2018 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 373 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 18 involved a crash and 13 involved a fire. 20 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchAug 6, 2021
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
Campaign 21V619000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
40 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Dec 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the side of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that cylinder #1 was misfiring on every cycle due to damage to the piston. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Power train, Engine, Sep 15, 2023
My car is misfiring, hesitating accelerating, severely shaking and vibrating which you can feel in the pedals and steering wheel, and the check engine light is on. This issue has been ongoing for over a week already. When the engine light first came on on 9/7, i pulled over on the side of the road and had a mobile mechanic check it out. The code was coming up as a bad ignition coil in cylinder 1. When he took out the coil and spark plugs, he saw scoring on the spark plug from oil as well as oil being consumed in the cylinder itself which has been causing my vehicle to misfire. The mobile mechanic stated on his invoice that I need a new engine. I took my car to Faulkner Hyundai on 9/11 and they said the best they can do is an oil consumption test even though they personally know I need an engine as well. I have not been able to drive the vehicle due to the ongoing issues, I am afraid for my life and safety that god forbid the car stalls out on the highway while I am traveling to or from work I could get into a major accident. They are putting my life in jeopardy.
Power train, Electrical system, Aug 30, 2023, crash
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH the vehicle suddenly began sputtering and then completely stalled. The contact had to coast to the side of the road and noticed the check engine light illuminated. After approximately 10 minutes, the vehicle was able to restart. When starting the vehicle there would be a sputtering followed by the vehicle shutting off. The failure began to occur while idle as well. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of a parking spot the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward instead. As a result, the vehicle ended up crashing into a concrete light post. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. The vehicle was able to be driven after. No police report was filed. The vehicle had been towed to the dealer who had stated that the starter relay issue may be the cause, however, because of not being able to duplicate the failure they were unable to give an official diagnosis. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
Power train, Aug 8, 2023
transmition problem , stop and go high rev engine sutck in geer angine stals in stop and go tslow moving trafic
Power train, Jan 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, he heard an abnormal noise, and the vehicle began to vibrate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park the vehicle at a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 18, 2022
My 2018 Hyundai Sonata GDI Engine stop working while I was driving on the freeway without a warning prior to the issue. It never gave me a heads up in advance that the engine needed service. No check engine light to alert me that an issue needed attention. I learned about the engine problem when my engine stop working while I was on the freeway. I heard a loud noise coming from the engine and within seconds my RPM started going down and my car started loosing power while I was driving on the freeway. At the same time my check engine light came on and it was flashing. At that moment I realize something bad was happening with my motor. The check engine light was not on before that. It never alerted me before that, and when it came on flashing on and off it was already too late because my engine was dying and it died and didn't turn back on after I pulled over in the side of the freeway. I was so scared. The cars where going so fast and very close to my car with little room to pull over. The high velocity of the others cars where making my car cradle from the wind. It was so terrifying for me and my little dog i had with me. My seat belt stop working a few weeks before my engine died, and the thought of me getting hit by another car without a seat belt on. I've never been scared for my life like I was on that day. Hyundai dealer sold me a car with a bad engine. I was putting atleast 1 quart of oil every other week sometimes every week in the past year until just recently. I've only had it for 3 years since I bought it and I was putting 1 quart of oil every month in the beginning and with time the consumption of oil increased and increased more with time. Hyundai service my car for an oil gasket last year that should've been cover under warranty, but made me pay for it. I made it aware to them about the excessive oil consumption and told them it wasn't normal how much oil the car was consuming but they denied to service my car under warranty.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, May 4, 2022
I was stopped at a red light and when it turned green, I began to accelerate. The car stuttered and the check engine light was blinking. I pulled over and had Autozone run the code. The code is P1326, engine knock sensor. It was put into limp mode and it shook pretty bad in lower gears while accelerating. I had to pull over and let several cars pass me as I couldn't go above 2,000 RPMs. When I got home, I called roadside assistance and had it towed to the nearest dealership. That was this morning (5-4-2022). I just purchased this car used in the beginning of March. I don't have all the records since I just purchased the vehicle used. I just changed the oil last week.
Power train, Dec 9, 2020
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS OR STUTTERS BEFORE PROPER ACCELERATION IS ACHIEVED. I OWNED A FORD FIESTA THAT DID THE SAME THING AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CLUTCH. IS THAT A POSSIBILITY WITH MY SONATA?
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 7, 2020
IN FEB 2020 MY SONATA WENT INTO SAFE MODE AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY AND DEALER ENDED UP REPLACING "KNOCK SENSOR". IN DECEMBER 2020 MY ENGINE "STUTTERED" THROWING ME FORWARD AS IF I HAD HIT BRAKES HARD. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES OCCURRED AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS CAR ACTED NORMALLY MOSTLY. A FEW DAYS LATER AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY AGAIN THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT (ORANGE) CAME ON ALONG WITH ERROR MESSAGE "POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM" HAS BEEN DETECTED. CAR DID NOT GO INTO "SAFE MODE" AND SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. I CONTACTED DEALER WHO ASSURED ME SAFE TO DRIVE OVER HUNDRED MILES BACK TO DEALERSHIP IN THIS CONDITION TO CHECK. I DROVE BACK FROM EAST COAST FL TO WEST COAST FL TO TURN CAR IN. I BELIEVE ENGINE ISSUE EXPERIENCED IS RELATED TO THE THETA ENGINE ISSUE AND REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED UNDER SETTLEMENT. DEALERSHIP DISAGREES AND HAS INDICATED ISSUE IS WITH FUEL PUMPS (BOTH ARE BEING REPLACED) AND CHARGING ME $2300.
