9.5

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
952 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2020 Hyundai Sonata engine problems

engine problem

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2020 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

Mar 272024

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on the interstate when I heard a click from the back of the car. The gas gauge started to move downward as if I was losing gasoline. It eventually stopped and started moving back up, past where it was when it started decreasing. A little bit later the check engine light came on and the car started driving very sluggishly. I took the car into the Hyundai dealer and they found that the backseat was clicked out of place and a sensor was unplugged. This issue has since occurred multiple times. The back seat will pop out of place, the gas gauge will move beyond the gas that is in the tank, and finally the check engine light will come on and reduce the performance of the vehicle. The gas tank appears to be swelling and pushing up against the back seat which is causing it to pop. I had my girlfriend drive the car while I sat in the backseat and I could actually feeling something moving underneath the backseat. I have since gotten in contact with other sonata owners who have had the same thing happen with their vehicles. In other cases the backseat has exploded and flown completely off of the gas tank. I am very nervous to drive my car and think Hyundai should recall these vehicles before someone gets hurt.

- Temple Terrace, FL, USA

problem #20

May 252024

Sonata

  • miles
Vechile shut down completely on the highway, engine's been replaced twice, Catalytic converter, Turbo was replaced three times, Battery oxygen sensors, timing belt all have been replaced, Along with my wireless charger and Both heaterhouses and splash guard. I recently had my vehicle SERVICED Thirty five hundred miles after NEW engine install The dealership serviced my car didn't reset my service indicator 3 weeks later, my vehicle without warning said Engine overheated, so I pulled over immediately that display went off. My actual thermostat stayed under the center line in between cold and hot. I contacted the dealership and got my vehicle into BE inspected At that time, they said my coolant level was low and both heapeer. Hoses needed to be replaced and my engine needed to be flushed and refilled. I had those services completed. I picked up my car 5/24 it was OK on 5/25 My service indicator pop back on and at that time it was counting 58 days, so even after I brought it to the dealership's attention, they failed to reset it again. So I googled how to reset the service interval and did it myself. And about thirty minutes later, I was driving my car started shaking excessively And Woodin's accelerate, over 20 miles per hour in traffic. I had to put on my hazard lights and get me and my grandson to a safe place so that I could contact the dealership regarding this matter and they stated there was nothing they could do I had to wait until Tuesday I have put in a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, as well as consumer affairs. And also the county attorney's office for. Consumer fraud. This vehicle was misrepresented at the time of sale. It has countless safety issues. I need assistance

- Avondale 1, AZ, USA

problem #19

Dec 272023

Sonata

  • miles
Case Synopsis: My ownership includes three Hyundai Hybrid vehicles: two 2020 Sonata Hybrids and one 2022 Tucson Hybrid. Each of these cars has consistently manifested engineering defects, predominantly overheating, within a year of purchase. These persistent malfunctions have led to the vehicles being inoperable and beyond repair. As a result, we have endured financial setbacks from negative equity, costs of repairs, reduced value of the cars, and considerable inconvenience and safety hazards due to these ongoing overheating issues.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA

problem #18

Dec 272023

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Case Synopsis: My ownership includes three Hyundai Hybrid vehicles: two 2020 Sonata Hybrids and one 2022 Tucson Hybrid. Each of these cars has consistently manifested engineering defects, predominantly overheating, within a year of purchase. These persistent malfunctions have led to the vehicles being inoperable and beyond repair. As a result, we have endured financial setbacks from negative equity, costs of repairs, reduced value of the cars, and considerable inconvenience and safety hazards due to these ongoing overheating issues.

- Hillsboro, OR, USA

problem #17

Dec 212023

Sonata

  • miles
In May of 2023 my check engine light came on. Took the car to the dealer and the diagnosis was that the egr cooler was the culprit so they replaced it and everything was fine until 12/21/2023. I am driving on the highway and suddenly I hear a loud alarm and upon checking my instrument cluster I see a warning for engine overheating, the heat was on but suddenly the smell of something burning covered the entire cabin of the vehicle. I had to pull over to the side in the middle of a busy highway in freezing conditions and shut my engine down to avoid further damage. I believe the egr cooler has failed once again inly this time leading to a more terrifying experience. My car was towed to the dealership but I am worried for myself and others with similar vehicles I would not like anyone to experience what I did. I have seen multiple online forums with people complaining about the same situation. Mileage was around 57,900 miles when this occured. I bought the car with 30,000 miles as a certified preowned model. I kindly request for a recall for affected sonatas manufactured from the year 2020 to ensure our safety on the road. If it was not for warranty I would not be able to pay for the repairs

