10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,478 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

Get free help with your lemon!
close ad

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #80

Apr 012023

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled in traffic. The vehicle was misfiring, and the RPM was abnormally elevated. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled again. There were no warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact was adding approximately two quarts of engine oil every two weeks. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Twin City Hyundai (3024 Alcoa Hwy, Alcoa, TN 37701, (866) 229-3953) but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #79

Feb 012023

Sonata

  • miles
In January, At 65k miles I took my car in for an oil change. I informed them I was putting a quart of oil every month for the last 3 months just to keep the oil light off on my dash. Tech told me all Hyundais are burning oil and to just drive it until the engine blows and I-??ll get a free engine replacement through Hyundai. The following month in February, I went to get my back brakes done. Mechanic told me I had no oil left in my car. They filled it up for me. In March, I took my car back to the dealership service center and demanded service. I was told I needed to do a combustion cleaning which would cost $700 and my extended warranty would not cover it because it-??s considered general maintenance. I threw a fit and they agreed to do an oil consumption test. A few days ago I hit the 1k miles I was supposed to drive and took my car in for the first check. It was almost 2 quarts low and they said the next step in Hyundais flow chart is the combustion cleaning. They told me 1. It doesn-??t actually clean anything and 2. Hyundai says this is the fix to the issue but it doesn-??t actually fix anything. They said after, we would do another oil consumption test and then we could submit to Hyundai under -??good faith-?? and ask for an engine replacement. I started researching and see this is a major issue with Hyundais and leave people with a blown engine and Hyundai refuses to cover anything. I traded it in today and got a new car, not a Hyundai!

- Massillon, OH, USA

problem #78

Apr 172023

Sonata

  • miles
Was driving on freeway on the way back from visiting family in different state when rpms dropped off and suddenly lost power. Car began shuddering and check engine light started blinking. Put hazards on and somehow managed to pull over to shoulder. No problems with car or anything to indicate anything was wrong before this. Called to have car towed to dealership where they said there was a software problem and it was falsely indicating low oil levels. ECM was reset and software updated for $233 which they said fixed the problem. Said that carbon deposits may have caused the software to misread and that may have been why there was no indication of problems before. Hope so because i have a long drive back.

- Fuquay Varina, NC, USA

problem #77

Mar 032022

Sonata

  • 111,325 miles
During the drive, check engine lights on then suddenly, HEV warning lights with turn off the engine with critical alert sound. I was drove again after attempting to start several times then again & again... It freaked me out when I drove on the highway, and yet to fixed & afraid to go to the dealer becase of cost & uncertain reasons. This could be big accidents on the highway.

- Englewood, NJ, USA

problem #76

Mar 112022

Sonata

  • miles
Knocking of the engine, engine light continues flashing, lack of acceleration finally feb of this year the turbo blew up an the car stop running all symptoms of knock sensor problems. I-??m Taking it to Hyundai on Dixie on Monday in two days an I hope they don-??t deny the federal recall an I will have to have a loaner car. They have told me the last 5 years my title was flawed last month they denied saying that an told me my warranty was voided with 41,000 on my car

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #75

Nov 292022

Sonata

  • miles
The Engine Failed. It is currently sitting at the local Hyundai Dealership. As it pertains to my safety, the Engine failed while traveling on a Major Expressway in the morning on my way to work. Upon towing the vehicle to the dealership, it was effectively confirmed to me I am not the only person suffering from this problem. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership and determined to be an engine failure. No warning, no other symptoms prior to this incident.

