Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#11719616February 21, 2026
STEERING, ENGINE
Steering wheel panel glued/tampered (Safety Hazard) Motor/Pump assembly broken. Recall couldn't be done due to tampered parts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719276February 20, 2026
ENGINE
The component involved is the engine (2.4L Theta II gasoline engine) in my 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The malfunction involves excessive internal engine oil consumption between oil changes. The vehicle consumes oil at an abnormal rate, requiring frequent top-offs to prevent low oil levels. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This condition creates a safety risk because excessive oil consumption can lead to critically low oil levels, engine seizure, sudden engine stall, or loss of propulsion while driving. A sudden engine stall or loss of power while operating at highway speeds could increase the risk of a crash. The problem has been inspected and documented by an authorized Hyundai dealership. During service, the dealership recorded that the customer reported oil burning between oil changes and noted evidence of engine oil consumption. No permanent repair has been performed. The issue remains unresolved. Hyundai Motor America has not physically inspected the vehicle directly but has reviewed the case through customer care. The manufacturer has required additional diagnostic testing at the owner’s expense as a condition of further evaluation and declined to authorize testing at no cost or provide assurance of reimbursement. No crash, fire, or injury has occurred to date. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps illuminated at the time the oil consumption was first observed. The condition was first noticed when oil levels were found to be significantly low between scheduled oil changes. The issue has been ongoing and progressive. Given the known history of engine-related issues involving Hyundai Theta II engines, I am submitting this complaint due to concerns that continued oil consumption may result in engine failure, sudden stall, or loss of propulsion while driving, creating a potential safety hazard. The vehicle remains in service but the condition has not been corrected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719428February 20, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Here is your updated review with that included: ⸻ I am very disappointed with Hyundai Motor America and the service I received at Hyundai of Renton. I own a 2017 Hyundai Sonata and received a letter about a required software update and ignition cylinder protector due to known theft issues. I went to the Renton dealer for the recall service. They performed the software update and were supposed to install the ignition cylinder protector. Unfortunately, my car was later stolen because of this exact issue. The ignition was damaged during the theft, and I had to replace it myself just so I could drive the car. When I returned to the dealer, they refused to install the ignition cylinder protector, saying the ignition was broken. It was broken because of the theft — which happened due to Hyundai’s known defect. After the recall software update, my key fob also stopped working properly. I went back to the dealership, and they refused to fix or properly reprogram my key fob. On top of that, the service manager, John, was very rude and unprofessional. This has been the worst experience I’ve had with a vehicle and a dealership. Because of this situation. Very disappointed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719504February 20, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
On 2/19/2026 while driving, my 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited 1.6T began making several loud explosive / popping sounds. At the same time, the fuel gauge on the display screen appeared to rapidly drop, as if the vehicle was losing gas. Immediately following this, the vehicle began to hesitate and lose power while accelerating. The hesitation felt like the engine was misfiring or struggling to maintain consistent performance. There were multiple explosive sounds before and during the hesitation. This created a major safety concern while driving and the vehicle underwent an inspection at Hyundai in Deland, FL. The service department was brief and stated they needed to keep the vehicle for repair for an unknown amount of time as the fuel tank expanded. No further information was provided at that time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719316February 20, 2026
ENGINE, VISIBILITY/WIPER
The EHRS coolant system failed and had a leak causing the coolant to be excessively burned off as thick white smoke. This caused me to not be able to see anything behind me and forced others to stop or slow down dramatically to avoid colliding with me. I had my engine overheat and force me to pull over on the side of an unsafe road because the exhaust system burned off my entire tank of coolant in less than a mile. I have taken this to a Hyundai dealership and they confirmed it was the EHRS system failure and told me it was a fairly known issue with the 2020-2023 Sonata Hybrids. I was told that even if I get it replaced the possibility of having it happen again are pretty high. This seems extremely unsafe to myself and others.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719062February 19, 2026
ENGINE
Engine has knocking sound. Sudden loss of power and hesitation when accelerating
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719179February 19, 2026
ENGINE
