Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#11725388March 18, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Safety Concern — Damage to Windshield During Manufacturer Recall Repair (Z05) My vehicle was brought to an authorized Hyundai dealership on January 14, 2026 for a manufacturer-directed paint recall repair (Campaign Z05), which required removal and reinstallation of the windshield as part of the procedure. The repair was originally expected to be completed between January 14 and January 28, 2026. However, I received no explanation for the delay during that period. On February 13, 2026 — nearly one month after check-in — I was informed for the first time that the windshield had cracked during the reinstallation process while the vehicle was in the dealership’s custody. As of March 18, 2026, the windshield has not been replaced, and the vehicle remains at the dealership without this safety-critical component restored. Because the windshield is a structural element essential to roof strength, airbag deployment performance, and overall crash integrity, the prolonged failure to properly restore it raises serious safety concerns. The unresolved condition of this component creates uncertainty regarding the vehicle’s crashworthiness and may expose occupants to significant risk of injury in the event of a collision. Damage occurred during a manufacturer-mandated recall repair while the vehicle was under the exclusive control of an authorized service provider, and the vehicle has not been returned to a safe, operable condition for an extended period. This situation raises broader concerns regarding the handling of safety-critical components during recall procedures and the timely restoration of vehicles to safe operating condition. This matter is also currently under review by the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission (AMVC), Case #26-009, due to the prolonged inability to restore the vehicle to a safe condition. I am submitting this complaint in the interest of vehicle safety oversight and to help prevent similar situations from affecting other consumers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725416March 18, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
consuming oil a quart every 2-3 weeks sonata hyundai in 2000 miles 3 quarts of oil were used. what happens when the motor locks up from be extremely low on oil. Possible accident! I cannot expect my wife to be checking the oil level every time she drives.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725039March 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Both rear doors will not open. The door locks stopped functioning so we are not able to open and close both rear back doors. In addition, the right rear door window stopped rolling up and down.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724931March 17, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
This complaint is NOT related to the existing recall associated with this vehicle. The vehicle is experiencing a serious loss of power and acceleration issue. The car is unable to accelerate past approximately 60 mph. When pressing the accelerator fully, the vehicle does not respond or increase speed. While attempting to accelerate, the engine RPM increases and then suddenly drops repeatedly, causing the vehicle to struggle to maintain speed. This behavior is consistent and occurs during normal driving conditions. This creates a dangerous situation, especially when merging onto highways or attempting to accelerate in traffic, as the vehicle cannot respond when needed. The issue has occurred multiple times and makes the vehicle unsafe and unreliable to operate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724966March 17, 2026
ENGINE
Car burning oil and engine started knocking no warning lights ever came on prior to knocking noise. Brought to mechanic and engine has failed. Vehicle has less that 130,000 miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725107March 17, 2026
ENGINE
Hyundai technical service bulletin 23-EM-009H (EHRS COOLANT LEAK) - AKA a faulty heat exchange that causes the coolant to leak into the exhaust and burn away. Resulting in a very hard to diagnose coolant disappearance. This should be a recall. They have literally already acknowledged a manufacturer defect with the service bulletin. The problem is that in most cases, it occurs out of the 60k or 100k warranty. The dealer seems to have discretion as to which of the mileage limits apply. One dealer in NC told me 60k and my local in SC told me 100k. My problem started at ~90k, but was just topped off on fluid and repaired as "normal evaporation". Now 12k later at 102k, they acknowledged the TSB but claimed I was out of warranty. With me being out of warranty, they claimed that Hyundai would not send them tsb parts and that I would need to replace the whole system with the normal skus around $3k.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724672March 16, 2026
AIR BAGS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
It was smoking from the engine, I immediately stopped the vehicle. My safety was put at risk immediately while being in the vehicle when the air bags deployed hitting me in the face and causing my face to swell. The safety of others was put at risk due to others being right next to me and putting others at risk of engine blowing up. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected by police. There were no warning signs on the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11724779March 16, 2026
ENGINE
My 2011 Hyundai Sonata experienced sudden engine failure and the engine is now locked up. The vehicle became inoperable and had to be taken to a Hyundai dealership. The dealership confirmed the engine is locked and not drivable. Hyundai denied the engine replacement claim stating the vehicle has A04/A08 branding indicating the engine originates from a scrapped or rebuilt vehicle. However, Hyundai refused to provide any documentation supporting this claim. They also refused to verify the engine serial number against the VIN to confirm whether the engine is original to the vehicle. A NMVTIS vehicle history report shows the title status as ACTIVE with no salvage, junk, or rebuilt branding. Despite this, Hyundai continues to deny the claim without documentation. This vehicle contains the Hyundai Theta II engine that has been the subject of recalls and settlement actions related to premature engine failure. The failure pattern in this case matches the known defect where engines seize or lock up unexpectedly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724812March 16, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
code P1326 unable to accelerate, drive past 1st gear and knocking noise in engine area engine could stall out or lock up if problem is not fixed 3/14/2026- started engine light blinking warning light also code p1326 has had recalls for this particular car brand
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724724March 16, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Battery Management System completely exhausting the 12V battery resulting in the car acting as if it has no power. When this happens, you can't unlock the door or open the trunk. On two separate occasions, I have encountered a complete loss of power in my Sonata Hybrid, preventing me from unlocking the trunk or doors upon returning from extended trips. The first incident occurred after a ten-day absence last Fall, and the most recent was on Saturday, March 14, 2025. During the latest incident, I returned from a seven-day trip and found my vehicle parked at Orlando International Airport. Upon approaching the car, I anticipated being able to unlock the trunk, load my luggage, enter the vehicle, and drive home. However, once again, the vehicle was unresponsive. Accessing the car required removing the cap from the door handle and manually inserting the key, a process that took approximately ten minutes, which was particularly inconvenient and concerning in an airport parking lot. This situation was even more challenging considering I am a [XXX] woman of smaller stature attempting to resolve this issue alone at night. I believe this poses a serious safety concern for all owners under similar circumstances. Following the incident last Fall, I brought my Sonata Hybrid to Key Hyundai in Jacksonville. I was informed that this is a known issue for which there is a recall; however, my vehicle model year is not included in the affected range. It was suggested that I would need to manage this problem independently. I believe this recurring issue represents a known vulnerability that could potentially expose Hyundai and its dealerships to liability should an owner suffer harm while addressing this malfunction. 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
#11724526March 16, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I purchased the car new and three times since then, the latest last week, the automatic brakes kicked in briefly for no apparent reason. I feel that if a vehicle would have been directly behind me this could very well have caused an accident. Each time it happened it was during daylight and fair weather although I can't remember if the sun was shinning. After the second time it happened I reported it to the dealer and they said they had no recalls on it and no explanation but if it happened again I should record all circumstances to investigate the cause. A couple years went by and it didn't happen again until last week. Now the warranty has expired on my car. No one has inspected my car; It has driven fine except for when the automatic braking problem occurs. There were no warning or indicator lights that I noticed at the time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724392March 15, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle had safety and mechanical problems shortly after purchase, even with low mileage. The issues included warning lights, abnormal noises, repeated mechanical failures, and poor performance that affected the safe operation of the vehicle. These problems started early and continued over time despite repairs and maintenance. Before the incident, the vehicle showed signs of malfunction, including instability while driving and loss of normal performance. These symptoms created an unsafe driving condition and increased the risk of a crash. I believe the vehicle had defects from the beginning that affected safety. The failure contributed to the accident that occurred while driving on the highway, putting my life and my family at risk.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724419March 15, 2026
ENGINE
2018 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L Theta II engine experiencing severe oil consumption and loss of oil pressure. Oil pressure warning light actively blinking and dipstick completely dry. This is consistent with the known Theta II engine defect subject to prior NHTSA investigations and class action settlements. Mission Hills Hyundai documented low oil concern in service notes during December 2025 visit but failed to take any action and returned the vehicle without repair. Hyundai Consumer Affairs has been unresponsive and provided conflicting information regarding recall completion on this vehicle. This is a serious safety defect that puts the driver at risk of engine failure while operating the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724054March 13, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced engine failure. The vehicle made a knocking sound prior to the failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and eventually towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer acknowledged the engine failure and that the failure was a common failure. The dealer declined the repair due to a lack of service records. The contact was offered a combustion cleaning; however, the vehicle was disabled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724155March 13, 2026
ENGINE
I was driving in highway and just engine lockout and vehicle shutdown
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724176March 13, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact's son noticed an unusual sound coming from the hood compartment. The contact stated that the sound was as if something was coming through the hood. The contact's son lost control of the vehicle. The contact's vehicle rolled four times before rolling into a ditch. The contact's vehicle caught on fire. The contact's son was still inside the vehicle. The contact's son exited the vehicle. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact's son was transported by a medical helicopter to a local medical facility. The contact's son sustained a punctured left lung, seven broken ribs, a fractured right hip, and additional bruises, minor burns, and bumps. The contact was advised by the insurance company to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. In addition, the contact was informed of an unrepaired recall associated with the VIN, NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V312000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), which the contact was not aware of the unrepaired recall. The contact was unsure if the vehicle had been inspected by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11724237March 13, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Reported this previously, but more information was gathered, thanks to collision mechanic who guessed immediately when he heard 2023 hybrid Sonata - he said "they're notorious for it." Was at a stand still in a parking space/lot I know well. Cautious driver, watch my speed, very aware of other drivers, quick reaction time. Incident mid day, no pedestrians, distractions, no moving traffic. Vehicle doors shut, seat belt on. Not on incline. Pulled into parking spot I use weekly, spot has parking curb. Was at a full stop. Realized I had not pulled into the spot quite far enough, and attempted to inch vehicle forward. (Do not recall any warning lights, but this car usually alerts at literally anything - even shadows.) Very lightly applied gas to inch forward, slowly. Felt slight "scrape" of undercarriage on the parking curb. Put car in reverse, lightly applied gas to inch back. Car did not rev, no screeching tires, it was at a standstill previously. Was in Eco mode. All seemed normal, until vehicle suddenly launched UP the parking curb, full force, and into a building pillar directly ahead. The car never moves with that much force, I'm not a pedal-to-the metal driver. Eco mode on. No airbag deployment, injuries, etc. Sheriff took report for the building, simple incident. I couldn't make sense of it. I know how overly cautious I am while parking, what I do, and don't do. Took responsibility, but was still analyzing a week later, and explained what I remembered to the mechanic. He guessed right away. Said Sonatas were notorious for it. He said they're known for randomly applying the ebrake unexpectedly - and also randomly releasing the ebrake - and aggressively (and silently) switching from electric to gas when met with resistance, aka the parking curb. Insurance totalled the car. 2.5 years old, 17k miles. This was my 3rd Hyundai in 20 years, others were great. Discovered 40,000 Elantra hybrids, same year as my Sonata, were recalled due to "unintended acceleration."
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724002March 12, 2026
ENGINE
FEDERAL REPORT ON TECHNICAL OBSTRUCTION AND WARRANTY FRAUD (THETA II SETTLEMENT) TO: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) FROM: [XXX] VIN: [XXX] REPAIR ORDER (RO#): XXX VEHICLE LOCATION: Hyundai Shop - [XXX] HYUNDAI CORPORATE CASE: #XXX STATE COMPLAINT (AZ AG): XXX I. CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS AND EVASIVE TACTICS All documentary evidence has been formally submitted to Hyundai Motor America’s National Consumer Affairs Department, addressed to Case Manager Bryan, at [XXX] and via the official email: [XXX] . STEP 1: Falsification of Title Status (Code A99) Hyundai initiated its denial by alleging that the vehicle held a "Salvage" title status, citing internal code A99. EVIDENCE: I possess a Certified and Stamped Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) from the Arizona MVD, as well as my Clean Title. Mr. Bryan categorically asserted that code A99 "cannot be removed," thereby deliberately disregarding an Official State Certification. STEP 2: Allegation of Negligence (Karen) Corporate representative Karen claimed via telephone that the vehicle's failure was attributable to "negligent maintenance." EVIDENCE: The Official WebDCS report—printed by Mr. Ismael Barragán (Service Drive Manager)—completely refutes this claim; the Blue Link service history indicates "0 FINDINGS." STEP 3: Fabricated Diagnosis and Breakdown of Improper Charges After being compelled by Mr. Bryan to take the vehicle to the dealership for a diagnosis, the narrative shifted to an "Oil Pump Failure." Mr. Ismael Barragán (Service Drive Manager) presented a billing estimate to the customer under Repair Order (RO) #XXX, itemized as follows: Mechanical Diagnosis: $193.00 USD Engine Replacement/Rebuild: $11,980.58 USD TOTAL DEMANDED FROM CONSUMER: $12,173.58 USD TECHNICAL EMPHASIS: The Blue Link report (showing 0 Findings) serves as irrefutable 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
#11723910March 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The back up camera sometimes is only a black screen, it is random and has done it in all sorts of weather. Usually is corrected when vehicle is started next.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723478March 11, 2026
ENGINE
3rd time in the last 6000 miles the knock sensor came on and the dealer clears it, charges me repairs and sends me home with the code cleared car. All 3 times the car imeditently kicked into limp mode while I was on the highway at high speeds, suddently being slowed without warning. When checked with a local scanner it showed P1326 code and dealers all confirmed it. First incident happened in Utah in 2023 (108949miles) and the last 2 happened in michigan in 2025(114850 miles) and now 2026 (115890 miles).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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