Hyundai Sonata Complaints

17,026 consumer complaints on file.

#11677599July 31, 2025
ENGINE
The vehicle experienced engine stalling and rough running. We discovered it had an open engine recall related to known defects in the Theta II engine. We dropped the vehicle off at a Hyundai dealership (Hyundai Napleton) on July 1st, 2025 for recall repair, following instructions from ACV Auctions. After holding the vehicle for over three weeks, Hyundai Napleton informed us they could not perform the recall due to their internal policy against working on dealer-owned vehicles. This directly contradicts the purpose of a federally mandated safety recall, which is supposed to apply regardless of ownership. On July 23, 2025, we received a call from Hyundai Motor America, stating they would not approve the recall repair because the vehicle had been declared a total loss. This is entirely false—the vehicle has never been declared a total loss by any insurance company or official source. It appears Hyundai Motor America and the dealership are passing responsibility back and forth, providing conflicting and inaccurate information, while the vehicle sits unrepaired and inoperable. This behavior delays a federally mandated repair, puts consumers at risk, and reflects serious breakdowns in how Hyundai handles recall compliance. We need NHTSA’s help to investigate and enforce the proper handling of this safety recall. Vehicle VIN: [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
#11677632July 31, 2025
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Check engine light keeps coming on got it looked at , certain parts replaced & it’s still on something to do with the air filter
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677661July 31, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My Hyundai consumes oil and I have to put oil in it every two weeks! Also my ignition coils has had to be changed 4 times. Also check engine light just came on code saying catalytic converter or oxygen sensor changed oxygen sensor a couple months ago. I purchased it brand new and as soon as I got over 100,000 miles nothing has been going good since then please help also my paint on the top of the car is starting to peel. Will never buy a Hyundai again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677686July 31, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
Whille driving back to Washington state my car check engine light came on and the car shut off while I was driving. I had to have it towed to the nearest city whi ch was Laramie Wyoming. There is no Hyundai dealer had to drive the car once it started back up to Cheyenne Wyoming it was checked. My on star told me there was a problem DTC P0145100 the status had red triangle the DTC power system powertrain and the DTC sub system EMS. I was told and given paperwork by the dealer and was told the car would need major repairs and could take up to 21 days once the work started it would have to he completed there because Hyundai had campaign dealing with my cars problem. I was told I could drive the car home but if the check engine light is flashing pull over immediately. My car is now at the 3rd dealer when I took it to Korum in Puyallup they did not have anyone to diagnose the vehicle only update onboard computer. They said and documented nothing was wrong with the vehicle which is inaccurate. I told Korum about the paperwork from the dealer in Cheyenne they did not so much as look at it. I took the car to the Dealership in Auburn Washington they to had the same findings as Wyoming also there was additional findings which corresponded with the smell of gas and my tank going empty after filling and trying to fill tank because was showing low fuel warning. Pictures were taken of the gas tank which had expanded as well as other pictures of the findings. I was told in Wyoming and Auburn that the code and findings are consistent with the Hyundai campaign
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677279July 30, 2025
ENGINE
Engine seized due to extremely low oil despite more than regular oil changes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677342July 30, 2025
ENGINE
We were informed by our mechanic that the engine needed replacement due to a timing chain issue. The engine warning light was blinking continuously, and the RPM would not rise above 1.9 even under acceleration. Upon further inspection, the mechanic found that the issue extended beyond the timing chain - the entire engine appeared to be failing. When we changed the engine oil, it became dirty almost immediately, and visible metal shavings were present in the oil, indicating internal damage. These symptoms suggest potential engine failure, which is consistent with known issues in some Hyundai Sonata models. We believe this may be related to broader engine defects and request that this be investigated for potential recall eligibility.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676888July 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
I recently got a radiator replaced and now my car won't reverse
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676937July 29, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact smelled fuel and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the engine had caught on fire. The contact stopped the vehicle, and the contact and the two passengers quickly jumped out of the vehicle. The contact stated one of the passengers sustained a minor leg injury, and medical attention was provided. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was not provided. The origin of the fire was not yet determined. A Police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11676941July 29, 2025
ENGINE
I am writing to request a Goodwill replacement. My car is burning oil faster than I can put it in. The engine heats up so bad that I feel it could catch fire at any time. I loose acceleration because of this, its an extreme safety hazard for myself and other motorists on the road. I am just now finding out about the issues Hyundai sonatas are having with this said problem. I would like it fixed asap.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676945July 29, 2025
ENGINE
Car drinks oil and doesn’t make it to the next oil change.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677001July 29, 2025
WHEELS:HUB, STEERING
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and making a turn into a parking lot, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle came to a stop. The contact was able to push the vehicle to a parking space with assistance. The vehicle was then pushed on to a tow truck and was towed to a Cadillac dealer but was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to Goose Auto Repair, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front driver's side wheel hub had fractured, causing the wheel to separate from the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677058July 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There are 2 cracks on the dashboard directly over the passenger airbag that were there when I bought the car and there is another crack that happened some time between yesterday and today. The Crack is almost the width of the dashboard. If there is an accident I'm worried about get hit by pieces of plastic dashboard.