10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,272 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Hyundai Sonata miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2018 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #44

Dec 152023

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The paint if pealing off in large sections due to a manufacturer defect in the primer. The flakes can fly onto the windshields of other vehicles causing collisions.

- Cleveland , TN, USA

problem #43

Oct 202023

Sonata

  • miles
For now the fifth time in the last 16 months the HEV light and engine light has lit up while the car jerks and sputters and dies. Below is the incident report that I filed on or about August 8, 2022. Again at the end of the day yesterday on October 20, 2023 the same issues still arise for the fifth time. See below for a re-cap of the issues I am once again experiencing after Hyundai claims to have fixed the issues: For the fourth time the HEV light (and others) has come on and the dash has lit up while I was driving, with the last three times leaving us stranded in dangerous road situations with little or no power. The light first came on in July 2020 at 40,089 miles. A dealership reset the codes and I had no problems until June 7, 2022 when the lights lit up on the dash again and the car died and I had to have it towed to a local dealership. They could find nothing wrong with it and checked all the wiring and said none of the codes were coming up and that the car ran fine for them when test driving a day or two after I had it towed. So they released the car back to me deeming it good to go. Then only 19 days later on June 26, 2022 the HEV light among other lit up again and the dash indicated to pull over and cut the car off due to the hybrid system. I had it towed to the nearest dealership again. The then looked at it and said they reset all the codes and everything looked to be good to go. Then AGAIN on Aug 8, 2022 (3rd time in two months), we were put in a dangerous situation trying to get the car off a busy highway when the HEV light (and others) again lit up the dash and our power went almost completely out while the engine jerked violently as we tried to avoid being hit by cars while trying to get off the highway before it completely died on us. Four times now Hyundai dealers have shrugged this off saying "we reset the codes" and we can't find an issue. We have been put in dangerous traffic conditions three of these times.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #42

Aug 052023

Sonata

  • miles
UNKNOWN. I noticed that there was a check engine light on and I took it to autozone to have it checked out, they told me that it was coming back with the code of an o2 sensor. I thought nothing of it until it started not wanting to start right. On July 1, 2023 I took my car in to the dealership for an oil change and they never said anything about why my car was doing a delayed start. It would eventually start but it took at least a minute. I bought a new battery from walmart to put in my car so that it would not do the delayed start, but it kept doing it anyway. Finally decided to take it to a mechanic and the first time that he started it took at least a minute, he realized that he didn't have his computer (code reader) with him so he turned it off. When he returned with the code reader he plugged it in and started the car then it started smoking, smoking turned into fire that caused the entire underside of my hood to melt including engine, electrical harness, belts, battery and much more. If it wasn't for the mechanic's quick thinking by putting out the fire while calling 9-1-1, the fire would have gone to the fuel tank and exploded. Yes, the safety of others was put at risk.

- Bella Vista, AR, USA

problem #41

May 282022

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This vehicle consumes one quart of oil every 1000 miles. I have documentation to prove it. Hyundai has done their own asessments and claimed that it consumes less. There was a class action lawsuit filed in California for this issue.

- Buffalo Grove, IL, USA

problem #40

May 232023

Sonata

  • miles
When driving the car on the highway - "check engine - hybrid system" warning lights come on and indicate hybrid system issue and to shut car off immediately. Extreme safety issue as the car goes from highway speeds to 35MPH almost instantly. This has happened seven times now and Hyundai keeps indicating that technicians are following engineering guidance in fixing the issue related to the knock sensor. The seventh occurrence happened on May 23rd of 2023. First one was in December 2021. As Hyundai is unable to correctly fix the issue I have repeatedly asked for them to replace the car since it is an extreme safety issue but they will not do so. Still waiting for diagnosis of the latest occurrence from May 23rd. Hyundai does not acknowledge that this issue is of safety concern and just indicates that the issue has been fixed each time it occurs.

