2008 Hyundai Sonata: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 27, 2023 · Electrical · FL · fire

The car was parked and turned off, not being driven and ignited on its own. The entire front end of the vehicle was on fire, according to the fire department it was some type of electrical short that started the fire. Vehicle was totaled out as it was a complete loss.

Filed May 25, 2022 · Electrical, Fuel system · NY · fire

Just about 2 months ago i exit my vehicle after parking up. As i exit i smelled a burning smell and heard sparks so i stepped away from vehicle asap and then the horn start honking and lights flashing on own. Then the car started up by itself and started to run without me in car and keys in my hand. Police came from noise distubing and took the battery off to stop. After that i couldnt start car so had towed in shop for 5 weeks. Hot out of shop and can start now but now my a.c. and windows doesnt work because mechanic said that something keep blowing those fuses out and if he puts yhem back in then the car will go back to not starting. I am guessing this is part of the recall.

Filed Aug 15, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 130,789 miles · NJ

Today my ABS light went on and the brakes became rock hard could not press down on them. Then I parked the car checked all fluids and belts, turned the car on again the ABS light turned off. Started to drive tried accelerating from 25mph to 30mph then ESC light went on locked my brakes tried driving to park in a safe place as soon as I parked the car and turned it off a bad smell and lots of smoke came out of my front tires and rear tires. Got car towed breaks are ok my mechanic pressed the ESC button off and now breaks are soft. I believe there is a malfunction that you should look into that will cause a recall. Also TPMS light randomly goes on and off. Tire pressure again is fine. Please consider looking into this. It?s the only car we?ve had for about 9 years and now my daughter drives it to school. Safety please!! Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 2, 2019 · Engine · 13,000 miles · DE · fire

Car made a popping noise going down the highway then lost acceleration. The car then burst into flames.

Filed Jan 28, 2019 · Engine · 174,000 miles · CA

I purchased this vehicle from a small car dealership, when purchased the vehicle had a pretty high mileage however when test drived no service lights came on and the car ran smoothly. After four months of owning the car with only around 2k miles added to it, while I was driving down the freeway a knocking noise suddenly became apparent and the check engine light came on, I pulled over as soon as possible since there was visible smoke coming out of the hood of the vehicle.

Filed Oct 16, 2018 · Engine · 125,500 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that the check engine indicator illuminated. The following day, the vehicle started making a knocking and rattling noise, similar to metal on metal, while driving 40 MPH. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed flames under the hood near the engine. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was totaled and towed to a junk yard. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 125,500.

Filed Sep 12, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 143,056 miles · CA · fire

Driving while using cruise control at approximately 65 MPH the check engine, air bag, and e.s.c light illuminated. Also, a simultaneous internal engine explosion resulted in an instant fire as well as a rod thrown from the vehicle damaging block and setting the car on fire from a resulting massive oil leak. There was no prior damage leading up to the incident nor any indication to my knowledge that there were any concerns with my car till it was too late unfortunately.

Filed Aug 1, 2014 · 90,000 miles · CT · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the contact smelled and saw smoke. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that the vehicle was on fire starting from the rear. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The cause of the fire was not determined. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed May 27, 2014 · Engine · 130,000 miles · MO · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the front end of the vehicle caught on fire. A police report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was not inspected. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 130,000.

Filed Apr 28, 2014 · Engine · 123,000 miles · FL · fire

Driving approximately 50 MPH when I heard pop. Smoke came from under hood. Pulled over. Popped hood. Smoke coming from engine. Checked dipstick and no oil. Never had oil leak. No oil light ever came on. No check engine light. No overheat or hot engine light. Just a small fire underneath the engine on ground. Bought oil that just leaked immediately after putting in. No warning. No signals. No alerts. Blown engine. They want $5300 for a used engine.

Filed May 24, 2012 · Engine · 86,300 miles · MI

Driving on I-94 in battle creek, mi, the 2008 sonata, after making a ticking noise for a year (which the dealership would not look at) began to make a grinding noise and something flew out of the engine and smoke came pouring out of the vents. I pulled to the shoulder on this busy interstate and called roadside assistance from hyundai. They sent a wrecker, and when the car was lifted, all of the oil was on the road. They towed it to the nearest dealer 30 miles away in kalamazoo, mi and they told me that a rod and piston had flown out of the bottom of the engine of the car. After doing some research, there seems to be a problem with faulty crank rod cap bolts. The ticking I think was from the rod cap that had come off. As of now, they are not doing anything under warranty awaiting oil change receipts. Please force a recall soon, as this could be an extremely dangerous situation. Someone could have been killed by the flying piston. Luckily it flew off to the side of the road.

Filed Jun 16, 2009 · Electrical, Transmission · 43,000 miles · LA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. While driving for approximately three hours, the contact noticed that the trunk ajar warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. Another motorist alerted him that the rear of his vehicle was on fire. The contact pulled over and noticed that the wires in the trunk were on fire. He was able to safely extinguish the flames and resume driving. While driving 40 MPH in third gear, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. In addition, the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. He is in the process of having the vehicle inspected to determine the cause of the failures. The failure and current mileages were 43,000.