Hyundai Sonata Problems

Are you having problems with your Hyundai Sonata? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest Hyundai Sonata issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the Hyundai Sonata in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Bull bar for a Sonata?
Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 14 Aug 2015

I'm not aware of anyone doing a bar for the Sonata. I would suggest you call the bar manufacturers directly, they might be able to point you in the right direction.

Tapping noise in Sonata
Answered by Graham Smith · 03 Jul 2015

It's most likely to be a sticking tappet or tappets and it takes time to pump up once you start the engine. In the three days the car was sitting the oil has had time to drain back into the sump, so it will take a short time for the oil to be pumped up through the engine again. Have a mechanic listen to the engine for you to determine where the knock is coming from, or change the tappets.

Hyundai Sonata 2015: Reversing camera out of alignment
Answered by Graham Smith · 18 Jan 2019

Something apparently changed when they replaced the head unit. Was the replacement the same as the old one? I don’t doubt the claim that the camera itself can’t be adjusted, but something has changed and what that is needs to be established so it can be fixed. Take it back to the dealer and ask them to have another look and find a solution.

Sometimes dealers don’t go the extra mile to fix a problem, they can be more focussed on getting the car out the door.

Should I buy a Hyundai Sonata?
Answered by Graham Smith · 14 Jan 2017

Comfortable, smooth, fuss-free, with plenty of room inside and a huge boot. It has 5-star safety and comes with a good warranty. It’s a good choice.

Cars have a range of what interior designers call touch-points and these include both the controls and the surfaces you touch just by sitting in the car (the seat, the armrest and so on). Modern cars and materials are much better at getting these surfaces to withstand constant use and contact, but even then, sometimes the little icons can fade or wear off altogether.

It's much less common today, of course, but one thing that hasn’t changed is grimy hands (although Covid has led to generally cleaner hands around the world) so cleaning these touch-points is also important for hygiene and clarity. Something to bear in mind is that, unlike a cruise-control or stereo button, you will probably only touch the gear selector twice every journey (once when you start the car and move off, and the second when you set it to Park and switch the engine off).

Electronics not ageing gracefully is a whole other subject and one that continues to confound some manufacturers. And even though this technology improves with every new generation, the move to electronic control for basic functions often seems like a backward step. Show the owner of a new four-wheel-drive, with a rotary dial to select the driveline settings, an older off-roader with a simple, foolproof mechanical lever to shift between two and four-wheel-drive and you’ll leave them wishing for the good old days.

Hyundai, Audi, Peugeot, Citroen, Holden, Jeep announce recalls
By Robbie Wallis · 12 Mar 2018
Manufacturers including Hyundai, Holden, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen and Audi have all issued safety recalls for various models, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
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Hyundai Sonata recalled over potential brake fault
By Fabian Cotter · 03 Sep 2015
LF Hyundai Sonata sedans are being recalled due to a possible stability control-related brake failure.
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ACCC issues fourteen recalls in past fortnight
By Daniel Gardner · 14 Mar 2017
A number of potentially hazardous faults have been identified in vehicles sold in Australia, prompting a wide range of recalls.
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Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Ford, Mazda, Toyota models recalled
By Justin Hilliard · 10 Oct 2017
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced its latest round of safety recalls, with models from Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota and Ford affected.
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Hyundai recalls more than 3000 examples of Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Palisade and Ioniq 9 SUVs, and Sonata sedans in Australia
By Tim Gibson · 21 Apr 2026
Hyundai has recalled thousands of examples of its Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Palisade and Ioniq 9 SUVs, as well as the Sonata sedan.It affects 3445 units for the 2025 model year in relation to a software issue with the digital driver display, according to a notice from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications Sports and the Arts. “Due to a software issue, the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail to illuminate the visual vehicle speed, fuel level and other critical safety information,” the notice reads.“A loss of safety system warnings whilst driving, could increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders.”A spokesperson for Hyundai Australia said there have been no reported instances of the issue in Australia.The brand will contact owners of affected vehicles to arrange an appointment to rectify the issue via a software update. If the vehicle is Bluelink enabled, the update will be delivered automatically over-the-air (OTA).Hyundai has had a solid start to 2026, with models such as the Kona and Tucson some of the most popular SUVs in Australia currently. The brand recently recalled nearly 5000 examples of its Ioniq and Kona EVs earlier this month. 
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Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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