2010 Hyundai Sonata Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 3%of 345 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 1,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2010 Hyundai Sonata, 3% of the 345 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 1,500 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2010 Hyundai Sonata has a low beam defect that is a danger to drive at night , especially on hilly country roads. There is a black band that erases the field of view for objects on or alongside the road. By the time the car had 5k miles on her - she had been in twice to have the headlights checked and I was told they were adjusted as high as they could go and to use high beams if I couldn't see. …”
NHTSA complaint #10364295, filed 2010-11, 1,500 miles“I was sent a safety recall letter from Hyundai stating that the stop lamp switch intermittently malfunctions. This happens to me continuously. I took it to a repair shop when I was vacationing in chicago, as I thought there was a problem with my car, and that I might be in a dangerous road situation. They checked it out and could find nothing, but I still had to pay for the diagnosis. I have asked Hyundai to reimburse me for this since it turns out to be a malfunction, that caused me to spend money to try to diagnose. …”
NHTSA complaint #10555444, filed 2013-12, 60,000 miles“I noticed this immediately after purchasing the car and driving off at night. I had test driven it for a long period in the daytime, but not at night. The headlights are either faulty or a product with very poor engineering. There is a very distinct horizontal line dividing darkness and light where headlights shine. That line jumps up and down as bumps in the road are crossed while driving. Vision with lights at night is so poor that you have to drive slower than the normal speed limit. It is very shadowy with blotchy areas of darkness to light in the range of vision. …”
NHTSA complaint #10347985, filed 2010-08, 71 miles“I have several recalls on my vehicle and the dealership only scrub and they did not replace the crossmember and other parts. I need help to see if this is OK”
NHTSA complaint #11524560, filed 2023-05“The plastic housing of the brake lights have turned black. I'm on my second set that I got at wrecking yard. The plastic doesn't hold up to the heat of the tail/brake light. I saw other cars like mine with same problem at the wrecking yard. And my ground wire to my radiator fan burned out as well during COVID. I think Hyundai used cheap plastic that can't hold up to the heat. My dash cracked really bad as well. All over. I saw the same cracked dashes of other car in wrecking yards. They know they had a plastic defect and they changed body styles the next year. …”
NHTSA complaint #11557588, filed 2023-11Related recalls
- 13V113000Apr 1, 2013Hyundai 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…Covers: Hyundai Sonata 2007–2011, Tucson 2006–2011, Santa FE 2007–2011 +9 more
Related service bulletins
- 11025476Nov 6, 2025This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp…
- 10178175Jul 14, 2020This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 15% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 18 | 11% |
| 2018 | 22 | 6% |
| 2017 | 20 | 3% |
| 2016 | 38 | 5% |
| 2015 | 38 | 3% |
| 2014 | 120 | 16% |
| 2013 | 197 | 10% |
| 2012 | 141 | 9% |
| 2011 | 249 | 7% |
| 2010 | 10 | 3% |
| 2009 | 14 | 3% |
| 2008 | 20 | 5% |
| 2007 | 35 | 5% |
| 2006 | 45 | 4% |
| 2005 | 17 | 10% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% |
| 1997 | 2 | 4% |
| 1996 | 1 | 4% |
| 1993 | 1 | 4% |
| 1992 | 1 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2010 Hyundai Sonata
164 complaintsOther or unknown
37 complaintsBrakes
30 complaintsEngine
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsAir bags
20 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsSteering
15 complaintsElectronic stability control
13 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology