Hyundai Sonata Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 472 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the Hyundai Sonata across 26 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (156). The words owners use most often: “sun visor” (37% of reports).
- 472visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 51%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Sun visor: mentioned in 176 of 472 complaints (37%)
- Driver side: mentioned in 145 of 472 complaints (31%)
- Stay position: mentioned in 33 of 472 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility repair on the Hyundai Sonata at $150, and half of them between $150 and $210.
Based on 31 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 367 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 472 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 8 an injury.
Hyundai Sonata visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Sonata | 4 | 3% | 18,150 |
| 2020 Sonata | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2018 Sonata | 1 | 0% | 125,000 |
| 2017 Sonata | 1 | 0% | 25,000 |
| 2016 Sonata | 7 | 1% | 42,549 |
| 2015 Sonata | 13 | 1% | 70,000 |
| 2014 Sonata | 4 | 1% | 25,750 |
| 2013 Sonata | 12 | 1% | 8,300 |
| 2012 Sonata | 14 | 1% | 6,100 |
| 2011 Sonata | 18 | 1% | 33,994 |
| 2010 Sonata | 3 | 1% | 71 |
| 2009 Sonata | 8 | 2% | 48,500 |
| 2008 Sonata | 67 | 16% | 49,803 |
| 2007 Sonata | 107 | 15% | 60,000 |
| 2006 Sonata | 156 | 15% | 63,000 |
| 2005 Sonata | 4 | 2% | 3,500 |
| 2004 Sonata | 4 | 2% | 115,000 |
| 2003 Sonata | 5 | 3% | 56 |
| 2002 Sonata | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2001 Sonata | 9 | 4% | 62,150 |
| 2000 Sonata | 6 | 2% | — |
| 1999 Sonata | 5 | 4% | 63,481 |
| 1998 Sonata | 9 | 18% | 56,500 |
| 1997 Sonata | 5 | 10% | 91,234 |
| 1996 Sonata | 2 | 9% | — |
| 1995 Sonata | 5 | 8% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Visibility:windshield
Model years: 2021
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Santa Fe, 2021 Sonata, and Elantra vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
Risk: A windshield that detaches from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will remove and reinstall the front windshield panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 216.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Model years: 2015, 2016
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 8, 2014, to August 18, 2015, and Hyundai Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, equipped with the panoramic sunroof option. Due to a bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles may detach while driving.
Risk: If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 152.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Model years: 1996, 1997
Problem: The windshield wiper motor circuit breaker electrical contacts were contaminated during assembly.
Risk: This contamination interferes with the electrical circuit continuity and prevents the windshield wiper motor from operating. Inoperative windshield wipers can contribute to reduced visibility during inclement weather increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will remove the contaminants from the windshield wiper motor circuit breaker contacts.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the panoramic sunroof detached from the vehicle. The hazard lights were activated, and the vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact attempted to close the cover and was…
My car has 123,000 miles on it, it started with just aircon compressor not working then a week after the engine light started blinking and doesnât accelerate more than 60 in the interstate then there is a rod knocking in my engine after that.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that all the rear row seat belts did not buckle as intended and water would leak from the front passenger side air conditioner. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware…
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the sunroof detached from the roof of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The vehicle also experienced severe engine knocking and the…
We have a 2015 hyundai sonata with a panoramic sunroof. About 2 weeks ago we opened the sunroof and noticed the wind deflector popped up higher than normal. When we tried to close the sunroof it would not close. The deflector was sticking up and we had to push it down quickly to avoid punching our…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Hyundai Sonatas have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 472 owner complaints about visibility for the Hyundai Sonata. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Hyundai Sonata visibility?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix visibility problems on the Hyundai Sonata?
Owners report a typical cost of $150 (half paid between $150 and $210), from 31 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the Hyundai Sonata?
The most frequent phrase is “sun visor”, in 176 of 472 complaints, followed by “driver side” (145).
Other Hyundai Sonata problems
- Engine problems (4,698)
- Steering problems (2,363)
- Air Bags problems (2,044)
- Electrical System problems (1,974)
- Structure problems (1,066)
- Power Train problems (1,050)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,013)
- Service Brakes problems (900)
See all Hyundai Sonata problems.