general problems of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata - part 1

Was driving car and it went completely hot. Towed to a dealership and they said was not drivable and that the radiator support and radiator hose needs replacing and eventually the drive cv left and front will need replacing or I will be stranded on side of road.

At about 30mph the sunroof suddenly flew of of my car and almost hit the car behind me thst had to avoid the flying part, for a good luck it didn’t cause a major accident because I was about get in a busy highway and this hazard could’ve caused a major ctash envolvimg multiple cars, the vehicle behind me has a dashcam that recorded the event. For god nobody got injured.

On the highway, my 2015 Hyundai Sonata suddenly began making a squealing or metallic rattling noise. At first, I thought it might have been something loose inside the vehicle. Within moments, the check engine light began blinking, followed by several additional warning lights and a pronounced knocking noise from the engine area. Immediately after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle entered a reduced-power “limp mode” and began rapidly losing speed, even though the engine was still running. Because this occurred at highway speed while surrounding traffic was traveling normally, I had to pull onto the shoulder to avoid being struck. This created a significant safety hazard. I was stranded for approximately 45 minutes on the shoulder, at risk of being struck by other vehicles passing at high speeds. A tow truck arrived before the highway patrol, and the vehicle was towed home. When I returned home, my code reader pulled two versions of diagnostic code p1326, which is associated with potential engine bearing failure in Hyundai theta ii engines. The issue has since been inspected by the dealership, who confirmed the presence of the p1326 code. The vehicle is currently available for further inspection upon request. There were no prior symptoms that I was aware of leading up to the incident other than the brief squealing/rattling noise and the sudden warning lights immediately beforehand. The failure happened suddenly and without warning, causing an immediate and unexpected loss of speed and creating a dangerous situation on the highway.

The paint started peeling off in large sections.

While driving, my 2015 Hyundai Sonata 2. 0t experienced severe knocking and loss of power due to a ksds-related engine defect. The check engine light was inoperative, and the engine now makes loud noises and emits fumes. Hyundai declined warranty coverage despite known ksds issues. This poses a serious safety concern ( I recently purchased the car and been fixing problems every since).

What the consumer services tried to offer (more information for case)me, instead of a replaced engine that is under my warranty. They have replaced engines before over the mileage as goodwill warranty, but refuse to do the necessary work because of mileages. Ksds is designed for any mileage, and they put a mileage limit on the vehicles warranty, that not just I, but multiple people purchased; where the justice.

The car got the 993 campaign software engine immobilizer update and it was locked with the keyfob. It still got stolen. Thieves broke the lock on driver side door which deactivates the immobilizer. Car was found and police report was filed. It is available for inspection. Many Hyundais that have had the immobilizer update have since been stolen. The 993 software update is ineffective.

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.

I have contacted the guy that sold me the car he refused to fix the recall which is my motor I need something done , Hyundai won’t honor their recall .

On may 28, 2025, my 2015 Hyundai Sonata experienced a sudden and complete loss of power while driving at highway speed on I-75 in sarasota, FL. There were no warning lights, error messages, or abnormal performance indicators prior to the failure. Within minutes of losing power, smoke began to enter the cabin, followed by visible flames from the engine compartment. I pulled over, exited the vehicle, and called 911. The fire fully engulfed the vehicle and destroyed personal property inside, including my late father’s ashes. The incident caused significant emotional distress and has resulted in a ptsd diagnosis. The sudden nature of the failure and rapid spread of the fire suggest a critical defect in the vehicle’s engine or related components. I believe this represents a serious safety hazard to other Hyundai owners and the public. Documentation, photographs, and insurance/fire reports are available.

My steering rack had to be replaced at less than 55,000 miles. I asked the dealer if this was covered under warranty and they said no. I was charged $4,800 for this repair. I contacted Hyundai USA and they refused to cover the repair. I then realized that I had received a letter from Hyundai stating my car had the extended warranty of 15 years/150m miles for this exact repair. I am on the phone with Hyundai now and they are still refusing to cover this repair, even though they sent me the letter stating my car has this extended warranty. My car is available for inspection upon request. Yes, my safety and the safety of others was put at risk, my power steering would intermittently go out while turning. Yes, my car was inspected twice, once in 2023 and again in may of 2025. Repairs were done in may. I was told this was not covered under warranty but I have an extended warranty from Hyundai for this exact problem. That extended warranty is for 15 years/150m miles. Yes, the occurrence in 2025 threw a code of c168708 - can time out vsm (mdps) and c1814 - can message failure sas.

The car just stopped while driving.

My pearl white 2015 Hyundai Sonata sport’s paint is chipping off while im driving causing paint chips to fly which has almost caused me to wreck. This is happening on the trunk roof and passenger front door.

