Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#11753819July 30, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SEATS
Car was taken to dealership for inspection. Upon inspection, it was determined that the fuel tank had expanded and pushed towards the heat shield, and expanded upward pushing up the back seats of vehicle. It was determined to not safe to drive. Manufacturer contacted me and offered a buyback. Upon their offer of a buyback, it was determined that I would owe the manufacturer approximately $2,000. I have requested that they fix it, and they have refused to give me the paperwork I requested about the car's condition and fixability. I am in the process of negotiating and am filing this complaint for the record.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753672July 30, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle engine caught fire in April 2026! Tow company sold for parts without my permission! Immediately after gaining possession of my car. I didn't have comprehensive insurance, only basic. I had a brain bleed stroke Nov. 2022 and this is causing stress, setbacks. No attorneys want to take the case because there was no injuries! I jumped out in time. THANK GOD!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753470July 29, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Diagnosed 07/20/2026 with catastrophic oil ring failure requiring engine replacement. Engine can stall due to oil degradation/absence of causing uncontrolled vehicle handling and fire. This would put myself and others at risk. It has been diagnosed at dealership. Complaint Narrative: The subject vehicle is experiencing its third total engine failure due to an inherent manufacturing and design defect, presenting a severe and repeating highway safety hazard. The original factory engine failed catastrophically in 2015 at 116,440 miles and was replaced under NHTSA Recall 15V-568. The second engine failed in 2021 at 244,710 miles and was replaced under NHTSA Recall 17V-226. The third engine (the second replacement) has now failed prematurely at 334,935 chassis miles, lasting a mere 90,225 miles. An authorized Hyundai dealership diagnosed a total failure of the oil control rings. This mechanical defect allows engine oil to bypass the pistons directly into the combustion chambers. This causes severe, rapid oil consumption, spark plug fouling, engine stalling, and total loss of motive power at highway speeds without prior dashboard warning illumination. The manufacturer is failing to provide safe, durable remedies for its federally mandated safety recalls (see warranty info Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq./ Breach of Implied Warranty of Merchantability). Instead, they are installing subsequent replacement powerplants that suffer from the exact same structural vulnerabilities and component lifecycle failures. This creates a continuous risk of sudden engine seizure and traffic collisions for consumers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753510July 29, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER
I was driving my 2015 Hyundai Sonata approximately 35 mph after leaving the Hyundai dealership following an engine replacement when the hood unexpectedly flew completely open without warning. The hood struck the windshield, completely obstructing my forward visibility and creating an extremely dangerous situation. I was able to safely pull over without causing a collision, but the vehicle sustained extensive damage and was declared a total loss by my insurance company. During the same service visit in which the engine was replaced, the dealership recommended replacing the hood latches, but I declined that repair. Hyundai later informed me that the hood latching system was functioning properly after the engine replacement and that the vehicle passed its post-repair inspection and road test. Approximately one mile after leaving the dealership following the engine replacement, the hood unexpectedly opened while I was driving. There were no hood-ajar warnings, warning lights, or other indications that the hood was not properly secured before the incident. The sudden loss of visibility created a serious risk of a crash that could have resulted in severe injury or death. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this incident represents a significant vehicle safety issue that should be investigated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753540July 29, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15-40 MPH, the vehicle was sputtering and shaking abnormally. The failure was a recurring failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); but the VIN was not under recall. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753318July 28, 2026
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud bang coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the sunroof windshield visor had shattered. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it remained for further inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753307July 28, 2026
SEATS
The driver's power seat drive cable on the left-hand track rail snapped internally. The motor only advances the right side, causing the seat to twist violently to the left and jam. This mechanical failure occurred prematurely at 9,000 miles. Because the seat framework is structurally compromised and twisting out of alignment, it poses a severe occupant safety hazard in a collision. And interferes with positioning the seat to operate the vehicle safely. The dealer has inspected the complaint and was able to reproduce the complaint. But did not cover it under warranty. There where no warning signs before the premature failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753241July 28, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. Component Failed: Panoramic Sunroof Glass Assembly (Structure / Visibility / Glass). Details: While traveling at highway speed on the freeway, the panoramic sunroof glass spontaneously exploded outward without warning or impact from any foreign object. Inspection: I have not had the vehicle repaired yet so it is currently available. I also took a picture of it. 2. Safety Risk: The sudden, loud explosion (sounding like a gunshot) at freeway speeds caused immediate driver distraction and severe disorientation. Shattered tempered glass was mostly restricted from the cabin by the curtain barrier but some rained down into the passenger cabin. Most blew backward onto the highway, posing a major hazard to occupants as well as trailing motorists. Furthermore, this is a recurring defect in our household: my wife experienced an identical spontaneous sunroof explosion on her 2024 Hyundai Palisade, demonstrating a pattern of hazardous glass failures across multiple late-model Hyundai vehicles. 3. Reproduced or confirmed: I have not had it inspected by anyone. I am awaiting quotes for repairs. I have taken a picture of the vehicle that has not been driven since the incident. 4. Inspection: No one else has inspected it. I have a picture and can take more as needed. Hoping to not have to drive it until I take it to a shop for repairs. It has been reported to a dealership, but they did not seem too concerned or interested in helping. They insisted that they would not give a repair quote until I drove it the 20 miles for them to inspect. 5. Any Warning: No warning. There were no warning lights, abnormal noises, visible cracks, or previous symptoms prior to the sudden explosion. The failure occurred completely spontaneously under normal highway driving conditions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753166July 27, 2026
AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We are the sole owners of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Over the years the dashboard has deteriorated and developed cracks along the entire length, including over the area of the passenger airbag. We are currently concerned as to what would happen in the event of an accident that would trigger the air bag causing the dashboard to explode and send splinters all over the place, possibly causing severe damage to the passenger. I took the vehicle to Lehman Hyundai and they could not give me a definitive answer as to whether this was a dangerous situation or not. They gave me an oral estimate of $3,500 just for the part, and who knows what the labor costs would be. Whether I end up donating, gifting or selling the car, I am truly concerned about the safety of this vehicle and the condition it is in.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753130July 27, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Engine revving at a complete stop. Surging engine while braking. I was forced to put into neutral when stopping. I had check engine prior that read P049D85. It went away. The Hyundai dealer said to be the EGR valve. Nick Hayes at D'Arcy Hyundai and Hyundai Motor America (HMA) agreeing to a 75% goodwill split of cost to repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753027July 27, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the fuel tank was swollen and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 80,484.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752871July 26, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The high voltage battery will no longer charge neither from being plugged in to the charger on the wall nor from the buikt in system onboard the car. There are warning lights saying the inverter coolant is low but the reservoir is at the proper level. I suspect the coolant for the Hybrid charging inverter is bad and crystalizes causing blockages in the inverter coolant system. My car refuses to charge for the last 2 years. After a few seconds (about 7-10) the car shuts off the charging system when plugged in. And now that summer heat us here in the South West, it will not even charge from the regenerative braking. The high voltage battery previously would maintain 10-15% charge from the gas engine and regenerative braking. Now it's sitting at 1%. Because the battery is so low the electric motor does not produce power, and the gas engine is under powered on its own. This makes acceleration from a stop light/sign sluggish, slow and dangerous. Other Hyundai EV (IONIC and Kona) and PHEV (Santa Fe and Tucson) models have had their inverter coolant flushed and replace, some with a different spec coolant. This Sonata 2019 PHEV probably suffers from the same poor coolant and needs to be flushed and replaced by the better spec coolant fluid too. This has been getting worse and worse the last 2 or 3 years. The dealer refuses to acknowledge the problem and wants to diagnose the whole system before replacing what is obviously wrong first. The inverter coolant low level alert comes on some times, but it is not low. I haven't had time to let the dealer keep my car for days while they pretend to not know the problem and refuse to accept responsibility. Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) exist for IONIC, Kona, Santa Fe, and Tucson models. For example the Hybrid Santa Fe and Tucson TSB is Hyundai TSB 23-01-052H-1.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752878July 26, 2026
ENGINE
We had a recall done, Campaign 92C, and every since then the car drives horrible. It's worse when cool, it sputters, and hesitates especially when excellerating. Even after warmed up it seems to slam in and out of gear at low speeds, even when foot is not on the gas. The drive is choppy. The dealership told us to drive it and let the transmission "learn" our driving patterns, but it has not resolved itself. Before campaign car ran smooth, now shuttering and sputtering.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752933July 26, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Car stalls when I’m at a red light, very dangerous
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752817July 25, 2026
SEATS, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving and all of a sudden the traction lights turned on and the sterring wheel is hard to turn. Almost go in a car accident. The windows just stopped working and the brakes light constantly keep getting burned out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752611July 24, 2026
POWER TRAIN
While driving and everything is going along fine it will suddenly jerk and make a sound as if I've been hit behind. I'm not sure if it's part of the detached shift cables or transmission or something else. Sometimes it will jerk violently while going uphill also.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752670July 24, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with an inoperable low-pressure fuel pump. The contact was informed that the low-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had issued an extended warranty coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752343July 23, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, smoke started coming from the hood and the vehicle was pulled over into a parking space. While opening the hood, the contact saw that fire was coming from the top of the engine. The contact stated that the fire consumed the front of the vehicle, including the windshield and the dashboard. The smoke coming from the vehicle was dark gray and turned black afterwards. The contact called 911, and the Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries reported. A vehicle parked next to the vehicle was damaged by the flames. The contact's vehicle was not inspected or officially deemed a total loss. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where an oil change had been performed prior to the failure. The mechanic stated that there might have been a high-pressure fuel valve on top of the engine that possibly caused a gas leak, which started the fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752333July 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving without any external impact
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751988July 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Fan motor fuse box quit working and ac/heat no longer operational. First time was around October 21, 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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