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676697July 28, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This is on my 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited - for the 7th time the vehicle has been completely dead and unresponsive. I have had to gain entry to the vehicle using the manual key and press the "jump" button to get the vehicle to start. The Hyundai dealership ran a bunch of battery updates to the 12 volt battery several weeks ago and said that should hopefully fix the issue. Several weeks later on 07/19/2025 the vehicle was dead again. I had to use the key to manually gain entry and jump the car again. The dealership said that the 12 volt battery may need to be replaced and said that it is fully integrated with the hybrid battery system which is covered for 10 years/100K miles whichever comes first. I am still within the warranty period so hopefully Hyundai will fix the issue. From an online search, it appears this is not an uncommon issue with the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. I am waiting on Hyundai for a fix and for .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676713July 28, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle shut off with an audible warning chime and several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to restart the vehicle soon after failure. The contact stated that on another occasion, while depressing the brake pedal, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle, and the engine shut off. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there was only an anti-theft recall on the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and linked the failure to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676727July 28, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the connecting rod bearings, resulting in damages to the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V226000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened for repair assistance. The contact was later informed that the assistance request was denied on the grounds of poor maintenance history. The contact stated was not the owner of the vehicle during the time cited by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676797July 28, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The HVAC blower motor and related electrical components (including the fuse box, wiring harness, or control module) have malfunctioned. The system either fails to operate entirely or works only on low, with unpredictable surging airflow. These components are still installed in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. For the past five days, my family has been driving without a functioning air conditioner in extreme Oklahoma summer heat. This is not only uncomfortable but unsafe, especially for my young child who regularly rides in the vehicle. In addition, without reliable airflow, we are unable to defog the windshield in humid conditions, which significantly reduces visibility and increases the risk of a crash. The inability to regulate cabin temperature and airflow poses a serious safety hazard. Yes, the issue has been observed by the dealership during service visits. However, Hyundai has denied goodwill repair assistance and has not formally acknowledged the defect, despite Technical Service Bulletins and numerous similar reports from other owners. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealership as part of a multi-point inspection. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared. However, symptoms began nearly a month ago and have persisted, including intermittent blower operation, limited airflow regardless of settings, and occasional surging. While I have not personally noticed a burning smell, I’ve found numerous reports from other 2020–2021 Sonata owners describing complete blower failure and smoke smells, often tied to fuse box or electrical issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676609July 28, 2025
ENGINE
Engine burns oil about every 200, need to top off oil. Dealership and Hyundai corporate office will not take responsibility.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676434July 27, 2025
ENGINE
While driving 60–70 mph on [XXX] just north of Sylmar, I suddenly heard a loud, deep “pop” from the lower part of the car. Within seconds, the engine began steaming heavily and leaking oil everywhere. I immediately turned on my hazard lights and began maneuvering toward the right shoulder, crossing multiple lanes with semis and fast-moving traffic approaching behind me. I felt unsafe and feared the car could catch fire or explode, especially with smoke and oil present. After safely exiting the vehicle, a mechanic later told me the rod bearing blew and punched a hole through the bottom of the engine block, calling it a total engine failure. He said it would require a full replacement and matched known issues with this model. There was no warning before the failure. I’m having it inspected at Hyundai of Downtown Los Angeles on July 28. I believe this event posed a serious safety hazard to me and others on the road. 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
#11676453July 27, 2025
ENGINE, SEAT BELTS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
It first started when the engine needed to be replaced, I spent thousands trying to get it repaired, soon after they fixed the engine everything started going wrong ( I truly think they put in a faulty or wrong engine @ Hyundai) the car was overheating, I would take it in they would say it’s one thing pay thousands and it wasn’t it, changed the coolant that goes into the cabin, there’s always been a chemical smell since…still overheats, they said maybe it’s the thermostat, spent more money still didn’t fix it, the battery now won’t stay charged(trunk battery) not sure if they hooked it up wrong…the seatbelt hasn’t worked in years, I take it in they say it’s fine, it never clicks, I have to click it in to the passenger seat for safety. They always say it’s fine! I will never ever buy another Hyundai in life due to all of the issues I’ve experienced with mainly Hyundai dealership service mechanics and dealerships, I’m now dealing with a faulty car that could still be a great car if they didn’t mess it up, I thought I was doing right by always only taking my car to Hyundai and goodness I was wrong! There are no “recalls” currently on my car but honestly, did they even do the recalls correctly?! I disagree! They have literally lied, drained my wallet and disappointed me all while making my car worse, it’s like dr’s take these meds that might fix the issue but it’s going to mess up something else, it’s a guessing game all while killing you or in this case my car!!! I don’t know dates, all I know is Hyundai has all the records! Oh and the last straw was them driving my car without my permission mint you, they took it to a totally different shop without my knowledge & had someone else repair the frame which I was unaware of & drive it with ZERO oil in my car which now my car has been sitting for the most part since they repaired my car(or lack there of) because they broke my car! yes I turned it in when it happened, I just never heard anything from anyone now I’m carless
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676459July 27, 2025
ENGINE
My 2017 Hyundai Sonata has a major oil consumption problem. The car does not leak oil. It burns oil average 3000 miles. I have to add 5 to 6 quarts of oil every time I bring it to the shop and ask about it they tell me Hyundai has a problem with one of their engines, I see the recall on other models, but not my model. it’s been ongoing for about a year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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