YearToAvoid

2008 Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems

NHTSA has 63 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 Hyundai Sonata, 15% of all 425 complaints for this model year. That is #13 highest engine complaint count among 21 Sonata model years. These complaints report 6 crashes, 5 fires, and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 101,818 miles.

Engine complaints
63
15% of 425
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
101,818 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Hyundai Sonata engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 23, 2009, latest Apr 25, 2025.

2008 Hyundai Sonata engine complaints: complaints filed per month5Sep 2009Jan 2012Dec 2013Oct 2014Sep 2015Oct 2016Oct 2018Aug 2019
63 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2009 to Apr 2025; peak Apr 2017 (5).

Engine recalls for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sonata model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200516 (10%)
  2. 2006108 (10%)
  3. 200766 (9%)
  4. 200863 (15%)
  5. 200992 (20%)
  6. 201040 (12%)
  7. 20111,078 (32%)
  8. 2012638 (41%)
  9. 2013831 (44%)
  10. 2014331 (44%)
  11. 2015666 (58%)
  12. 2016472 (65%)
  13. 2017409 (54%)
  14. 2018233 (62%)
  15. 201994 (58%)
  16. 202037 (21%)
  17. 202136 (27%)
  18. 202231 (33%)
  19. 202332 (37%)
  20. 20248 (17%)
  21. 20254 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Hyundai Sonata have engine problems?
NHTSA has 63 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 Hyundai Sonata, 15% of all complaints for this model year, including 6 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 101,818 miles.
Which Hyundai Sonata year has the most engine complaints?
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has the most engine complaints (1,078), compared with 63 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Hyundai Sonata is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.