Hyundai Sonata Engine Problems by Year

By CarWhere Research · Updated

Yes. Owners have filed 4,711 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Hyundai Sonata. For the Hyundai Sonata, that's 1.97 engine complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, 4.5× the median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Engine complaints

4,711

Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models

Per 1,000 sold

1.97

2015–2022 cohorts

Share of all complaints

37.8%

of 12,461 complaints for this model

Engine recalls

3

NHTSA campaigns, all years

Hyundai Sonata engine complaints by model year

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling, and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.

Hyundai Sonata engine complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year
Model yearEngine complaintsPer 1,000 soldShare of all complaintsCrash / fire / injuryEngine recallsEngine TSBs*
200849—11.5%6—12
200962—13.5%6—15
201029—8.4%2—9
2011WORST1,007—29.9%10318V93400015V56800069
2012572—36.9%8118V93400015V56800058
2013WORST762—40.2%8618V93400017V22600058
2014318—42.9%3218V93400017V22600055
2015WORST6272.9455.8%44—88
20164502.2662.9%20—82
2017395352.1%14—81
20182172.0659.6%12—83
2019881.0157.5%7—74
2020360.4719.8%2—25
2021340.4126.4%1—22
2022240.4627.3%1—23
202335—35.7%1—14
20244—7.8%0—5
20252—13.3%0—1
  • Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
  • Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
  • Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
  • *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.

Common Hyundai Sonata engine problems owners describe

We searched the narratives of all 4,711 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.

Engine failure, seizure or replacement1,534 · 32.6%
Stalling or shutting off while driving1,208 · 25.6%
Misfire or check-engine light1,056 · 22.4%
Knocking, ticking or rattling829 · 17.6%
Oil consumption or oil leaks739 · 15.7%
Smoke, burning smell or fire647 · 13.7%
Loss of power or limp mode483 · 10.3%
Overheating or coolant loss140 · 3%
Timing chain or belt21 · 0.4%

Hyundai Sonata years to avoid for the engine

2011 Hyundai Sonata

1,007 engine complaints (29.9% of the year's 3,368). Most often described: engine failure, seizure or replacement. Covered by engine recalls 18V934000, 15V568000.

2013 Hyundai Sonata

762 engine complaints (40.2% of the year's 1,895). Most often described: engine failure, seizure or replacement. Covered by engine recalls 18V934000, 17V226000.

2015 Hyundai Sonata

627 engine complaints (55.8% of the year's 1,123), 2.94 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: misfire or check-engine light.

Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Hyundai Sonata years to avoid.

Hyundai Sonata engine recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Hyundai Sonata model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.

  • 18V934000 · 2018-12-28 · 2011–2014 models

    The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, allowing fuel to leak from the pipe.

  • 17V226000 · 2017-03-31 · 2013–2014 models

    Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.

  • 15V568000 · 2015-09-10 · 2011–2012 models

    In the affected vehicles, metallic debris may not have been fully removed during manufacturing of the engine crankshaft. If the debris was not completely removed, oil flow may be restricted through the connecting rod bearings, causing connecting rod…

Related research

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Hyundai Sonata have engine problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 1,007 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 29.9% of all 3,368 complaints for that year. The most common description is "engine failure, seizure or replacement" (356 complaints). 2 engine-related recalls cover it: 18V934000, 15V568000. 103 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2013 Hyundai Sonata have engine problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 762 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 40.2% of all 1,895 complaints for that year. The most common description is "engine failure, seizure or replacement" (268 complaints). 2 engine-related recalls cover it: 18V934000, 17V226000. 86 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Does the 2015 Hyundai Sonata have engine problems?

Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 627 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata, 55.8% of all 1,123 complaints for that year, or 2.94 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (190 complaints). 44 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.

Which Hyundai Sonata years have the most engine complaints?

2011 (1,007), 2013 (762) and 2015 (627), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.

What are the most common Hyundai Sonata engine problems?

In the 4,711 engine complaints, owners most often describe engine failure, seizure or replacement (32.6%), stalling or shutting off while driving (25.6%) and misfire or check-engine light (22.4%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.

Is this a engine failure rate?

No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.

How we count

Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Hyundai Sonata model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.

Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.

These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Sources

  1. NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  2. NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  3. Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration