10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 24
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 48,700 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The rear tail lights burn out, the housing unit or lenses melt and the lights do not work. This has happened several times, replacement of light bulbs are continuous and the lights seem to have some sort of shortage. They work sometimes and sometimes they do not.
- Tampa, FL, USA
I have had to replace brake light bulb every month for the last 3 years. They have gotten hot enough to melt the hole you insert them into and then cannot be taken out because the heat made the hole smaller
- Pueblo, CO, USA
On June 8th, 2018 my husband was driving down interstate 85 in charlotte nc going about 60 mph when the vehicle stalled. He coasted the car to the side of the interstate. He turned the vehicle off then tried to restart it and nothing happen and power was dead in the car. Then he saw smoke coming from under the hood. The doors won't open so he had to climb out though the sunroof to safety. He opened the hood and the engine was inflamed with fire. He called the fire department, they came and put the fire out. The reason I'm filing this compliant is because he could have been seriously hurtor killed if the sunroof was close. Hyundai has no explanation for why this is happening and my vehowas total lost. We also have pictures and a video. I can't upload the video so if someone contacts me I will email it.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. While driving 50 mph and exiting a freeway, the vehicle slowed down and the battery indicator illuminated. Afterwards, all of the instrument panel indicators began to flash. The contact stopped, shut off, and attempted to restart the vehicle. The contact noticed flames under the hood on the driver's side. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The fire was extinguished by the fire department and a fire report was filed. There were no injuries. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact was unaware if a police report was filed. The failure mileage was 70,000.
- Missouri City, TX, USA
Takata recall when you press on the gas the car stalls then drives. When you turn on the headlights the back tail light goes out. I took my car to Hyundai multiple times to get these and the air bags checked out and still they didn't fix nothing. When I first got the car I had totake it to Hyundai bc it smelled like smoke they fixed it but now when U turn on the air the car don't excel the way it does when the heat is one
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
On 10/10/18 my vehicle began smoking from the engine compartment after driving less than 10 miles. The engine compartment subsequently burst into flames. 911 was called and the fire was extinguished. There was not a crash preceding the fire. The engine compartment and hood area of the vehicle was burned rendering the vehicle inoperable. A claim has been filed with insurance and a report was generated by the thomaston fire and thomaston police department. Photos of the damage are attached.
- Thomaston, GA, USA
First issue occurred in my job's parking lot, as I tried to crank my car it made a roaring start and didn't want to stay on. Cut the car off, checked oil. There was barely any on the stick (just got an oil change on 09/21/18 at Hyundai dealership). Added 2 qts had mom drive to dealership per serviceman request. They changed my oil and informed my mom of an ongoing issue. Well get off headed home, on regular county road headlights flashed off and on alone with radio console. Pulled over lights stayed on, but I notice taillight that has been replaced multiple times over the last couple months was out again. Tried to replace it and the wire was hot and bulb wouldn't come out. So, I decided to wait till I get home. But now I'm waiting on the side of the road because my engine light is
- Shannon, MS, USA
My car was in motion when headlights started dimming then car lost power and was begigging to stop..kept depressing gas pedal and car then started moving again. I was traveling on a main road in left lane when this happened which could have been a major accident. Also have numerous brake light bulbs replaced and key fob will not be recognized to start car but car will start when keyfob inserted into charger in miiddle console. Key fob will work to open and lock door but not for starting car.
- Coram, NY, USA
Key fob in 2012 Hyundai Sonatas not recognized and don't allow you to start up your car using the push/start button; also, doors won't unlock with fob and manually have to be entered using actual key. Seems like some programming to the fob has been lost; dashboard would turn on and say"key not in vehicle" or "insert key" when depressing the push/start button. Apparently, dealerships are aware of the problem, but may not actually report it and treat as something else only after numerous other repairs. Youtube videos of these issues as I've described are available. Vehicle is stationery when this happens; then it would work and then stop again in a few days. Changed batteries in both fobs and still the same issue. Originally starting happening a week prior to 9/27/2018.
- Mcdonough, GA, USA
I was driving my 2012 hyundia Sonata down the road, and all of a sudden, the whole car shut off. This caused the steering wheel and the brakes to fail. Fortunately, I was able to make it to the side of the road, and I smelled smoke. At first, I thought the engine was overheating, so I opened the hood to see what was going on. I saw a ball of fire, and quickly grabbed my 4 year old and 10 year old out of the car. By the time I got them out of the car, the whole engine bay engulfed in flames. After telling my story, I have had multiple people reach out to me with similar stories.
- Dover, FL, USA
While driving car on rt 50 West bound towards the bay bridge, an engine popping noise occurred, then fumes starting coming from vents. Pull car over while getting out flames were already coming from the engine. Within minutes the whole car was engulfed in flames. No time to retrieve any items inside the car. The md transportation authority police were on the seen and called fire dept. Fire department said it was an electrical based on sparks as they were putting out the fire. Hyundai investigated the car remains and could not determine any cause.car pictures are to large of a file to submit
- Arnold, MD, USA
Around 60,000 miles, my driver's side brake light harness melted and had to be replaced. Around 80,000 miles, my passenger brake light harness melted and had to be replaced. Around the same time, 80,000 miles, my automatic door lock master switch began failing. I'm wondering if there's an electrical flaw causing these problems. Perhaps the writing doesn't hold up in hot climates, I live in a desert where the car is subject to temperature up to 140F as it is parked in direct sunlight. I notice more malfunction with locks on extremely hot days.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
Takata recall. My son was driving down a major state route at 9:30pm when the car suddenly lost power, shortly there after, it stalled out, all the dashboard lights went on and within 2-3 mins, smoke poured from the front of the car and within 2 mins the front of the car was one huge blaze of fire. He was lucky to get out in time. It was very traumatic for him to say the least, not to mention as his parents, we were on face time with him after he pulled over and saw this as it was happening and couldn't be there to assist him.
- North Huntingdon, PA, USA
In the two years ive had this car there have been 3 recalls that I have gotten taken care of at South charlotte Hyundai here in charlotte, nc. The drivers side brake light went out I changed the bulbs 4 times in 6 months because the tail light works when it wants to. I have had an ongoing issue since 3 days after I purchased my car in June of 2016 where my radio freezes and I cant use any of the buttons on the steering wheel or dashboard. I took it to the dealership 4 times they dont know the problem so now ive been jus unplugging the fuse for the radio for about 20 seconds then plug it back in and it works I go through this once every other month. Then my left head light has gone out, my left fog light went out, and now my right fog light has went out. I checked the bulbs all bulbs are still good they just dont want to light up. Also when I close my doors my interior lights blink like a strobe light so I have to leave the switch in off so they dont come on at all. As I ride around they city every Sonata I see has a head light(s) out and tail or brake lights out. Hyundai needs to get on this asap
- Charlotte, NC, USA
The car is not cooling itself. I had freon put in it and in a day's time it had started to show no signs that the air conditioning in car was working.
- Bowie, MD, USA
The electrical system is showing signs of failure in areas that have nothing to do with repair or maintenance which includes a noted airbag recall. Below is a list of issues I've had with my vehicle pertaining to the electrical system that have me concerned with the overall safety of the vehicle. These issues have occurred over various dates which I'm unaware of the specific dates. 1. steering wheel radio controls don't function properly (at times when I try to increase the volume of the stereo, the volume doesn't increase or starts the voice controls instead.) 2. the instrumental panel is malfunctioning so the parking brake and seat belt indicators are permanently illuminated. 3. parking brake light casings burned 4. Hyundai recall campaign 174 is for airbags where "in some stances, electrical overstress has been observed in the module circuitry, which may prevent the frontal air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and side airbags from deploying. " additional details regarding this campaign are below. Manufacturer recall number: 174 Hyundai recall date: February 27, 2018 NHTSA recall number: 18V137000 recall status: Recall incomplete
- Inglewood, CA, USA
On 6/16/18 my car brake light caught on fire. Prior to this incident we had trouble with the brake light we got a ticket for the lights staying on. The light would sometimes not turn off or not turn on. Then the car seem to be working great again. I brought the car 3 months ago hoping that it would be great on gas, last me at least 20 years, and that it was a great car to keep my family safe. Next, thing I know people are flashing their lights and beeping their horns and acting strange trying to get me and my fianc's attention. When we both looked back we saw that the car was on fire while we were moving 45 mph down the highway. We pulled over all of the bystanders helped us put out the fire. When it was finally out the light had melted off and the only thing that was hanging was what was left of the electrical wires that attached once was the light bulb.
- Charleston, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn in either direction. In addition, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the engine. There was also an electrical short with the interior and exterior lighting and the key fob failed to connect outside of the vehicle. The contact had to start the vehicle with the fob being in the charger. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failures could not be determined. The dealer (round rock Hyundai, 2405 N interstate hwy 35, round rock, tx 78665, (512) 904-6400) was contacted, but did not diagnose the failures. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was not available.
- Round Rock, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the traction control off indicator illuminated and remained lit. The vehicle was taken to thornton road Hyundai (669 thornton road, lithia springs, ga) where the contact was advised that the failure was inherent to the model of vehicle; however, there were no recalls attributed to the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,500.
- Carrollton, GA, USA
- Sarasota, FL, USA