Power Train Problems of Hyundai Sonata - part 1

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 🔎.

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 🔎.

My 2016 Hyundai Sonata (2. 0t/2. 4l engine) has been experiencing loss of motive power and severe engine stumbling at stoplights, creating an unreasonable risk of a crash in traffic. The check engine light is on with dtc p0010. Upon inspection, the internal oil seal plug at the intake camshaft e-cvvt has become unseated, causing an active oil leak. This matches the exact defect and symptoms (elevated idle of 1,200–1,400 rpm and power reduction) described in Hyundai service campaign tx3 (TSB 15-01-022-1). While that campaign only applied to 2015 models, my 2016 vehicle has suffered the identical failure. I am requesting that this safety-related defect be investigated for 2016 models to prevent potential engine fires from oil leaks or accidents from sudden power loss.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

My engine light come on. Air flow notification come on. I had a brake cleaner notification come on.

See all problems of the 2025 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

At least 8 times when driving the car the transmission switches from the drive “d” position to the park “p” position and I have to cut off the car and then restart. It is very dangerous as I can be rear ended which can result in personal injury as well as an insurance claim. I’ll put the last date it occurred but started experiencing soon after I bought car.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

My vehicle has a documented excessive oil?consumption defect. After a 1,000?mile oil?consumption test performed by a Hyundai dealership, the engine was found to have consumed 2. 8 quarts of oil, which is far above normal and poses a safety risk. The dealer referenced TSB 23?em?008h and recommended a chamber cleaning but could not guarantee it would resolve the issue. Hyundai motor America declined to cover the repair and refused to escalate my case. This level of oil consumption is consistent with known theta ii engine defects that have led to engine seizure, stalling, and fire in other vehicles. I am reporting this as a safety concern due to the risk of sudden engine failure while driving.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

On January 6, 2026, during my morning commute in heavy traffic, my 2023 Hyundai Sonata engine unexpectedly turned off, causing a sudden loss of power. This created an extremely dangerous situation, and I came very close to being involved in a major collision. While I was fortunate to avoid a crash, the incident posed a direct threat to my safety and life because of the dense surrounding traffic.

My 2022 Hyundai Sonata hybrid started blowing white smoke from the exhaust. Took it to the dealership and was advised the valve that controls antifreeze failed and leaking antifreeze in exhaust. This caused the engine to overheat and would cause the engine to blow up. My car has 83,000 and was told the manufacturer warranty only covered to 80,000 and extended warranty would not cover the part. Was told it would cost 2659 to fix. This is part of the hybrid power train and should be covered under the 100,000 Hyundai warranty. I have seen the same issue with other Sonata hybrids on the internet that is doing the same as mine. Hyundai needs to recall for this since it is a needed component for the engine.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

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 🔎.

I own a 2021 Hyundai Sonata 1. 6t, which has an open NHTSA safety recall (25v796000) related to fuel tank pressurization and fire risk. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership due to a check engine light, reduced performance, and dtc p14ee, which aligns with the recall condition. The dealership refused to treat the concern as recall-related unless I paid a diagnostic fee and later attempted to reclassify the issue as a customer-pay fuel pump repair. During this visit, the dealership replaced a fuel system sensor without my authorization, which I did not approve or consent to. The dealership has not provided documented test results explaining how the recall condition was ruled out and has not documented recall inspection on the repair order. I expressed that I do not feel safe driving the vehicle due to the fuel system recall and drivability issues. The dealership also refused to provide alternate transportation. I am concerned the recall is not being handled in compliance with NHTSA requirements and that unauthorized repairs were performed while attempting to shift a recall-related condition to the customer. I am requesting review of recall handling and dealer compliance.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

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: excessive engine oil consumption – 2016 Hyundai Sonata I am reporting an ongoing and excessive engine oil consumption issue with my 2016 Hyundai Sonata that I believe may represent a safety defect or other significant reliability concern. The engine is burning oil at a rate far beyond normal expectations (requiring frequent top-off well below recommended mileage intervals), resulting in dangerously low oil levels while driving. I have maintained the vehicle per manufacturer recommendations and documented oil add-ins and dealer visits, but the problem has worsened over time. Despite presenting this problem to my Hyundai dealership, they have declined to authorize engine cleaning or further corrective action due to the mileage. I am struggling with high oil consumption and potential risk of engine failure while driving. This issue is not unique to my vehicle — numerous similar complaints exist in Hyundai forums and in other owners’ submitted complaints (e. G. , reports of more than 1 quart consumed every ~500–1,000 miles and sequences of denied repairs) which suggests a broader pattern of oil consumption failures for this model year. Auto safety +1 I believe this may represent a safety defect because loss of engine oil can lead to engine seizure or failure without warning, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Please review this complaint, add it to the NHTSA vehicle database, and contact me if further information is needed.

While driving on the highway, my 2018 Hyundai Sonata experienced sudden loss of engine power and became undrivable. The failure occurred without warning at approximately 86,500 miles. At the time of the incident, there were two children in the vehicle, and the breakdown occurred at night in cold temperatures (approximately 20°f). An authorized Hyundai dealership later diagnosed zero compression in cylinder 3 and confirmed a cracked piston, recommending full engine replacement. The sudden loss of power while driving created a safety risk due to traffic conditions and environmental exposure.