- Independence, KY, USA

problem #74

Jul 222022

Sonata

  • miles
As soon as I start to press on my brakes the vehicle starts violently pulsating and locks up. Took the dealership they said my rotors and brakes were fine and we're unable to give any reason for this. Without brakes I cannot stop my vehicle and it seems like a faulty ABS but no light on dashboard. The engine consumes nearly 5.2 qts of oil in 1000 miles. Being this is not normal I have no idea I was running out of oil as soon as I was changing it which could have led to my entire engine stalling out and causing me to wreck. It's putting my life as well as other people's on the roads and danger

- Lewisburg, TN, USA

problem #73

Feb 222023

Sonata

  • miles
Hairline crack in engine oil pan possibly resulting in engine failure

- Galloway , OH, USA

problem #72

Feb 012022

Sonata

  • miles
This car engine has failed on multiple occasions. About 12 months ago, I observed a great loss of coolant. The car would frequently overheat even when I added coolant. Eventually, I was able to have the engine replaced at the dealership where I purchased the car, but this was right at the end of the vehicle's warranty. Even with a new engine installed, I still lose coolant all the time. It does not appear to leak anywhere, but the reservoir is consistently empty.

- New Cumberland, PA, USA

problem #71

Feb 072023

Sonata

  • miles
There is a rod barring warranty on my car for my engine. My engine has completely faulted. Hyundai has informed me that they are going to take at least 3 months to fix it and will not give me a vehicle for the time they have mine. I took my car to the shop to check it out, a week before it went out and Hyundai was fighting it, so I wasn-??t able to get it there until it completely went out after trying to figure it out for a week prior

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #70

Dec 122022

Sonata

  • miles
I was driving on freeway and all dashboard warning started to flicker on and off simultaneously then my steering wheel locked in place. I was unable to stop or turn wheel and had to maneuver car until it came to a stop. I had to get it towed home. I spoke with dealership and asked me to tow it to them so they can look at it and gave me a report that mention nothing about what I originally told them it did while I was driving but pointed out everything else that was wrong with it that added up to more than $4,500 in repairs. Dealership guy got upset that I asked him to email rather than phone calls and didn-??t want to answer anything through email only phone calls he was refusing service and kept pushing us to approve all the other expenses without telling me anything about why the car did what it did. He then told me that it was my fault since car was just passed over 100,000 miles and I should-??ve known that was going to happen. Luckily nobody got hurt during this. My wife was pregnant at the time and thank goodness nothing bad happened and dealership guy was so unprofessional and rude and just wanted our money rather than help by giving us any answers.

- Sun Valley, CA, USA

problem #69

Jan 172023

Sonata

  • miles
I own a 2018 Hyundai Sonata SE. The car now has 60,000 miles on it. I first reported to the Hyundai Dealership that my valves are "chattering" with acceleration up to 35 mph. I was advised my engine was low on oil. I completed a oil change and valves are still chattering. I was advised that the engine is dirty and I would have to pay for an engine cleaning at $350 After the cleaning the valves stopped chattering for about 1000 miles then the noise came back. I was then told to complete an oil consumption test. Part 1 of the test my car burned 2 quarts in 1000 miles. Part 2 with a cleaning my car burned.5 quarts after a cleaning, so it passed the oil consumption test. I was told by the dealership that after a couple of oil changes or around 6000 miles the car will burn oil again at the rate of over 1 quart per 1000 miles. The also told me that I would have to do the oil consumption test again. The dealership stated that the engine is faulty and and engine replacement is what needs to happen to correct the problem versus this band aid fix. I was also advised if I wanted to speed up the process don't check the oil between oil changes because it will burn 5 quarts of oil before the next oil change. This will cause the engine to lock up. THE ENGINE IS FAULTY IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #68

Jan 082023

Sonata

  • miles
My vehicle is unable to accelerate past 65mph. I had it towed to a local repair shop whom ran a diagnostic and they are advising there is a hyundai/kia recall on engine. To my knowledge, I was not advise by Hyundai of any recall when my spouse reached out to Hyundai directly. I was on the highway with family traveling back from Christmas vacation when the incident occurred. There was a crash ahead due to the rain so traffic had slowed down. Once I drove passed the accident and attempted to accelerate the engine light appeared I could no longer accelerate. Very scary when your on a 4 lane highway hours away from home. I was able to pull off to the nearest exit for safety as it rained.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #67

Nov 012020

Sonata

  • miles
Loss of power on highway or during normal driving possibly due to oil pan assembly according to odi 11481745. This has cause near-miss accidents on highway on ramps a number of times. Separate issue, when the outside temp is at our below 30?F the starter can fail to turn over resulting in a car that won't start even with jumper cables applied.

