2010 HYUNDAI SONATA Engine Problems

Subject: Non-Collision Engine Compartment Fire - 2010 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: [XXX] ) ​"On dec 19 2025, my 2010 Hyundai Sonata suffered a sudden, non-collision fire that originated in the engine compartment. While there are currently no 'open' recalls on this VIN, I am formally reporting this incident as it matches the failure patterns documented in NHTSA Defect Petition DP18-003 regarding non-crash fires in Hyundai/Kia vehicles. ​Preliminary inspection of the damage shows characteristic signs of a manufacturer defect, specifically potentially related to a connecting rod bearing failure leading to an engine block puncture and oil ignition, or an electrical short in the ABS module—both of which have been subjects of major Hyundai fire investigations and class-action settlements (e.g., Engine II settlement) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Car has had check engine light on for 3 + years. Have taken it to several mechanics including a Hyundai dealership and none of them can figure out what is wrong. Have replaced water pump, belts x2 in a year (same belt) and thermostat x 3 again (all within 2 years). Dash fuel gage and Dash heating/cooling gage are completely erratic. Cruise control does not work. Due to chronic check engine light and mechanics unable to pin point the problem, car has become hazardous to drive. With that in mind, today (9/10/2025) while exiting the high way, car stalled and behaved like it was in neutral. Steering wheel also locked up at this time. Luckily was able to stop. Had to restart car and then it occurred again while driving on a side street at 35mph. The codes that are still popping up are ones that I have spent thousands trying to fix and find the root cause of the problem. What could the issue be if no mechanic can seem to diagnose and fix the issue?

While driving 60–70 mph on [XXX] just north of Sylmar, I suddenly heard a loud, deep “pop” from the lower part of the car. Within seconds, the engine began steaming heavily and leaking oil everywhere. I immediately turned on my hazard lights and began maneuvering toward the right shoulder, crossing multiple lanes with semis and fast-moving traffic approaching behind me. I felt unsafe and feared the car could catch fire or explode, especially with smoke and oil present. After safely exiting the vehicle, a mechanic later told me the rod bearing blew and punched a hole through the bottom of the engine block, calling it a total engine failure. He said it would require a full replacement and matched known issues with this model. There was no warning before the failure. I’m having it inspected at Hyundai of Downtown Los Angeles on July 28. I believe this event posed a serious safety hazard to me and others on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I purchased a 2010 Hyundai Sonata in February 2022 from the original owner. In July of this year, my engine failed due to the oil consumption defect found in many of Hyundai's engines produced at the Alabama factory. My oil and check engine light came on before it was time for my following oil change, despite making on-time synthetic oil changes during ownership. The vehicle hesitated and jerked on my commute to work, potentially causing harm to myself and other motorists. I went to take my vehicle to the mechanic on my lunch break. The car failed to turn over and has been inoperable ever since. I need my engine replaced at no charge. It's unconscionable that corporate would turn me away because the engine has 146k miles, which is nowhere near the industry standard 200k. Hyundai has inspected the vehicle and confirmed that an engine replacement is needed.

Recently at the Hyundai Dealership in Plantation,Florida I had them repair 2 RECALLS which were the LAMPLIGHT SWITCH & CROSSMEMBER. These RECALLS were not done correctly and caused my ESC Light to come on and my car shakes while driving. I never had these items before until they worked on my RECALLS. Now the Hyundai Dealer service is refusing to fix the damage they caused. I need help right away. The RECALL repair appointment was on June 12, 2022 and had them check the RECALLS again on August 29, 2022. My car is still at the Hyundai Service in Plantation, Florida.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD WHICH LED TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HYUNDAI OF GREELEY (4533 W 29TH ST, GREELEY, CO 80634) AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE ENGINE BLEW AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. *DT *JB *DT

Mileage: 116,000

CAR HAS ONLY 77,000 MILES AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. ON AUGUST 27, I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR LATE AFTERNOON, PARKED. LATER AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS WHEN I WENT TO START IT, IT WOULD NOT START, JUMP START DID NOT WORK. MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER AND STILL WOULD NOT START. HE CHECKED THE ENGINE AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED. I TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT ENGINE HAS SEIZED. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AS THE COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO OTHER CAR ENGINES THAT SEIZED WHEN DRIVEN BETWEEN 60,000 AND 90,000 MILES. HYUNDAI MOTORS IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS MAJOR ISSUE.