Airbags did not deploy no indicator light came on before nor after I was struck from my driver side front area and yes it is available for inspection upon request. My safety along with my sisters safety was put at risk due to the negligence and cheapness of the dealership I purchased the car from also from there misleading information and improper inspection before selling me the car car has not been reproduced or confirmed the car was inspected by a third party appraisal company for damages amounts there were no lights on at all before the accident and I am pretty certain that the dealership cleaared the codes before selling me the car.

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.

On November 10, 2025, my 2016 Hyundai Sonata hybrid (VIN [xxx] , approximately 150,000 miles) experienced a sudden loss of power while I was turning right and accelerating into traffic. The vehicle immediately entered limp mode with flashing warning lights and audible alerts. The vehicle lost normal propulsion and could not accelerate properly, creating a dangerous situation as it was blocking a traffic lane. I was forced to limp the vehicle into a nearby parking lot to get out of traffic. The vehicle was not safely drivable afterward and was towed home. A few days later, the vehicle was towed to murdoch Hyundai in lindon, utah, for diagnosis. The vehicle was found to have diagnostic trouble code p1326, which Hyundai identifies as activation of the knock sensor detection system (ksds) related to connecting-rod bearing wear. This condition is part of Hyundai’s known engine defect and safety recall/warranty extension programs. During inspection, the dealer observed that the valvetrain did not show signs of neglect or sludge, which is inconsistent with oil starvation or severe maintenance neglect. This further supports that the failure is consistent with the known connecting-rod bearing defect addressed by Hyundai’s ksds safety recall, rather than a maintenance-related issue. This is a safety issue because sudden loss of propulsion or reduced power while entering traffic creates a high risk of collision. Hyundai customer care has been unwilling to open a new case number or escalate review, and the dealer has indicated possible denial of engine replacement coverage based on incomplete oil-change records, despite the vehicle exhibiting the ksds safety condition. I am requesting NHTSA review of this safety-related defect and the manufacturer’s handling of ksds/p1326 failures. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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 engine/powertrain on my 2015 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: [xxx] ) has failed due to extremely low compression in all four cylinders, causing severe misfires, hard starting, loss of power, and intermittent rattling noises, and the vehicle is currently available for inspection at the Hyundai dealership. This failure created a safety risk because the engine hesitates, struggles to start, and can stall or lose power during driving, which could lead to a loss of control or an inability to accelerate in traffic. The problem has been confirmed by both an independent mechanic and the Hyundai dealership, who documented low compression across all cylinders. The vehicle has been fully inspected by the dealership on Hyundai’s behalf after I opened a case with the manufacturer. Prior to the complete failure, the car showed warning symptoms such as repeated cylinder 4 misfires, rough starting, reduced power, rattling noises on startup, and the check engine light appearing several times beginning earlier this year. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

During multiple dealership visits in 2025, my 2018 Hyundai Sonata limited 2. 0t was repeatedly returned in unsafe condition. Southern Hyundai installed both front cv axles and torqued them incorrectly. The right axle was later confirmed under-torqued by about 50 ft-lbs, and the left axle was later found over-torqued 40ft-lbs priority Hyundai later identified and corrected the under-torqued right axle, which briefly improved symptoms but did not resolve the underlying issue. When I returned for a follow-up on October 29, 2025, for a documentation-only appointment due to an active corporate case, the dealer ignored my instructions and altered evidence by loosening and re-torquing the left axle nut without consent. They recorded the torque at 250 ft-lbs in the repair order but failed to capture the required photos or before/after readings and referenced the wrong vehicle’s torque specification (Hyundai elantra) in the documentation. Since then, the vehicle has continued to show steering pull, vibration, and instability at speed. Several visits showed only 0–3 miles of verification driving after safety-critical repairs involving brakes, suspension, and driveline components. Aftermarket parts were installed when oem parts were promised, and uneven tire wear developed quickly. Safety risks include wheel-bearing damage, steering loss, and driveline separation due to repeated improper torque and altered evidence. Independent firestone and Honda technicians have verified these issues. The matter remains under active Hyundai corporate case #[xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond and lost power. The vehicle was coasted over to the right side of the road, turned off, restarted, and returned to normal functionality. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 22v746000 (power train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.

High engine oil consumption 2 qts every 1k miles.

Good day, please note that most of my communication with Hyundai has been over the phone. I sent one an email shortly after the event, and after following up on the phone, I received this following string separately. I can forward you more along the way, but Hyundai is in possession of the call recordings. I was hoping they would cover my repairs, my engine had a lifetime warranty, but during this process I learned that there was a recall for this car that I was never aware of as the new owner. I needed a software update to get any repairs covered. Please reach out to me for more info!.

See all problems of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

Vehicle stalled while driving.

See attached document for complaint.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate to overtake another vehicle at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to approximately 20 mph instead. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, turned off the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes, before restarting and continuing to drive. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure had occurred three times. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the transfer case had failed and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,500.

