Owners have reported 17 crashes, 12 fires, 21 injuries and 1 death to NHTSA for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints116
ENGINE
Owners report that the 2018 Hyundai Sonata frequently experiences excessive oil consumption, often requiring additional oil every 1-2 weeks. Typical symptoms include illuminated check engine lights, misfiring, shuddering, and blue smoke from the exhaust. Many complaints note these issues beginning around 75,000 to 118,000 miles. Safety concerns are evident, with reports of sudden loss of power, engine seizures, and one instance of a crash. Additionally, four complaints involve fires, highlighting potential safety risks for prospective buyers.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 4 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints52
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report several recurring issues with the 2018 Hyundai Sonata's electrical system, including sudden loss of power and stalling, often accompanied by "hybrid system failure" warnings. These issues typically occur at various speeds and sometimes require towing, with some incidents happening as early as 19,000 miles. Complaints frequently mention problems with the starter and excessive oil consumption, leading to engine failures and costly repairs. Safety implications include instances of fires, one crash, and reports of the vehicle shutting down while driving, highlighting potential risks for buyers.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 3 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints44
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata frequently report excessive oil consumption, often needing to add oil every 1,000 miles or less, with some mentioning engine damage and oil leaks. Complaints also commonly describe dashboard warning lights for hybrid system failures, which can lead to sudden power loss and stalling, particularly in hybrid models. Some owners experience these issues at various mileage ranges, with significant occurrences around 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Safety concerns are evident, with reports of engine stalls in traffic and at least one incident involving a fire. Additionally, multiple owners note problems with the vehicle's paint peeling, primarily the white finish, and issues with the panoramic sunroof coming loose. These patterns suggest potential risks for buyers considering a used model.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints30
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata frequently report issues related to the powertrain, specifically involving engine failure and transmission problems. Common symptoms include the vehicle entering "limp mode," loss of engine power, stalling, excessive oil consumption, and engine misfires. These issues often emerge around 60,000 to 107,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with reports of sudden loss of power, difficulty maintaining speed, and in one case, a crash due to unintended acceleration. Additionally, a fire incident is noted, though the specific cause remains unidentified. Buyers considering this model should be aware of these recurring issues and the potential for substantial repair needs.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Owners report several issues related to the engine and engine cooling system of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata. Complaints frequently mention excessive oil consumption, with some owners needing to add oil every 1,200 to 2,000 miles, often accompanied by low oil warning lights. Additionally, multiple owners describe engine misfires, stalling, and loss of power, sometimes resulting in the vehicle failing to restart. These issues typically arise around 30,000 to 138,000 miles. While no crashes or fires are reported, the loss of power and stalling could pose safety risks, especially at highway speeds. Potential buyers should be aware of these patterns and consider them when evaluating the vehicle's condition and maintenance history.
Owner complaints11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata frequently report issues related to unintended acceleration and loss of power. Complaints often describe the vehicle accelerating unexpectedly, sometimes resulting in crashes, particularly during low-speed maneuvers such as parking. Another common symptom is the vehicle entering a "limp mode," reducing speed and power, often accompanied by warning lights like the check engine light. These issues are reported across various mileage ranges, with some incidents occurring as early as 500 miles. Safety implications are notable, with several reports of crashes and one injury, highlighting potential risks for drivers considering this model.
Severity signals: 5 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints9
STEERING
Owners report several steering-related issues with the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, primarily involving steering column defects and electrical power steering failures. Complaints frequently mention steering wheel lock-up, unexpected loss of steering control, and steering column noises, often occurring amidst other electronic malfunctions. These issues tend to emerge at varying mileages, with some reports indicating problems as early as 22,179 miles. Safety implications include the risk of losing vehicle control, which could potentially lead to accidents. Buyers should be aware of these potential issues, particularly if the vehicle has a history of steering or electronic repairs.
Owner complaints9
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata frequently report issues related to the service brakes, with a significant number of complaints involving ABS module failures, often indicated by illuminated warning lights and diagnosed by mechanics. Symptoms described include brake pedal stiffness, pulsation, and failure to stop, with some reports of the brakes engaging unexpectedly or not at all. Several complaints involve serious safety implications, including four crashes and one fire, with 14 injuries reported. The incidents occur at various mileages, with some as low as 8,896 miles and others over 100,000 miles. Prospective buyers should be aware of these potential brake-related issues and the associated risks.
Severity signals: 4 crash, 1 fire, 14 injury reports
Owner complaints8
SEAT BELTS
Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Sonata frequently report issues with seat belts, particularly problems with latching and retracting. Multiple complaints describe seat belts failing to latch securely or fully retract, with some noting that belts lock up unexpectedly or fail to secure passengers properly. These issues are reported at various mileages, from 45,000 to 100,000 miles. Safety implications are noted in two crash-related complaints, where seat belts did not engage or retract, resulting in injuries. This information is relevant for buyers considering a used model, as seat belt functionality is a critical safety feature.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints4
AIR BAGS
Owners report multiple airbag-related issues with the 2018 Hyundai Sonata, including unexpected deployment and failure to deploy during collisions. Complaints frequently mention airbags deploying without impact while driving at normal speeds, as well as airbags not deploying during significant collisions, including one involving a semi-truck. One report describes a fatal incident where the airbag became detached and caused injury. These issues are noted in both standard and hybrid models, with no specific mileage pattern identified. The failure of airbags to deploy in crashes and unexpected deployment while driving present clear safety implications for potential buyers.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