- East Stroudsburg , PA, USA

problem #16

Oct 062023

Sonata

  • miles
Starting in July 2023, my car has exhibited a recurring problem that seriously hampers its functionality and reliability. Specifically, the car intermittently fails to respond to unlock commands from both the key fobs and the Hyundai cellphone app. Initially, this issue occurred infrequently, happening about once a month. However, the situation has escalated, and in October 2023, it happened three times within a span of two weeks. I promptly brought my car to my local Hyundai dealership, hoping to find a solution to this perplexing issue. On the first visit, the dealership stated that they were unable to duplicate the issue, which left me deeply frustrated but willing to continue troubleshooting. The dealership suggested that I either leave my car with them overnight or bring it in again for further diagnosis. Due to my reliance on the vehicle for daily transportation, I opted for the latter, bringing my car to the dealership on two additional occasions. Regrettably, on each visit, the dealership was still unable to replicate the issue, leaving me with a vehicle that continues to malfunction. My frustration reached its peak during my last conversation with a Hyundai HQ customer care representative. I expressed my concern and requested that Hyundai cover the cost of a rental car while my vehicle was being examined more thoroughly. However, the representative refused to accommodate this request unless the issue was identified as warrant-able. This response left me feeling unsupported and unheard. I would like to emphasize that I have diligently documented the recurring issues with my Hyundai car, even providing video recordings of the last three incidents to demonstrate the problem's severity and consistency. Despite my efforts, Hyundai has chosen to close the case with no resolution, citing my refusal to bear the cost of a rental car as the reason.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #15

Oct 102023

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I went to work at 5 in the morning, I turned the heater for the first time after last winter. I noticed that the heater was struggling to warm the cabin. After 10 minutes driven I got an overheating alert on the dashboard. I pulled over on the freeway shoulder and it started to notice a lot of steam coming from the exhaust and a really strong coolant smell. I waited for the engine to cool down and went back home, I drove for 6 minutes and notice a huge amount of smoke coming from the exhaust I pulled over agin on the freeway and waited 20 minutes i finally arrived home and notice the coolant reservoir was empty since the car was burning all the coolant through the exhaust. I went online and saw many many people with Hybrid sonatas complaining about the same issue. This should be a massive recall many of the customers complaining had 20 to 50 thousand miles on their vehicle. This is definitely a safety issue. I-??m glad my wife wasn-??t driving that day cause the freeway only has two lanes and the shoulder is extremely narrow. Please do something about it, I already called the dealership to make an appointment since my car is still under the extended warranty. If you need more information feel free to contact me.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #14

Jul 142023

Sonata

  • miles
Engine leaks oil. I went to the dealer and they blamed the other Hyundai dealer saying they stripped out the drain bolt. After all the back and forth they told me they will replace the drain pan. I scheduled to have the car dropped off and wasn-??t given a loaner. When I went to pick up the car they told me the ac bolt and bracket are broken and to come on Monday but the drain pan has been replaced. I went home and the car continued to leak oil and when I went back to the dealer and called them out they came up with every excuse in the books. Bolt is stripped, impact to pan, and so on. Long story short I went to fix the oil pan and they damaged the ac bolt so instead of telling me to come back to do everything they said they did the drain pan but the bolt would have to be done another day. I am waiting on a loaner car as I waisted a whole day without a car and the issue wasn-??t fixed. I have a receipt showing the work was done but it never was. The dealer is dishonest and unprofessional. Not sure how they get away with this. They need to be held accountable.

- Spring Valley, NY, USA

problem #13

Apr 102023

Sonata

  • miles
I noticed a strange smell almost like burning maple syrup in the garage for months. I thought it was just a different smell from Hybrid cars as I didn't have this used car very long. While driving at times the acceleration would stutter, again I thought this was just expected having never driven a hybrid car. Then on a trip a couple hours out of town someone stopped me on the road to tell me I was burning antifreeze and he could see white smoke coming from the car. I pulled over and didn't notice anything and continued driving but the heater wasn't working, it was blowing cool air despite the heat being on. I pulled into an auto parts store and got antifreeze in case. And then the overheating alert came on. I waited and filled it up and made an appointment at the dealer. They diagnosed it as a a blown gasket and a bad catalytic convertor and replaced all of that. After bringing it home I continued to lose coolant even with a two mile ride, I went from Max fill to half way between max and min. Clearly the problem wasn't the gasket or the catalytic convertor. Others have shared similar experiences online and had to have many parts replaced. The coolant tank, the EGR cooler (?), etc. I don't know what the problem is but something is wrong with these cars.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #12

Jan 212021

Sonata 4-cyl

  • miles
I have had the same issue 3 separate times related to the coolant system. The first time happened January 2021. I was driving on the highway and I noticed that when the car switched from electric to fuel a large plume of white smoke came out of the exhaust and then the engine overheating message started. I checked the coolant tank and it was completely empty. I managed to get some coolant in the car and get to my destination. I checked the coolant tank again and all the coolant that had been put in was gone. I immediately had the car towed to the dealer. They found the issue was a leak near the muffler and eventually replaced that and other gaskets. In May 2022, I noticed again that when I switched from battery to fuel on acceleration that there was a plume of smoke coming out of the exhaust and my coolant was very low. Brought to the dealer and they confirmed again there was a leak but this time with the EGR cooler and associated parts. In December 2022, I had just gotten an oil change from the dealer and they gave me a clean check up. The next evening I was on the highway again and I received the engine overheating message. I was able to get to the dealer the next morning after refilling the coolant twice. I provided them with the previous paperwork from the other two fixes. They confirmed again that the leak was happening with the muffler so they replaced more parts. In all I have for over 3 months fixing the same issue. I posted on Reddit to see if others have had the same issue and slowly more and more people with the same model year or the year after are reporting the same problems as seen https://www.reddit.com/r/Hyundai/comments/uhx7lf/coolant_leak_through_exhaust_on_2020_sonata_hybrid/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Every time it's happened it's been covered under warranty but my concern is that it happens outside of the warranty and I will be on the hook for an expensive repair or forced to a new vehicle.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #11

Jan 072023

Sonata

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving my cars a light starting blinking and my engine light came on and the car lost power This has happened on at least 3 occasions and I had to pull over upon starting the car after a few hours all returned to normal I reported this to dealer and they could not find a problem

- Lafayette Hill, PA, USA

problem #10

Oct 192022

Sonata

  • miles
2020 Hyundai Sonata. Consumer writes in regard to grinding noise while driving. The consumer stated upon inspection by Toyota, it was discovered that the undershield had come loose and dragging.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #9

Sep 112022

Sonata

  • miles
Steering parts being replaced many times, and the engine oil is low after I just got an oil change a week ago. Excessive engine oil usage with no idea where it is going.

- Massillon, OH, USA

problem #8

Jul 252022

Sonata

  • miles
I first begin having an issue with the idle speed. It would jump up to 1,500 RPM, which is twice the normal 750 RPM level It started almost from the very beginning when I purchased this car new in early 2020. I mentioned it at first oil change at dealer at 3,500 miles. I was told it was normal. In the beginning it would come and go. Sometimes not happening for weeks in-between episodes. Then it started to have the check engine light come on after it would happen and stay on. I took it back while light was still on and they kept the car for several days. Said it was the EPV valve and replaced it. Car operated fine for a few days then started up again. It also started to idle up and down from 1500 down to 500 in a rapid succession. I was able to get it to stop sometimes by turning engine off and them back on. Again I contacted dealership and took car back in. They gave me a loaner car and kept my car for over a month. This time they replaced the computer they told me. I did not have car for more than a week before it started doing it again. It has gradually gotten worse and happens more often now. It has also started to have the Forward Collision Avoidance warning come on in addition to check engine light as well. Just this week it actually just died on me while driving and forced me to pull to side of road. Turn off the engine and restart the engine. This happen 3 times in succession. Dealership does not seem to have any idea on what is going on and have been not very helpful. 3 week wait to get an appointment to bring in and no loaner cars available. This problem with the 2020 vehicle is very dangerous. It can idle up at anytime and car will lurch, requiring forceful brakeing. Car dying while driving and losing power as well.

- Rowlett, TX, USA

problem #7

Feb 222022

Sonata

  • miles
Check engine light came on and I contacted the dealer. Took 6 weeks to get an appointment and they advised that a module needed to be replaced giving me the impression it was a computer chip. The car has been sitting at the dealer since February 22, 2022, and they have been very cooperative including providing me with a free loaner to use. Unfortunately, they state that the part is not available (#HY25600-2J001 Thermal Management Module). Finding that this is not a unique failure as it is appearing inn 2020, 2021 models as well as some 2022 Hyundai models. Finding OEM part for sale on EBay, Amazon and even on the Hyundai parts website.