Mileage: 77,000

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR WHICH WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR WENT FROM 60-50-40-30 WITHIN 30 SECONDS WHILE IT STILL SAID CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND THE GAS AND BRAKES DIDNT WORK. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ELECTRONICS STILL WORK BUT THE CAR NO LONGER WORK AND DID NOT TURN ON. IT SEIZED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO GAS LIGHT, ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING BEFORE THE CAR SEIZED.

Mileage: 126,454

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR, IT SUDDENLY STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SIDE STREET. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE IS RUINED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS HAD ALL OF ITS MAINTENANCE/OIL CHANGES. IT HAS HAD NO ACCIDENTS. IT HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 70,000

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON FOR A WHILE NOW AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, IT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE TO SEE WHAT CAME UP ON THE REPORT. THIS HAS BEEN DONE A NUMBER OF TIMES AND WHATEVER REPORT SHOWS UP I HAVE HAD IT FIXED BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL WOULD COME ON AND IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED, I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN FINDING OUT WHY THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES THIS BECOMING COSTLY AND STILL NOT FIXED COULD I PLEASE GET SOME HELP WITH THIS. WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE [XXX] 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 1 YEAR AND 3 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY KIND OF SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 163,500

ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON TOOK CAR TO SHOP THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON CODE PO449 EVAP SYSTEM FAULT FAILURE IN VAPOR CANISTER HOUSING PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC AND PINPOINT TESTING FOUND SAID IT NEEDED CANISTER CLOSE VALVE AND CANISTER EASY THE WORK WAS DONE BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON.

CAR WAS RUNNING WITH NO PROBLEMS. STARTED UP WENT DOWN THE STREET AND IT TURNED OFF ON ME ALL DASH LIGHTS WORK. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE IS SIEZED UP. CAR HAD OIL NO OVER HEATING OR SMOKING. NO WARNING OF ENGINE ISSUE.

Mileage: 110,000

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY STALLS AND VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO START AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. HAPPENS RANDOMLY WITHOUT NOTICE.

Mileage: 24,500

STARTER FAILED. CAR WAS EXHIBITING NO PROBLEMS. PARKED AT A STORE. CAME OUT AND WOULDN'T START. BATTERY WAS NOT A PROBLEM. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. NEEDED A NEW STARTER AT 75,621 MILES. KEFFER HYUNDAI SVC CTR STATED THEY HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS, EVEN ISSUED STATEMENT TO OTHER AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOPS OF WHAT TO LOOK FOR SHOULD CARS BE BROUGHT TO THEM FOR SERVICE (OURS WAS). KEFFER SVC CTR FURTHER STATED THEY "SHOULD PROBABLY ISSUE RECALL".

Mileage: 75,621

ENGINE FAILED WOULD NOT START IN LESS THAN 55200 MILES

Mileage: 55,200

DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND CAR STALL ON FREEWAY DOING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC CAR DIED COULD NOT MOVE GEAR SELECTOR FONDLING WITH KEY BEFORE IT STARTED WAS FOLLOWED BY A POLICE UNTIL OUT OF DANGER, HAD IT TESTED AT FIRESTONE AUTO REPAIR NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND

Mileage: 32,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Mileage: 123,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SPEED IMMEDIATELY DECREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED THE DEALER'S HOTLINE FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE THE CONTACT AND HIS WIFE WERE SEATED IN THE VEHICLE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AT THE FRONT END. THE DUO RUSHED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS WRITTEN OFF BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PER THE ADVISE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STARTED AN INVESTIGATION. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V568000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,795.

