Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#11686131September 9, 2025
ENGINE
The car was being driven from Virginia to Austin, Texas. In Tennessee within 10 miles of Jackson, TN, on [XXX] the car suddenly lost power and the engine light started flashing and could not be driven above 60 MPH (the speed limit there was 75 and the car was being driven at the speed limit until this occurred). Even though the car lost power, the temperature remained steady and was driven to a car repair place and the next day it was towed to a nearby Hyundai dealership in Jackson, TN where they declared the engine needed to be replaced. This was also confirmed by our insurance company, Progressive. Ran the VIN and the car is an affected vehicle under Service Campaign 953 and engine should qualify for lifetime warranty but Hyundai is trying to deny the claim due to bogus claim of "Exceptional Maintenance Neglect" which is not even close to true. The car had an oil and filter change a few days prior to the start of the trip and had been well maintained prior to that as well. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685939September 9, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 10 MPH. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed knock sensor. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown extended warranty for the knock sensor; however, the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 103,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685678September 8, 2025
ENGINE
Purchased a 2018 Sonata Sport in 2022 not knowing oil consumption was an issue. After noticing that my oil was low after I would get an oil change made me very suspicious. Drove to a Hyundai Service Center and paid out of pocket for a diagnostic. Was told cracked oil pan but they never performed any of the standard diagnostics for the high oil consumption. We ordered the oil pan and scheduled service, told we were good to drive & still till this day of 9/5/2025 I'm still putting oil in my car because it just burns through it. I am scared that this car leaves me on the side on the road with my kids. Also when I bought the car in march 29 2022 that car has given me nothing but problems with oil consumption, non stop spark plugs replaced & knocking. I have a video of the knocking & I’ve even asked Hyundai when I brought it in they couldn’t find the issue. They even ran dye through my engine to see if it had any leaks & it had none. So where is the oil going & why is my engine knocking?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685750September 8, 2025
ENGINE
Hello, I brought my 2014 Hyundai Sonata (approx. 73,000 miles) to an authorized Hyundai dealership (MotorWorld Hyundai, Wilkes-Barre, PA) on August 4, 2025, for Recall 162 (NHTSA 17V-226) due to audible engine knocking. I reported the noise when dropping off the vehicle. The dealer claimed the engine passed the inspection but did not provide any documentation confirming that the required bearing test was performed. They said the issue might be from the top of the engine (possibly the timing chain) and wanted to charge $800 to disassemble the engine, with a repair estimate of $2,900. The reason they wanted to disassemble the engine is because after an initial diagnosis for $160 they discovered the noise is not from the timing chain. Besides, it would be extremely unusual for the issue to be a timing chain at 73k. I later learned from Hyundai Customer Care that the recall still shows as “Incomplete” in their system, meaning the inspection was never properly submitted. I'm conerned that the recall was not properly performed or submitted (why does it still show "incomplete" if they insepcted it and it passed?) and that the symptoms may still indicate the exact defect covered under Recall 162 (rod bearing knock), I believe I was denied proper remedy (in a less polite way - I think they flat out lied to me about the real issue) and I was pressured toward expensive non-recall repairs without conclusive diagnosis. My understanding is that getting a diagnosis for a timing chain shouldn't cost anywhere near $800. I am requesting NHTSA review this situation to ensure Hyundai fulfills its federally mandated recall obligation. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685245September 5, 2025
AIR BAGS
My passenger occupancy mat señor is not working. It has been replaced by Hyundai several times and was a part of a recall. It was replaced in 2006 and 2007. They installed a new version of the senor mat, and the mat senor is defective again. I called Hynindia of America, and they said even though it was a recall and they fixed it as a recall fix, they said that they are no longer responsible. Is that the case?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685254September 5, 2025
ENGINE
Engine is burning up full tank of oil in a few days there are no oil leaks coming from the car. The car has been expected and worked on by multiple mechanics. The engine lights keeps coming on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685272September 5, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel injector failed. The vehicle stall and accelerate poorly due to misfires. It is leaching gasoline into the oil which can result in total engine failure. Dealership verified the injector was bad. There was a warning light at one time after refueling, presumed it was my fuel cap, tightened it, and the light went away.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685341September 5, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle had the antitheft recall service done. On 8/30/25 the vehicle was stolen. It was recovered on 9/1/25 without the catalytic converter. The insurance confirmed it was a total loss. The door lock was tampered along with the engine lock. This was a horrible experience.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685368September 5, 2025
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
With no warning my car left me sit on the side of the road and when started the engine made an awful knocking noise. Hyundai denied to replace the engine despite there being at least 2 engine recalls. When I asked why they said it was due to no maintenance records so I provided them with maintenance records like they requested and then they deny it again and say they aren’t replacing the engine because the problem with my engine had nothing to do with the 2 engine recalls my vehicle IS affected by.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685372September 5, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The camshaft position sensor internal rubber plug is faulty and it allows oil to leak into the sensor housing. Ruining the sensor and the brushes and housing. It causes the check engine light to come on the idle races and car takes off on its own. Can’t drive it because it’s to dangerous. Once it takes off then it goes into limp mode and you can’t pull out because of no power. 40000 miles. The internet is full of owners having the same problem
