2006 Hyundai Sonata Electrical System Problems

May 2019: Battery light came on and off for a few minutes. Car sputtered and engine quit. Replaced alternator and battery; problem went away. Feb 2022: Battery light came on and off for a few minutes. Car sputtered and engine quit. Replaced alternator and battery. This time the mechanic noticed that oil was leaking from the front valve cover gasket and was getting into the alternator; thus the most likely source of damage to alternator.

AROUND 5:30 PM DURING THE DAY I PARKED THE VEHICLE BY THE CURB ON THE STREET WITH NO LIGHTS ON AND NOTHING LEFT PLUGGED IN. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF THE WINDOWS WERE ROLLED ALL THE WAY UP AND THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. I LOCKED THE DOORS THEN WENT INSIDE THE APARTMENT AND ABOUT 30 MIN LATER THE NEIGHBORS INFORMED ME OF A FIRE INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I REACTED QUICKLY GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, RAN TO THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED THE DRIVER DOOR MANUALLY WITH THE KEY AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT SPREAD. THE CENTER COUNSEL AND CENTER DASH AREA WITH CONTROLS FOR THE AC, AND RADIO WERE ALL BURNED AND MELTED DOWN. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FINALLY ARRIVED AND TOOK THEIR REPORT AND LEFT I RESEARCHED WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. I LEARNED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST THESE PARTICULAR TYPES OF VEHICLES AND IN 2016 THE FIRST RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. THESE VEHICLES HAVE ABS MODULES AND HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS THAT ALLOW MOISTURE TO ENTER CAUSING CORROSION RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT. AND BECAUSE THEY STAY ELECTRICALLY POWERED WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF THESE SHORT-CIRCUITS CAN START A FIRE. HYUNDAIS NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 172.

MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON. I REPLACED THE BATTERY 2X, REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, CHECKED THE GROUND AND ALL CONNECTIONS. MY BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES, THEN GOES OFF THEN MY SEATBELT LIGHT BLINKS AND GOES OFF AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT GETTING THE POWER TO WIPE AND THE REAR DEFROSTER TURNS OFF EVERY TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHES. IVE BEEN TO 3 MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAY BRING IT TO HYUNDAI. WHEN I BROUGHT IT THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL SO I LEFT THE SERVICE ROOM AND AM NOW ON THE NHTSA SITE.ALL OF THIS IS WHILE BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION

REPLACED ALTERNATOR DUE TO FAULTY LEAK OIL GASKETS. OIL LEAKS ONTO ALTERNATOR IN 3.3 LITER V6 SONATA. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ALTERNATOR IN LESS THAN A YR. I ALSO READ IN A AUTO FORUM OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS CAUSING CAR TO JUST DIE WITH LITTLE WARNING OTHER THAN BATTERY LIGHT LIGHTING UP ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE BARELY MADE IT HOME.

CAR STALLED AND LOCKED UP THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE ABS MODULE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED AS I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL NOW.

I'M HAVING A FEW ISSUES WITH MY CAR. SOME OF THE ISSUES I'M HAVING ARE: MY LIGHTING/HEADLIGHTS, MY FUEL LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND CAUSE GAS TO LEAK FROM MY VEHICLE, IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT START OR TURN ALL THE WAY OVER, AND THE BRAKES ON MY CAR. I HAVE LOOKED UP SOME RECALLS FOR MY SPECIFIC TYPE OF CAR AND SOME OF THEM MATCH THE ISSUES OF WHICH I'M CURRENTLY HAVING. ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME.

I HAD 2006 SONATA ESC LIGHT POPPED UP AND SUDDENLY MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED WORKING MY CAR WAS IDEALIZED TO THE SPEED OF 20MPH I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE I WAS JUST SAVED TO MEET AN ACCIDENT. FUSE BOX STARTED HEATING AND IT BURNET I SHUTOFF ENGINE AND THEN STAYED THEIR FOR A WHILE AND THEN I WENT BACK HOME. I THOUGHT ONLY MY CAR HAS THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM NOT USING MY CAR SINCE I CHANGED TPS ASSEMBLY BREAKLIGHT SWITCH FUSE BUT STILL, PROBLEM RESIST THIS MAY CAUSE A BIG ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS SAFETY PROBLEM.

