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
373 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Nov 21, 2019
WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR LAST NIGHT ON CITY STREETS AND THE HIGHWAY, WHEN WE ENCOUNTERED A BAD SMELL COMING INTO OUR VEHICLE. WE FIRST THOUGHT IT SMELLED LIKE NATURAL GAS COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE AREA WE WERE DRIVING, BUT THEN CONCLUDED AFTER ANOTHER 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR THAT IT WAS OUR CAR THAT WAS MAKING THE BAD ODOR OR SMELL. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND SHUT THE ENGINE IN THE CAR OFF. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS BURNING OR IF SOMETHING LOOKED LIKE IT WAS VERY HOT. I DID NOT DETECT ANYTHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD. THE COOLANT WAS FINE, AND THE MOTOR OIL WAS GOOD. SO THEN WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR, AND THE SMELL WAS STILL THERE. WE NOTICED THE CELL PHONE WAS SITTING ON THE "SELF" CHARGER THAT THIS CAR HAS AS A FEATURE. WE TOOK THE CELL PHONE OFF OF THIS AREA WHERE IT CHARGES, AND NOTICED THE TOP RUBBER AREA WAS VERY VERY WARM OR HOT TO THE TOUCH. SO WE CONCLUDED THIS HAD TO BE THE AREA THAT WAS CAUSING THIS CAUSTIC SMELL THAT WE WERE BREATHING FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE TOP SURFACE OF THIS RUBBER PAD AREA DID NOT LOOK BURNT OR DESTRUCTED, SO IT MUST BE UNDERNEATH THIS AREA THAT WHATEVER IS RECHARGING THE CELL PHONES, MAYBE A BATTERY OF SOME SORT, IS NO GOOD. WE WERE AFRAID IT WOULD START A FIRE THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG. SO AFTER A FEW MORE MINUTES, WITHOUT THE CELL PHONE RECHARGING ON THIS AREA, THE SMELL STARTED TO GO AWAY. SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE DEDUCTING THIS MUST BE THE PROBLEM AREA. AND IT COULD BE A SERIOUS ONE. I DROVE THE CAR TODAY, AND THE "STRONG" SMELL DID NOT COME BACK. BUT YOU CAN STILL SMELL THE RESIDUE SMELL FROM LAST NIGHT'S PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 13, 2019
ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE WILL LOOSE POWER AND ABILITY ACCELERATE WITH A FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED THREE TIMES BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 60MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND THE ABILITY JUST STOPS QUICKLY WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS BEEN HAVING THE RPMS DROP TO 0 AND SHOOT BACK UP WHILE BRAKING, AND WHILE DRIVING IT IS TOUGH TO ACCELERATE AND THEN YOU WILL FEEL A NOTICEABLE 'KICK' AND THE RPMS WILL SHOOT UP DRASTICALLY BEFORE IT WILL ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD 2 SOFTWARE UPDATES DONE, A NEW WIRE HARNESS, KNOCK SENSOR CLEANING AND A KNOCK SENSOR REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE CODE IS ALWAYS THE SAME 1326.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 9, 2019
ON 2 DIFFERENT DAYS THE CAR KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY. BOTH TIMES THE HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPT. LOOKED AT IT. THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID THE SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT WAS WORKED ON A FEW MONTHS PREVIOUS, HAD A GLITCH IN IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED. WHILE DRIVING THE RPMS WILL RACE UP BUT THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE MUCH. THEY SAID IT DIDN'T DO THAT WHEN THEY DROVE IT. ALSO SINCE THE FIRST SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS DONE , IF I DRIVE 80MPH (ON THE INTERSTATE HWY.) THE SEATS SHAKE.
Steering, Oct 24, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A RUBBING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION HYUNDAI MALL OF GEORGIA (3445 BUFORD DR, BUFORD DR, GA 30519, (770) 674-6079) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBERS: 15991414 AND 16278343. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,179.
Service brakes, Oct 3, 2019
SINCE DAY OF DELIVERY TWO YEARS AGO, THE AEB SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED IN THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON ANY ROAD TYPE, THE BRAKES COME ON WITH NO WARNING OR REASON, HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED THREE TIMES.DEALER HAS NEVER FOUND ANYTHING WRONG AND INSISTS THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS AS DESIGNED. THE RADAR OR CAMERA SYSTEMS HAVE TO HAVE A DEFECT. TOYOTA AND HONDA HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE BUT MADE EFFORTS TO CORRECT EITHER BY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS. PEDESTRIAN DETECTION HAS ALSO NEVER WORKED ON THIS VEHICLE..