Mileage: 34,795

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL MEASURING DEVICE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

HAVE SEEN THE RECALL NOTICE ON SONATA 2011-12. I HAVE A 2010, MANUFACTURED IN ALABAMA. THE MOTOR WENT OUT IN THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT LOST POWER AND STOPPED. THE CAR CONTINUES TO SIT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD THE DEALER INSPECT IT BEFORE IT WENT OUT BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE. THE DEALER (MUNGENAST HYUNDAI, 649 DUNN RD., ST. LOUIS, MO) REPORTED IT WAS A MOTOR PROBLEM AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE WARRANTY HAD ALREADY EXPIRED, AND I DID NOT HAVE $5000 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE MOTOR PROBLEMS DID NOT START WITH THE 2011 MODELS. I HOPE YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

Mileage: 74,000

DELAYS IN ACCELERATION LINKED TO A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THERE MAY BE A 2 TO 3 SECOND LAG IN ACCELERATION DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING OR TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

AS I WAS DRIVING TO MAKE A TURN THE CAR SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES SINE THIS FIRST INCIDENT. CAR SHUT DOWN AS I WAS GOING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CRANKING OF THE IGNITION IS ALSO A PROBLEM. I FIRST REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER IN 2011. IT CRANKS AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO DIE THEN IT HAS EVENTUALLY CAUGHT AND TURNED ON. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. SINCE IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE OR ACT UP WHEN I AM IN FOR SERVICE THEY DO NOTHING FOR ME. *TR

Mileage: 27,000

THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM WARRANTY WORK WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON UNLESS I AGREED TO PAY A FEE OF APPROXIMATELY $125 IF THE DEALER DECIDED THAT THE WORK WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HAD EXHIBITED STALLING FAILURES. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

Mileage: 16,500

MY 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON ME 2-TIMES IN LESS THAN 5-MINUTES TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING TODAY. I WAS ON MY WAY TO ENTER THE EXPRESSWAY. THE POWER STEERING AND EVERYTHING JUST SHUT DOWN. MY CAR JUST MADE A SUDDEN STOP. THANK GOD I HAD NOT ENTERED THE EXPRESSWAY AND TOOK THE SIDE STREETS HOME. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF, THE PASSENGERS RIDING WITH ME AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS, PASSENGERS AND FAMILIES ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAS 53,215 MILES, THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE, I KNOW IT'S OCCURRING IN OTHER SONATA'S AND OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES BASE ON WHAT I SEE IN ONLINE ENTRIES ON THE 2010 HYUNDAI SONATA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES. MANUFACTURES MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEFECTED PRODUCTS PLACE ON THE MARKET. I KNOW THAT I'M A SMALL VOICE AGAINST A LARGE CORPORATION, BUT IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE I KNOW THAT MY CLAIM WILL BE VALIDATED. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE ARE DEALING WITH INJURIES OR FATALITIES. I AM A FRUSTRATED AND UNHAPPY HYUNDAI SONATA OWNER, LOOKING FOR HYUNDAI TO PUT SAFETY FIRST! *TR

Mileage: 53,215

I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AFTER A JUMP WOULDN'T WORK. I BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND WHEN THE DRIVER TESTED THE BATTERY, IT WASN'T DEAD BUT IT WASN'T GREAT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY ($95 AT WALMART) AND THE CAR STARTED. FOR A DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN, WHEN WE REALIZED IT WAS THEN THE STARTER. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW STARTER ON THE VEHICLE ($105 ONLINE) ISSUE RESOLVED. PRETTY YOUNG OF A CAR FOR THE STARTER TO GO. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

CAME OUT TO WORK PARKING LOT. CAR WOULD NOT START. BATTERY WAS FAILING, NOT DEAD. REPLACED BATTERY [WITH DURALAST BATTERY (AUTOZONE - 09/19/2013) - $115]; DID NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. STARTER WAS TESTED AND HAD FAILED. REPLACED THE STARTER [WITH DURALAST STARTER (AUTOZONE - 09/20/2013) - $267.11]; RESOLVED THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 55,122