Is the 2010 Hyundai Sonata a bad year?
345 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sonata years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata are in line with other Sonata years. Body structure stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 Sonata owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 68,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 164 (48%) | 53k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 30 (9%) | 50k–87k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 29 (8%) | 39k–95k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 21 (6%) | 20k–89k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 20 (6%) | 67k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 16 (5%) | 20k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 15 (4%) | 21k–92k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability control | 13 (4%) | 52k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 12 (3%) | 61k–124k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Latches and locks | 11 (3%) | 36k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 11 (3%) | 22k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (3%) | 39k–111k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (2%) | 30k–100k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Tires | 5 (1%) | 13k–42k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 68,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 345 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 13 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving the car on a city street at about 35 miles an hour, it suddenly stalled. I was able to get to a side street.
I went out to start my car and it wouldn't start. I had to call a tow truck after a jump wouldn't work. I bought the car a year and a half ago and when the driver tested the battery, it wasn't dead but it wasn't great.
As I was driving to make a turn the car shut down without warning. It has happened two other times sine this first incident.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 68,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Hyundai Sonata: 2
Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms. Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 53
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Hyundai Sonata. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ata solenoid diagnostic trouble codes P0740, P0741, P0742, P0743, P0746, P0748, P0750, P0755, P0760, P0765, P0770
Some vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument…
Alarm self activates; hood switch pad replacement
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Loss of Motive Power
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Rear Control Arm Failure
Neighbouring years
2009 Sonata: 460 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2011 Sonata: 3,378 complaints, consider selling.
Every Hyundai Sonata year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sonata years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2010 Hyundai Sonata a bad year?
345 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sonata years. At 68,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Hyundai Sonata?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (164), brakes (30), engine (29), transmission and drivetrain (21), air bags (20).
How many recalls does the 2010 Hyundai Sonata have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 13V-354), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 13V-113). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.