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685382September 5, 2025
ENGINE
Purchased a 2028 Sonata Sport in 2022 not knowing oil consumption was an issue. After noticing that my oil was low after I would get an oil change made me very suspicious. Drove to a Hyundai Service Center and paid out of pocket for a diagnostic. Was told cracked oil pan but they never performed any of the standard diagnostics for the high oil consumption. We ordered the oil pan and scheduled service, told we were good to drive & still till this day of 9/5/2025 I’m still putting oil in my car because it just burns through it. I am scared that this car leaves me on the side on the road with my kids.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685412September 5, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Pushed acceleration at traffic light to cross and turn into neighborhood, car started beeping frantically, 'check hev system' flashed on dash as well as 'turn off engine' while car decelerated to 1-3 mph. Battery meter bar on left side of dash completely depleted showing no battery power supply at all. Turned vehicle off for a few minutes then restarted. Put the vehicle in drive gear and same warnings appear, car doesn't even accelerate when gas pedal is pressed fully, stays at 1-3 mph crawl. Vehicle stalls out after 30 seconds, vehicle turns on but cannot start.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685401September 5, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2021 Hyundai Sonata with approximately 39,000 miles. On [XXX], the dashboard displayed the following message "Shifter system malfunction! Service immediately" When the warning appeared, the vehicle shifter button would not function, creating a traffic safety risk. History: Dealer service history shows the transmission was replaced on the vehicle under warranty on 08/30/2021 with 2,212 miles with no campaign/recall issued. Dealer states there is no recall campaign on this vehicles specific VIN # and NHTSA currently shows no open recalls for this vehicle. However, Hyundai advertises an 8-Speed DCT Safety Recall for the same year, make and model, and describes this identical issue, but has left this vehicle's VIN# out of scope for this recall, which is continuing to demonstrate the same issues. Current dealer/manufacturer response: On 9/4/2025, the dealer declined warranty or recall repair unless the fault was active on their diagnostic scan at the moment the scan was performed. A photo was provided to the mechanics of the dashboard showing the transmission service warning, with current mileage. The dealer advised there were no diagnostic log history showing the transmission error code even with photographic proof and attempted to return the vehicle to me. I have rejected the return of the vehicle and advised that this needs to be escalated, because if logs are not appearing, this is even a bigger cause for concern and that the vehicle is a safety hazard. Concern: Because this vehicle required an early transmission replacement and is now exhibiting new transmission/shifter warnings, I am concerned the failure relates to the known transmission/shifter recall on this model and that the recall scope and/or remedy is incomplete for the affected vehicles including my vin #. It is also possible the dealership is attempting to run out the warranty which expires in 3 months. Vehicle, photo of the warning, and service records are available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685346September 5, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The parking assistant camera on the front of the car is loose, which means that the bracket is broke. I took my car into Hyundai and they could not explain to me how it got broke or came loose and this is a safety issue because this helps you park and see what’s in front of you when parking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684970September 4, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH on the highway, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. No warning lights illuminated. The contact veered over to the right side of the road, turned the vehicle off, and she noticed smoke coming from the engine. A bystander behind her noticed the flames coming up from the engine. The contact mentioned she exited the vehicle and called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to Atow lot. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685065September 4, 2025
ENGINE
Excessive oil usage
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685113September 4, 2025
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic, the mechanic discovered severe corrosion on the suspension. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V124000 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that due to the severe corrosion, the recall repair could not be performed. The mechanic at the dealer described the vehicle as being unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684675September 3, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Engine leaking oil from the front cylinder bank’s valve cover or leaking from the valve cover’s gasket onto the alternator. A sufficient amount of oil could damage the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven with a disabled charging system, the engine can shut off, increasing the risk of a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684677September 3, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Oil Leak on Alternator Engine leaking oil from the front cylinder bank’s valve cover or from the valve cover’s gasket onto the alternator. An unknown amount of oil damaged the alternator resulting in illumination of the charging system warning lamp and disablement of the charging system. If the vehicle is continually driven with a disabled charging system, the engine can shut off, increasing the risk of a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684682September 3, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
Brake Calipers are getting stuck often damaging the rotors and pads. This happens even for new calipers and rotors that won't last more than one year after replacement. The parts were original from manufacturer. The rear and front brakes were randomly getting stuck on one wheel after a period of using brakes. This put the vehicle in danger of getting fire from overheating rotors or increasing the risk of a crash because of an unusable brake system. This incident has repeated over time from 2017 till 2025 inducing big spendings for fixing brakes
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Hyundai Sonata