- Erlanger, KY, USA

problem #66

Nov 092022

Sonata

  • miles
Purchased Certified Used 2018 Hyundai Sonata in March of 2021. Engine oil light came on at 36,863 miles in July of 2021, and I took car to repair shop. I was told that these cars (2018 Hyundai Sonata) excessively burn oil -- though under 60K miles was "early" -- and that it would need to be constantly monitored. Car went through four quarts of oil before next oil change at 42,437 miles. Took car to local Hyundai dealership and was told there was a "crack in my oil pan" (though there were no oil spots in my driveway or garage that would point to an oil leak from a pan). Pan was replaced. Engine oil light came on again (despite problem being "solved") TWO MONTHS LATER AT 44,129 miles. I put a minimum amount of oil into the engine and drove over to dealership to have issue resolved. They told me it was sparkplugs, which they replaced. Checked oil level at each gas fill up. Car went through FIVE quarts of oil before oil change at 47,432 miles!!!! Five quarts in 3,000 miles. Dealership now states I must get approval from Hyundai to do an oil consumption test.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

problem #65

Mar 262022

Sonata

  • miles
The contact's son owned a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while her son was driving at 68 MPH with a passenger in the front passenger seat, he noticed a burning odor and he noticed smoke coming inside the cabin through the AC vents. There was no further information provided. The contact's son pulled into a gas station and saw fire underneath the hood. The contact's son and the passenger immediately exited the vehicle. The contact's son was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of bystanders who used fire extinguishers. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then repossessed by the auto financing bank. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the failure was caused by a missing oil cap. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Mansfield, OH, USA

problem #64

Oct 072022

Sonata

  • miles
The incident occurred within my garage when I attempted to start my car and the starter went out producing a burnt smell and spark within motor. After letting the car cool down I put the car in neutral and had it towed to the nearest garage. I thought vehicle could have started a fire inside my garage and home. I have contacted the manufacture and initiated a case incident report awaiting a call back from Hyundai motor company. There were no waring lights or issues with the car the car before incident. The vehicle is under warranty but the dealership stated, they could assist since I took the car to a garage and had a mechanic work on vehicle. The disposition was the vehicle had a faulty started starter, but this incident has a huge safety flag.

- Lithia, FL, USA

problem #63

Sep 052022

Sonata

  • miles
2018 Hyundai Sonata SEL-Cylinder Misfire with engine oil consumption. It is a hazard to drive a vehicle that can cut off or engine lock up while driving. The same applied to 2014 -2015 Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Hyundai and Kia were required to replace the motors in those vehicles. Due to vehicles been unsafe to drive. The vehicle is currently at the dealership now. First was told that engine was going to be replace under warranty. Due to problem of lack of compression. But will not replace engine.

- Desoto, TX, USA

problem #62

Sep 052022

Sonata

  • miles
Engine takes a long time to start up, about 10-15 seconds of pushing the start button starts engine which is probably not good for the car. Also, the car jolts/ wants to stop while driving. Has been an ongoing issue since the week of 9/5/22. Loss of motor power issue sounds like what is going on with my 2018 Hyundai Sonata vehicle.

- Henderson , NV, USA

problem #61

Apr 022018

Sonata

  • 23,944 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated the vehicle had failed to start. On other occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was not running correctly, bucking, lost motive power and stalled. Additionally, the door and trunk failed to lock securely. There were no warning lights illuminated. A signal was sent to the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the fuel pump failed and caused the starter to burn out and drain the battery. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 23,944.

- Dunedin, FL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »