2008 Hyundai Sonata: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Lights, Steering · IL

I find replacing the light bulbs for head lights and brake lights and flood lights more often than any other cars I have owned. The steering wheel makes a noise when turning left. And a noise is getting louder not sure what it’s related to.

Filed Jun 28, 2020 · Lights, Visibility · 11,000 miles · NY

The headlights on my car are angled too low while using low-beams and the visibility at night is bad. This has been an issue for the entire time I have had this car and I am now aware that I can file a complaint against it. High-beams seem to function ok.

Filed Nov 14, 2018 · Airbags, Lights · 121,605 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the passenger side air bag indicator illuminated and remained lit. In addition, the low beam headlights became misaligned to the left and failed to illuminate the full view of the road ahead. Downey hyundai (7550 firestone blvd, downey, california 90241, (562) 314-4331) was made aware of the air bag indicator failure and disconnected the passenger side air bag. The dealer stated that the passenger side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Keyes mission hills hyundai (10240 sepulveda blvd, mission hills, california 91345) was made aware of the headlamp lighting failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that parts and labor would not be covered per the federal safety agency campaign number: 08e021000 (exterior lighting) in regards to the headlights. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 08v161000 (air bags) and 08e021000 (exterior lighting) as potential causes of the failures. The failure mileage was 121,605.

Filed Feb 5, 2018 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · UT

I have the 3.3l v6 engine that is also in two other vehicles made by hyndai. Both of those vehicles have been recalled due to the fact that the engine leaks oil from a faulty gasket and drips onto the altenator. This causes the alternator to fail prematurely and often without warning. I am on my third one now and it is showing signs of failure. This can be extremely dangerous on the freeway when the vehicle all of a sudden loses all electrical power. This scenario has happened to me twice now. No headlights, no dashboard indicators, no brake lights, no turn signals. At 70mph this creates an extremely dangerous scenario.

Filed Feb 19, 2017 · Airbags, Electrical · WI

My driver's side airbag light has been on for quite some time, and my passenger side airbag light is not detecting anyone sitting in the passenger seat. I took my car to a mechanic and was told it's an electrical issue with my airbags and may be due to a faulty wiring issue under the front passenger seat. Additionally, the low beam on my driver side lighting fixture is not working, although I've had the bulb replaced multiple times. Further, the headlights, although also replaced, don't work at all.

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Lights · 50,000 miles · GA

I was unaware when I have turned on my parking lights - not my headlights. Dashboard lights are the same for either choice. Too often I am unaware when I have not turned my headlights on.. Dealer response was - no cars give you visual indication of the selected level of outside lighting. This is dangerous and has cause near misses often at dusk.

Filed Aug 30, 2014 · Lights · 184,526 miles · NC

I cant keep headlights working on the passenger side and the wires are melted so its hard to even change the bulbs. Anyways I have been through 4-6 bulbs since feb. But most of the time I go without lights on that side even though it makes it hard to see at night.

Filed Apr 23, 2010 · Airbags, Lights · FL

I bought a brand new 2008 hyundai sonata in november of 2007. I received a letter in the mail back in early 2008 about the recall on the airbag sensor. I took the car in a number of times and the dealership said there was no issue. I took the car in another time and the dealership saw the defect. What happens is the passenger airbag will come on saying the passenger airbag is off, even if there is an adult over 150lbs sitting in the seat in the up-right position. The dealership sent the seat to some place in california to be fixed and then was returned after three days. I got the car back and I was still having the same issues. I took the car back to the dealership again a number of times to get the issue fixed. I showed them pictures and videos but they told me there was no issue with the airbag. My sales-woman suggested that I file the lemon law on the car. She said that as long as I was still under the warranty that I would be eligible for the lemon law. I called the hotline number she gave me and they said I just missed the deadline by one month. The rep for the lemon law said I had two years plus 60 days to file. My deadline would of been january of 2009. I called the hotline in february of 2009. They referred me to the bbb auto line. The only thing bbb did for me was contact hyundai to set up an appointment with me for the district parts manager to look at the car. The first appointment was given to me with two days notice. I called the dealership to let them know that I was not able to make the appointment on such short notice. I am a manager of a store and I work 9am-6pm everyday except sundays. I was told that hyundai would schedule another appointment with me but I have yet to hear from them. I was also told that the district parts manager would not arrive before 9:30am and the dealership closes before I would have a chance to get there in the evenings and they are closed on sundays. I also recently found two more recalls issued for my car for the headlights.

Filed Dec 31, 2007 · Airbags · 10 miles · MO

The airbag light does not go off when a lighter weight passenger is in the front passenger seat which we find very unsafe for our passengers. The weight it should register to go off as we understood is a body being over 85 lbs., but there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when it stays on or goes off to make the passenger safer. Many drivers are light weight as are many passengers and this should be fixed for safety. Occasionally when restarting the car, the light suddenly goes off and sets the airbag ready for use if needed, but it is very annoying to restart your car several times and a waste of gas. After several restarts and hoping, the light sometimes never goes out. This is with the same light weight passenger so it does not make sense. Also the automatic headlights come on much later than dusk and therefore make unsafe driving conditions if the driver thinks they have come on and yet they are delayed much longer than normal. Paying for this feature just to not have them come on in time for dusk makes for buyer dissatisfaction among the feeling of being unsafely driving with out lights at dusk.