- Westerville, OH, USA

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problem #39

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 #38

Dec 312022

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hyundai boosted about their emergency response system included with my vehicle and charged extra. They failed to tell me that they were discontinuing the system. If I crash and need assistance bc I'm unconscious, I won't get it.

- Lewisburg, TN, USA

problem #37

Sep 142022

Sonata

  • miles
The White paint is peeling off the vehicle.

- Babylon, NY, USA

problem #36

Jan 232023

Sonata

  • miles
2018 Sonata has white paint peeling on hood of car - only 29,930 miles on car

- Norwood , NJ, USA

problem #35

Oct 122022

Sonata

  • miles
2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport+ with 23K miles that has White Pearl exterior paint. The paint (W8 or WW8) is peeling off from several locations (Hood and Roof). This has been a know issue with this type of paint on Hyundai vehicles but manufacturer is not taking any responsibility that paint or paint job is defective. One can google this issue and thousands of user complaints are there of different forums and messaging boards. Example: https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-hyundai-sonata-paint-peeling/185473/7 https://www.reddit.com/r/Hyundai/comments/zt5lsk/warranty_extension_for_1718_elantrasonata_white/

- Colonia, NJ, USA

problem #34

Dec 012022

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This car will not start when it is cold. I have only had this car for over one year and four months. The car ran perfect up until we began to have extreme cold weather. This is so dangerous because it could be an emergency and my car will not start. I have done my research and discovered that this is an ongoing issue with Hyundai. And nothing has been done about it.

- Martinez, CA, USA

problem #33

Dec 072022

Sonata

  • miles
For the past 3 Oil changes, I find myself having to add 5 quarts of oil to my car after driving over 1,000 miles from getting my oil change. This third oil change I have added 15 quarts of oil to my car due the check oil light comes on. When I first purchased this car in March 2021, I didn-€™t experience this issue. I-€™ve never had to add oil to my vehicle before an scheduled oil change. Whalen the oil is checked due to the light coming on, it-€™s boned dry.

- Willingboro , NJ, USA

problem #32

Oct 082022

Sonata

  • miles
We drive a 2018 Hyundai Sonata with Hyundai Quartz White Pearl (W8) paint. It has 62000, so just out of regular warranty. Last week I noticed that we were missing a huge chunk of paint on the roof. As a regular passenger of this car, neither of us noticed anything wrong with it until it was gone. It looked like it just bubbled up suddenly and peeled off. We took it into our local Hyundai Dealer and they told us it was out of the 36k mi. paint warranty. They didn't even look at it. We paid for an extended warranty because they served us so well on our other Hyundais up to that point. I called the consumer line like they suggested and found no recalls. When I tried to get a human, I was met with silence. No indication that the call had gone through. I went next door to there collision center and got an estimate anyway. The man there didn't have to see any more than one picture to know that it was a Hyundai. They service multiple of that owner's various different branded dealerships. Obviously, this wasn't his first rodeo with this problem. He quotes $1200 to put a bandaid on the problem. However, there are numerous incidents of consumers facing the same issue with there Hyundai/Kia vehicles. I have a friend who had the same problem on a similar year Acura with pearl paint. I'm filing this complaint because it is obvious that Hyundai/Kia are not going to own up to this. The first class action suit was dismissed and the problem persists. They are still using the paint to this day and the same delamination problems keep appearing. I do not want to be driving down the road and have a huge slab of paint fly off and hit someone else's windshield. This issue needs to be investigated before someone gets hurt, not after.