Power train, Sep 17, 2020
I GET A HEV WARNING TELLING ME TO SHUTDOWN MY CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY VEHIVAL NO LONGER ENGAGES THE GAS PART OF MY MOTOR, THE CAR GIVES ME MULTIPLE DISTRACTING NOISES. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IMMEDIATELY THE GASOLINE SIDE OF MY MOTOR IS WORKING AGAIN.. P2600 POPS UP ON MY SCANNER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON TILL ABOUT 4 IGNITION CYCLES WITH SOME DRIVE TIME. ALMOST ONCE, AND SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 26, 2020
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT ABOUT 45MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK ON A HIGHWAY ROAD AND OUT OF NO WHERE IT JERKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 2,000 RPMS. WHEN THE CAR JERKED, IT WAS SO SUDDEN IT INJURED MY LOWER BACK. MY BACK HAS BEEN VERY SORE SINCE THIS INCIDENT. I THEN TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HYUNDAI HAD NOT RECALLED MY SPECIFIC CAR. DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE CLEARED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ONE MILE DOWN THE ROAD EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THEIR SHOP WITH NO ETA OF REPAIR.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 11, 2019
I WENT INTO PURCHASING DEALER FOR FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 5100 MILES, THEY FLASHED COMPUTER AND LOADED UPDATE HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN 953 PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT. ABOUT 50 MILES AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND IS BARELY DRIVEABLE. CAR WAS ALSO HESITATING, AND BUCKING A BIT. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER THEY STATED THE CODE DIDN'T APPLY TO MY CAR AND FLASHED IT AGAIN. IT AGAIN WENT INTO LIMP MODE AFTER 50 MILES OR SO. THE RECALL IS SUPPOSED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN LIMP MODE DUE TO ROD BEARING WEAR. MY CAR HAS 5,400 MILES ON IT AND IT NOW AT A DIFFERENT DEALER. GOT INFORMATION FROM THAT DEALER REGARDING A TBS #19-01-002 AND LOOKS LIKE ENGINE REPLACEMENT OR WIRING HARNESS.
Power train, Engine, Feb 1, 2019
I HAD A RECALL PERFORMED ON MY CAR. 'HYUNDAI CAMPAIGN 953 PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT '. 10 MILES AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND IS BARELY DRIVEABLE. THE RECALL IS SUPPOSED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN LIMP MODE DUE TO ROD BEARING WEAR. MY CAR HAS 5,560MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE IS ALREADY FAILING.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 9, 2018
PURCHASED NEW 2018 SONATA SEL MODEL IN CALIFORNIA. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO HARD DOWNSHIFT WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HARD DOWNSHIFTING AND JOLTING/THUMPING OF ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ONLY OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 10 TO 15MPH. IT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN GENTLY APPLIED AND LIGHTLY RELEASED BUT THEN THE CAR ITSELF APPLIED ITS BRAKE AGAIN. IT TERRIFIES THE DRIVER'S DRIVING CONDITIONS, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 2, 2018
THROTTLE RESPONSE: FEELS LIKE THE OLD VEHICLES WITH A FLAT SPOT IN THE CARBURETOR ACCELERATOR PUMP. THE "THREE SECOND' RULE APPLIES WHEN THE THROTTLE PETAL IS PUSHED. THERE IS A SERIOUS HESITATION AS THE ENGINE TENDS TO FALL FLAT BEFORE ACCELERATING. HAS TO DUE WITH THE SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS DUEL CLUTCH WHICH ACTS AS IF A PERSON WERE OPERATING A STANDARD TRANSMISSION CLUTCH. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM/CONCERN SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THEY RECEIVE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. IT IS INDICATED THE DRIVERS EITHER LOVE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM OR HATE. WE WERE NEVER TOLD OF THIS SITUATION. AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS. THIS SITUATION CAN OCCUR WHEN LEAVING A STOPPED POSITION, WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ACCELERATING UP A HILL IN MOVING TRAFFIC OR ON A STREET. THIS ALL DEPENDS ON THE DRIVERS REACTION TO THE THROTTLE PEDAL. WHEN ONE NEEDS TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOTION THERE TENDS TO BE A SHUDDERING/STUTTERING OF THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SHORTLY WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2018 AND HAS BEEN ON GOING. I SET THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" AS STARTING DATE. CAN BE VARY CONCERNING WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FOR OLDER DRIVERS. I CANNOT FIND ANY MORE DESCRIPTIONS FOR THIS SITUATION. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS AT MY DISPOSAL AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU.