2005 Hyundai Sonata
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 57 of 165 complaints (35%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 202 in 2004 to 165 in 2005.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | vs. 2005 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,100 | 2,700–3,100 | 2,700–3,100 | 2,500–2,950 | 2,500–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–23 | 20–23 | 20–23 | 21–25 | 21–25 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–20 / 25–28 | 17–20 / 25–28 | 17–20 / 25–28 | 18–21 / 27–31 | 18–21 / 27–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–444 | 386–444 | 386–444 | 355–423 | 355–423 | |
| Complaints filed | 199 | 202 | 165 | 1,047 | 696 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 17 | 22 | 26 | 43 | 30 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | |
| Injuries reported | 45 | 32 | 27 | 38 | 20 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2005 Hyundai Sonata have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2005 Hyundai Sonata?
Airbags & Restraints: 57 of 165 NHTSA complaints (35%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Hyundai Sonata get?
EPA rates it 20–23 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2005 Hyundai Sonata?
EPA estimates $2,700–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $2,700 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 18 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 28 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 57 | 19 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 32 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 09V280000 · Jul 17, 2009
Defect: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.