2008 Hyundai Sonata: check engine light

Filed Apr 25, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · VA

Bought in 2023 @ 98k miles. Have had trouble with 1.it would only start in drive, then that seems to have self corrected. 2. In drive, car would not accelerate properly, and would slow as though I was braking, but no foot on brake. Had rear brake sensor replaced, seemed better for a while. 3. Developed oil leak at 120 miles which valvoline characterized as "not serious...just keep checking it and topping it off." So, have been doing that. Today after oil change, it began running rough, lots of vibration, then the shifting problem, sluggishness, and new..smoke from under hood on driver's side. No check engine lights at all. Nothing registered as hot or overheating. Turned off car, checked oil and trans fluid, both in proper range for warm engine. Let car sit and cool for an hour. Decided I had parked too close to the propane tanks for a smoking car, so I decided to start car just to back it into a space across the lot. Car had no issues- No smoke, no jerking or vibration, no sluggishness, no phantom braking. This car has done this same thing about once every 6 months since I've had it. Changed a tire sensor, that seemed to fix it once. Stopped using cruise control altogether, that seemed to help once. My brother is an ASE certified high school auto mechanics teacher who ran his own shop for 20 years and worked on trucks for VDOT for another 7 years and he cannot diagnose it. I know it has something to do with not being in the correct gear, but it's not reliable, and I have a hard time believing it's just my vehicle.

Filed Aug 16, 2019 · Engine · 180,000 miles · MD

Was heading to work on interstate 81, engine made loud boom sound scared me pulled over being afraid to drive had it towed to an auto repair shop. No engine light on. Repair done a diagnostic test said engine was blown, oll good no engine light but engine wouldn't turn over trying to do manually. My car only had 180,000 miles always did belts and maintenance.

Filed Mar 31, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 152,800 miles · TX · 1 injury

2008 hyundai sonata 6cyl dohc 3.3l / 152812 water pump went out. Replaced it. Then water ended up in the oil that got into the lifters. Ended up getting another motor. Then my A/C stopped working (didn't blow cool or cold air). Changed oil and oil filter myself along with the oil sensor ( connected to oil filter spot) that was leaking bad as long as the car was running.I was driving on the interstate, in front of a loaded 18 wheeler, driving 75 then my car jerked real hard then dropped down to 40. I had to pull over illegally to keep from getting hit by the truck. As I was catching my breath I turned the car off. When I started it back up it made a weird tick noise. Haven't heard that noise since. When I pulled off it hesitated to change gears from 2 to 3. It finally changed and did not come out of 3rd. Got it towed home. Had my moms boyfriend to check the transmission. He drove it and it was fine. Next morning started car and it sounded like a vacuum cleaner. (low volume) finally it went away. When I headed to work, it hesitated at first. The vacuum noise came back and was louder. Then I sped up to 50, it hard jerked again, and stayed in 3rd gear. As I went further loss power in inside lane of highway and car was smoking under the hood. Like it didn't know I was pushing the gas pedal. Started shaking at around 20 miles an hour. Pulled over and check engine light came on. Called a friend to pull me back home. It was reversing fine but would not go forward. So I changed the accelerator pedal sensor (whole pedal) that wasn't the problem. So then I changed the entire fuel pump/ injector. Still have all parts by the way. That wasn't the problem either. Put it on the machine and it gave a code for ECM and oxygen sensor. Esc light came on as well as TPMS, when I started the car. I could move forward but it was like I wasn't. This all started in february 2019

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 Jan 1, 2018 · 106,000 miles · CA · fire

First there was a knocking sound and the car would drag to accelerate. This lasted 3 days each day it gradually getting worse. By the third day I was driving the knocking sound grew louder, something fell off the bottom of the car the check engine light came on, the car completely stopped driving, then up under the hood it was a fire and under the front part of the car.

Filed Apr 26, 2017 · Airbags, Engine · 141,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. While driving 30 MPH, the air bag warning indicator illuminated for the driver side without warning. In addition, the check engine and tire pressure sensor warning indicators illuminated and turned off independently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 141,000. ...updated 06/13/17 *bf updated 10/11/2017

Filed Apr 19, 2017 · Engine · 30,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai sonata. The contact stated that there was a premature failure with the motor, there was no oil lean and that the vehicle was consuming a high volume of oil every 30 days. The oil and engine warning light randomly flashed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection and diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure to determine a solution to repair the vehicle. The contact was uncertain if the manufacturer may be able to provide a remedy to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v568000 (engine). The failure mileage was 30,000.

Filed Jul 24, 2016 · Airbags, Engine · 131,189 miles · FL

On july 19, 2016 at or about 1500 hours, I was driving to the store to get some food, on the way out my apartment complex, I believe my hyundai sonata 2008 allowed me to go about two blocks down from where I live to shut off in the street right before I approached the stop sign. I also remember hearing two weeks prior to my vehicle shut off, while driving I heard this knocking sound in my engine, I thought it was the new starter that was replaced but then a day or two later it stop making that knocking noise. I called around to find answers no one had a clue to what was going on with this vehicle. Everything was working just fine until july 16, 2016. I had this vehicle since april 17, 2009 and I can't not believe this vehicle has a major issue like this at point and time. I could deal with regular maintenance services but on this flip sided coin; not having a vehicle to crank or one that just shuts off with out any engine lights or warning is a complete mystery for me, but I think it is time hyundai give me some answers to this problem... Lets also be clear there was oil and gas in the vehicle at this time of vehicle in motion shut off.

Filed Apr 11, 2016 · Airbags, Brakes · 145,000 miles · IL

I was in a parking lot with the car turned off and used the keyless entry fob to open the trunk. The trunk flew up so quickly that the hydraulic hinge support, that props it open, broke off at the top. The ABS & ESC lights stay on when the car is running. Sometimes while I'm driving those 2 warning lights will flash off, then back on a few seconds later. When that happens my brakes don't work correctly, and make a rubbing sound that I can feel through the brake pedal. The automotive instructor at the college I work at looked at the brakes and it's the calipers sticking. The dashboard SRS warning light stays on, and the passenger safety belt light flashes constantly when the car is running. It doesn't matter if there is someone in the passenger seat or not. The TPMS malfunction indicator is the most recent warning light to come on and stay on until the car is turned off. Seems like hyundai produced nothing but lemons for quite a stretch and not much is being done to help the consumer'

Filed Sep 28, 2015 · Engine · OH

I read your recall today re: the same make/model of car that I own. My hyndai sonata is a 2008. I am experiencing exactly the same issues listed in the recall since the beginning of 2015. I have spent more money than I have trying to fix this car (which I am financing currently). The engine light has been on, there is a knocking noise coming from the engine and the car will not "get up and go" and feels as if it may stall out upon taking off forward after coming to a stop. Loud knocking noise coming from under the hood when you step on the gas. They only way to get rid of the noise is to let off of the gas.

Filed Jun 11, 2015 · Fuel system · 105,000 miles · DE

Fuel gauge "floats" and then drops to empty. Pretty much always on "empty" now which lights my check engine sensor, but every once in awhile it will rise above empty for a few miles and then drop like a rock again! Have been tracking gas mileage with my trip odometer, but having been reading that this "fix" is not always accurate, and people are running out of gas left and right on major, busy highways. As the mileage indicates, I drive more than 100 miles per day and cannot afford to have my car just stop running like some of the other people have mentioned. This is a major safety issue and should have been recalled well before now. Are we going to wait for a repeat of the national airbag recall currently underway, trouble that shattered countless lives, because a large car company is too cheap to fix a problem they are well aware of and make their cars safe? Government step in!