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 25, 2019
JUNE 2019, AT ABOUT 11,500 MILES TOOK CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD DUE TO A RECALL, A SOFTWARE UPDATE NEEDED TO BE DONE. AT ABOUT 13,500 MILES, ENGINE LIGHT CAME IN, CAR WAS JERKING IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE LAST 62 MPH. CAR WAS SERVICED AND BLOCK SENSOR WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED. CAR WAS RETURNED AND AGAIN WHILE IN HIGHWAY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, LOST POWER, CAR WAS JERKING WHILE CHILD WAS IN THE CAR AND WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. CAR WAS SERVICED AND BLOCK SENSOR WAS REPLACED. AT ABOUT 18K MILES, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ON HIGHWAY AND AGAIN WITH CHILD IN THE CAR AND CAR LOST POWER AND ALSO WAS JERKING WHILE IN MOTION. CAR WAS SERVICED AND ENGINE REPLACED. 3000 MILES LATER, AGAIN WHILE IN THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR LOST POWER AND WAS JERKING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CAR WAS SERVICED AND THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND WAS JERKING HARD WHILE IN MOTION. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP IN ROCKFORD IL. AFTER THE 4TH ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, LEMON LAW CLAIM WAS FILED WITH HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA WHICH THEY DENIED DUE TO MILEAGE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN IT LOSES POWER THERE IS NO WARNING, NO BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON TO NOTIFY CARS BEHIND, AND WHILE IN THE BUSY EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO WAS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO DANGEROUS TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE. HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BUT REPAIRS AND IS IGNORING THE DANGEROUSNESS THIS PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED ALL 5 TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE CODE THAT READS FOR THIS IS 1326 PER THE SERVICE RECORDS.
Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2019
TRUNK LATCH BROKE. ITS A KNOWN ISSUE BY HYUNDAI ON 2017 & 2018 MODELS.
Electrical system, Sep 7, 2019
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON;ENGINE ERROR CODE 1326. CAR BEGAN STALLING. GOT IT TO DEALER WHO KNEW IT WOULD NEED A NEW WIRING HARNESS POSSIBLY A NEW ENGINE. THIS IS DANGEROUS WILL GET SOMEONE KILLED. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY PULLING ONTO THE SERVICE ROAD.
Exterior lighting, Sep 3, 2019
DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. A BLACK PROJECTION PROTRUDES DOWN INTO THE MIDDLE OF EACH HEADLIGHT IN THE LINE OF SIGHT. VERY, VERY DISTRACTING. MUST USE HI-BEAMS AT ALL TIMES TO ELIMINATE THIS SIGHT HAZARD, WHICH THEN CAN BECOME A DANGER TO ONCOMING VEHICLES. HYUNDAI SAYS "SORRY ABOUT THAT, NOTHING WE CAN DO". THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE REQUIRED TO OFFER A REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT, WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THIS HAZARD.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 20, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. ON A SECOND OCCASION, WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 2 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EDMOND HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 14137 N BROADWAY EXT, EDMOND, OK 73013, (405) 696-4950) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAIL HAD GONE INTO LIMP OR FAIL SAFE MODE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN CABLE WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT TRADED IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 10, 2019
"MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ARE COMING ON THE DASH FOR ABS FAILURE."CAUSE: 5891R00 HYDRAULIC MODULE ASSEMBLY REPLACED. "SCAN TEST CODES C1741, C2402, C1360 DIAG SYSTEM. LINE CASE NUMBER 2019080600434 PERFORM VOLTAGE AND GROUND TEST PER TECH LINE FOUND ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT INTERNAL FAILURE, REPLACED ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT, PERFORM ALL CALIBRATIONS AND VARIANT CODING CLEAR CODES, RESET ADAPTIVES. PROBLEMS OF YELLOW LIGHT COMING ON ON DASH WAS DURING ACCELERATIONS AND TURNING CRUISE CONTROL ON
Exterior lighting, Aug 6, 2019
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE USELESS CAN'T SEE 30 FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN TURNING CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OR LIMITED IN FRONT OF YOU. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON IN ORDER TO SEE. DEALER SAYS HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED CORRECTLY. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT CAUSING THIS TO BE A DANGER TO DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS. WHEN TURNING IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN ORDER TO MAKE SAFE TURN.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED AND THE BRAKE AND REVERSE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND SMELLED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STANLEY PARMA HYUNDAI (7115 BROOKPARK RD, PARMA, OH 44129, (216) 749-2525) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FIVE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ELYRIA HYUNDAI (845 LEONA ST, ELYRIA, OH 44035, (440) 374-8700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED AN UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Other or unspecified, Jul 31, 2019
