RoadVitals

2008 Hyundai Sonata Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
96
Latest Sep 27, 2022
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.
23%
of 425 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.
0
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 96 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 96, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Sep 27, 2022

Passenger side sun visor suddenly rotated down and will not stay up. This blocks drivers view. A few weeks prior to total failure, the visor would not stay completely up but was only about 10 degrees down. There is a plastic tube with a metal tube inside which the visor pivots on. The plastic tube is broken allowing it to hang straight down. If/when the same breakage occurs on the drivers side it could cause an accident due to blocking vision.

NHTSA ID
11486754
Incident
Sep 24, 2022
Visibility
Filed Oct 11, 2021

The driver side sun visor on my 2008 hyundai sonata is defective. The visor will not stay up and hangs down obstructing the drivers vision. This is a serious safety issue! This seems to be an issue on many 2008 hyundai sonatas The only recall is for 2006-2007. Yet this dangerous issue is happening on other years. Please resolve this

NHTSA ID
11436349
Incident
Sep 13, 2021
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 28, 2020

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR ARE ANGLED TOO LOW WHILE USING LOW-BEAMS AND THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT IS BAD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AND I AM NOW AWARE THAT I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST IT. HIGH-BEAMS SEEM TO FUNCTION OK.

NHTSA ID
11331347
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
11,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 5, 2016

THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, AT ALL. THE DRIVER SIDE WILL SUDDENLY FALL AND IT'S VERY UNPLEASANT TO SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. THEY ARE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ($200.00) AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS QUITE COMMON WITH HYUNDAI VEHICLES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES. IT REALLY IS STARTLING. I'M REALLY GLAD I WASN'T ON A FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10930097
Incident
Nov 28, 2016
Mileage
96,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 29, 2016

I HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE - BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD. I PUSHED IT BACK UP INTO ITS NORMAL "RESTING" LOCATION. UPON HITTING ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD IT SWUNG DOWN AGAIN IN FRONT OF MY FACE. THIS IS THE SECOND SUN VISOR IN THIS VEHICLE TO DO THIS. THIS ONE STARTED FAILING AROUND 10/1/2016, AND IS STILL DOING SO.

NHTSA ID
10928512
Incident
Oct 10, 2016
Mileage
174,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 22, 2015

THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS BOTH DROPPED TO A DOWNWARD POSITION AND WILL NOT HOLD THIER PLACE SO THEY BLOCK VIEW OF ROAD. THE DRIVER SIDE DROPPED WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED MOMENTARY INABILITY TO VIEW THE ROAD. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLIANTS THIS DOESNT APPEAR TO BE ISOLATED AND HYUNDAI SHOULD SOLICIT A RECALL OF THESE VISORS AS THEY IMPAIR THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS EVENT HAPPENED RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING AND I WOULD CONSIDER A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
10720987
Incident
Feb 2, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 30, 2015

BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER VISORS LOST THEIR GRIP AND FALL DOWN AUTOMATICALLY AND CAUSE SUDDEN IMPACT TO THE VIEW AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713919
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Mileage
65,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 18, 2015

SUN VISOR PROBLEMS - DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FELL TO A DOWNWARD POSITION AND WOULD NOT HOLD ANY POSITION ADJUSTMENT, NOT EVEN ALL THE WAY UP. MADE DRIVING UNSAFE BECAUSE IT IMPAIRED VISIBILITY. HYUNDAI REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITH THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD TO PURCHASE THE PART FOR NEARLY $100 AND REPLACE IT MYSELF. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY RECALL, THANKFULLY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN DENSE TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10706461
Incident
Nov 10, 2011
Mileage
57,680 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 12, 2015

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE SUN VISOR FELL IN FRONT OF MY FACE, IMPEDING VISIBILITY. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH, BUT IT COULD HAVE. NOW, THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. THIS DEFECT IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT THERE IS A CAMPAIGN FOR IT, BUT IT APPLIES ONLY TO CERTAIN REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. VISITING ONLINE FORUMS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, EVEN IN LOCATIONS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE CAMPAIGN. THIS CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IS BEING TREATED AS A COSMETIC ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10693958
Incident
Aug 20, 2014
Mileage
70,000 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Dec 31, 2014

2008 HYUNDAI SONATA : RECEIVED RECALL FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD CAR WAS NOT PART OF RECALL EVEN THOUGH PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WHICH SHOWS THAT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED CAME ON WHEN PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT SEAT INTERMITTENTLY. NOW DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ON STEADY, MECHANIC STATES SENSOR ISSUE AND AIR BAG WILLNOT DEPLOY IN CRASH, CALLED HYUNDAI AND INFORMED 'AFTER SOME DIGGING' MY CAR MAY BE COVERED UNDER OCS RECALL??? HYUNDAI CALL CENTER ASSISTED ME IN GETTING APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP IN A FEW DAYS, UNSURE WHAT REPAIRS WILL BE DONE. ALSO BOTH VISORS ARE BROKEN, WILL NOT STAY UP, ISSUE WITH VISIBILITY,. *JS

NHTSA ID
10669333
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
48,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 13, 2014

THE SUN VISORS ON MY 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA (68,865 CURRENT MILES) ARE EACH (PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES) DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE LIVED WITH THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR THE PAST YEAR, AND NOW, WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALSO GAVE WAY, HANGING LIMPLY, OBSTRUCTING THE VISION OF THE DRIVER AND CREATING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS RESOLUTION. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE VISORS (OBSTRUCTION OF VISION WHILE DRIVING). *TR

NHTSA ID
10664078
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
60,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 29, 2014

SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AGAINST THE HEADLINER AND NOW OBSTRUCT MY VIEW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10629284
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
Visibility
Filed Aug 21, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR FAILED TO CLOSE AND OPENED INDEPENDENTLY, OBSTRUCTING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID
10627152
Incident
Aug 4, 2014
Mileage
66,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 4, 2014

MY DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS -- IT GOT STUCK AND VERY HARD TO MOVE AND WHEN I TRIED MOVING IT TO THE DOWN POSITION ONE TIME IT "CLICKED" AND SINCE THEN IT CONSTANTLY FALLS -- USUALLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP -- THEN IT IS DIRECTLY AT MY FOREHEAD. IF I WERE TO EVER GET IN AN ACCIDENT I BELIEVE THE VISOR WOULD FALL TO THIS POSITION (DUE TO THE BUMP) AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY HEAD OR POSSIBLE DEATH. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD BE $155 TO FIX THIS. THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR IS ALSO NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE HAS BROKEN AND IT DOESN'T FIT IN THE HOLDER WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618861
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Visibility
Filed Aug 1, 2014

BOTH SUN VISORS NO LONGER STAY IN THE UP ( AGAINST THE HEADLINER ) POSITION, ONE IS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE THE OTHER HANGS DOWN AT 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY HYUNDAI'S FROM ABOUT 2005 AND UP, I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON 2006 OR 2007, OR VOLUNTARY ACTION BY HYUNDAI, BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX 2008 AND IT IS THE IDENTICAL PART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON MANY MESSAGE BOARDS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. LIVING IN ARIZONA WITH CONSTANT SUN GLARE MAKES DRIVING THESE VEHICLES DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618232
Incident
Aug 15, 2013
Mileage
54,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 8, 2014

SUN VISOR ON BOTH PASS AND DRIVE SIDE WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION CAUSING A HAZARD AS THE VISOR IS IN THE LINE OF SIGHT AND WILL COME DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. *JS

NHTSA ID
10608846
Incident
Jul 19, 2012
Mileage
10,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 10, 2014

THE SUN VISORS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE ARE BROKEN THEY WILL NOT STAY UP. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE. NO REPAIR WAS DONE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS COMMON ISSUE FOR HYUNDAI OWNERS AND PARTIAL RECALLS WERE DONE BUT NOT FOR 2008. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587594
Incident
Jun 3, 2010
Visibility
Filed Mar 26, 2014

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. SOME PIECE UP INSIDE BROKE OFF AND NOW SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN WHEN DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574982
Incident
Mar 24, 2014
Mileage
61,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 22, 2014

PASSENGER VISOR DROPPED DOWN, WOULD NOT STAY IN UP POSITION. BROKEN PLASTIC COMPONENT ON VISOR FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE. PURCHASED REPLACEMENT AT LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY DID NOT MENTION SERVICE BULLETIN NOW IN EFFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10574195
Incident
Feb 28, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 21, 2014

THE SUNVISOR CLIP TO HOLD IT UP FAILED. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OWNERS AS THERE IS MUCH INFO ON THIS IN THE INTERNET. THEY ALREADY HAVE PUT A RECALL IN FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS FOR THE SAME THING BUT DIDN'T INCLUDE THIS YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565347
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 19, 2014

DRIVER SIDE VISOR HAS BROKEN IN A MATTER WHERE IT WILL NOT STAY UP. IT CONSTANTLY FALLS DOWN INTO FIELD OF VIEW. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED ON THE 06-07 MODELS. IT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE 08 MODELS ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564907
Incident
Jan 8, 2014
Mileage
116,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT REMAIN IN ITS HOUSING, BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SUN VISOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID
10555314
Incident
Sep 13, 2013
Mileage
59,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 2, 2013

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP/ NO TENSION. HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN AND SWINGS FREELY INTO THE LINE OF DRIVER'S VISION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554416
Incident
Apr 16, 2013
Mileage
46,544 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 2, 2013

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. ACCORDING TO MY ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A MOST COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT IS ALREADY THE SUBJECT OF A 2009 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD DESERVING OF A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554412
Incident
Sep 12, 2012
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 29, 2013

PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WON'T STAY UP. HANGS STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE LINE OF DRIVER'S VISION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554136
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Mileage
52,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .