There are 8 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2009 Hyundai Sonatain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT BULB IS NOT EASILY CHANGEABLE.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE STOP LAMP FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TR
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026