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U.S. public vehicle records

2018 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

371 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

21,250 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 140 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 209 of 371 complaints (56.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4111.1%
Engine operation3810.2%
Electrical and battery issues3710.0%
Steering behavior143.8%
Fuel system concerns102.7%
Transmission and shifting20.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
209
Unknown Or Other
58
Electrical System
56
Power Train
40
Fuel/Propulsion System
31
Exterior Lighting
21
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Service Brakes
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine209
Unknown Or Other58
Electrical System56
Power Train40
Fuel/Propulsion System31
Exterior Lighting21
Vehicle Speed Control17
Service Brakes14

Engine: 209; Unknown Or Other: 58; Electrical System: 56; Power Train: 40; Fuel/Propulsion System: 31; Exterior Lighting: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Service Brakes: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
76
25,000 to 49,999
24
50,000 to 74,999
14
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
16
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00076
25,000 to 49,99924
50,000 to 74,99914
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,99916
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 76; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (76). 231 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2017
1
2018
17
2019
61
2020
18
2021
22
2022
37
2023
55
2024
44
2025
82
2026
34
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20171
201817
201961
202018
202122
202237
202355
202444
202582
202634

2017: 1; 2018: 17; 2019: 61; 2020: 18; 2021: 22; 2022: 37; 2023: 55; 2024: 44; 2025: 82; 2026: 34

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 38 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11064539 · 2018-01-24 (January 24, 2018)

WAS DRIVING A BRAND NEW HYUNDAI SONATA 2018 VEHICLE FOR A WEEK WITH 300 MILES ON IT AND WAS ABOUT TO EXIT ON A FREEWAY RAMP, BUT SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND WHEN THE MECHANICS AT THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TOOK A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, THEY WERE UNSURE OF HOW THE LOWER ARM ASSEMBLY ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE (FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM) WITH THE BALL AND JOINT CONNECTION WAS DISCONNECTED, WITHOUT HAVING ANY SCUFFS/SCRATCHES ON THE ARM ASSEMBLY OR FRONT BUMPER IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAVE BEEN RUN OVER, BUT HY…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064539 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11099214 · 2018-06-01 (June 1, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP WHEN A SECOND VEHICLE WAS PRESENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NAPLETON HYUNDAI GLENVIEW (1620 WAUKEGAN RD., GLENVIEW, IL) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE W…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099214 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11174874 · 2019-02-06 (February 6, 2019)

I WANT TO HAVE ALL CHANGED AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR I WANTED TO STALL

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11174874 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11190237 · 2019-03-20 (March 20, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMPSTARTED IN ORDER TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOUCHER HYUNDAI OF WAUKESHA (1583 E MORELAND BLVD, WAUKESHA, WI 53186) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11190237 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11173303 · 2019-01-31 (January 31, 2019)

CAR HAS KEYLESS START. WILL NOT START IN TEMPS BELOW 20 DEGREES F. HAS HAPPENED 4X IN 2 WEEKS. CAR IS 8 MOS OLD / LESS THAN 6K MILES. 1ST 3 TIMES EVENTUALLY STARTED BY RUNNING ENGINE. THE WARNING LIGHTS THAT SHOW ARE CHARGING SYSTEM (RAN ITSELF DOWN TO 57% BATTERY THIS TIME); ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND MIL LIGHT. THE IMMOBILIZED INDICATOR IS ON BUT THEN GOES OFF. THE TANK IS FULL OF GAS. THE BLUE LINK APP CAN'T REMOTELY START THE CAR. IT STATES THAT THE REQUEST WAS NOT PROCESSED.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173303 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11175796 · 2019-02-08 (February 8, 2019)

I TOOK MY 2018 HYUNDAI SONTA SE IN FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE WITH 3564 MILES ON IT. THEY DID A COMPUTER UPDATE AS PART OF A RECALL. I DROVE LESS THAN ( MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WENT TO PULL OUT FROM A STOP LIGHT. IT STARTED MISS FIRING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT HAD A CODE AND TGEY HAD TO CALL HYUNDAI TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. THEY GAVE ME A LONER AND TOLD ME THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TOO MUCH INTERFERENCE/STATIC IN IT AND THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW ONE. VERY HARD TO BELIEVE A COMPUTER UPDATE W…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,569 miles reported. Look up ODI 11175796 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11197218 · 2019-04-18 (April 18, 2019)

I OWN THIS 2019 SONATA SINCE 1/16/19. WAS RUNING GOOD AT THE FIRST. BUT COUPLE TIMES START SHOWING THE ENGINE LIGHT FOR SECONDS. BUT ON APRIL SUNDAY 14 2019 MY CAR SHOWS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TIRE CONTROL STABILIZER AT THE SAME TIME THEN THE CAR START SHAKING LOSSING SPEED,THE BRAKES GETTING HARD AND POWER STEERING. . LUCKY I WENT AT 10MPH TO 15MPH.THE VEHICLE WILL BE PLACED IN A TEMPORARY ENGINE PROTECTION MODE WITH REDUCED POWER AND ACCELERATION. NO SPEED NO ACCELERATION THEN I PARK IN A PARKING LOT FOR TOWING AT THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,787 miles reported. Look up ODI 11197218 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11485497 · 2022-09-20 (September 20, 2022)

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 informe…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,944 miles reported. Look up ODI 11485497 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11514044 · 2023-03-27 (March 27, 2023)

Fuel pump started going out. My brothers vehicle also started going out too in the same vehicle as this. It's clearly a wide issue. Car stalls when gas is at half tank.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11514044 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11105256 · 2018-07-02 (July 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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 11105256 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11128303 · 2018-09-09 (September 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.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128303 at NHTSA ↗