- Greenwood, IN, USA

problem #31

Aug 082022

Sonata

  • miles
For the fourth time the HEV light (and others) has come on and the dash has lit up while I was driving, with the last three times leaving us stranded in dangerous road situations with little or no power. The light first came on in July 2020 at 40,089 miles. A dealership reset the codes and I had no problems until June 7, 2022 when the lights lit up on the dash again and the car died and I had to have it towed to a local dealership. They could find nothing wrong with it and checked all the wiring and said none of the codes were coming up and that the car ran fine for them when test driving a day or two after I had it towed. So they released the car back to me deeming it good to go. Then only 19 days later on June 26, 2022 the HEV light among other lit up again and the dash indicated to pull over and cut the car off due to the hybrid system. I had it towed to the nearest dealership again. The then looked at it and said they reset all the codes and everything looked to be good to go. Then AGAIN on Aug 8, 2022 (3rd time in two months), we were put in a dangerous situation trying to get the car off a busy highway when the HEV light (and others) again lit up the dash and our power went almost completely out while the engine jerked violently as we tried to avoid being hit by cars while trying to get off the highway before it completely died on us. Four times now Hyundai dealers have shrugged this off saying "we reset the codes" and we can't find an issue. We have been put in dangerous traffic conditions three of these times.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #30

Jul 092022

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
On the way home from the produce store today, the engine seemed to stall or seize while I was driving and the car reacted in a jerky manner. I kept going, as I was close to home, but could only travel about 20 mph, and it would periodically feel as if it were about to conk out. Check engine light came on at this point. Made it home, but no longer feel safe driving it. Am online now, searching for what to do. What I experienced sounds like the engine recall problem others have experienced, although my 2018 Hyundai Sonata is not on the recall list. Perhaps it should be.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #29

May 052022

Sonata

  • miles
Purchased a certified pre-owned 2018 Hyundai Sonata - found out recently the car is burning/losing oil- A few weeks after having an oil and filter change my oil warning light started flashing while driving.. Checked engine oil and could not believe that oil was almost empty.. Major concern is for major engine malfunction and possible locking up while driving- which could be fatal !!! Now I have to monitor oil levels/consumption every other day- I have contacted Hyundai and they're suggesting that I be without transportation while they take an undetermined amount of time to test the vehicle which is unacceptable !

- Uppermarlboro, MD, USA

problem #28

May 192022

Sonata

  • miles
2018 Sonata Hybrid May 19 - "Check Hybrid System Turn Engine Off" appeared on the dashboard. Vehicle brought to dealership. May 22 - I pay for a rental vehicle May 26 - Dealer states vehicle is ready and they performed service campaign 966. May 27 - My rental car is returned. Dealer picks me up and I go to dealership. I get into my car and "Check Hybrid System Turn Engine Off" appeared on the dashboard. Vehicle never driven off dealership lot. Dealership pays for my rental this time. June 10 - Dealer states vehicle is ready and they performed service campaign 966 (dealer says there are 2 software updates and the first time they only did 1). I return rental and pick up my vehicle. June 11 - "Check Hybrid System Turn Engine Off". I go to dealer. Dealer turns off check engine light and tells me vehicle is safe to drive and bring the vehicle back on the 13th (Monday). Dealer affirms vehicle is safe, they cannot get me a car rental today and my vehicle is fine. I drive the vehicle home. Some time later, check engine light comes back on, vehicle loses power (engine cuts off?) and stalls in the intersection. I immediately turn on hazard lights. Depleting the hybrid battery (?) I am able to slowly bring the vehicle into a parking lot right after the intersection before I lose (all?) power. Vehicle is towed to dealer. June 13 - Picked up a 3rd rental car

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #27

Feb 052022

Sonata

  • miles
The shark fin antenna assembly becomes dislodged from its base very easily and can fly off while driving or scraping ice off the roof with minimal force. Hyundai should do a better job attaching the outer shark fin plastic cover to its base.

- Winthrop , MA, USA

problem #26

Dec 012021

Sonata

  • miles
The overhead console does not close. It does it all the time. I know there was a recall on it but not on the 2018 model. It is a problem because it blocks your view on the right side thank you

- Charles Town, WV, USA

problem #25

Dec 012021

Sonata

  • miles
when the car is cold it would not start. I checked what the problem can be online and it turns out that there are a lot of out cars with the same problem. The problem is starter. sever people after changing the starter there vehicle was fixed. Another problem is sometimes the blind spot warning system does not work. These problems are reported by people with the same car but not by dealers.

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

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