On 03/14 I was driving down the road the with the sunroof open the wind flap suddenly went to flying making a loud sound I pulled over and saw that it was loose and hanging I went to press the button to attempt to close it and it semi closed. I went and had it looked at and was told that it was broken and could not be closed and needed to be replaced I was told it was a common issue with Hyundais and to contact the company.

It seems like the car is skipping.

Our 2015 Sonata has experiencing engine failure several times due to excessive and irregular oil consumption. Our family’s safety and the safety of others on the roadway were put at risk as the engine slows, shudders and stalls without prior warning and the check engine light does not come on until the vehicle slows and stalls. The vehicle was inspected at a local Hyundai dealership, and they indicated that this is not covered under warranty. Summary of engine issues and failures: 1. May 3, 2022 – 68,671 miles (local Hyundai dealer) check engine light on, shudder; oil change performed. No cause identified. Paid out-of-pocket. 2. August 23, 2022 – 75,527 miles (retail shop) car engines failed on highway, towed to service shop. Valve cover gaskets replaced. Paid out-of-pocket in part and extended warranty paid part of the invoice. 3. April 29, 2024 – 109,229 miles (local Hyundai dealer) excessive oil consumption noted; valve cover gasket replaced again. Paid out-of-pocket. 4. January 22, 2025 – 118,341 miles (local Hyundai dealer) vehicle stalled en route to airport, towed to dealership; dealership advised oil change. Paid out-of-pocket. 5. May 20, 2025 – 122,000 miles (local Hyundai dealer) engine codes p0300, p0302, p0303 identified. Dealer diagnosed excessive oil consumption likely due to ring wear or sticking rings, contributing to spark plug misfires. Recommendation: engine replacement. Despite consistent and timely service, including multiple visits to the Hyundai dealership, the root issue has not been properly addressed. The current diagnosis of internal engine failure is a clear continuation of a pattern of unresolved engine problems (stalling in motion, oil leaks and oil consumption) all of which originated well within Hyundai’s original warranty. The vehicle has been well maintained, and all recalls have been addressed in a timely manner. Hyundai’s failure to acknowledge and take responsibility for this widely documented engine issue is a safety concern.

My 2015 Hyundai Sonata with quartz white pearl paint continues to peel off my car and cause me to swerve thinking that there is something coming at my car like a bird due to the paint peeling so fast. This is also a concern for drivers behind me as my roof pain is peeling and may fly into their line of sight/vision which could potentially cause an accident.

At 40,000 miles the transmission is already jerking, shifting hard into gear and downshifting hard .

On June 30, 2024 I was driving a 2015 Hyundai Sonata and the car caught on fire. There were no warning lights/ dash indicators/ no check engine lights or other warnings present. I had just exited the highway and while sitting at a light, smoke began emanating from the hood and within seconds the smoke turned dark brown at the vents near the windshield. I immediately exited out of the vehicle. I did not have time to pull over out of traffic. The car was engulfed in flames within a very short period of time. I had only seconds to exit the car. I would have struggled to get any passengers out of the backseat safely (I. E. Kids in car seats) had I not been the only one in the car at the time. We had notified Hyundai of engine concerns that began in 2023, and they had given us the runaround for many months requiring us to submit paperwork for oil changes for the lifetime of the car and to keep returning to the dealership for "testing" after driving a certain # of miles. They required us to bring the car in to have pictures of the engine taken to ensure there wasn't "neglect" to the car on our part. This excessive and lengthy process by Hyundai took several months after initial concerns were brought up with the dealer. After being required to submit voluminous amount of paperwork and several trips to the dealership for "testing", Hyundai finally agreed to replace the faulty engine. We were told we could continue to drive it until a new engine was ordered. The new engine was scheduled to be replaced on July 11, 2024 however, the car burst into flames on June 30, 2024. Had Hyundai taken appropriate action when the issue was first brought to their attention, this incident would have likely been avoided and had not endangered my life and others helping. Thank you for your attention to this incident.

My 2015 Hyundai Sonata sport with 63k miles does not show any open recalls relating to fires however, my car was parked, went to turn it on, smelled an electrical smell and white smoke began billowing out of the engine. Within minutes the vehical engine compartment was engulfed in flames. I was able to remove my family from the vehicle and fire department came out to extinguish the vehicle. Thankfully everyone movedthere vehicles and no other vehicles were impacted but insurance has inspected the vehicle and determined it's a total loss as the whole engine compartment is melted. If not for me thinking and the action of others, many others cars could have been burned and my family burned and injured as they are still shook up about. Hyundai offered me a low settlement but there is know recall on the specific VIN for electrical or engine issues. The following weekend I met a guy who just purchased a pre-owned Hyundai and after leaving he stopped at a red light and the vehicle engine compartment went up in flames while parked. There is a larger issue at hand here and please help us investigate this so no one else has to go through this nightmare.

My Sonata is experiencing engine failure due to excessive and irregular oil consumption. The Hyundai dealership conducted an oil consumption test in which it was discovered that the car is excessively using oil. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk as the engine slow and stalls without prior warning and the check engine light does not come on until the vehicle slows and stalls. The vehicle was inspected at a Hyundai dealership and submitted to Hyundai for all or partial financial assistance for a new engine and in turn was declined by Hyundai even though they have a know issue of their engines consuming an unusually high rate of oil.

Car stalled then started smoking followed by flames. We exited vehicles and ran a safe distance away and called 911.

I am reporting a recurring and unresolved hybrid system failure in my 2015 Hyundai Sonata hybrid limited that poses an ongoing safety risk to me and my family. The issue involves a "hybrid system warning – safely stop and do not drive" message that appears randomly while driving, causing the vehicle to jerking and creating dangerous conditions on the road. This issue first occurred in February 2024 and has persisted through October 2025 despite repeated service visits and costly out-of-pocket repairs. The hybrid battery was eventually replaced after 8+ months of delays, but the exact same warning and jerking symptoms returned in March 2025 and have never been properly resolved. The dealership (crown Hyundai in st. Petersburg, FL) and Hyundai corporate case management have been unable to replicate or diagnose the problem consistently, and continue returning the vehicle to me in unsafe condition. On October 3, 2025, the same warning reappeared and the vehicle was dropped off again for yet another service attempt. Again on October 7, 2025, I was told to pick up my car, they could not replicate the issue and could not find a code to respond to. To date, I’ve paid $1,748. 65 for a repair (air flappers) that did not solve the issue, and spent months without use of the vehicle, continuing to pay for insurance during that time. I believe this is a defective hybrid propulsion system that meets the threshold for investigation and possibly a recall, given the repeat safety risk and lack of resolution. Please investigate this matter for the safety of other drivers as well.

I was driving down I-85 south, about 20 miles southwest of atlanta when I saw flames and smoke come underneath the hood of my car. I pulled over to the right shoulder and I was able to exit the vehicle before the entire front engine compartment was melted and engulfed in flames. Local fd responded and extinguished the fire. Fd was unable to explain what may have caused the issue. Vehicle is a total loss.

Panoramic sunroof randomly exploded while I was driving down the street. Appears to be a known issue and a class action lawsuit has been filed.

My car was smoking from under the hood. I had it towed to the dealer. Service dept said valve cover. Picked car up 2 days later and less than 1/4 mile from dealer the car was smoking, I called service department was told it was normal. Stopped at red light, smoking intense, turned back to dealer. I lost my brakes, stopped by the grace of god. Passerby told me to get out, my car was on fire. 2 minutes later it was fully engulfed. Total loss.

Consuming 1 quart of oil every 2 weeks, which is about 800 miles of highway driving for me.

Car has a distinct burning smell when driving it. This has been going on since late summer of 2023. I moved to a different state from nc to al. Had it inspected and because it wasn’t smelling at the time the mechanic stated there were no issues. Also, got a recall for campaign 993 with my VIN number from Hyundai and no dealership will honor it bc when they look up the VIN it says no recall due. Please help me rectify this situation so I’m not out of a car. I don’t know if it’s bc I relocated that I’m not getting cooperation. I’m not able to even schedule an appt with the dealership bc of this. Please help.

While driving, received hybrid system warning that shut the car down . Power steering and braking were non-existent so safely stopping and pulling over was near impossible.

My car has an anti theft defect that’s making cars like mine easy to be stolen. Over the weekend I took my kids to six flags and my car was stolen. I had my 3 kids with me and my wife. My kids are scared and feels unsafe. If theirs anything you guys can do to help me out, I will appreciate it. I do not have the money to fix my car at the time. I need my car to get back and forth to work.

My 2015 Hyundai Sonata has recently been having both electrical and engine problems. Roughly a month ago, I had my vehicle completely stall in the middle of the highway. I lost power and a bunch of lights came on at once. Thankfully, I was in the right lane so I was able to safely get off the road even though I had many other cars speeding around me. I had no acceleration, I was just cruising off the highway at this point. Thankfully, my brakes did still work. Engine light and a bunch of errors turned on but went away once I pulled off and restarted the vehicle. I pulled off the road and once I decided to try and start it and go again, my car felt like it had hardly any power the whole way home. Fast forward to last weekend, I was driving home and my car would not accelerate. The engine light comes on and this time, my acceleration didn’t completely shut off, I was just very limited. I had to ease into the gas because I felt like it was having a hard time shifting gears and keeping up with the rpms. I felt uncomfortable pushing it above 50. As I got close to home, I noticed a knocking noise in the engine. I plugged one of my code readers in and it spit out 7e8, 7e9 and I believe it was p1326. Super rough start and feels like it’s going to break down if I try to drive it. I’ve left it parked since.

