2006 Hyundai Sonata transmission problems

Filed May 25, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · WI

I am filing this complaint regarding a serious engine issue with my 2006 Hyundai Sonata equipped with a 2.4L GDI engine. My vehicle experienced [engine knocking, stalling, and then seized up indicating complete Engine failure] without warning, posing a potential safety hazard while driving. The issue appears to be identical to the known manufacturing defects that Hyundai has acknowledged in its recall of 2013–2014 Sonata models with the same engine Class Type. Although my vehicle is not currently included in the official recall “ SONATA ENGINE RECALL CAMPAIGN it contains the Theta II MPI Engine which constitutes and Further solidifies proof of the ongoing Manufacturing Defects of Theta Model Engine design and exhibits the same symptoms of sudden engine failure. This raises concerns that the defect may affect a broader range of model years than Hyundai has acknowledged. I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this issue and determine whether the scope of the current recall should be expanded to include earlier model years such as 2006. The defect creates a significant safety risk to drivers and passengers, and Hyundai should be held accountable for all affected vehicles—not just those produced within a narrow window.

Filed Jan 11, 2021 · Transmission · 102,000 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while at an intersection, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was slowly driven back to the residence. The contact engaged the parking brake and attempted to shift the gear shifter from neutral to park which failed to operate as designed. The contact's husband used a rock to chock the rear wheel, disengaged the parking brake, and shifted the vehicle into park. The battery terminals were disconnected. The following day the vehicle was towed to columbus square auto (61 blinman st, new london, ct 06320, (860)442-1236) where it was determined that the shifter fused failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact was concerned for her safety while driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

Filed Aug 24, 2019 · Transmission · 145,000 miles · TX

The transmission started to become jerky at 140,000 miles. This occured on a vehicle with automatic transmission; while the car was moving and in drive, it would delay and then jerk when shifting up or down, such as when the car was accelerating after stepping on the accelerator (especially during turns or entering highways) or when the car was declerating (especially when on a city street, moving 40 mp4 or less) and neither the brake or accelerator was being applied. The car also delayed and jerked hard when shifting to and from reverse.

Filed May 4, 2018 · Brakes, Transmission · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai sonata. When the vehicle was started and placed in either drive or reverse, it suddenly accelerated. In addition, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle unless he placed the gear in neutral. There were no warning indicators illuminated before or after the failure. The vehicle was taken to car pros hyundai renton (201 s 7th st, renton, wa 98057) where it was diagnosed that the torque converter failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000. The VIN was not provided. *tt VIN available

Filed Dec 29, 2016 · Transmission · 174,497 miles · TX

Takata recall on christmas night my car wouldn't go in reverse.it has transmission fluid in there.I drove around to the store and it won't go over 60mph.

Filed Nov 5, 2014 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the gear shift failed to switch into park as the ABS and ESC warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Sep 2, 2014 · Brakes, Transmission · 75,720 miles · FL

When I started the car in the morning the( eco off) light came on, and there was no power, but the engine was still on. I pulled over to the side of the road, shutoff the ignition, when I started the car again, everything was normal. The check engine light was on. It happens every time that the car is parked overnight. The solution is always the same, pull over and cutoff the ignition for a few seconds.

Filed Aug 16, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 84,903 miles · MD

The system warning lamps illuminated, then the engine shut off and would not restart. Evaluation showed that the alternator had failed and was covered with engine oil which had leaked from the front valve cover gasket onto the alternator. This failure is the same as the federal safety agency campaign number 14v415000, which covers another hyundai vehicle.

Filed Aug 9, 2014 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · TX

Vehicle is no longer able to shift into drive. When shifted into reverse display shows park and vehicle will not move, when shifted into neutral display shows reverse and vehicle will go in reverse, when shifted into drive display shows neutral. Drive is completely missing.

Filed Feb 2, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 60,000 miles · PA

First of all the time and mileage are approximate. We experienced difficulty in turning off the parking/dashboard lights in our 2006 hyundai sonata. Flicking the stalk back and forth a few times would eventually turn them off. I asked my mechanic and called 2 local hyundai dealers and all agreed the only solution is to replace the entire fuse/relay box. After consulting a few hyundai forums I learned that this was a problem affecting some 2006 and 2007 hyundias and that owners were paying between $700 to $1200 to replace the faulty part. Many owners are upset that hyundai does not issue a recall. On monday, january 27, 2014 the stalk stopped working. A call to hyundai north america not only resulted in no help in finding out which fuse would disable the lights but also assured me that hyundai seems to expect the life of such parts to last just past the warranty expiration date. I decided to pull out the relay located under the dashboard which turned off the lights (among other things). The next day when my wife left work after inserting the relay back in, she couldn't get out of first gear and slowly things started to stop working such as the heated seat and the rear defogger. Once home, I disconnected the battery, waited a few minutes, reconnected the battery and road-tested the car. Everything worked normal; however, this is the only way to turn off the lights. On sunday, february 2, 2014 I bought a battery quick-disconnect and wired the other end to the existing hyundai positive battery cable. Now, while we wait weeks (possibly months) to have the money to get this part replaced, my wife will have to leave work and in a dark parking lot, reconnect the battery using this quick-disconnect tool. While the car sits at home and at her place of employment, it remains unlocked with no alarm, I can provide digital pictures of this along with other complaints about the car.