On [xxx] iwas driving coming back home from [xxx] by exit [xxx]. The engine turn off and didnt turn back on. I had to get a town to take me out of the highway and pay $141. 00 becide that my engine seized. Now I dont have a car and the car didn't gave me any notification that something it was going on with the engine. If I had any light on the car I wil take it to the mechanic, know I loss my source of income because Hyundai problems with engine. And to get another engine it cost $5000. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

2021 Hyundai Sonata with approximately 39,000 miles. On 8/21/2025, the dashboard displayed the following message "shifter system malfunction! service immediately" when the warning appeared, the vehicle shifter button would not function, creating a traffic safety risk. History: dealer service history shows the transmission was replaced on the vehicle under warranty on 08/30/2021 with 2,212 miles with no campaign/recall issued. Dealer states there is no recall campaign on this vehicles specific VIN # and NHTSA currently shows no open recalls for this vehicle. However, Hyundai advertises an 8-speed dct safety recall for the same year, make and model, and describes this identical issue, but has left this vehicle's VIN# out of scope for this recall, which is continuing to demonstrate the same issues. Current dealer/manufacturer response: on 9/4/2025, the dealer declined warranty or recall repair unless the fault was active on their diagnostic scan at the moment the scan was performed. A photo was provided to the mechanics of the dashboard showing the transmission service warning, with current mileage. The dealer advised there were no diagnostic log history showing the transmission error code even with photographic proof and attempted to return the vehicle to me. I have rejected the return of the vehicle and advised that this needs to be escalated, because if logs are not appearing, this is even a bigger cause for concern and that the vehicle is a safety hazard. Concern: because this vehicle required an early transmission replacement and is now exhibiting new transmission/shifter warnings, I am concerned the failure relates to the known transmission/shifter recall on this model and that the recall scope and/or remedy is incomplete for the affected vehicles including my VIN #. It is also possible the dealership is attempting to run out the warranty which expires in 3 months. Vehicle, photo of the warning, and service records are available for inspection.

While driving about 45 miles per hour the gas engine shut off and the electric engine lost power, were able to coast a few miles under low power under electric engine and then engine shutdown completely and would not start, had car tolled to nearest mechanic, he confirmed eninge damaged by rod bearing failure, he tried to get a new engine to replace the damaged one and Hyundai told him they could not sell him and engine.

Not sure . The car has been regulaurly maintenced and one day the emgine complagely seized up going down the road .

The contact owned a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered, jerked and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart but made an abnormal ticking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the engine in my 2017 Hyundai Sonata sport is defective. Oil pressure failed testing, oil contamination was found on the oil pressure sensor and connector, and the vehicle has experienced excessive oil issues. The engine is still in my possession and available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the vehicle has gone into limp mode on the highway, which caused a sudden loss of power and created a dangerous situation in traffic. The car also shakes, misfires, and loses power unexpectedly, which could lead to stalling or loss of control at highway speeds. I do not feel safe driving the car. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes. Multiple Hyundai dealerships have inspected the car. One confirmed low oil pressure and oil contamination at the sensor. Previous visits dismissed the oil warning and charged me for oil replacement instead of identifying the underlying defect. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? yes. The vehicle has been inspected by Hyundai dealers multiple times. I also have two inspection reports from the same dealer just two weeks apart with contradictory findings the first showing no oil issue, the second confirming oil contamination and failed oil pressure. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? yes. The oil warning light and check engine light have both come on. The vehicle has gone into limp mode, and symptoms have included shaking, misfiring, rough idling, and loss of power. These issues began months ago and have continued despite repeated service visits.

While driving on the highway, the motor all of a sudden lost all power and the brakes locked causing a collision. I've never had any problems until then. My car was in tip top shape with no issues until the engine / motor decided to defect. Hyundai she recall this engine issue before someone gets killed.

I am leasing a 2017 Hyundai Sonata from car city in michigan. In may 2025, the vehicle received a brand-new engine replacement due to previous problems. I picked the car up on [xxx], and on the same day, the vehicle began malfunctioning. It would not accelerate properly, jerked and stalled, and multiple warning lights — including the check engine light — came on immediately. This made the car unsafe to drive. I contacted the dealer, but they told me to wait until Monday to get it looked at, leaving me with a dangerous and unreliable car. The vehicle had already been in the shop for over two months for the engine issue, and I had only driven it for six months beforehand. I believe the repair or replacement engine is defective or was not properly installed. This creates a serious safety hazard. A car that stalls while driving puts everyone at risk. I am filing this complaint so this issue can be investigated and addressed if others are affected. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

After initial startup and drive for a short time, I come to a stop. Then after vehicle doesn’t want to accelerate as it normally would. Vehicle struggles to gain speed but, the engine revs excessively. I pull off the road and come to a stop and try to accelerate again and the same thing happens. I shut the vehicle off and wait a few minutes,then restart and the vehicle accelerates normally again. There were no check engine lights the when this has happened.

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and dealers to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact stated that one mechanic replaced an unknown sensor, but the failure returned soon after the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Sonata 🔎.