NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 34 complaints against the 2024 Hyundai Sonata. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2024 Hyundai Sonata complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2024 Hyundai Sonata has generated 44 NHTSA complaints and has 1 active recall. If your 2024 Hyundai Sonata has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Hyundai pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
The 2024 Hyundai Sonata has generated 6 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “I’m reporting a serious safety issue with my 2024 Hyundai Sonata. After a routine service at Koons Hyundai of Woodbridge in late February, the under-engine splash shield detached and dragged under the vehicle while I was driving on the highway. Upon inspection, it was clear that the splash shield was not secured with any screws or clips — it was either improperly installed during service or never fastened at all. This caused the shield to flap violently at high speeds before tearing off entirely. It posed a serious hazard to me and other drivers on the road. When I brought the issue to the dealership, they refused responsibility, falsely claimed it was caused by scratches (despite no such damage before the failure), and told me and my wife that we are no longer welcome for service. A part like this should never fall off a new vehicle, especially after a recent service. This could have caused a major accident if it hit another vehicle or interfered with my driving. I am requesting NHTSA to review this case for possible service negligence or manufacturing defect, and ensure future safety.” (NHTSA Complaint #11656098)
The 2024 Hyundai Sonata has generated 5 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “My car when shut off and restart will show the wrong speed. I am not the only person who has been dealing with this and you can look up 2024 hyundai sonata n line speedometer and a reddit post will come up with other people dealing with this. Hyundai is not willing to deal with this even after proving it was off” (NHTSA Complaint #11658167)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2024 Hyundai Sonata include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 4 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Hello everyone. Since I purchased the vehicle new, the HVAC controls have never functioned properly. The A/C engages with the button off; this issue is only temporary solved by turning the button on and off again. The mode defaults to face and feet; this issue is only temporary solved by cycling through the modes until you reach your desired mode. Besides this being a very annoying problem, I found this to be dangerous for me because I like cool air blowing to my face, and I rarely catch this issue on time. Instead of cool air blowing to my face only as it’s selected in my car, cool air is being blown to my face and feet instead. My feet get numb and my foot movements are slow when theyre too cold, and it takes a long time to warm back up. I usually pull over for a few minutes to warm my feet up to get back on the road, sometimes I’ll get out of my car and walk back and forth to get the blood flow going. The dealership has inspected my vehicle twice to get it fixed under warranty, but so far their repairs have not solved the problem. In my opinion it is most likely a software bug that could be caused by a faulty module or program code, or something in the canbus system. I am almost certain that it is not a mechanical failure.” (NHTSA Complaint #11721888)
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2024 Hyundai Sonata have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 3 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate to overtake another vehicle at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to approximately 20 MPH instead. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes, before restarting and continuing to drive. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure had occurred three times. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the transfer case had failed and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,500.” (NHTSA Complaint #11693259)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2024 Hyundai Sonata include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 2 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The exterior lights such as head lights and brake lights aswell as all interior electronics shut off at random intervals while driving posing a serious danger early in the morning and at night.” (NHTSA Complaint #11710434)
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2024 Hyundai Sonata by the NHTSA or Hyundai. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Flashing brake lights may cause confusion for other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rear brake light software, free of charge. Additionally, Hyundai will release the software update over-the-air (OTA). Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2024 Hyundai Sonata:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Hyundai to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2024 Hyundai Sonata qualifies as a lemon under California law, Hyundai may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Hyundai a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Hyundai dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Hyundai pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Hyundai a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2024 Hyundai Sonata has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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