The oil pan is starting to crack, a small drip is now happening but dealership says it could spilt and cause the engine to seize while driving. The pan looks very flimsy compared to my Ford and Toyota.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718993February 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Car was parked, full stop, doors shut, seatbelt on. Foot on brake. Car then seemed to lurch forward by itself forward hitting parking cement block. Put in reverse to back away and car stayed still...then I tapped the gas again to back up and insted vehicle plowed forward.instead.of reverse ...went over the parking block and hit concrete beam in front, when the car should have backed up in reverse. I'm a person who drives speeed limits, and ulta careful when i drive, and parked at this place/spot for years. This has never happened not sure why it did. No injuries or other people involved thank god, but scared the heck out of me. Wracking my brain, my recalls and software and service appts are up ro date.Nothing out of ordinary that day. I'm confused and shaken, why the first lurch forward and why did going in reverse move it forward? ugh. It drove home fine. Commute to work daily for years, no issues. All I can guess is gear didn't click to reverse and was somehow in drive? Ive been going over the possibilities in my head for human error but they dont make sense - again I've been driving for 40 years. If it happens to other models, would love to know! Car will go to repair tomorrow as "my fault" via insurance, hoping they can see more if any error codes, to at least say if Reverse didn't engage or something else happened. May have been human error but it's so out of the ordinary for me. Thanks!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718824February 18, 2026
ENGINE
The vehicle suddenly lost power while driving on a public roadway. Immediately after, the vehicle began producing a large amount of smoke. The smoke quickly filled the cabin, making it difficult to breathe and creating an urgent safety hazard. My passenger and I had to exit the vehicle right away due to the amount of smoke. We were exposed to smoke inhalation and were stranded on the side of the road in unsafe weather conditions for over an hour while waiting for a tow truck. I later learned that the vehicle had an open recall related to engine issues; however, I was never notified of this recall. Regardless of recall status, the sudden loss of power combined with heavy smoke and potential fire risk created a dangerous situation that could have resulted in serious injury or death. I believe this issue represents a serious safety defect and fire hazard that could endanger other drivers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718409February 17, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact purchased the vehicle on April 28, 2025, with 28,974 miles from a dealer. On January 20, 2026, while attempting to start the vehicle after being parked for a while, the vehicle lost power and failed to start. The contact walked to an AutoZone nearby, where a mechanic diagnosed that the battery and starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired while with the mechanic, and the contact was informed that the actual mileage on the vehicle was 170,123. The contact reported the issue to the dealer and was informed that it would be investigated; however, the contact had not received any additional information. The dealer had taken possession of the vehicle and informed the contact that payments were still expected despite the odometer discrepancy. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the odometer discrepancy. The failure mileage was not provided.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718470February 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
My car was broken into and they broke off my door handle and took out ignition parts, a police report was done
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718555February 17, 2026
ENGINE
It is a known issue on several makes and years on Hyundais. excessive oil consumption. burning a quart every 375 miles. at one point we had no oil in the car at all. causing a potential major safety issue lubricating parts of the engine. etc. we have contacted Hyundai several times and brought to Hyundai dealer who has confirmed issue through a test. no warning that oil was low!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718609February 17, 2026
SUSPENSION
On February, 16th 2026, I took my vehicle into the Automotive shop for an oil change. They inspected the car as well and they found that the front passenger side of the vehicle subframe has a substantial amount of the metal rusted through. The file attached was a photo of the repair invoice from Luke’s Auto in Upper Arlington, OH. I see that there is an open safety recall for this exact issue on the 2004 Hyundai Sonata. Although this recall was sent out in 2009, am I able to take this to a local Hyundai dealership to have this fixed?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718641February 17, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Component/System Failed: Engine – connecting rod bearing failure consistent with Hyundai Theta II engine defect subject to federal recalls and Consent Orders. The vehicle previously received Recall Campaign 953 (KSDS software update), intended to detect premature rod bearing wear. The engine is currently knocking and has been diagnosed as requiring replacement. The vehicle and engine are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: Rod bearing failure can cause sudden engine seizure or stall while driving, creating a significant crash risk due to loss of power steering and braking assist. Engine failure DID occurr despite prior recall software update, indicating potential recall remedy ineffectiveness. Sudden stalling in traffic placed myself and others at risk of collision. Dealer Confirmation: Hyundai of North Charleston confirmed through warranty history a prior engine replacement request (PA) was submitted by a previous owner but denied. The recall repair was never performed. Current diagnostic findings indicate engine failure consistent with known recall defect. However, Hyundai has refused to perform further inspection or goodwill repair solely due to the vehicle’s salvage branding. Inspection History: The vehicle has been inspected by a Hyundai dealership. No engine replacement was completed. Hyundai Customer Care has updated case notes but is declining remedy based on title status rather than mechanical condition. Warning Lamps/Symptoms: The vehicle previously received KSDS software update. Engine knocking developed consistent with rod bearing wear. The software did not provide effective prevention of engine failure. The engine now requires replacement. Hyundai is refusing recall-related remedy due to salvage title (predates my wonder ship by many years), despite federal recall obligations applying to the vehicle VIN. This complaint concerns potential failure of recall remedy effectiveness and denial of defect-related inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718659February 17, 2026
SUSPENSION
This complaint concerns a repeat failure of both front CV axles on my 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The CV axles and boots were replaced by Gettel Hyundai of Charlotte County using OEM parts in November 2024. The same components failed again just 7,876 miles later in January 2026; requiring a second full replacement. A CV axle replaced with factory OEM parts by a certified Hyundai tech should not fail within 7,876 miles under normal driving conditions. This pattern of repeat failure indicates either * A defect in the OEM replacement parts supplied by Hyundai * An installation defect at the authorized dealership * An unresolved underlying mechanical condition that causes accelerated CV axle wear The rapid repeat failure represents a potential safety hazard. CV axle failure can result in sudden loss of drive power, difficulty controlling the vehicle, and in severe cases, wheel separation --all of which create dangerous conditions for the driver and others on the road. Chronological Timeline of Events: Nov 5, 2024 55,579 miles; both front CV axles replaced by authorized Hyundai dealership using OEM parts. Labor and parts performed per Hyundai standards. Jan 29, 2026 63,451 miles Same CV axles failed again. Second replacement performed at same authorized Hyundai dealership. Total repair cost $3227.16 paid out of pocket by me. Feb 16, 2026 Hyundai Motor America denied goodwill reimbursement request (Case #XXX), citing the malfunction being out of time in service of the vehicle. Reported to Hyundai Motor, their response did not address the repeated nature of failure, the short mileage interval, or the possibility of a defective OEM part or improper installation. I believe the NHTSA should be aware of this pattern and investigate other 2015 Hyundai Sonata owners have reported similar rapid repeat CV axle failures, which could indicate a systemic defect in either OEM parts or dealership repair procedures. 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
#11718520February 17, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, and while driving at various speeds, the engine revved unintendedly, and the vehicle jerked. The ABS, traction control, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The message "Front Collision Avoidance Deactivated" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a valve and gasket were replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall was not completed because the part was not yet available. The contact expressed concerns due to a fire risk associated with the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718241February 16, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
White pain is pealing off and it’s pretty bad especially when going through car wash
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718357February 16, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
Rear camera doesn’t work and is just a black screen. It started out intermittent and now doesn’t work at all.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718375February 16, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My Hyundai Sonata 2023 is experiencing two recall codes. The first one was 9b1 which was resolved, but the other one is indefinite which is 286. I dropped my car off on December 4 of 2025 and a month later Hyundai’s corporate team reached out to discuss the state of my car. They asked me for things such as the payoff balance of what I owe through CarMax who I’m financing the car from, they asked me the mileage on the car, the registration and the lien. They then told me they would provide me with an update by certain dates it’s been over two months and I haven’t received any updates. The car shop called me to come pick up my car because one of the issues was resolved, but after reviewing the recall code 286 and seeing that there is very much so a safety risk when driving the car, I ultimately chose to leave the car with Hyundai. Hyundai has been unsuccessful with providing me with the solution. I’ve waited two months almost 3 months and I believe that this vehicle is a lemon and I need a solution. Hyundai took back the loaner, I have nothing now and they keep telling me they’re going to follow up, but have not followed up with anything I need help. I don’t want to risk my life, driving the car and being paranoid that it could catch on fire and harm me or other people driving in it please help.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11718194February 16, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Vehicle suddenly lost heat in 30 degree weather. No warnings, check engine light, or temperature gauge indicators came on. Lucky made it to a parts store and found out I was extremely low on coolant. Bought coolant and put it in. Made it back to the house and was immediately low again. No visible leaking. Oil was completely fine (1 gallon of coolant would have have left some kind indicator). Realized it was more than likely the ehrs. If this happened during the summer, my engine could have blown due to a poor design causing a major accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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