2010 Hyundai Sonata Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 24 electrical system complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata, 7% of its 345 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 50,000 miles. A related recall (13V113000) covers a faulty stop lamp switch, though it also spans several other Hyundai models and years.
- Electrical System complaints
- 24
- 7% of 345
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 50,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Headlights create a distinct horizontal light/dark line at night that owners describe as blinding or vision-impairing on hills and low-beam settings.
- Rear brake light mounted in the middle of the rear window fails and cannot be replaced without removing the rear seat back.
- Stop lamp switch intermittently malfunctions, matching the issue covered by recall 13V113000.
- Vehicle stalls or completely shuts down while driving, sometimes with loss of power steering, and recurs multiple times within short periods.
- Starter and battery failures leave the car unable to start, with owners replacing both parts to resolve the issue.
- Power windows stop responding to the switch, producing a clicking noise but no movement in any window.
When 2010 Hyundai Sonata electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Aug 8, 2010, latest Dec 20, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata
- NHTSA 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System1,712,336 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Electrical System complaints by Sonata model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical complaints does the 2010 Hyundai Sonata have?
- NHTSA lists 24 electrical system complaints for the 2010 Sonata, which is 7% of the 345 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata's electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 13V113000 covers a faulty stop lamp switch that intermittently malfunctions; it also applies to several other Hyundai models and years and does not require parking outside or stopping driving.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically appear on the 2010 Sonata?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints is 50,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- What kinds of electrical failures do owners report on the 2010 Sonata?
- Owners report headlight beam patterns that obscure vision at night, rear brake light access problems, stalling with loss of power steering, starter and battery failures, and non-responsive power windows.
- Did the 2010 Sonata's electrical issues cause any fires or crashes?
- NHTSA data shows 1 fire and 0 crashes and 0 injuries linked to the electrical system complaints for the 2010 Sonata.