- Pompton Lakes, NJ, USA

problem #6

Jun 062021

Sonata

  • miles
Driving, car started making a weird sound followed by a warning light on dashboard with dinging sound to correlate... car became difficult to gas, vehicle motion was lagging where I just knew I had to pull over Bc this car was going to literally stop began to slowly (Bc that-??s all car would allow) to proceed forward and I was forced to come to a haunt as I pulled onto side of highway. I then could no longer move it. Turned car off for minute then returned to try to start again, car would not accelerate at all nor turn on fully.. I was forced to wait hour to get a tow... took to shop, no problem such was found, car started & ran again... this is 3 days later the car again continued the same exact pattern & I was unable to drive any further and forced to once again to get tow. This has to be something of bearings with engine, this car mode is not on list but IT certainly is an issue that I believe is related & should be rectified by Hyundai.

- Islip Terrace , NY, USA

problem #5

Nov 172020

Sonata

  • 1,389 miles
On Nov. 17 while driving app. 65 mph on the highway the car suddenly shut itself off. All of the dashboard lights lit up & the car would not restart. After 10 min. Of trying to restart the car, the car started again, & all the lights on the car disappeared. The following day, while waiting in the turning lane at a red light, the car sputtered & turned off. All the lights on the dashboard lit up & the car wouldn't start I had the car towed on Nov 18 202 to a Hyundai dealership. The dealership reported that there was an internal short with the ABS module & the hydraulic module assembly was replaced. On, Nov 24, I was driving the car & the car stalled all the warning lights went back on. I had the car towed the dealership where it stayed until December 11 the dealership stated that they could not find anything wrong with the car. I picked up the car on Dec 11 & the car appeared to be working normally. However, on dec19, while stopped at a red light, the car began to shake back & forth at idle & the rpms started to go up despite my foot being on the brakes. The car behind me saw what was happening & helped me pull over to the side of the road. I had the car towed to the dealership yet again. The dealership stated that they were able to duplicate the issue on Dec 23, 2020. However, no fix was done to the car. The dealership claimed that the car was in a 'relearn' process & it would need more time for the car to 'relearn' how to drive again. Everything seemed okay after the Dec 23 incident until Feb 8 2021 when I tried to stop while in traffic & the brakes would not work at all. I narrowly avoided getting into a major accident & once again brought the car to the dealership. The dealership found that the master cylinder assembly was internally defective & was not holding pressure and as a result the brakes were not working. The vehicle was returned to me on Feb 11 2021.

- Far Rockaway, NY, USA

problem #4

Mar 202021

Sonata

  • 14,698 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 35 mph and entering the highway, the vehicle would not shift into gear and the vehicle was sputtering. The contact stated that the vehicle would not exceed 45 mph. The contact pulled onto the shoulder of the highway and shut-off the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The contacted restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact pulled off the highway and had to restart the vehicle several times. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer - webb Hyundai merrillville (1000 81st ave merrillville in 46410, (219) 249-4961) where the diagnosis was not determined for the engine however, the contact was informed that the heating system was faulty and the instrument panel failed to provide an accurate warning light for the failures. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but, did not provide any further assistance. The failure mileage was 14,698.

- Hobart, IN, USA

problem #3

Mar 132020

Sonata

  • 1,200 miles
My car stalled and stuttered between 1000 and 1500 miles in traffic and couldn't get it into gear once started. It was the fuel rail sensor. Now at 6000 miles did same thing. If sits for bit works again. It also reset itself and I lost all preprogrammed information. The gas door also opens at times when unlock driver door. The dealership had it the first time for over 30 days and had to contact engineers to fix it.

- Beverly Hills, FL, USA

problem #2

Jul 132020

Sonata 4-cyl

  • 1 miles
Vehicle abruptly stopped in a traffic signal without giving any indications what so ever. When tried to restart it stalled pretty badly causing excessive vibrations. This had just 1900 miles on it. Vehicle didn't have any mil or any visible information about the issue. It created a huge traffic pile up due to the peak hour in which this problem started. Few days ago there was issue with starting but it resolved after couple of minutes, this time the vehicle had to be towed to the dealership and I lost my days work and pay. Biggest concern is how abruptly it stopped in a busy street.

- Laurel Springs, NJ, USA

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