My car had been in and out of dealership going through oil consumption testing. Was at dealership on Monday June 19th having more pictures as well as dropping oil pan etc. I was told Friday June 23 2023 car would be ready they were checking a seal to make sure it didn’t leak. I picked car up brought it home went out of town with my fiancée in his vehicle. Drove my car on Monday June 26th to work when I got off I picked my granddaughter and mother up. Drove home and 5 minutes of being inside my car exploded in my driveway. I did receive 1st degree burns was treated at my local er.

I am unsure what exactly happened but it is giving an error code for the engine sensor. I was driving the expressway (55-65mph) and my car went directly into safe mode. Which I didn’t kno what it was til later. I went from going expressway speed to almost getting t-boned getting off of the exit ramp as I was unable to accelerate over 2rpms. So my acceleration would jolt my car when going over 2rpms. I made it to a gas station where I had my mechanic friend meet me. He said I had no oil. We put 4 quarts in and it barely did the job! I had gotten my car serviced and oil changed not too far from when my car began to “shut down”. So oil is in the compartment, the engine light turns off. Well then I’m driving the expressway again thinking the problem is solved but also curious why and how I had no oil. All of a sudden the car goes back into the mode. Engine light comes on an I am once again going DE-accelerating in traffic on an expressway. I get off an exit and make it home in back roads. I had to pay for rentals and I was unable to get it to the Hyundai manufacturer. I got it to another certified mechanic which stated there is an oil leak somewhere but is unable to be found. As the 4qts added days prior, was almost gone again. The engine sounds awful, there’s rattling noises, noises sounding like a fan is broken but still spinning. There was absolutely no warning signs prior. Nothing was on, nothing was off, absolutely nothing to forewarn me of this awful situation until it decided it was going to safe mode on the expressway out of nowhere. I owe thousands of dollars in rentals, I can’t afford to even pay that off! for Hyundai to diagnose my car, they wanna charge 80$! when I already have the error code from the previous mechanic. I don’t have the money to be doing this funny business. The car actually turned off when I was driving it and was in like an idle mode or something. I have no clue. Nobody has any idea where the oil goes. It isn’t showing smoke anywhere.

2015 hybrid Sonata, milages at 82,000 km, owned for 8 years. "hybrid system warning, do not drive" message occurred, car lost 100% of its power, went into complete stop without any warnings on the middle of the highway. Hazard lights do not work and unable to warn incoming traffic that the car has completely stalled in the highway. The car is unsafe to drive. Went to Hyundai (here in canada) several times, being charged every time for diagnostic and repair works, been told that the issues were fixed via software update. Problem persists. There are compelling evidences from different car forums, websites and NHTSA own database (28 reports under unknown, 22 reports under electrical sys. Categories. . . ) on the hybrid system failure or/and 100% power lost lead to complete stalled car. Although all these reports did not site any injury, major or death events, NHTSA should compel Hyundai to take appropriate actions to render the car safe to drive for the public because if accidents should happened, it cannot be undone and will affect lives of people. The public relies on a governing body to represent us and hold the manufacturer responsable to ensure that their mkt released products are safe: to save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes.

While driving on the 91 freeway in the fasttrack lanes, this warning displayed on the dashboard: "hybrid system warning! safely stop and do not drive. " the fasttrack lanes are on 91 freeway are cordoned off, so there is no way to get out for 10 miles. We had to continue driving, but the car started losing power after 2-3 miles and began stalling. It was an extremely dangerous situation. We were very fortunate to find a construction zone that allowed us to pull the car into a safe spot. Once the car was stopped, it would not start and had to be towed to the dealer (cardinal way Hyundai in corona, CA) on may 8. The dealer ran diagnostics and sent the codes to Hyundai tech center. The tech center advised the dealer to update the system software. After updating the software the dealer returned the car to me on may 9. Previously, on Aug 17, 2020, I had the same warning light “hybrid system warning!. . . ” while driving on the highway. I was able to take an exit and park the car safely. I had to get it towed to the same dealer. The dealer reported that the diagnostic “measured resistance at safety plug. Found open circuit. Replaced safety plug. ” the car was fixed and returned to me on the same day. It is completely unacceptable to have a car shut down without any warning in the middle of the freeway. If we had stopped in the middle of the freeway, it would have resulted in a very bad accident and could have resulted in loss of life. The tow truck driver told us that he has towed many Hyundai or kia hybrid cars with similar issues. This problem seems to be a systematic and Hyundai should be subject to recall these cars to fix this dangerous problem. Hyundai needs to make sure that the car owner is provided sufficient warning of any impending problems with the hybrid system. Furthermore, the onboard communication system in the Sonata hybrid is outdated and does not work, so no diagnostic reports are generated. Hyundai needs to provide free replacement of the comm system.