WE OWN A COMPANY AND HAVE PURCHASED OVER 12 TO 14 HYUNDAIS. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE SONATA GLS 2005 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SEATBELT RESTRAINT, THE FRONT TIRES ARE CLOSER TO THE BACK & NOT CENTERED ON THE WHEEL WELL (HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASED, BUT THEY DO NOT CORRECT.), HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS & THAT UNIBODY TYPE FRAME & SO ON. IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A TRUCK LEFT THE TAIL GATE DOWN & A LADDER HIT THE WINDSHIELD, THE CAR WAS THEN PARKED, TURNED OFF , THE KEYS TAKING OUT OF THE IGNITION & THEN BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE CELL PHONE THEN PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT INFER ALL THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TO LOCK UP & CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT TO WEAR. HYUNDAI STATES THAT THIS IS NOT WARRANTED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DEPLOYED AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED. HYUNDAI HAD A GREAT WARRANTY 10 YEARS AGO. THEY DO NOT STAND UP TO THEIR WARRANTY AS BEFORE & I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME OF THE WARRANTY HAS CHANGED. I HAVE SWITCHED TO TOYOTA. HYUNDAI HAS DONE NOTHING SO FAR TO CORRECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10237787
Incident
May 21, 2008
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ON NINE OCCASIONS, SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY NUMEROUS DEALERS, BUT NONE OF THE TECHNICIANS COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID
10235742
Incident
Sep 25, 2005
Mileage
15,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 1, 2007

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX IT THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 12 THOUSAND MILES. THE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON FOR OVER 10 MONTHS. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 22 THOUSAND MILES AND THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH. THE LAST TIME WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR TWO WEEKS AND NOW ITS BACK ON. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND THE LIGHT ONLY STAYED OFF FOR TWO WEEKS! THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO DRAG WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10210453
Incident
Dec 1, 2007
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 24, 2007

HEAD LAMPS AND FOG LAMPS BURN OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME, POSSIBLE SHORT IN WIRING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204028
Incident
Sep 20, 2007
Mileage
81,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 31, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHEN IT RAINS, WATER ENTERS INTO THE VEHICLE AND COLLECTS ON THE STEP PLATES. AS A RESULT, THE SCREWS HAVE RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT HAS REMOVED FROM HER VEHICLE IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COVER HAS DETACHED AND HER DOOR IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURE. IF SOMEONE WERE TO LEAN AGAINST THE DOOR, ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER HAD TO CHANGE THE SWITCH INSIDE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD SMASHES THE HEADLIGHTS AND ALSO CONTAINS A GAP. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START INTERMITTENTLY AND THE TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATE DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHY ALL OF THE FAILURES ARE OCCURRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED NO ONE IS ABLE TO INFORM HER ABOUT THE DEFECT DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE BEING IN HURRICANE KATRINA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10197923
Incident
Aug 29, 2006
Mileage
22,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT STALLED AGAIN AFTER IT WAS SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH IDENTIFIED CAUSE CODE #15 AND REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLY, WIRE REPAIR TIME (MAJOR), COIL ASSEMBLY, IGNITION COIL ADD SCAN TOOL OPERATIONS. A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10170101
Incident
Oct 5, 2006
Mileage
18,000 mi
ElectricalEngineTransmission+1 more
Filed Dec 22, 2005

BOUGHT 2005 HYUANDI ON 12/8/04. EXPERIENCED VIBRATION ON 12/9/05 TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN CLEVELAND TENNESSEE, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE MOTOR IN CAR NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. TOOK CAR BACK 3 DAYS LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM VIBRATION, THEY SAID THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR BACK ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS AND THEY CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE IN THE CAR. FINALLY A REPRESENTATIVE WAS CALLED IN TO LOOK AT THE CAR HE HAD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CAR TO HAVE A VIBRATION WHEN SITTING STILL AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. ALSO, HE SAID THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED THAT HOLD THE ENGINE IN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10145894
Incident
Dec 9, 2004
Mileage
10 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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