My parking and tail lights do not turn off when I turn off the car when it's dark. I have to turn the headlight switch on and off several times to see if they will turn off. If they do not I have to disconnect the battery so it doesn't discharge. I was told this is a fuse panel issue. If this is a fuse panel issue then I'm concerned what else will go wrong with the fuse panel. If the lights stop working altogether then that will be a problem. I have not taken this vehicle to a dealer due to financial responsibilities. This all started without warning. At about the same time, my ESC turned off and will not come back on. Curious if this is connected.

WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND THE KEY IS OUT OF THE IGNITION THE PARK LIGHTS STAY ON IN THE FRONT AND BACK, AS WELL AS THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAY LIT UP. I HAVE TO UNHOOK THE BATTERY TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF. AS SOON AS I HOOK THE BATTERY BACK UP THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE ESC AND ABS LIGHTS CONTINUE TO COME ON WITHOUT WARNING. THEY GO OFF ONCE I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BUT SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THEY COME BACK ON.

IT ALL STARTED WITH 3 BAD ALTERNATORS. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS ALL BRAND NEW ALTERNATORS. IN THOSE 2 YEARS THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING IN INTERMENTS. TURNING THE KEY 5-6 TIMES THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY START. RECENTLY THE CAR'S HEADLIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, AND RADIO TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWING BY APPLYING THE BRAKE. COMPUTER PROMPTED NO CODE FOR A PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. WHAT IS THE MALFUNCTION?

A RED LIGHT APPEARED ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT STATED "AIR BAG" AND CONTINUES TO STAY LIT WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS AN AIRBAG OR SENSOR MALFUNCTION WITH THE VEHICLE. I AM MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TODAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR THIS ISSUE.

ELECTRIC STABILIZATION RANDOMLY TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN AND WONT TURN BACK ON, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT HAS NEVER COME ON, I'VE HAD 2 FLATS, AND SEVERAL REALLY LOW AIR TIRE MOMENTS; THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS COVERED BY THE LAST RECALL BUT WHEN I GOT THE LAST ONE I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF THEY SAID MY CAR WASN'T AFFECTED BY THE RECALL.

I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA WHEN I GO TO LOCK THE DOOR THE LIGHTS STAY ON. I USE THE REMOTE AND MANUALLY AND THEY STILL STAY ON. THERE ARE TIMES THE LIGHTS WHEN FINALLY GO OFF THEY GO ON BY THEMSELVES WHEN PARKED. THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON ON 2006-2010. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD! HOW COME NO RECALL! LRETIRING SOON AND WILL BE LOOKING FOR A NEW VEHICLE AND NEEDLESS TO SAY HYUNDAI WILL NOT BE ONE I WILL BE LOOKING AT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DRIVE GASKET WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V415000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,158. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

MY SONATA 3.3L V-6 ENGINE WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO BEGIN STALLING AND SLAMMING INTO 3RD GEAR FAIL SAFE MODE, LUCKILY I HAVE NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED DUE TO THIS YET! I HAVE READ UP EXTENSIVELY ON THIS AND FOUND MANY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT ON WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM WEBSITE. IT APPEARS MANY DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE AS THEY HAVE HAD VEHICLE IN TO BE PROBLEM SOLVED WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MORE SO THAN A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. AFTER HAVING MY CAR INTO 4 DIFFERENT SHOPS INCLUDING A DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WITH NO FIX AND ONLY A 'IF WE CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WE CAN'T FIX IT' RESPONSE I GET MAD. WE HAVE RULED OUT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE; TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, RELAYS, ETC. FOR 4 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOPS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHICH IS HAPPENING SO OFTEN NOW IT IS NOT SAFE AND I AM HAVING TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO TRY AND BUY A NEW CARE. I CANNOT TRADE THIS IN DUE TO THE PROBLEM. WHEN IT IS RUNNING IT RUNS GREAT, UNTIL IT SLAMS INTO 3RD GEAR WITH NO WARMING AND YOU LOOSE ALL ACCELERATION OR IT DIES COMPLETELY. YOU CAN SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT AND IT RUNS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED, UNTIL IT STALLS AGAIN. THE LAST MECHANIC HAVING VERIFIED EVERYTHING HE WAS TOLD TO CHECK HAS DETERMINED IT MUST BE IN THE COMPUTER. SOME INDIVIDUALS SAID EARLY ON THEY HAD THE COMPUTERS REPLACES (AT A BIG COST) ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN. MY CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 118,000 MILES ON IT. I HATE HAVING TO GET RID OF THIS CAR BUT THERE IS NO WAY IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. HYUNDAI SEEMS TO BE IGNORING THIS COMPLAINT AS NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND NO HELP IN REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. TOO MANY CARS AT THE APRX MILEAGE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND LEADS ME TO BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER OR FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONTHS OF REPAIR TO FIX IT SHOULD BE MADE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE VALVE COVER - LEFT (FRONT) SIDE OF 3.3 V6. THIS IS DIRECTLY ABOVE ALTERNATOR. EVENTUALLY ALTERNATOR FAILS DUE TO SEVERE OIL/DIRT CONTAMINATION. FIRST NOTICED WHEN BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AT IDLE, SHOWING CHARGING PROBLEM. BY THEN DAMAGE IS DONE. VALVE COVER MUST BE REPLACED ALONG WITH ALTERNATOR OR PROBLEM WILL QUICKLY RECUR. *THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR HYUNDAI VERACRUZ WITH SAME ENGINE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SONATA IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON, WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