WHILE DRIVING CRASH WARNING, ABS, TRACK AND CHECK BRAKES WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. HYUNDAI DEALER INITIALLY REFLAGGED ECO BUT LIGHTS CAME BACK. DEALER HAD CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND AFTER CHECKING WITH HYUNDAI TECH CENTER AND GOT TEST CODES C2402 C1741 AND C1360 AND SYSTEM FOUND CONNECTION AT ABS MODULE. ALLEGED FIX WAS TO REPAIR ABNORMAL CONNECTION / CONNECTOR AT ABS MODULE. CAR IS HYUNDAI SONATA 2 LITER TURBO WITH 19639 MILES WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. WE HAVE PICTURES OF ERROR LIGHTS ON OUR CELL PHONE.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 24, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE EXITING THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE, JERKED, AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUFFENBERG HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 1300 CENTRAL PARK DR, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 622-9001) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NOX SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED, AND THE NOX SENSOR WAS CLEANED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN TX, BUT THE FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE RECREATED. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER AND REPLACED THE NOX SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 15894913. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Engine, Jul 12, 2019, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AT 4:00AM THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO OBTAIN A FIRE REPORT TO VERIFY IF THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 953 (ECM & CLUSTER UPDATE-ENGINE MONITORING LOGIC PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT). ROGERS AUTO GROUP CHICAGO (2720 S MICHIGAN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60616, (312) 620-1340) WAS CONTACTED AND WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE WITHIN 48 HOURS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Exterior lighting, Jun 17, 2019
FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN JUNE 2018, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED VERY LOW AND PROJECT ONLY 15 TO 20 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN TRAVELING ON DARK ROADS, IT ALLOWS FOR NO REACTION TIME TO ANY HAZARDS, SUCH AS ANIMALS OUR PEDESTRIANS. HYUNDAI CLAIMS IT IS DESIGNED TO NOT BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS, BUT THIS POSES A DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS OF MY CAR AND ANYONE THAT MAY BE NEAR THE CAR.
Engine, Jun 13, 2019
ON FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2019, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I NOTICED MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. (CAR HAS 14K MILES) I CALLED GOSSETT HYUNDAI AT COVINGTON PIKE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY A ROTOR OR A SPARK PLUG AND TO BRING IT IN SATURDAY MORNING. SATURDAY MORNING, WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BLUELINK LIT UP SAYING MY CAR NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO GOSSETT HYUNDAI AT MT. MORIAH. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH (IN FRONT OF THE TECH) THEY AGREED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC (BECAUSE I TOLD THEM I WAS WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR TO THE COVINGTON PIKE LOCATION), AND THE TECH INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS A TECH AND HE COULD RUN THE DIAGNOSTIC. AFTER RUNNING THE DIAGNOSTIC, I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF MY CYLINDERS WAS NOT FIRING. AFTER SOME PERIOD OF TIME, THEY LOCATED AN IGNITION COIL IN THE PARTS ROOM AND REPLACED IT. THE CAR STILL WAS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAR NEEDED A SPARK PLUG BUT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ONE UNTIL TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2019. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP RECEIVED THE SPARK PLUG AND INSTALLED IT (I GUESS?), THE CAR WAS STILL SHAKING AND NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. SOMETIME JUNE 5 OR 6TH, THEY CALLED HYUNDAI MANUFACTURING AND HAVE BEEN RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY TO RUN LEAK TESTS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ALSO USED A CAMERA TO LOOK DOWN IN THE CYLINDER AND THAT IT HAS 'SCARRING' WHICH COULD BE FROM FLUID GETTING INSIDE? I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS PROBABLE THAT MY CAR WILL NEED A COMPLETE NEW ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN 2 WEEKS AND THE DEALERSHIP IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
Tires, May 31, 2019
DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND TRAVELING APPROX 60MPH THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT I DID NOT STRIKE A POT HOLE AND THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE AS PER THE DOOR PANEL WAS IN THE TIRE. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
Engine, May 25, 2019
DRIVING AND ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND I COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH THE SPEED LIMIT AS THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 20 MPH. THE CAR SAYS "POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH YOUR ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN DETECTED" CAR WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET.
Exterior lighting, Engine, Visibility/wiper, May 19, 2019
I PURCHASED THE 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA 2.0T ON 8/27/18. AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SITUATIONS, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED THAT (1) AT NIGHT, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED VERY DARK AS IF IT WAS HEAVILY TINTED,AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. (2) WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR ROAD, WITH NORMAL BEAM HEADLIGHTS, WE NOTICED THAT THE LINE OF DEMARCATION FROM HEADLIGHT TO DARK ROAD WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE REASON GIVEN BY THE MAINTENANCE DEPT WAS THAT THIS WAS SO CARS IN FRONT WOULDN'T BE BLINDED BY THE HEADLIGHT. TO US, IT SEEMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE AIMED TOO LOW. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE MORE THAN 20 FEET IN FRONT OF MY CAR. WE WERE TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE AREA OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN IS COMPLETELY DARK BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HEADLIGHTS WORK ON A TURN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS-SHOULD SOMEONE DECIDE TO WALK THERE OR IF THERE IS AN ANIMAL, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. (3) MY HUSBAND PUT RAIN-X ON ALL THE WINDOWS OF THE CAR. IT WORKED ON EVERY WINDOW EXCEPT THE WINDSHIELD. WE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF COATING PLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS TOLD NO THERE WAS NOT. THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE RAIN-X DIDN'T TAKE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME "SCRAPING THE WINDSHIELD", BUT NOTHING CAME OFF. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW WHY IT SHOULD DO THAT. (4) I NOTICED. WHETHER I WAS DRIVING IN SMART OR SPORT MODE, THEIR IS AN ANNOYING HESITATION WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS. WHEN THE STOPLIGHT TURNS GREEN, IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR IS ABLE TO MOVE AT NORMAL SPEED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY RECEIVED LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT, BUT NO OFFER FOR A FIX.
Engine, May 9, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI OF KIRKLAND DEALER (11706 124TH AVE NE, KIRKLAND, WA 98034, (425) 821-6611) WHERE A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN LEAVING THE DEALER WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE DETECTED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED AUTOMATICALLY DECREASED TO 10 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THEY SLOWLY DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER, A WEEK LATER HE WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE WIRE HARNESS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD SPOKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER VIA EMAIL AND WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER: 15658545. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,713.
Electrical system, Engine, May 6, 2019
I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND LOST POWER, COULD NOT ACCELERATE, BLINKING ENGINE CAME ON AND ON MY SCREEN IT SAID "A POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH YOU ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN DETECTED. A FULL SYSTEM CHECK RECOMMENDED TO BE DONE WHEN CONVENIENT. PLEASE CONTACT YOU LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT" I WAS ABLE TO GET TO AN AREA AND HAVE IT TOWED. THIS COULD OF BEEN VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS IF I HAD STILL BEEN ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70! I COULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN IT, IT WAS MISSING AND WOULDN'T GET ABOVE 20-30 MPH. I HAD THE KNOCK SENSOR SOFTWARE UPDATE DONE AT THE DEALER THE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. THE DEALER IS SAYING THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH! MANY ON HERE HAVE WAITED MONTHS I HOPE THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I'VE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON HERE AND OTHER SITES THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AFTER THE UPDATE. MY CAR SEEMED FINE BEFORE THEY DID THE UPDATE. SOME PEOPLE NEED NEW ENGINES! HOW DO I KNOW THAT MY ENGINE DOESN'T HAVE DAMAGE, I ASSUME THAT HYUNDAI KNOWS SOMETHING SINCE WITH THE SENSOR UPDATE THEY EXTENDED MY 100K WARRANTY TO 120K. IT SAID THE SENSOR IS TO HELP CATCH POSSIBLE ROD BEARING WEAR AND EXTENDS WARRANTY MUST MEAN THEY EXPECT ENGINES TO HAVE PROBLEMS! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE AND WHY ISN'T THERE ANY OFFICIAL RECALL? MY CAR ONLY HAS 20K I DON'T EXPECT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. I LEASED CARS FOR MANY YEARS BUT SINCE I'M CLOSE TO RETIRING I BOUGHT THIS WISH I WAS STILL LEASING SO I COULD GET OUT FROM UNDER THIS IN 2 YEARS!
Visibility/wiper, May 3, 2019
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT HAVE VERY DISTRACTING DARK LINE AND HALF MOON DARK SPOTS THAT SERIOUSLY HINDER THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS AT CARGURUS.COM. JUST DO A SEARCH FOR 2018 SONATA LIMITED HEALIGHTS. MANY HAVE REPORTED THIS TO HYUNDAI AND TO NHTSA BUT SO FAR OUR COMPLAINTS HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. JUST HAVE SOME TEST DRIVE AT NIGHT ON DARK COUNTRY ROAD AND SEE FOR YOUR SELF. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 2, 2019
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. SHE CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY TOLD HER NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AND TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. WE WERE THEN TOLD BY HYUNDAI THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY INSTALLED A KNOCK SENSOR WIRING HARNESS AND SAID THEY HOPE THAT DOES THE TRICK BUT IT COULD NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. EXPECTED REPAIR TIME IS 6 WEEKS SINCE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER. WE HAVE SINCE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AS WELL AS CONSUMERS AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THEIR CARS FOR MONTHS.