Electrical System Problems of Hyundai Sonata - part 1

While driving the vehicle the other night, the cars electrical system completely shut off for a few seconds before popping back on. The whole car inside and out went completely black. It was around 10pm on a dark country road. I had the seat heater on high and the defrost on high because it was cold. It appeared to happen when the auto high beams were supposed to engage. Instead of them engaging, the whole cars electrical system just shut off. No headlights, no instruments, interior lighting, console display, nothing worked. The car was in battery mode at the time, and it sounded like the whole car just shutoff. I took my foot off the accelerator wondering what happened, and before I could understand what was going on, everything came back on. It did not prompt me to start the vehicle again. The auto on/off brights never worked like they were supposed to again either. I had to manually engage and disengage them. Thankfully it was just me on that stretch of road going 30mph at the time or it could have ended badly.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

This car is becoming more of a headache than it’s worth. Turned the car on, my car started shaking and my check engine light came on. Then I got this message “a possible condition with your engine control system has been detected on a 2017 Hyundai Sonata”.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

Passenger seat belt doesn’t click in. Miss fire poor acceleration exhaust leak power lost mechanic can’t find the problem check engine light on.

See all problems of the 2009 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

I have noticed puddles under/near rear side door/tire, the smell of gas after filling up tank. And a reduced mpg lower than normal with same driving habits.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

Unknown what system failed. The vehicle is at an impound lot and can be inspected on request. Police and fire department were on the scene. Police did provide a report # , and fire department provided a fire rescue case number. Safety of driver was put at risk due to the fire and potential for burning or even death. Other drivers could have been at risk if traffic had not allowed for quick movement to side of the road. No warning lamps had been on prior to the drive and none prior to fire. First indication was a burning smell while driving. As pulling over, another driver honked to alert to fire he could see from rear of CA,. Before I noticed the flames. Upon getting out of car first flames I saw appeared to be coming from under passenger side of car. The fire department arrived about 15 minutes after pulling to side of the road. The car was fully engulfed in flames. They then extinguished the fire. Police saw vehicle and insurance will examine. Apparently this is a known issue in Hyundai of which this vehicle had no open recalls pertaining to such.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

Engine started rough idling and knocking. Took to a mechanic who found metal particulate in the oil and the engine spun a bearing.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

While driving, vehicle slowed down abruptly and stopped. It was flashing “vehicle not safe to drive”. This happened before hen I got a new engine 2 years ago. Even with a new engine now it is happening again. I took it to Nissan moreno valley and paid $240 for diagnostic only to find out there a software update they had to do with a tablet. No work needed to be one just a software update hooked up to their system. Hyundai cooperate would not assist to over this fee. I like have crashed with this happening. The car just stops with no warning and it’s extremely dangerous how it cuts off while driving. Luckily I was on the streets not freeway.

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

I have a 2007 Hyundai Sonata se v6 3. 3l and on January 9th, 2026 I had an incident where on the road my charging system light on signifying alternator failure. I made it home, but the battery was dead which was recently purchased. After recharging the battery I conducted tests with a multimeter and have determined the alternator has failed. The alternator has accrued a coating of oil overtime that was unknown until my research into the matter of root cause. Hyundai manufactures a v6 engine family called lamba in which a version called lambda mpi g6db was introduced in 2007–2009 Hyundai santa fe (cm) and 2005–2009 Hyundai Sonata (nf) models. In 2023 Hyundai issued a recall for the 2007-2009 santa fe for a cylinder head cover oil leak repair where oil drips from the valve cover directly onto the alternator causing it to fail. I have a 2007 Hyundai Sonata 3. 3l v6 engine where the very same issue has occurred with photo evidence that has caused my alternator to fail and have tested the issue. This vehicle model was not included in the recall despite the engine being exactly the same as the recalled model, the year being the exact same as the santa fe, and the alternator in the exact placement where the oil drips into the alternator causing failure just like the santa fe recall. The santa fe recall with the same issue is documented with national highway traffic safety administration below: [xxx] Hyundai has yet to issue the same recall for the Hyundai Sonata brand of vehicles, despite the same issue occurring and a known issue with the lambda mpi g6db engine design effecting multiple models in the same way documented across multiple owners of these vehicles with various fixes suggested on youtube, reddit, and enthusiast forums for this engineering failure that causes considerable risk if the alternator fails in operation on roadways. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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I have taken my vehicle to a certified Hyundai dealership multiple times due to intermittent starting issues. The car will unlock remotely, and the lights and electrical components will turn on, but the engine will not start. When this happens, I press the ignition button to turn the vehicle off and then try again. Sometimes it eventually starts, but there have been several occasions when it would not start at all, forcing me to call for a tow or have the battery jumped. This issue occurs most often in cool or cold weather. I had a brand new battery installed at the dealership in July 2025, yet the problem has continued. I have been dealing with this for over a year and have even been stranded out of state in below-freezing temperatures. Each time I bring the vehicle in, the dealership states they are unable to replicate the issue while it is in their service department.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

I was involved in a severe motor vehicle collision in a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The airbags failed to deploy during the crash. I sustained serious injuries and was transported from the scene by ems. This vehicle has known safety recalls, and I believe the airbag non-deployment may indicate a safety defect.

While driving with my family on a busy freeway at approximately 70 mph, our vehicle suddenly displayed a loud, urgent warning: “hybrid system warning – safely stop and do not drive!” at the same moment, the car lost the ability to accelerate without any prior signs of trouble. We were extremely fortunate to have enough momentum to coast to the shoulder and shut the vehicle off, unsure of how serious the issue might be. Being stranded without warning on a high?speed highway put my entire family in a dangerous situation. After a few minutes, we restarted the car to see if we could at least get it off the freeway. The warning had disappeared, and the vehicle drove normally, allowing us to take back roads home. The lack of any prior symptoms makes this even more concerning. Losing acceleration at highway speeds with no warning is a major safety hazard. We took the vehicle to a dealership immediately, but because the warning light was no longer active, they were unable to diagnose the problem. A few days later, the same warning appeared again—this time only a couple minutes from home. I turned around immediately for safety, parked the car, and once again the warning disappeared as soon as the vehicle was shut off. At this point, we have a car sitting in our driveway that we do not feel safe driving. The dealership cannot identify or repair the issue unless the warning is active, & even then, they cannot guarantee that a diagnostic code will appear. After researching this problem online, it’s clear that many other Hyundai owners are experiencing the same issue, often spending thousands of dollars without a definitive fix. Despite how common & dangerous this problem appears to be, there are no recalls & no consistent guidance from dealerships. This situation is unacceptable from a safety standpoint. A vehicle that can suddenly lose power at highway speeds—with no warning and no reliable way to diagnose the cause—poses a serious risk to everyone and needs to be investigated.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

Unknown, my esp keeps coming trying to see if it’s recall.

See all problems of the 2012 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

While driving the dashboard headlights and all safety systems shut off for a brief period and then reset and if driving at night this leaves you completely in the dark till the system resets. All lights exterior and interior all the safety sensors, adaptive cruise control everything shuts off. Anything tied to the electrical system shuts off. The only thing that remains running is the engine.

The exterior lights such as head lights and brake lights aswell as all interior electronics shut off at random intervals while driving posing a serious danger early in the morning and at night.

Oil pressure sensor failure caused oil to leak into the injector harness damaging components and engine shutdown. Because this was a sudden engine shutdown and safety-related loss of motive power caused by an oil pressure sensor failure this presents a safety risk.

Subject: non-collision engine compartment fire - 2010 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: 5npeu4af3ah630796) ?"on Dec 19 2025, my 2010 Hyundai Sonata suffered a sudden, non-collision fire that originated in the engine compartment. While there are currently no 'open' recalls on this VIN, I am formally reporting this incident as it matches the failure patterns documented in NHTSA defect petition dp18-003 regarding non-crash fires in Hyundai/kia vehicles. ?preliminary inspection of the damage shows characteristic signs of a manufacturer defect, specifically potentially related to a connecting rod bearing failure leading to an engine block puncture and oil ignition, or an electrical short in the abs module—both of which have been subjects of major Hyundai fire investigations and class-action settlements (e. G. , engine ii settlement).

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Brakes seize up while driving and then cannot move the vehicle. This causes a dangerous situation while driving and then breaks lock up and cannot move car even though vehicle is on and then stopped for a stop light. Car must then be turned off and sit for about 30 minutes so it can unseize and when that happens, you can then resume driving and then check engine light comes on. Brake lights were staying on even when vehicle is shut completely off. Abs and esc lights stay on consistently and never turn off. Vehicle brake switch was replaced at carolina Hyundai of high point, nc. So break lights have been repaired. They had to order the stop switch lamp replacement for recall as it was never done and will be fixed in next week. 3 door handles fell off and cannot open the rear driver side door at all. Window electric system won’t let windows go up and down and had to make a latch pull string to open driver door. Passenger door will not open at all and no handle and is a dangerous situation. Break switch not being replaced would have cause an electrical fire and is a complete dangerous vehicle even after being inspected less than a week ago.

My 2015 Hyundai Sonata has a defective engine. The motor failed unexpectedly even though the car has low usage and has always been maintained properly. I was informed that many Hyundai engines from these years came with manufacturing issues, and mine appears to be one of them.

