Complaint volume
365 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Hyundai Sonata Complaints
365 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, grouped by component category.
365 Total complaints
18 Crash reports
13 Fire reports
9 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, unknown or other, electrical system,engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 18 crash reports, 13 fire reports, 9 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 139 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 37,794 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, unknown or other, electrical system,engine?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Hyundai Sonata?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Hyundai Sonata
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Hyundai Sonata complaints?
18 Crash
13 Fire
9 Injury
1 Fatality
28 Towed
6 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Hyundai Sonata complaint categories?
ENGINE 116
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 33
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 15
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11
STRUCTURE 11
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 9
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7
365 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2018 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,100 |
| Sep 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | DISTINCT SHADOWS WITH NOTCHES ON TOP AFFECTING NIGHT VISION WITH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON. VERY DISTRACTING ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,500 |
| Aug 2018 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE STIFFNESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR OF ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. BOTH DRIVERS SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | 10,000 |
| Jul 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BEYOND TWO VEHICLE LENGTHS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,700. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,700 |
| Jul 2018 | POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 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 NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. IT IS INDICATED THE DRIVERS EITHER LOVE THE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM OR HATE. WE WERE NEVER TOLD OF THIS SITUATION. AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS. THIS SITUATION CAN OCCUR WHEN LEAVING A STOPPED POSITION, WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ACCELERATING UP A HILL IN MOVING TRAFFIC OR ON A STREET. THIS ALL DEPENDS ON THE DRIVERS REACTION TO THE THROTTLE PEDAL. WHEN ONE NEEDS TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOTION THERE TENDS TO BE A SHUDDERING/STUTTERING OF THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SHORTLY WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2018 AND HAS BEEN ON GOING. I SET THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" AS STARTING DATE. CAN BE VARY CONCERNING WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC FOR OLDER DRIVERS. I CANNOT FIND ANY MORE DESCRIPTIONS FOR THIS SITUATION. THERE ARE NO DOCUMENTS AT MY DISPOSAL AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40 |
| Jun 2018 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EARLY DETECTION, FORWARD WARNING, COLLISION WARNING, AND AUTOMATIC BRAKING FEATURES WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREAT LAKES HYUNDAI (9630 OH-14, STREETSBORO, OH 44241, (330) 422-1212) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE EARLY WARNING SENSORS COULD NOT BE RE-CALIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. *TT *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Jun 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA SHOW TWO BLACK NOTCHES AND A BLACK LINE ABOUT 30 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS AS THESE SHADOWS DART ACROSS YOUR PATH AS YOU MAKE TURNS OR GO UP HILLS. HYUNDAI SERVICE COULD SEE THE NOTCHES, BUT SAID "THE SYSTEM IS WORKING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS AT THIS TIME". SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF THESE UNSAFE LIGHTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Jun 2018 | SERVICE BRAKES | I HAD STOPPED MY VEHICLE, PUTTING EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, BUT STILL IN DRIVE. I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. IT TRAVELED QUITE A DISTANCE BEFORE RUNNING INTO SOME INANIMATE THAT CAUSED IT TO STOP. IT WAS IN A DRIVEWAY BEHINDS BUILDINGS AND DID EVENTUALLY CROSS OVER A SIDE STREET BEFORE STOPPING. I DON'T SEE WHY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT HOLD, EVEN THOUGH NOT IN PARK? | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 3,500 |
| Jun 2018 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | 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 WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. *TT CONSUMER STATED BRAKING WORKS WHEN CAR HAS CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, WHEN RELYING IN "AEB" NOTHING HAPPENS. VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE SHOULD BE ON OR BEFORE INCIDENT DATE UPDATED 9/21/18*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 400 |
| Apr 2018 | SEAT BELTS | ORIGINALLY, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK UP AND NOT RELEASE AS WE WERE DRIVING. NO SUDDEN STOPS, IT WOULD JUST TIGHTEN UP AND LOCK. SERVICE DEPT FINALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE UNIT (SO THEY CLAIM). NOW WHEN PASSENGER PULLS BELT TO ATTACH WE HEAR A CLICKING SOUND AND BELT LOCKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE AND ALLOW PASSENGER TO LEAN FORWARD LIKE THE DRIVERS BELT DOES | Crash: No Fire: No | 100 |
| Mar 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THERE IS VERY DISTINCT SHADOWS IN FRONT OF CAR. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND HYUNDAI TSB 18-BE-003 SAYS IT IS NORMAL WITH LED AND INSTRUCTS DEALERS TO NOT TRY ADJUSTMENT | Crash: No Fire: No | 200 |
| Mar 2018 | STRUCTURE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A GLARE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT CAUSED A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD AND OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED OF THE FAILURE VIA U.S. MAIL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2018 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | THERE IS A BLACK LINE ACROSS THE ROAD WITH TWO BUMPS IN IT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT.IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THERE IS LIMITED FIELD OF VISION COMPARED TO MY OTHER CAR.ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS FOG UP INSIDE OCCASIONALLY. BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALER, THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG.IT OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR,WHEN IT IS STATIONARY YOU CAN SEE THE BLACK BUMPS WHEN SHINING THE LIGHTS AGAINST A WALL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 200 |
| Jan 2018 | SUSPENSION | 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 HYUNDAI REFUSES TO ADMIT ANY FAULT AND DISREGARDS ANY POSSIBILITIES OF PRODUCT ISSUES AND PUTS THE BLAME ON DRIVER. THE PICTURES TAKEN SHOW NO SCRATCHES OR SCUFF MARKS DIRECTLY TO THE CONTROL ARM, NOR THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH DENIES THAT A COLLISION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE DAMAGE, YET HYUNDAI BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS A COLLISION PER THE DRIVER THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAPPENED, BUT HYUNDAI ONLY PROVIDES VAGUE RESPONSES TO CLAIMS AND QUESTIONS AND FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY SOLID EXPLANATIONS REGARDING THE ACTUAL ISSUE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY AND SIMPLY DICTATED THE RESULTS OF THEIR INSPECTION AS "NO ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING OR STEERING SYSTEMS" WHEN I SPECIFICALLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LOWER ARM ASSEMBLY PART. CURRENTLY HAVE AN ON-GOING CASE WITH HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS (#10727408) WITH NO HELPFUL OR ACCURATE EXPLANATIONS OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AT HAND FROM HYUNDAI. | Crash: No Fire: No | 300 |
| Dec 2017 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2018 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED HAVE CONDENSATION IN THEM. IT HAS BEEN THERE FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 10/1/18. THAT DAY THE DEALERSHIP TOOK PICTURES TO SEND TO HYUNDAI AND 1 MONTH LATER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. BUT THE NEW HEADLIGHTS WERE WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL AND THE DAY AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE PARTS MANAGER TOOK MORE PICTURES FOR HYUNDAI. I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE FROM HYUNDAI DIRECTLY WHO IS MY CONTACT REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED HYUNDAI IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND WHILE THEY DO I AM STILL WAITING FOR NEW HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE FOUND OTHER CARS IN MY AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AT NIGHT THE MOISTURE COVERS A GOOD PORTION OF THE GLASS GIVING A DISTORTION TO THE PROJECTED HEADLIGHT BEAM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT JUST DURING GOOD WEATHER, BUT ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25 |