RoadVitals

2009 Hyundai Sonata Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
12
Latest Jun 26, 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.
3%
of 460 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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that in February 2022 there was an unknown recall campaign for the Stop Lamp Switch replacement and the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that the failure ha reoccurred, and the warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

NHTSA ID
11528831
Incident
Jun 23, 2023
Mileage
146,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 9, 2017

MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THEM AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES PER YEAR. AFTER THE MOST RECENT CHANGE THEY BLEW BACK IN WITHIN TWO WEEKS. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11013868
Incident
Apr 8, 2017
Mileage
200,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 28, 2016

ESC LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI. PREVIOUS RECALLS AND CURRENT RECALL ON SOME MODELS. I AM FILING A COMPLAINTS WITH NATIONAL SAFETY SO THAT A RECALL CAN BE EXTENDED TO MORE VEHICLES. HYUNDAI IS UNWILLING TO FIX THESE ISSUES WITHOUT A RECALL. WANT PEOPLE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10822723
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 8, 2015

THE ESC OFF LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON.

NHTSA ID
10780702
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
190,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 8, 2014

WITHIN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF I HAVE REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES. 3 TIMES ON THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND 3 ON THE LEFT. MY MECHANIC CAN NOT TELL ME WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE A GROUNDING PROBLEM. HAVE YOU HAD ANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM OR IS THIS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM? THE COST OF THESE BULBS ARE GETTING TOO MUCH TO BEAR. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE BECAUSE I REPLACED THE LEFT LIGHT LAST WEEK AND THE RIGHT LIGHT TODAY (12-8-14). *TR

NHTSA ID
10662953
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
89,600 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 5, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, HE WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10662355
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 3, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DECK STOP LIGHT WIRING AND FRAME DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE BULB FROM THE SOCKET, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BULB AND WIRING FELL INTO THE TRUNK AND BURNED ITEMS WITHIN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V113000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10595857
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2013

THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT BULB IS NOT EASILY CHANGEABLE.

NHTSA ID
10557484
Incident
Dec 2, 2013
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Dec 11, 2013

2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKES RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ASKED THE DEALER WHY HAD HE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, AND THE DEALER REPLIED, THAT COLORADO WAS NOT ONE OF THE STATES INCLUDED. IT ONLY COVERED THE EAST COAST, BECAUSE OF THE HARSH WINTERS AND SALT USED ON THEIR HIGHWAYS. THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10555604
Incident
Dec 1, 2011
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 15, 2013

MY ESC OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. MY MECHANIC INDICATED IT WAS DUE TO A BAD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AS MY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. HE REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BUT A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THE COMPUTER LISTED A DIFFERENT CODE, STATING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS NOT COMPATIBLE, BUT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WORK OFF AND ON. AWAITING FOLLOW UP WITH MY MECHANIC AS HE WAS GOING TO CHECK WITH HYUNDAI.

NHTSA ID
10535521
Incident
Jul 29, 2013
Mileage
92,323 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 1, 2013

HEADLIGHTS DIM BUT DON'T AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR THUS DRAINING BATTERY LEAVING DEAD CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10510268
Incident
Mar 13, 2013
Mileage
44,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2009

THE LIGHT EMITTED BY THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS SO FOCUSED AS TO CREATE A TUNNEL EFFECT. THIS NON-DIFFUSED LIGHT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY ILLUMINATION OTHER THAN STRAIGHT AHEAD AND NO HIGHER THAN THE LEVEL OF THE HEADLAMP. IN CONDITIONS OF TOTAL DARKNESS, IT IS AS IF YOUR ARE WEARING A LONG BRIMMED CAP WITH BLINDERS. AS YOU DRIVE UP OR DOWN A HILL, THE LIGHT SHINES "INTO" THE RISE OR DIP IN THE ROAD. WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER, THE LIGHT DOES NOT "LEAD" THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BEND, IT "LAGS" BEHIND CREATING A DARK ZONE AS THE CAR GOES AROUND THE BEND. WHEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE SWITCHED ON, THE TUNNEL EFFECT DISAPPEARS. HYUNDAI HAS SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LAMPS OR WITH THEIR DESIGN. THEY CONTEND THAT IT IS A DESIGN FEATURE OF THE PARTICULAR LAMPS AND THAT THEY ARE EFFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE DARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283801
Incident
Jul 4, 2009

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 .