MY 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE CUP HOLDER IS LEVEL AND NEXT-TO THE GEAR SHIFTER. WHEN I BRAKE, OCCASIONALLY FLUID FROM A BEVERAGE MAY FALL ONTO AND INTO THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE SHIFTER ENCLOSURE ALLOWS FLUID TO FLOW INTO IT AND COLLECT AROUND A CONNECTOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL SIGNALS THAT END-UP COMMUNICATING TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER'AND THEN ONTO THE TRANSMISSION THAT I DOWNSHIFTED WHEN I DID NOT DOWN SHIFT. THE RESULT IS I HAVE TO FLIP OVER TO 'SHIFTRIONIC' MODE BECAUSE THE CAR IS PERFORMING LIKE I PUT IT IN THAT MODE WHEN I DID NOT. I TRY TO UPSHIFT BUT IT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY'I END UP BEING DISTRACTED TRYING TO PUT THE CAR IN THE RIGHT GEAR AND THE CAR ENDS UP GOING FASTER THAN I INTENDED. I GENERALLY DON'T NOTICE THE DOWNSHIFT UNTIL THE ENGINE STARTS ROARING'.DROPPING INTO SECOND GEAR ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY IS VERY UNSETTLING. AGAIN, I TRY TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED BY PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND ATTEMPTING TO UPSHIFT AND IT'S VERY DISTRACTING. I HAVE HAD A 'PLUS 5' DRIVER RATING FOR OVER 2 DECADES AND I OWN TWO OTHER CARS AND I NEVER BEEN TICKETED WITH EITHER CAR. BUT I RECENTLY HAVE BEEN TICKETED TWICE WITH THE SONATA AND IN BOTH CASES THE CAR DOWN-SHIFTED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. THE PROBLEM STARTED SPORADICALLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND INITIALLY I DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE FOR THE BEVERAGE SPILL TO CREATE A SHIFTER MALFUNCTION, SO IT'S NOT OBVIOUS WHAT IS HAPPENING FOR A WHILE. THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IT IS A SIMPLE BUT POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW.

BURNING SMELL LIKELY ELECTRICAL APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD. CAR CHECKED BY MECHANIC ALL AROUND EXTERIOR- NOT FROM ANY COMPONENTS THERE. BURNING SMELL IDENTIFIED BY MECHANIC AS ELECTRICAL LIKELY PLASTIC INSULATION THAT IS BURNING. ONLY ELECTRICAL WORK DONE WAS BY HYUDAI RECALL TO CORRECT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT THAT AIRBAGS WERE NOT OPERATIONAL SPECIFICALLY THE DEFECT WAS TO HAVE NECESSITATED REMOVING THE PASSENGER SEAT AND FIXING/REPLACING A SENSOR. SINCE THAT WAS CORRECTED THE INSIDE LIGHT DOES NOT GO ON WHEN THE CAR DOOR OPENS. THE BURNING SMELL COMES ON AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP -BEEN RUNNING TEN-15 MINUTES. SO FAR NO OTHER EFFECTS. I HAD HOPED THE BURNING SMELL WOULD GO AWAY. TODAY IS THREE WEEKS AND BURNING SMELL HAS NOT DIMINISHED FORCING ME TO OPEN WINDOWS TO VENT WHILE DRIVING. NOW I MUST MAKE A APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE DASHBOARD REMOVED TO LOCATE DEFECT.