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While I was driving at approximately 55mph, a loud clank happened and the car stalled, and smoke started pouring out of the hood and through the vents into the cabin, and I was leaving burning pieces behind on the road. I pulled over, ran to the back to get my dogs out of their crash tested kennels in the backseat, and both rear doors & passenger front door were locked. I ran up front to unlock them, and the unlock button did not work. I tried the unlock on the keys and it did not work. Due to having a recommended crash safe kennel set up it was not possible to crawl into the back to open it from the inside. My dogs were trapped in a car that was filled with smoke and on fire for over 2 minutes while I debated breaking the windows. I managed to fish a wire into the back to unlock and pull the door open from the inside of the back doors. The car stopped burning but was still smoking for several minutes after & I was able to clear the smoke to make it safe for my dogs to wait for a tow. When the mechanic looked at it he said the engine blew up due to the rod shattering into the block, destroying the entire engine and spilling oil which lit on fire. Mechanic recommended I contact Hyundai for engine replacement as this was a known issue with other 2015 Hyundai Sonatas which were recalled due to risk of a defect rod knock causing the rod to shatter causing high speed stalling. Hyundai says my engine was not included in that specific recall. I included photo of the shattered rod which fell out when the mechanic lifted the vehicle.

The driver’s seat / passenger seat assembly, including seat rails, mounting brackets, and Smart junction box (sjb) connections if electrical adjustment was involved, completely failed during a crash. The seat lifted off the floor anchors and almost entirely came apart, including both the seat cushion (where you sit) and the backrest, leaving the occupant crushed within the collapsed seat structure, resulting in catastrophic injuries. During the crash, the seat collapsed and disassembled, exposing the occupant to extreme trauma. This caused: •pelvic fracture •broken femur, hip, and back •collapsed lung and punctured liver •foreign object from the seat mechanism punctured pelvic bone the failure directly contributed to life-threatening injuries that would not have occurred if the seat had remained securely anchored. The malfunction posed an immediate risk of death and permanent disability. Not yet reproduced under controlled conditions. The incident has been documented by police and medical personnel. The vehicle is currently in a tow yard, and we have not had access to it, but it remains available for inspection by Hyundai, NHTSA, or a qualified service center police: yes, crash scene documented. •insurance: we are unsure whether the insurance company has inspected the seat. The vehicle remains in the tow yard and has not been repaired or altered. •manufacturer (Hyundai): not yet inspected; formal inspection requested. The vehicle and seat are preserved and ready for inspection by Hyundai, NHTSA, or other qualified representatives. There were no warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms of seat failure. The seat functioned normally prior to the crash, and the malfunction occurred only during the impact, demonstrating a sudden and catastrophic failure under crash conditions.

Car stalls and shuts down while shifting to park or reverse and when slowing to turn or stopping. Also the media screen will black out and not work at times.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

My 2021 Hyundai Sonata limited hybrid 12v battery has started to die randomly. My car is currently with the Hyundai dealer to confirm if this will be a warranty claim. Searching online, I have found other posts of people complaining about a similar issue with their 2021 Hyundai Sonata hybrid.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

The high-voltage (hv) hybrid battery pack assembly failed, resulting in a system shutdown and the required replacement. The primary code is dtc p0a80 ("replace hybrid battery pack"), which indicates an internal manufacturing or design flaw, specifically a weak battery module or compromised internal connection, not normal wear. The defective component (the high-voltage battery) is currently at and is available for inspection. The entire vehicle is also compromised by the anti-lock brake system (abs) module defect (NHTSA recall 23v-651000). My safety was put at risk in two primary ways: 1. Immediate loss of power: the hybrid system failure resulted in a loss of drivetrain power, rendering the vehicle nearly immobile. This occurred on at approximately mph, placing me at high risk of a collision. 2. Latent fire risk: my vehicle is covered under the NHTSA id 23v-651000 fire risk recall due to the abs module. Hyundai specifically advised owners of these vehicles to "park their vehicles outside and away from structures" until the remedy is complete, confirming the severity of the latent fire hazard. The failure of the secondary hv battery system occurred within this already dangerous, electrically unstable environment. Yes, the vehicle was inspected by the Hyundai dealership / independent shop at the time of failure. . The manufacturer's corporate division has been contacted and is aware of the defect and the resulting $10,000 replacement estimate, as they offered a 50% "goodwill" subsidy which I am rejecting, asserting 100% coverage is required for a defect. Yes. The primary preceding warning was the intermittent appearance of the "check hybrid system, turn off engine" warning.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond or exceed 30 mph. The contact stated that the speedometer reading was lagging. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal with more force. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the camshaft position sensor was replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the starter was previously replaced due to the engine's failure to turn over while starting the vehicle. The contact stated that upon switching to sport mode and driving 40 mph, the vehicle jerked and lost motive power. The contact shifted to neutral(n) and was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle was undrivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the failure could be an electrical failure or that an engine replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

I was sold a 2024 Hyundai Sonata sel and while driving on the road multiple times the car completely shut off. By this all lights inside and outside the car turned off (headlights, interior lights and all) car was still rolling and I pulled over each time as all systems rebooted. It claimed that all seatbelts were off with the warning sign. Had to unbuckle and buckle all seatbelts for this warning to go away. Since the car completely shut off this put other drivers, my passengers, and myself at danger due to visibility. Luckily there was no traffic at the time but this keeps happening and it is worrying me.

