HyundaiSonata2008Overview/hyundai/sonata/2008/base/

2008 Hyundai Sonata

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Sonata.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2008 Hyundai Sonata enters the records as a passenger car defined in part by its 4.5-quart oil capacity and recommended 5W-20 or 5W-30 API viscosity. Within the nameplate's broader complaint arc running from 1990 to 2026, this model year logged 425 owner filings and five recalls, with air bags emerging as the most frequently cited trouble area. That volume places the 2008 well clear of the platform's 2011 high of 3,368 complaints, situating it outside the model's most troubled stretch. For a researcher weighing long-term dependability, the year reads as a moderate chapter in a reliability record that has since moved toward far lighter filing volumes.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire size225-50R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat2550025001

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase107.5 in
Curb weight3254 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sonata of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.6–8.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2006 LX V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2009SE V6 3.3L V66.90 sec15.30 sec249 hpFWD
2009SE 2.4L I-48.70 sec16.70 sec175 hpFWD
2009Limited 2.4L I-48.80 sec16.80 sec175 hpFWD
2006LX V6 3.3L V66.60 sec15.30 sec235 hpFWD
2006GLS V6 3.3L V66.80 sec15.20 sec235 hpFWD
2006LX V6 3.3L V67.00 sec15.50 sec235 hpFWD
2006LX V6 3.3L V67.30 sec15.60 sec235 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0-32.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.5
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-85 · GL-4

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7-9 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts210-224 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts56 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsBolt 11-14 ft-lbs, nut: 23-30 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsM8 nut: 18-22 ft-lbs, M10 nut: 25-30 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-33 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0-32.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub148-206 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)720 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.52-.72 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance6895-7105 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.15-1.26 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.73-5.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number124R

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-19 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177 °F
Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature179 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)54.3-55.8 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)54.3-55.8 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle45-55 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.016; Rear: 0.012 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1M6 Bolts8–9 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
116 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9216 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1tighten bolts in sequence 2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 8, 72.9–4.3 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 12511 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 37,500 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Sonata sits near the peak of a decade‑long escalation in federal complaints, with 425 reports—well above the 2006‑2007 levels (1,047 and 696) but still lower than the 2011 spike of 3,368. Recall activity follows a similar arc: after a high of 11 recalls in 2006, it falls to five in 2008 and continues to drop to just two by 2019, indicating a gradual improvement after the mid‑2000s surge. Investigations also peaked in the mid‑2000s (5 in 2006‑2007) and have steadily declined to zero in recent years, while TSBs remain relatively stable but have trended downward from a high of 87 in 2006 to 9 in 2026. The 2008 complaint profile is dominated by Air‑Bag issues (95 reports) and Visibility problems (57), with modest engine and brake concerns, and it registers 19 crash‑related and 11 fire complaints. **Takeaway:** 2008 reflects a transitional year after the 2006‑2007 surge; its lower recall and investigation counts suggest fewer systemic defects than the peak years, making it a reasonably safe used‑car choice within the generation.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
53
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
425
Owner complaints
19 involved a crash · 11 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 425 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags95
Visibility57
Engine29
Service Brakes, Hydraulic28
Visibility/Wiper25
Service Brakes13
Air Bags,Seat Belts13
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V161000Air BagsReported 10/04/2008

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 393,308 MY 2006-2008 SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 53 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
24-BD-001H2024-02-14VisibilityThis bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade…
23-EM-005H2023-10-13Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sonata. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Sonata take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Sonata have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.