2014 Hyundai Sonata · symptom sheet
Tail lights or brake lights fail
- 52owner reports
- 75,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
119 of the 722 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 52 of those describe tail light failure.
Tick what matches of 52 reports
Tail light failure on other Sonata years
No other Sonata model year has enough reports of tail light failure for a sheet of its own. See every Sonata year.
What this problem usually is
These owners find a tail light or brake light dead, and then learn the fix is a whole lamp assembly rather than a bulb. Water inside the lens comes up again and again.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the bulb (34 reports), the wiring or socket (20 reports), the tail light assembly (19 reports) and the LED module (19 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 60,000 and 88,900 miles, from the 26 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Hyundai Sonata that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2011-14MY Sonata (YF) vehicles may exhibit inoperative brake lights that may be caused by melting/deformation of the rear combination housing lamps.
Some 2011-14MY Sonata (YF) vehicles may experience inoperative brake lights that may be caused by melting/deformation of the rear combination housing lamps.
What owners wrote
“Right brake light assembly melting around lightbulb and right brake light not working due to the burn. I went to multiple used auto parts store to try and buy the right brake assembly and noted multiple cars from 2011-2014 had the same issue.”
Filed Sep 27, 2023
“Headlights and taillights constantly burning out. Taillights have melted sockets on both driver and passenger side and it seems the fuses are burning for anything powering the exterior lights. This is a safety hazard from not being seen on the road by other vehicles to a potential fire hazard.”
Filed Jan 21, 2022
“Tail lights continually kept burning out. Eventually, after a few installs, tht last one melted requiring they full assembly to be replaced. The first side went out on the right a couple of years prior, this year the left side did the same thing. The smell of burning was noticed, and found the cause from the tail light.”
Filed Aug 19, 2021
“My brake light went out and it must of caused a shirt cause it then melt a portion of the plastic from the light assembly.”
Filed Jun 30, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 52 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 141 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 136 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 65 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 56 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 54 reports
- Vehicle fire 35 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 29 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 29 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 27 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 26 reports