The vehicle experienced an engine and power train failure while driving on the highway, resulting in sudden loss of power. The electrical system also failed after the dealer visit, causing the battery to die every morning. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My car suddenly lost power on the highway and would not accelerate, forcing me to pull over on the shoulder with traffic moving around me. This created a serious risk of a rear-end collision or crash. Additionally, after the dealer visit, the electrical system began failing and the vehicle has been completely dead every morning, leaving me stranded with a child and unable to reliably start the car. The problem has not been reproduced because the check engine code cleared itself after the incident; however, the symptoms absolutely remain. The dealer refused to diagnose the loss-of-power event because the code was cleared, and they returned the vehicle to me with a dead battery. The electrical issue (car dying every morning) has been happening consistently since the dealer visit. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership immediately after the incident, but they refused to diagnose the loss of power due to the code being cleared. A mobile mechanic scanned the code at my home before the tow, but the code disappeared afterward. The electrical failure began after the dealer visit and has not been properly inspected by Hyundai. Yes. While driving on the highway, the check engine light came on and the car immediately lost power and would not accelerate. After the dealer visit, the car has been completely dead every morning and requires a jump to start. These symptoms began on the same day as the highway incident and continued after Hyundai serviced the vehicle.

The vehicle experiences a recurring defect where the brake light turns on suddenly and the engine shuts off while driving. The failure appears related to the braking system (brake switch circuit), electrical system (can-bus/ecu communication), and engine control (shutdown/stall). The system remains installed and is available for inspection upon request. The shutdown poses a serious safety risk, including possible rear-end collision or loss of power in traffic. The problem has occurred multiple times. The dealership inspected the vehicle briefly but failed to diagnose or document the defect and returned the vehicle within hours, stating “it shouldn’t be a problem,” even though the issue continues. Hyundai has refused to provide recall documentation or authorize a re-inspection. The only warnings prior to shutoff are the sudden activation of the brake warning light just before the engine cuts off.

See all problems of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

While stopping at a major highway intersection on [xxx] for a red light vehicle stalls and will not start back up while everyone else continues at a 55 mph mile an hour passing me on each side! this happened more than 6 times . While you’re stuck in intersection,you have to keep trying to start the car eventually it will start . Apparently it is egr valve and is a very common problem. It is noted in the common problem for this year making model and the repair cost is in the range of $1600 even the dealership said it is a very common problem. They have been experiencing it. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Rear view camera stopped working about 6 weeks ago. Mechanic says need new camera which would cost about $500 labor and parts. Contacted dealer and Hyundai corporate to report and complain. Many other Hyundai vehicles have same problem with rear view camera but they are included in a recall campaign. Mine is not. Mechanic said the repair requires new camera and wireing harness. Hyundai case number is 41861577.

Based on what I experienced, the fire appears to have resulted from an internal mechanical or electrical failure that occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion. No prior issues or dashboard alerts were present at the time, and there was no external impact or damage that could explain the fire.

Vehicle stalled while driving.

Unknown. 2018 Hyundai Sonata engine has failed. Only purchased the vehicle in December 2024, and the engine is defective. There is much information, via research, indicating that Hyundai is aware of the engine issues with this year vehicle, but are unwilling to make amends. Vehicle has 100,189 miles.

Came off the highway to a stop sign went turn and the engine just seized and would not start no matter what I did. Had to have it towed to my house. Safety risk was just off the road so I did not get hit. Police stop and told me to get a tow truck. And no warning signs at all.

The rubber stopper for the brake light switch on the brake pedal deteriorated and fell apart. This resulted in the brake lights remaining on constantly, cruise control being disabled, and low battery voltage.

We pulled up at hillgreen circle cockysville MD to drop my boyfriend off at his apartment. I went to pull in the parking spot. I went to put the car into park and it had no brakes. I was slamming them and pumping them. It excellerated and took off. Jumped the curb,went down the hill and into the apartment building. A red light had came on the dash, right before it took off. Seemed like it was changing to gas or the electric mode,or the other way around. The airbag on the passenger side came out deflated,and filled with smoke going into the car. He was the belted front passenger and his elbow went in to the front window. You can tell by looking at it,the hole and spidered around it. He broke his right elbow. It is available anytime at the moment. It's at Hyundaii in glen burnie. I need to get it to state farms lot,to get the kelly blue book value. We look forward to hearing from you.