I put the car in reverse while parked in a parking lot, when I put the car in reverse, the car took off at a high rate of speed striking one vehicle and continued at a high speed in reverse about 20 or 30 feet also hitting a return cart station, knocking it over and the car still proceeded to crash into a large parked pickup truck causing significant damage to the truck and also my vehicle. The brakes would not stop the car. The car finally stopped after the hard impact with the truck. My car has been deemed a total by my insurance.
2008 Hyundai Sonata acceleration problems
14 complaints (3% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 35,029. 6 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 14
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 35,029
- crashes
- 6
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Hyundai Sonata acceleration problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Hyundai Sonata acceleration
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the federal safety agency received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. the federal safety agency's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in the federal safety agency's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, the federal safety agency does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing the federal safety agency?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.
DP21003
What 2008 Hyundai Sonata owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
While passing a vehicle traveling approximately 40 MPH in a 50mph zone, my 2008 hyundai sonata experienced 'sudden unintended acceleration' approaching a speed of 65-70 MPH. Even after applying firm continuous pressure on brake pedal was unable to slow vehicle down. While continuing to apply pressure to brake pedal, I shifted automatic gear shift into neutral and was able to gradually coast onto the shoulder of the road. When vehicle came to a complete stop. The engine was still running at a very high RPM and sounded as if it were a jet airplane taking off. Turned ignition off and let car sit for 1-2 minutes while I contemplated 'now what?' was unable to put car in park, so started car in neutral. Was able to move gear shift to drive and carefully drove car home. Called hyundai corporate office next morning (monday august 31, 2020) to report my frightening and very dangerous experience. Then called my local hyundai dealer to report and request they come and pick the vehicle up as I did not feel it was safe to drive.
Today my ABS light went on and the brakes became rock hard could not press down on them. Then I parked the car checked all fluids and belts, turned the car on again the ABS light turned off. Started to drive tried accelerating from 25mph to 30mph then ESC light went on locked my brakes tried driving to park in a safe place as soon as I parked the car and turned it off a bad smell and lots of smoke came out of my front tires and rear tires. Got car towed breaks are ok my mechanic pressed the ESC button off and now breaks are soft. I believe there is a malfunction that you should look into that will cause a recall. Also TPMS light randomly goes on and off. Tire pressure again is fine. Please consider looking into this. It?s the only car we?ve had for about 9 years and now my daughter drives it to school. Safety please!! Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
On two separate occasions, the vehicle accelerated with no warning. The first occurred sat september 30. I filled my car with gas and was pulling into a parking place when the vehicle accelerated without warning causing the vehicle to almost crash through a restaurant wall. The second was october 14, when I pulled into my garage, I put my foot on the brake to stop and with my foot on the brake, the car unexpectedly accelerated and hit my freezer. I read several articles on the internet where this is not a rare occurrence.
I tps was on it was -12 outside I was making a left turn at a low speed and I I tried to turn because ahead of me were 2 cars the car did not wanted to break or slowdown. I try to.hrwk but the car was accelerating it did not want to stop. I had to turn my hazard light on as soon that I felt the car not wanting to stop. I notice the rim was going high even though I was trying to.break. I had to pull to the side of the road tried to.put on the emergency break but the car didn't want to.stop so I can put on break. I had to keep.pulling on the emergency break finally it stop I put it on p. Turned the car off waited 5 minutes to turn the car back on and it seems fine now. But I was really scared what if I was was on the express way going fast and can't break. Ever since that day I been driving really slow and cautious.
I was driving south on i25 in colorado near denver. The car was on cruise control, going approximately 55 MPH. I saw a bus a couple of hundred yards away. The bus was either stopped or going very slowly. I applied the brakes and my 2008 sonata would not go out of cruise control. I tried canceling cruise control and braking and car remained in cruise control. At the last moment, I tried the emergency brake as I crashed into the back of the bus going about 55 MPH. I nearly died. I couldn't breathe for 20 seconds. I have fractured ribs and fractured bones in my back. The car is totaled. It looks like a squashed accordion.
I purchased a certified used hyundai sonata 2008 a few months ago and we decided to test it on a long drive. We changed the oil, filled up the tank and making sure that we have everything we need we took off to boston (ma) a 750 mi drive from columbus (oh) for a family reunion. On our way back the ESC off light came up causing an instant loss of acceleration and a dead gas pedal. I learned that if I turned off the car the light went away and I could drive for another 10-15 min until the light came up and we had to pool over again. We drove 10-15 miles at the time all the way home praying that I would not have to pool over in a construction area where there was no place to pool over and traffic would have to stop until I would restart my car. It was nerve wrecking because I had to stop very often in the middle of nowhere during the night without knowing if the next restart will work again. My wife and our 11 months old were in the car with me and I all I wanted was to get them home safe.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle accelerated on its own. The contact attempted to shift gears, but the vehicle would not shift gears. The contact then had to apply the brakes to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for a diagnosis. The dealer was unable to diagnose a failure. The manufacturer refused to look into the failure. The failure and current mileages were 30,000. Updated 09/07/2012
While driving our vehicle the throttle had stuck, I pulled on the floor mat as I was applying the brakes thinking this was the problem. This was not the case as the car wasn't slowing down. I popped the throttle with my foot hoping this would free up the throttle, which just made the problem worse. I placed the car in neutral and shut the engine off, kept applying the brake until I safely got the vehicle to stop. I had the dealership look into the problem that same day to find out that the computer chip had failed. I don't want this to happen to anyone.
I had a terrifying experience and near/miss this morning. My 2008 hyundai sonata (limited edition) car suddenly accelerated for no reason as I was exiting an expressway doing 65 MPH! I couldn't stop the car! My foot was slammed on the brake and I felt/smelled the brake, but the car kept accelerating. I flew through a stop sign at the top of the exit ramp, blowing my horn, whipped around the curve to a street on the right, nearly hitting 4 cars before I finally threw the car into neutral. My car has cruise control, but I don't use it. I was very shaken up, but miraculously, no accident. I had the vehicle towed to the hyundai dealer, and the technicians cannot find anything wrong with it. I won't drive that car again in its current condition. No way. I was terrified. This was clearly a case of sudden unintended acceleration. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before, and I've been driving for 30 years.
Questions about the 2008 Hyundai Sonata acceleration
Does the 2008 Hyundai Sonata have acceleration problems?
Owners have filed 14 complaints about the acceleration of the 2008 Hyundai Sonata, 3% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2008 Hyundai Sonata acceleration problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 35,029 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Hyundai Sonata acceleration?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Hyundai Sonata have the most acceleration problems?
The Hyundai Sonata model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2011 (95 complaints), 2013 (86 complaints) and 2012 (84 complaints).
Other 2008 Hyundai Sonata problems
Airbags 137Visibility 96Brakes 55Engine 49Driver assistance 32Electrical 32Lights 20Seat belts 19Body 15Transmission 14Suspension 9Seats 8Tires 8Fuel system 6Steering 6Locks 4Wheels 1
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